Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-01-18
THEHARPER'S FERRY PROPERTY

The Baltimore Sun of Wednesday con
tanned special dispatch from Washington
stating that the statement that the Attorney
General had Withdrawn the appeal of the gov
eminent to the Supreme Court in the Har>
per's Ferry case was premature. The San of
Friday, however, changes the face of affairs,
and confirms the information contained in the
letter Of Mr.. Faulkner to US, as published in
our last. Tho Sun sayS
1--WE learn that the dispatch in the .SRn of
Wednesday from Washington. in reference TO
the condition of the Harper's Ferry question
before the United States Attorney General,
did not show correctly the position of that
officer on the subject. There is nothing in
definite in the condition of that question be-
fore the department, nor was the CON uIuniea
ton of the purpose of tho Attorney General
to dismiss the government appeal at all pre-
mature. On the Both Of December the At
torney General addressed an oficisl letter to
Mr.. Faulkner. the Representative 10 Congress
from that district, in which he announced his
then impression as follows: Il shall order the
property to be cold under the decree of the
court An order of sale necessarily implies
Diminishing or ABANDONMENT of the appeal
Mr.. Faulkner seys that he knows from a per-
sonal interview with the Attorney General
that he has net changed or modified that pur>
pose, impression or conclusion since his letter
to that gentleman of the 30th uitimo."
Since putting the above N type, we have
received the following letter from Nr Faux
ner, which gives cause for much encourage.
mont ia this matter:
House OF REPRESENTATIVE,
Washington, D. c., Jan. Is, 1876.
Editor Of Spirit IF J.ferson:
My engagements have been so urgent and
pressing that have not, siRce the 1th of this
month, been able to visit the Department of
Justice Until to-day This morning 1 called
upon the Attorney General to know when he
meant to carry into effect the order of sale as
indicated to me in his letter OF the 30th of
December. His reply was, that he was ready
to give an immediate order for the sale of the
property, if he thought that any purchasers
could be found for it. He said he was simply
delaying sale apprehensive lest in the
present depressed condition of tho country,
there might not be any person willing or able
to buy. l told him, had heard that there
were Northern capitalists who were disposed
to make investment in that property; but
upon that point, had no personal knowledge
or information but said to him, l have a
purchaser in view, and hope that he will be
recognized by the Department as a com pete It
one. he inquired who it was | replied,
the Secretary of Var and then brought to
his notice the resolution which l had SUBJ
mitted in the House, authorizing and direct
ing the Secretary of War to buy in that prop
erty fer the Ess eff the Government, and to
re- establish the National Ara1ery at Harpers
Ferry. He Immediately replied that be
heartily approved my resolution, and that
was authorized by him to say to the Commits
tee on Military Affairs that my resolution met
his appreciation, and that he would postpone
sale of the property until he heard whether
my resolution would be adopted by the COM
mttre not.
You have doubtless seen some intimations
10 the papers of hesitancy or doubt upon tho
part of the Attorney General as to his course
in regard to the EIarpcr's Ferry property
According to tho best of nay knowledge and
information, these iBtinatious are without an Y
foundation whatever. Since his letter to me
of the Goth of December. [ have seen no
of that officer and he would this hour, or
would from the date Of his letter to mo, have
given an order for the Immediate sale. except
his doubt as to whether there eould be found
a purchaser. and nov since my resolution
adopted in the House, he awaits the action of
the Committee on Military Affairs, hoping
that authority will De given to the Secretary
Of HH II re purchase the property.
Very truly yours,
CHAs. J. FAULKNRR