The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-11-02
More Record.

General Garfield s the worst witness
that can be summoned to his own ve-
racity. In letter to bis political con-
lessor, Professor Hinsdale, dated March
l9 1873. and published n Bundy's
Campaign Life" page 200, Gen. Gar.
field wrote OF the salary grab:
II have not drawn the additional sal
ary. and do not know that I shall Ger
tainly ! shall not for the present, and
probably not at all. But this will mo-,
say in the midst Of this storm"
One week alter the date Of this letter,
on the 26th Of March, 1S73-as appears
from proceedings published at the time
in the local newspapers
"The Republicans of Gen Garfeld's
district assem- lied in convention htWar-
rem, Trumbull County. o.. and adopted
q resolution asking him TO resign his
seat in the House of Representatives.
and declaring that by voting for the re-
troac:ive salary bill he bad forfeited the
confidence of his constituents
Nine days later, on the 4th Of April.
General Garfield again wrote 10 Hins-
dale this letter (Bundy's Campaign
Life" page 210):
"WAsH1xaToN, April 4, 1873
II agree in all you say on the ques-
ton Of back pay; but neither Truth nor
ability seemed to avail anything in the
face OF this temptation. I not only haze
never drasun the ertra pay, but, nearly
too ,ceeks ago. ordered the Sergeant.
at-Arms to close my account, and direc.
ted my back pay due me, $4,000, to be
covered into the Treasury beyond my
reach, OF that OF my heirs in case of my
death. That has been done: but l fell
chat under no circumstances would l d
low It to be known publicly at least f6f
the present. 1t may, however, be nec-
essary bv and by to let the fact come
out What do you think ?"
"Nearly two weeks" before April the
4:h takes Us back to March, 81. This
was two days later than the date of bis
letter Of March Is, which shows that
bis mind was unsettled on the subject
"Nearly two weeks ago." counting back
from April 4, would bring US to the date
OF the warning from his Congressional
constituency, given March 26. Disa.
yreeable as it may be 10 cite such evi-
dence against candidate for the Presi.
dency. the record shows that Genera
Garfield stated positive untruth to Mr.
Hinsdale when he alleged that he had
ordered his back pay to he covered into
the Treasury "nearlv two weeks" before
the 4th ofApril. This appears from tht
following official letter:
"TREAsURY DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WARRINGTON, Juno %, 1880.
"H. Dusey. esq, East Des Moines, Ia.
"SIR: In reply to your letter OF the
l7h inst, asking to be informed on wha
date the Hon. James A Garfield paid in
to the Treasury his back paw and how
the Treasury books shcw this transac
ton, l have to inform you that it ap
pears from the records OF this office tha
the sum of $4,000 was deposited to th,
credit OF the Treasurer Of the United
States in the name of James A Garfield
on account of retroactive increases o
salary" on the 22d Of April, 1878, ant
that this amount was covered into th
Treasury miscellaneous covering war
ran, No. 704. second quarter, 1873. ant
cannot be withdrawn except by act Q
Congress. Very respectfully,
~. K. UProH, Assistant Secretary
These letters, moreover. demonatrat
that Gene al Garfield long hesitate
whether or not to draw his hack pay, ,tha
he did finally draw 1t. and that he onl
returned it in.o the Treasury after hi
constituents had plainly given him to ur
derstand that they would not tolerate ,hi
appropriation OF it-N. 2 World. :