Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-10-21
Mr.. Edmunds makes the following re-
BURLINGTON, Oct. 10th, 1874


ing the case of Crane, late Collector Of
Internal Revenue, and making certain
statements, and asking from me certain
explanations.
Public men who are absolutely innocent
of mat crs charged or insinuatcd against
them. generally refrain from publishing
Gcnial>, lest in some other similar instance .
the failure to notice them may be taken as
4 confession of their truth. Perhaps | t
ought now so to act; but rs It has been
my good fortune never before, so far rs |
recollect, to have had my personal conduct
drawn in question. in my official career,
by any respectable journal, | have no hes
itation, at this time, in answering Your
request.
The statements upon which YOU found
Your desire for explanation, 50 far Il, they
concern me. are absolutely untrue.
l.-Mr Crane was originally appointed
in. think, March, 1867, upon the petition
and recommendation of very larg"
number Of the most respectable citizens OF
the district.
did all honorablv could 20 have the
petition granted, believing, rs they b.,
lieve, that his character and reputation
were above reproach. Since that TIM |
have had nothing whatever to do with hi>
continuance III Office or his re-appoint-
mcnt, unless when, before tho abolition of
the ONCE OF assessor II was III c"h.''''l'I'-
tion to reduce the number both of assess
or> 'h" tol''c'"'s "i'"'' 'ii' "N "a "''''
1872 (Which WIS repealed in December.
lS72O may have been addressed on til"
subject and may have expressed my views
thereon. If had been referred to 1t tll,t
time | doubtless should have spoken well
of Mr.. Crane Tor then, ana "htll the
last OF ort"ber' lH'@' had perfect conn.,
/ nrncc IN his integrity u wen 'N 'ii'' ''
MI JrWcll' ana no Suspicion "l any 'Il'
uiarlty IN the Once:
lie was. rs am lil"fin'"' lF-'pl"l''''''
|" 'iit thi"i Etl' '''S u 1' IN '''c ."T vi
summer oi lN''' WINE l VIZ III i-uI "t','
pu' htilcVe he was meyer t"'illliI>>'"''' :
AMI am lii"Fll'" '"u'N 'ltI ne "'H'i
gave hoii,> OF 1t''H ui'Il 'ii''' "ll, '.''-
INV '''' '''' '''
Tor my return before TlNinT 'il' nc" ""'l','
III or'i'r 'h'' lii'Sn' De '>N'' |" >i+''' i'''
lhc others
Icil 'If :, country on 'ii' il''h "' 'i''5','
- = an" "ld not return "'l'l' '.''''''' i'H'
OF that year
neither wrote, c;'id' or dlH amy ''il@
"if'tcNtr on ,''r S"'9'tl "l I!| t'-'Pi'"'"'-
hth'' 'tnrf before Oh "i'rl It II ,Ih r""l'-
u ana iIle utl'a''ill''!, "I'' h'', "'''N''
cllnEe the "l>ult, uiiilI "iI'r / I'I''
MA" no mo" A'''G' "' l"'"i ma ! 81" 'I
amy hi'l'' 'ii''' was III '
t'Hll'i.''''' vi '"''''' "i'''' - " ''' '''
+ANieIlc'il ne" ,'l'i' sHo''IH "'I' ny
r''urh' nor il''d '''N HiI'' III '''.'' W I..I
ever on the subject "f MS new tFiII' Nhrh
am M1"rmed' was h3i III respect "i M
ne" apl "li'hi'i, ID" ''' t"~' 'I' ~" i:''
ulcta the oId dutlts "l tIIr ">>'>>"I-' an IL
with lhtl SUBJECT never li'' ii'e >'l-i'U i
connection, anu uh'i my i'l''lfi' ''I' h.i
hh"" lIltl ne ll'tl H'ri FtII'N upon non "i
had GiNrl ban "l any Alnd' rNcrl' lhr org
maj blll. o1 winch WAS "h'.
- never h'''; 'ill'i ',i''F my f'utlh II
from Europe amy hn'" I''-'' hll'fi""!i,. 7
if,f }1S q ottirlai rUuIuct. or li1t OF hi dep
Iutv. Mr.. ,Jrvctt. had been in anA way in
correct nor. a. am Informed and hclr>r.
had The dcpaltmrnt.U until some tiulr during
my ABSENCE
:.-MV first information OF anything
wrong IN Mr.. Cranes office, W. after my
return. and long after hi> rr-apl ointment,
and after hi~ giving Wh1tr>rr neW "f 2.i-
| dilinnal bail hc did. which am noW IN
formed was in May. lN1;.
Soon after my return. Mr. Cranc iut,:Iu-
ed me Of tie ociicicncy in HI accounts.
: and asserted that he W'~ entirely imM"r'nt-
and that Mr.. ,Irwctt w:l~ guilty. AMI tlltt
the department had - t"und on ii.Vv-tiGa
: ton
: | reached burlington about TIN first oi
, November. and wa~ Immediately tthcr
/ severely i'll. and :" continued during my
stay, and was unHbl" /" TAX" amy steps t'
g nvc>ti- t. the subject. OF l." protect my -ri
(. and fellow bon3~mIcr.
II ~ soon a> had ~ul)i irut'y rpco>"rr,
o from my illness to be able 20 travel. in til,
y las, of November. went To Washington
# called II the treasury To learn Whit the
department knew OF thought of Crane
e asserted innocence. and Wa> told hv tn,