The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-10

from this reckless and habitual defamer
1t might we'll have been construed into
evidence of my insigniicancy which
might have been wounding to my per-
sonal pride. 1t is, however, some conso-
lation to me that with an Official life ex-
tending through many years, and chal-
longing the most unsparing scrutiny, and
with an eager disposition upon the part
of these byenss of the press TO feed upon
filth and garbage, they have found moth.
ing worthy OF attack except the perverted
and easily-explained matters contained
in this article in the Washington Repub-
lican. an article marked by consum.
mate ignorance, and which would
be wholly unworthy of any notice here
if it did not connect itself with proceed
ings before this House and a committee
of this House.
This leading organ OF the Administra-
tion, in his Ignorance, has COMPOUNDED
two transactions that have no possible
connection with each other. I will refer
to them separately.
Early in the session, some of my i'm
poverished constituents-men who had
been in the employment of the Govern.
ment as mechanics and lsborers at Har-
per's Ferry about the opening of our
civil conflict in 1S61-sent down their
petitions to be paid their wages for
March and April, 1861, which they al
legged had been honestly earned ard
which had never been paid by
the Government. l forwarded these
claims to the proper Bureau for examins
ton and settlement. The reply came
that these demands could not be paid by
the department; first, because the claim
ant were believed TO be disloyal and,
secondly, because the appropriation of
that year had been carried to the surplus
fund, and was no longer under the con-
troll of that department; and it was
further stated that relief could be given
only by Congress. l accordingly had the
subject referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs, where these claims are
now pending, subject to their considera-
ton ana action. This embraces all my
cornectien with that subject.
The other transaction, which this com.
mon defamer has so ignorantly confound-
1858 Dennis Murphy. of my county, was
appointed military store-keeper and pay
master at Harper's Ferry. was one OF
four solvent men who became his securi-
ties in bis official bond. He settled his
accounts-and SO they appear upon the
books Of the department-with the most
scrupulous accuracy to the LIST of Janu-
arv, 1861. HIS settlements being quar-
terly, no further account was required OF
him until the LIST of April, 1861. Before
that last quarterly settlement could be
made the con federate forces took posses
sion of Harpers Ferry. the vault in which
his vouchers were contained was broken
open, and every voucher but one destroy.
ed. In the absence OF these legal vouchses
the accounting officers of the treasury
had to treat him of course rs detaulIer;
but having the highest moral and per-
suaslye evidence in their possession that
he was not really a defsul,er, they per.
mitted the matter to slumber until the
Sth of January last, when the first infor-
nation was given to the securities oil TINS
apparent balance on the books OF the
treasury. 1t was then deemed expedient
TO present a petition to Congress, IN
which all the facts OF the case were care
fully set forth; and as Allen {. Ham,
mnnd, the security thus petitionlng, re-
sided in the STATE of Maryland. MIR.
o Brien, of that State very kindly took
charge of tho petition and had 1t
referred TO the Committee on
Military Affairs. That commit
tee sent the petition to The
chief Of the ordnance bureau to examine
the statements contained in it, TO return
copies of any papers bearing upon the
subject, and to express his opinion upon
all the evidence before his bureau
whether Paymsster Murphy was in de.
fault or not, ard, if so, to what amount.
A report was made by the chief OF the
ordnance bureau, which passed from him
into the hands OF the second Auditor vi
the treasury, who also made report, and
thence through the acting Secretary OF
W.. George NJ. Robson, To the COM
M. tee on Military Affairs " this House.
will quote but two short paragraphs
from the report Of the ordnance bureau:
"lt all or the checks thereon reported
were UrdWu III iaNVf Va pupiS >'>N's'
and from the balance shown to be on
hand December 3lst including remit
tances after that date, rs shown by state
ment B, it would seem that he had &C.
counted for all the public money intrusted
! 10 him.
And again, at the conclusion OF his re-
port, he says:
"In my opinion the sureties OF Mill
tsry Store keeper Murphy should be re-
lieyed from responsibility under the'i
I bond"
1t was obvious that under these reports
the Committee Oh Military Affairs could
have done nothing less than report u bill
di>charging the securities from all further
liability. But l said to my friend. Mr.
Hardenbergh. OF New Jersey, member
of that committee when he showed mi
these reports, that l did not wish TIT
Committee on Military Affairs TO repor
any bill in conformity With them; thai
could not consent that any bill shook
pass Congress while was member q
II that would release me from pecuniar.