The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-20
Communicated
TO THE PUBLIC.
Letter From Major Austin.
New ORLEANS, July IA, 1876.

Letter From Major Austin.
New ORLEANS, July IA, 1876.
Hon. John McEnery:
Dear &r-Since my return from the
North, / learn u rumor Is in circulation
in this city to the effect that In 1872
during your candidacy for Governor
Francis j. Heron, Of Returning Board
notoriety, made a proposition to you tC
serve in your interest on the Returning
Board, provided you would secure to him
the office Of Recorder OF Mortgages OF
this parish in consideration OF his ser
vices In your behalf, and that you de-
clined his offer after consultation with
me, to whom, it is alleged, you had pro-
missed the said offie, being unwilling
to release you from your obligation.
| The above Is an absolute and un-
qualified lie from beginning to end
l never solicited or spoke to you OF
any office, nor did you directly or indi-
rectly, by intimation or otherwise, ever
| promise me any office or position what
ever
This malevolent slander has evidently
been manufactured and circulated for
the purpose OF injuring you, and l have
deemed 1t proper and just to place this
refutal at your service.
Tam very truly yours, J. E. AUSTIN.
SI0teuent from GOS. WcEnefy.
A falsehood now being circulated by
some persons politically inimical to me-
is my excuse for this appearance in pub
lie print.
The falsehood industriously circulated
asserts that when the late lamented
John Sinnott read to me the now famous
letter from Gen. Frank Heron to him
self, plainly intimating that the Recor-
derShip of Mortgages of this city would
be a fair equivalent to him (Herrou) as q
member OF the Returning Board, to
count In the duly elected, that immedi-
ately thereafter I interviewed Major J.
E. Austin on the subject matter OF the
letter, and expressed to Major Austin
my willingness to comply with Heron s
request. provided that he, Major Austin,
would release me from my pledge to ap-
point him to the same office, in the
event Of my election.
l pronounce this accusation as un-
qualitiedly false, and wicked inven-
ton to blacken my public record, which
challenges the closest scrutiny and in
veStigation.
/ assert, upon my honor, that I never
pledged myself to appoint Major Austin
to this or any other office, nor was /
ever pledged to appoint any man to
office
i solemnly ayow that there was no un-
derstanding, tacit or express, between
Major Austin and myself, or between
any one else and myself that ] was to
appoint him to the Recordership of
Mortgages or to any other office, nor
did Major Austin ever directly or indi-
rectly even intimate to me that he
should like to be appointed TO any office
within the gift of the Executive.
The whole story is sheer fabrication,
invented by the malice of men as little
in soul as they are wanting in veracity,
and who would darken the fair name of
any one to further their own purposes of
personal aggrandizement.
When i had read Herron's letter, /
returned it to Capt. Sinnott with the
simple observation that should / accept
Herron's Infamous proposition, in the
event Of my election, it would figure as
a bright chapter in my official record
that my first act should be one Of cor
ruption-an irony quickly applauded by
the noble hearted gentleman to whom
it was addressed
This conversation occurred at 30S Ba-
rome street, the residence of Capt. Sin
mott, and In presence OF his brother,
Capt. Richard Sinnott.
Many persons have condemned me for
declension OF Herron's proposition.
hVy hdFO doStl tcu bIlbb It's tCCeDtduCe
might have saved the State from the
grasp Of Radicalism. / hardly think so,
yet If ever in any evil hour 1 can consent
to dishonor and degrade myself, trust
that l may have left enough of self
respect to retire from public view and
shrink from an appeal for popular ap-
proval and support.
| print herewith letter from Major
Austin, and also copy Of Herron's let
ter to Capt. Sinnott. JNo. MCENERY.
Letter from Gen. Frank J. Heron.
New YORK, Sept. 3, 1872
Dear Cdptdin-The papers give intelli-
gence of the fusion, and heartily glad
was | to see it. This makes the election
of the combined ticket a certainty, and
will do much toward helping the cause
in the North. l shall get home in time
to help and to assist in the count, and
make the certificates of the "duly elect
ed" In the meantime, as you and l are
both very fond of DR.. Southworth, /
think shall have to get you to speak to
Gov. McEnery for his place OF course
we do not want him turned out, but, un-
der the circumstances, etc., let us ask
him to retire.
There is no sort Of question about the
election of Greeley, but the Grant people |
are making great exertions. With re-
CARDS to all, l am truly yours,
F. j. HERON.
Capt j. c. Sinnott