Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-02-05
Letter from sza-per's Ferry.

The following letter was written, un
der the title of IAN ArmOry Mechanic"
to the Wheeling Register, under date
of Harper's Ferry, January Path, alleg-
ing deficiency of the Paymaster of
the ArmOry formerly established at that
place.
l have just seen in the IafeEgeacsr,
paper Published in your city, letter
from Washington, sigEed "Junius, Jr,
which contains some truths mixed with
many misstatements, and with yourper
mission, | will proceed 10 correct some
OF these misrepresentation.
The writer charges that the resolu-
tion offered by Mr. Faulkner 10 provide
for the payment OF those mechanics
, employed at Harpers Ferry in the
Spring of 1861, whose wages have re-
mained unpaid siuce that time, was 4
mere buUcombe resolution, and tha; II
is ascertainrd at the Ordinance Bureau
that these wages we've at that time all
! paid by the government. | was one OF
| the mechanics who was then employed
by the government at Harpers Ferry,
and | know OF my own personal knowl-
edge that this statement is untrue. |
admit that the government paid all the
/ mechanics who came on to Washing
ton and declared allegiance to the gov
ernment Of the United States; but 1t re-
fused 10 pay wages honestly earned by
! those mechanics in March aud April,
1861, because they would not declare,
anew their allegiance to the govern
ment OF the United States Their hon
est and hard-earned wages having been
presented TO tbe government since tor
payment, and they have been refused
upon two grounds: First, that the
claimants were not loyal; and second,
upon the ground that tie appropriation
had been carried TO the fund, and was
no longer applicable to such demands.
The government have taken the ground
50 falsely asserted by this writer, that
their wages had been paid. Mr.. Faux
ner has brought bill before Congress
to require the payment of these wages
by the officers ofthe Treasury, upon
the ground that it was debt dne TO
these mechanics by the Government
before the civil war broke out, that
their subsequent connection with the
southern cause did not discharge the
Government from the debt due 10y it
before that time, and that it is unjus;
and ungeuerous TO withhold from these
poor mechanics money which they had
honestly earned before the civil war
broke ont, ] am myself one of those
mechanics, and know what | am wri-
ting about.
That writer further says that Dennis
Murphy, the Paymaster at Harpers
Ferry, took the money intended for the
mechanics and carried it off with him
into the Confederate army; that he is
now delaulter upon the books of the
Government, for an amount, including
interest, Of upwards Of one hundred
thousand dollars; that Murphy is dead
and insolyent, and that Mr.. Faulkner
has been called upon, rs his security,
" iIdhC u u lIIC uShSIShCI'
/ knew Dennis Murphy well, and 10
one that ever did know him could be
lieye that lie could ever wrong the gov
ernment out Of ceut 1t is true the
books of the government show bal
ance against him OF near $50, 900, which,
with interest, would make upwards OF
100000 at this time; bat that balaucs
results from the destruction Of his
vouchers in the civil conflict at Har-
pers Ferry If this b. q just balance
against him, why has not the govern
ment proceeded 10 collect it by suit
against Mr.. Faulkner, who is amply
solvent and able TO pay any demand
that the government has against him.
Why have eleven years been permitted
TO pass since the close Of the war with
out even an attempt TO collect this debt!
If am correctly informed, Mr. Faulk-
ncr asks no fayOrs of the government
aud bids defiance to their threat TO hold
him responsible for the amount. There
is not court or jury in the country that
upon full examination Of the facts,
would hold Mr.. Faulkner responsible
for a dollar
1t is not the habit of Mr.. Faulkner
to offer buncombe resolutions lie is a
true and fearless friend to the mechan-
ic aud laboring man, and I've is not to
be deferred from demanding justice for
them by any threat Of the Government
to hold him responsible for the alleged
deficiency of the former paymaster at
Harpers Ferry.