Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-04-15
Personal Explanation.

PERSONAL EApAdHdtiOh'
Mn. FAULKNER. / propose to call the al
teu,ion of the House to an article that appear
cd in the Washington Republican, which be-
lieve is the recognized organ of the Adminis-
tration in this city. The editor heads this ar
ticle, in large capitals, Serious Charges a.
gainst G. j. Faulkner and proceeds in the
course Of it to state what those charges are. l
hardly think tdat should dignity that article
to the extent Of having it real at the Clerk S
table. so as TO be incorporated in the Congress
sioaal Record, bnl, ifany gentleman so desires,
that can be done. propose simply to notice
one or two matters contained in that article.
Mr.. Speaker, ] should have been very much
disappointed might, indeed, say | should
have been mortified, if, in the flood OF oblOquy
and defamation which for the last two months
has. from the same source, been poured mp
on every active and leading man on this side
of the House, had not come in for some share
OF abuse from this reckless and habiiual deia-
mer. II might we'll have been construed into
evidence Of my insiguilcancy which might
have been wouuding to my personal pride. 1t
is, however, some consolation 10 me that with
an official life extending through many years,
aud challenging the most unSparing scrutiny,
and with an eager dispo ition 90 the pat Of
these hyeuaS of the press to feed upon filth and
| garbage they have found nothing worthy OF
attack except the perverted and caSily-ex-
| planned matters contained IN this article III the
! Washington Republican, an article marked by
consummate ignorance and which would be
wholly unworthy of any notice here if 1t did
not couDect itself with proceedings before this
! House aud committee of this House.
This leading organ Of the Administration,
| in his ignorance has confounded two tranSac-
tious that have no possible connection with
each other will refer to them separately.
Early in the session some OF my mpoverSh-
ed constituents-mcn who had been in the en-
ploymeut Of the Government as mechanics and
aborers at Harper's Ferry about the opening
Of our civil Conflict 10 lSGl-Sent down their
petitions to be paid their wages for March and
April, 1851, which they alleged had been hon
eslly earned aud which had never been paid
by the Government. forwarded these claims
! to the proper Bureau for examination aud set
Element. The reply came these demands could
not be paid by the Department: first, because
the claimants We're 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 control of that De-
partment; and it was further stated that re-
lief could only be given by Congress. ac-
cordugly-had the subject referred to the Com
mittcv OF Mihte-y Affairs, where these olains
are now pending, subject 70 their conSidera-
ton and action. This embraces all my con-
nection with that subject.
The other transaction, which this common
dellmer has 50 ignoranty confsundel with the
ono Just stated was this: Ia 1858 Dennis
Murphy, of my county, was appointed militia
~ storekeeper and paymaster at Harpers Fer
~. was ono Of four solvent men who be-
came his securities in his official bond. lie
settled his accouuts-and 50 they appear upon
the books Of the Department-with the most
scrupulous accuracy up to the lst Of January
! 1861 Ills settlements being quarterly. nofur-
ther account was required of him until the lst
Of April, 1861. Before that last quarterly set
| Element could he made the confederate forces
took possession Of Harper's Ferry, the vault in
which his vouchers were contained was broken
open, and every voucher but one destroyed.
In the absence Of these legal vouchers the
accounting officers Of the Treasury had to treat
him of course as a deiaulter but having the
highest moral and persuasive evidence in their
possession that be was not really dcfaultor,
they permitted the matter to Slumber until the
9Th of January last, when the first iuform1-
ton was given to the securities of this appa-
rent balance on the books Of the Treasury. 1t
was then deemed expedieHt TO present petit
ton 10 Congress. in which all tie facts of the
case were carefully set forth; aud as Allen c.
| Hammond, tie security thus petitioning, resi-
ded in the State Of Maryland. Mr.. OBrien Of
that State, very kindly took charge of the pc
,ition and had it referred 10 the Committee on
Military Affairs. Ihatcummittce sent the pc
,tiou to the Chief Of the Ordnance Bureau to
examine tie statements contained in il, to re-
turn copies of any papers bearing upon the
subject and to express his opinion upon all
the evidence before his Bureau whether Pay
master Murphy was in default or not and, If
so. to what amount A report was made by
the Chief Of tie Ordnance Bureau, which pass
"a from him into the bands Of the Second Au-
ditur Of the Treasury. who also made a report.
and thence through tie Acting Secretary Of
War, George NJ Robson. to the Committee on
Military Affairs Of this House | will quote
but two short paragraphs from the report Of
the Ordnance Bureau:
If all the checks thereon reported were drawn
in favor Of public creditors aud from the balance
shown TO be on hand December 81, including re-
mittances after that date, az shown by statement
b, it would seem that he rad accounted for all the
public money iutrusted tohim.
And again, at the conclusion of his report,
he says:
In my opinion the sureties Of Military Store
keeper Murphy should be relieved from response
bility under their bond.
1t was obvious that under these reports the
Committee on Military Affair." could have douo
nothing less than report a bill discharging the
securities from all further liability. But said
to my friend, Mr. Hardeuberg, of New Jersey,
member Of that committee. when be showed
me these reports. that did not wish the Com