Nebraska advertiser., 1878-09-19
spec,al Telegram to the Inter Ocean.

II
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6.-Attention
was called in these dispatches, some
time since, to a controversy that was
going on between Governor Vance,
of North Carolina, and the Secretary
of War, in relation to the possession
of the archives of that State, which
were captured by General Sherman,
at Raleigh, in 1864, and are now held,
with the other archives Of the rebel
lion, at the War Department.
1t now appears that there has been
a concerted movement on the part of
several Southern States to bulldoZe
Secretary McCrary into giving up
these documents, which have proved
themselves to be not only of great i'm
portance historically, but IS evidence
against the claims that are continual
ly being brought against the govern
ment for damages growing out of the
war. Not long ago General Town
send, who has charge of these records
furnished documentary evidence to
the Attorney General which defeated,
In the Supreme Court. a claim for
$13 900, 900 brought against the gov
ernment. 1t had been prosecuted
successfully in the lower courts, and
had been appealed to the Supreme
Court by the Attorney General, when
there was evidence accidentally dis
covered among the rebel archives
which proved it to be fraud.
1t will be remembered distinctly
how Congressman WiIlitts, Of Mich
igan, In the House of representatives,
last winter, prevented the passage of
a bill appropriating S4OO, 900 to pay
rebel mail contractors by exhibiting
page from these archives to show that
these same contractors had received
pay already from the Confederate
government for these claims. Nor
are these the only instances of the
kind. In the court of claims, in the
Southern Claims Com mission, and in
the Bureau of Captured and Aban
doned Property of the Treasury De-
partment, millions of dollars have
been saved to the Government by
evidence found among these archives.
With this experience it becomes inn
portant that before the rebel raid on
the Treasury commences these docu-
mentsshould be gotten outOf the way.
Hence the anxiety of Governor Vance
and other officials of Southern States,
"lately in rebellion" to recover the Of
fetal records ofthe Sovereign States"
they represent, which were captured
by Federal forces in the war.
AT Vance's suggestion. the Legisla-
ture of North Carolina recently pass
ed joint resolution calling upon the
Secretary of War to return to that
State the archives captured during |
the war. Vance had discoveree, to |
his chagrin, that his authority as Gov
ernor was not sufficient TO intimidate |
Secretary McCrary. and he thought
he would try what effect an act of the |
Legislature of a "Sovereign State"
would have. In reply to the resolu-
ton Secretary McCrary forwarded |
the following letter:
WAR DEPARTMENT. /
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec 6. 1877.
To Hon. Il. B. Vance, Governor of the
State of North Carolina.
SIR: have examined the ques-
tion of returning the books of the
Executive Departmental North Car
olina, as presented by resolution of
the General Assembly of that State,
and in reply have respectfully to in
form you that do not feel either au-
thorized or disposed TO deliver the
originals of these records to the State
Of North Carolina. l find them in
the possession of the United States
as property captured In
war, and / can make no disposition
of them unless authorized by an act
Of Congress.
The Legislature of your State,
doubtless anticipating this answer,
that in case the originals {
cannot be recovered, copies of the
same might be procured at the expense {
Of the State. 1 am disposed to COM {
ply with this request, so far as l can
with the interests of the !
United States Government. ,
1t is probable that, upon examina-
lion, 1t maybe found that some of the |
records are of such a character as to G
be of vital importance to the United I
States In resisting claims upon its c
treasury. In numerous cases hereto Z
ore, by resort to similar documents, G
he government has been enabled to q
iefeat very large, fraudulent claims. q
Unjust therefore reserve the right to L
lse my discretion in determining
whether any, and if any, what req o
'rds should be excepted on the ground C
hat they ought to be made public. j
With this limitation take pleasure e
n saying that, if the State will defray t,
he expense, / will order copies to be b
made, under the direction of the Ad-
utant General of the Army, for de- C
livery toyou. I am, Sir, veryrespect- t,
ully, your obedient servant, 81
GEORGE w. MCCRARY, Il
Secretary of War. b