The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-15
Butler TO MacNeagb.

| IllIls
| dictated to my Photographic secretary a
letter to Marshal Pitkin, in reply TO one in
forming me that his resignation had been de-
manded by the Executive, and to that demand
he had refused to accede and sent it, mark
ing it personal, so that | am in no way re-
sponsible for its getting into print
The facts that are recited therein were stat
ed specially to be from information which
had received from credible sources. OF course
| could know nothing of the occurrences per-
sonally, and of course did not undertake to
give them either publication or personal
endorsement save that believed them.
If you had addressed me even printed
letter, couched in the ordinarily courteous
language which passes between gentlemen,
especially when the one who uses it, it is rll
morcd, is expecting employment in the diplo-
matte service of his country | should have
very promptly, upon being set right made
reparation so far as in my power for any iniu-
ry arising from publication even for which
| was not responsible.
| never thought of charging you with using
your own money, of which you declare you
chad none to spare" in paying the mileage
of the deserting Legislators of the Packard
House. You will observe, reading my letter
more carefully, that | did not even allege that
"it was asserted that any money was paid ),
my phrase being, 'it is asserted that two
thousand dollars was to be paid to the leading
deserting legislators, and only two hundred
dollars to others, disguised in the latter case
in the shape Of mileage, so that Mr.. johnson,
a colored man. speaking out of the innocence
of his heart, said, on the floor of the House
that all he wanted was to get his mileage and
go home
Now, how any person could find in such a
statement an assertion that he paid any mon
ey, passes my comprehension. l expressly
say that poor johnson declared that he ,cant-
ed to get his money and go home," not that
he had got it. 1t never occurred to me that
any money was paid, only promised; or that
the legislators got their money for deserting
any more than Wharton has got his Office for
not managing any business" On the con-
trary, was told that although the money
was promised as a bribe for the desertion, the
poor fellows did not get it, but we've required
further to vote for Mr.. Spofford as Senator
before they could get even what was due
them. Now, | do not know this fact, but
hope and believe the Senate will ascertain it
on investigation in the contest for the Sena-
tors seat. | would suggest to the Senate
Committee to ask certain members of the
Packard Legislature, whose names | will
give, whether after all efforts to demoralze
the Republican members and get them to go
over to Nichols by the Commission acting
together failed, selected portion of that
Legislature were requested by Col. Wharton,
a friend of Packard, to meet Wayne Mae
Veagh, and did so. Whether he addressed
them, saying that the President would not
recognize the Packard Government that the
| troops would be withdrawn the next day !;
that he had telegram to that effect; that if
they would go over to the Nichols Legisa-
ture they would be recognized, and seated,
a ld,get their mileage but if they did not do so
within twenty-four hours their seats would be
declared vacant, and they would lose all, If
the Committee push their inquiry, | firmly
believe upon evidence they will find what 1
have suggested to be substantially true. Now
do not deny the words of this. 1 see you are
fond of denying ''words."'
| read in your letter that you say Wharton
"did not manage or transact any kind of busi-
ness for me-" Certainly not. Bless your
soul you do not call such tricks as these bust
ness, do you? They are not business, even
if you should get that foreign mission for do
ing them, which hope you will.
You further say, wharton is friend OF
Packard" All the better instrument, there
fore to get Packard's friends away from him.
1t was well DONE and does credit to your
training.
You say further: Strange as it may APP
pear to some of them, political results are
still attainable in this country by straightfor-
ward and honest methods" True it did
seem strange to me, for in more than thirty
years experience in the ways of Pennsylvania
political methods" and politicians in both
parties, it did seem strange if this transaction
. WAS tltlltT stTdivullOTWdru OF llOUeSt.
You made good point on me there
| frankly confess / had no evidence then
and have none now, that you paid any money
to these deluded men after it had been prom
sed them. | desire, in the most solemn man
ner, to acquit you of having ever paid away
any money. | knew, as you say in your let
ter, that you had ''none to spare" and be
lieved, if you had, you would not spare" it
| trust and hope the event which you hop
will give you command Of large sum of mon
ey is in the far distance,
| Iagree most fully that where you are kno WI
you do not need to deny any silly story
about the use of money in paying anything
and if | had ever asserted that you ever di,
use your own money for any good or even pO
litical purpose, | should have been guilty, a
you, in your own chaste language, say, Of
base and cowardly false hood" Therefore
I repeat again, | never have known or hear
of your paying anything to anybody, and Il
at present advised, without more eydenc
than have now ! never will assert such
thing possible. You need not make me ex
cuses, us you d. for mot having money
your own to spare" | have known man
men without money, but have never know
ole without an excuse for not having 1t.
AS you state your excuse, sit is only mi
itary commandant of New Orleans. in time {
war, who can sqtsty appropriate any consider
able quantity of the property Of others to Ii
. own use,
Do / understand you correctly that it is IL
I want of ability to do it "sqtely" that has pr,
= vented you from "appropriating a consider;
> BILE quantity Of the property of Others to yor
own use?"
However, | shall not affect to misunde
stand the allusion which you thus make, bl
y nardo, II In the annarent loss of vnur ton