New-York tribune., 1881-10-30
BOURBON METHODS UNSUCCESSFUL.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-The Democratic minority
in the United States Senate-after consuming the
greater part of three days in a revolutionary
attempt TO defeat the will of the majority aud to
prevent the removal from Office of self-confessed
defaulterat last tar succeeded to prevent the
confirmation at this session of Mr.. Statham,
who was nominated for Postmaster at Lynchburg,
Va.
That there may he no doubt whatever regarding
the position of the Democrats and of their willing
ness to defend, III the hope and for the sake of q
mere partisan advantage, an officer who has been
proved violator of the law and who has confessed
his own unwOrthiness, copy of the official report
in this case has been obtained by a TRIBUNE cor
respondent and is presented. 1t reads as follows:
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
OFFICE or CHIEF Posi- OFFICE ICE iSsPECToR' Us I55'(
The Hon. T. L. JAMES, Postmaster General.
SIR Referring inquiry as to the various In.
fairs OF post office at Lynchburg Va have TO say
that in March, 1850, directed Special Agents Shall
draft drawn by the Auditor upon the Postmaster for
the amount due the United states the preceding quarter
having been returned unpaid made the investigation
necessary II found that the Postmaster was short
in bis ~ n ne ne bad had not & s s money a on ha e
Wilson raised the amount made good the deficiency and
the offence condOned after consideration by tho
Postmaster-General President, in view OF his
record a soldier and generally as Posmaster and
lis earnest promises that the offence would be
peated he had appropriated the money TO his own use,
In violation Of Section 3S46 OF the Revised Statutes
which fOrDds bin 10 either oan use exchange or
other funds the public moneys which may come into his
possession. His acknowledgements succeeded in
borrowing the money in part promisSory note or
banker in Lyncbbnrg, aud Captain wilson promised 10
so arrange his affairs az TO restore permanently the
amount and never permit the public moneys and his
own TO become confused again. -.
aided Captain Wilson TO the appointment OF
postmaster in the spring OF 1863, then being special
agent OF the Otce Department. and familiar with
all me time, and feel the sympathy which exsodier
feels for another. have always known MIN as Repub-
of parties in Virginia until within the last week two
Mr. snaeross, who conducted the iayesugation year
ago. is a painstaking conscientious onleer ana Demo-
cfat in politics. tie regretted the condition In when
wilson accounts found and allowed as little as
nossibe to appear IN record against hm, and verbally
expressed himself desrous that the offence should Do
condoned and Wilson given another trial .,,., -
Inspector William Small, with instructions to investigate
| the accounts Lynchburg vas among tue number, ana
in turn visited by him and Its accounts were exam
med. His report bears date septemoer IT, anu Vas
accOpaned verbal and conferences had
with me aud yourself Mr. small found Mr. Wilson In tEc
same couuL0n found by Mr.. Shallcross year ago He
was short about $500, and finally admitted that he
| had appropriated the money to his own use having
bought stock with II in slate quarry company, Captain
wilson sold the stock alsed the money anu PI ~ ~, 70
Inspector small who deposited IL 20 the efent Oh tne
on of affairs an requested 10 protect their inter-
ests by overlooking the affairs OF the oice until the
ExecuIive could take action in the premises.
| ON this occasion one OF his suretles n0tned
| TO the Department in legal form his withdrawal
| from Mr. Wilson'S bond, asserting that they
we're the warmest OF friends ana companions,
but that It was no longer safe Tor nun TO remain as
surety for Captain Wilson and that he desired TO DC re-
ieved As my duty, presented the report OF In
spectOr small with my views IN the case 10 YOU sugest
ig that the situation one requiring immediate ac-
ton as the releases tue Dondsnan ana WOldreq1lre
the execution of new bond if the incumbent per-
mted TO remain and could not express the hope tlat
CAPTAIN Wilson would conform TO the law ana regus-
tos the future he having failed to DO so aiter the
warning received year and his earnes promises then
made refer the political aspect Of the Investigation
only TO say that no one connected Win TINS case Woud
he Sapable of shaping their official action TO accomno'
date any political influence nor has there been 50 ar as
know-aud nave questioned the inspector VINO maie
the repors-any effort whatever on the part OF virginia
politicians TO secure an INVESTIGATION Oh IaptS1n Wilson'S
accounts or to influence me reports h IN
Investigation made in the case where the lnsuc-
ton MAS issued March by An Inspector VINO had no
affiliations with Virginia politics, ana c1r.5ny nave nave
NOT known Captain Wilson's position on the keaIuster
qnS,' Gantail Wilson, and the knllics feeling for aim
personally. lie has no one to blame Dut bseb lot MS
pi'S'"' DAVID B PARKER Chief p. o. Inspector
Thus official document was real IN the executive
session of the Senate. The Bourbon Senator from
Virginia Mr.. Johnston, questioned its accuracy
and t is understood, went so far as to say that ne
did not believe some of Colonel Parkers state
ments Not one of them was disproved, however,
and Colonel Parker's character and reputation are
above reproach. letter received by the POST
r-Ceneral to-day, from Captain Wilson, shows
tbot the gentleman whom the Democrats are
posing rs a martyr repudiates them and their pre-
tended efforts in his behalf. It's as follows:
"LYNCHBURG, Va, Oct. 81, 1881.
The Hon THOMAS L. JAMES, Postmaster GelerGL
DEAR In the contest now going on ID lne seaa,e 20
desire YOU to understand that am taking no part IN
the contest against Statham and that an not an APP
pcant for reappointment. deem II 10 De very uI-
fortunate eOmplcdtioh' nave u = wi WI sSS p N
Obedient servant ''f' "iLe''' ~
This letter was read and commented on in the
cxccutive session to-day by Senator Ferry; but
that made no difference to the BourbonS, who were
determined he should not be removed from Office
at least not until after tle Virginia election-lf they
could prevent it,
f,at has aak o.
dav respeeting the proceedings IN the executive
session yesterday and the day before, it appears
that IN some res ects the conduct and utterances OF
certain nemocratic Senators were hardly decent or
honorable For example, it is said that on Thurs
do1 afternoon Senator Malone, who is a member OK
the Committee on Post Offices and Post R9ads'
handed to his colleague Senator Johnston. at tne
Iafes request all the papers relating to the Lyncn
burg case. The papers remained In oena'oi o
| stons custody until the Adjournment VI 'e
| Senate that day. when they were iniiueui"'o'y
handed TO Senator Maxey, of Texas ae MS OWN 'e-
| ouest that he might have an opportunity W eAan-
inc them before the meeting OF the senate yesterday.
The papers remained in his CUSTODY un'n Se''1'u's
morning Among the papers was ie''ei I'm
o;,,os reco mmending the appointment OF stathain.
-, 90 tbot letter was published in New~York
,,ostordav morning. 1t Is therefore evident
P"Pe P, ,b had faith, Senator Johnston or Sena-
tnr Maxev permitted confidential document to be
'hI;sbed Senator Maxey, il is reported, affirms
hat nobody except himself saw the letter while it
Nos in his custody. 1t Is understood that Senator
Johnston made noexplanation; although, before the
ysets regarding the custody of the papers were made
Lnown. several Democratic Senators were yehemens
! u their demands for an investigation and the I'M.
mediate expulsion cf any Senator who would thus
permit confidential document to be published.
4 W.
| senator Hill, of Georgia. Senator voorhees, and