The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-01
Letter from DIR. M. f. Wentworth.
KITTERY. Dec. 90, 1874.

To the Editor Of the Press: 4 .-s..
will thank you for little space in your pa
per to make a statement of a few facts. Mr..
Hamln is charged by Mr.. Bureigh and others
with having created sinecure offices in the Kit
terry Navy Yard for me, also quoting from the
Star editorial, we find the following: Senator
Hamlin had the position of Naval Storekeeper
at Kittery, with its large salary, re- created and
returned to Col. Mark Wentworth after it had
been solemnly abolished as utterly without
reason for existence, &c." 1 will state here
that the Office of Naval Storekeeper existed as
indispensable until 1867, when it was divided
into departments, called the Bureau System,
and never since has the Office of Naval Store
keeper been re-created, or myself or any one
else returned to such an Office. L was first ap-
pointed clerk in the Naval Storekeeper's Office,
through the influence of Gov. Fairfield, in
1886, and remained until 1S49. In 1861 was
appointed Naval Storekeeper on recommended
ton of the entire delegation from Maine, Mr..
Hamlin not being one of them. In 1862 went
into the army, and resigned in November, 1864,
on account of wounds received. In December
following I was re-appointed Storekeeper
through the influence of Senator Fessenden
alone. IL August 1866, was removed through
the influence of j. H. Burleigh and others be-
cause would not support Andrew johnson.
About the year 1867 Capt. y. 5. Thornton was
appointed General Inspector, succeeded by Com
mander Oscar Badger and then Commander Car
penter. In July, 1867, as hereinbefore stated,
the present Bureau System went into operation,
and e. G. Pierce of New Hampshire, was APP
pointed Receiver and Inspector. In 1869 he
vacated the Office, and. through the influence
of Mr.. Lynch L was appointed to the last nam
o1.a.ka %snr, ~ ri In,
1872, through the influence of Democratic
officer in the navy yard, was discharged by
the then Acting Secretary of the Navy. A let
ter was then written to the Secretary OF the
Navy stating that an appropriation had been
made by Congress to pay Receiver and In
spector, and asking my restoration, signed by
Messrs, Hamlin, Blaine, Peters and Hale, and
i was reinstated In 1873 the appropriation for
Receiver and Inspector being cut off, and the
former General Inspector having been assigned
to other duty, L was appointed Inspector by the
Secretary of the Navy, and had entered upon
the duties of that office before Mr.. Hamlin
knew anything about it.
The signing by Mr.. Hamlin of the one letter
herenbefore described is ali that ever re-
quested him to do for me in regard to offices,
and all he ever did do, and all statements to
the contrary are false in every particul ar, even
as stated by Mr.. Burleigh and the PRESS.
AS to the manner in which have performed
the duties of the offices / have held in the navy
yard, the officers can testify. In only one in
stance, as before shown, have had any other
than the most cordial relations with the officers
of the navy yard, and never, to my knowledge,
have any complaints been made of dereliction
of duties. / never was absent from duty on
the yard while holding Office, without the con-
sent and appreciation of the Commandant.
"who steals my purse, steals trash;
But he that flches from me my good name
Robs me OF that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed
M. F. WENTWORTH.