New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
AN EXPERT SPEAKS.
LETTER FROM J. X. II. WILCOX IN REPLY TO MR..
TOMENY.

TOMENY.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: j. M. TOmeny's letter. wherein my
name introduced is OF misrepresentation and
Tomenys insinuation that was interested IN cotton
claims and that my action expert 20 the Committee
on Expenditures in che Treasury Department was IN
ueneed by sucn interests, is contemptiby false did
not even know that Tomeny had in his possession the
marks and brands on any seized cotton. did know
that they would he demanded OF him. Neither did care
for the information could be obtained at the Tre
ury was engaged other work when the matter
came up and had direct connection with it, except to
listen to his first statement.
The facts are these TOmeny voluntarily Informed the
subcommittee he had IN his possession copy OF his
report to the department. giving particulars of seizures
made by him. He indicated willingness to produce
this document saying that he thought the marks and
brands should not be published lest fraudulent claims
might be aided but that II directed to place the paper
in evidence he would do He directed to do so.
and did IL but afterward surreptOusly obtained 1t
from the stenORrapher preence OF relieving that gem
tie man from the labor Of copying it, and when called on
to return 1t, refused He thus distracted por-
ton Of the record, and placed himself in contempt
OF the House. committee however. did not care to
crafty his seeming desire for notorety by bringing h
the House, and simply gave him his choice be-
tween returning the distracted document and forfeng
his pay penalty to which he had stated that he knew
he was liable The abstraction first discovered and
reported by the deputy serg ant-atArms, Mr. Maeka.
which explains Tomeny's evident il-w toward him.
As for my disposition to denounce the Government for
its alleged Injustice 90 claimants for cotton" which
Tomeny seeks to make matter OF importance: what
denOunced" tue class OF matters neatly stated IN
tO-1ays TRIBUNE by your correspondents, sOne VINO
Knows" under The head OF Blackmallng SialinahIs,
The supr me Court OF the United States has decided
that of the cotton seized during the war was taken
without warrant of Justice. With tne owners tnuS
pundered OF sympathizr No less DO lsympatnze
with the widow aud children Of Lorenzo Il. Potter Who
after spending nearly half million dollars IN sueeorlng
reduced restitution by being deprived OF his cotton
and who died brOkrnhearted and insane from the cruel
mgrattude wherewith indemnify was refused Dim ;
with the Union officer in Alabama (whOse name
can be Rivenl, whose cotton WIS forelDy taken
from him after the war, and the proceeds
OF wh,h were held a dozen years, and finally
returned with the loss Of twelve years interest," 70 per
cent OF the principal being deducted as commission 10
che wretch who plundered him, aud % per cent more
being kept by the Treasurer as ''6Xpenses with the
host OF claimants who have never been allowed 10 know
what became OF their property and whose claims nave
DELAYED resisted because their lawyers ala not
happen be Sin the nng" III denOuncing such Trans
actions is 'denOuncing the gOYerumeDt then 40 1e
nOunce IT. lust IA other years denounced IL for re-
turning fugitive slaves and opening the Territories 10
Asto the desire to manufacture political capital for
the Fall elections" had that been the OBJECT the com
mee could easily have attained It. But tnIy preferred
10 act judicial spirit. and publish nothing put unae
nabe facts Hence their silence ON suDdry matters not
yet complete. d. n ii. hlLLCOA'
Ee,e-Brighton S. l., Aug. Z, 1873
III Mr. Wilcox had not been so often found to be
a goose some of the things he says might be impor-
fantI-Ed