Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-09-08
ANOTHER LETTER FROM WOLFF,
FREDERIcEsR1;Rc V. Sant g I

ANOTHER LETTER FROM WOLFF
FREDERICKSBURG, VA, Sept. 6, 1882
To the editor of the Richmond Dispatch
The interest manifested by the press and people
in the correspondence between Senator Malone
and myself relative to my dismissal as a clerk
must be my apology for asking the use of your
columns that may correct many erroneous i'm
prcssions under which the public now labor us to
the position l occupied at the time was engaged
in an effort to influence the appointment of dele
gates in behalf Of certain candidate for Congress
from the First congressional district
In the criticisms of this matter by the New York
Herald, find it laboring under mistakes which
might have been avoided had my letter to Senator
Malone been less hastily prepared beg YOU to
correct these errors and for the that true
statement of the facts will leave Senator Malone
without the slightest shadow of excuse for his con-
duct with reference to me. The facts arc: That
| on the Odd day Of March, 1892, was appointed
Il copyist in the General Land Office, with pay at
| tho rate of SI2O per aunum. My name was on the
| temporary rolls and was paid out of a special APP
propriation which provided for the employment
OF number Of extra clerks. Senator Malone had
nothing whatever to do with my appointment, he
having few days previous to it sent the following
letter toa friend of his, who had asked the Senator's
influence in my behalf:
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER
| WAsIIISGsoS, March l. 1882 !
Ny Dear Colonel:
As requested, herewith return you Colonel VOLTS
papers Ii knew where to place him suitably should
be s'"" to do So fo"rs truly ,,,,,, n,uoxx
Hon. Dug Green, House Of Delegates Ricllmoad "a:
refer 10 this letter because in your article referring
to my case you say senator Malone, who had secured
him rncl his clcrkship.'
In Senator Mahoncs letter to nc he SAYS: 1T
was the influence of the Readjuster party in the
First congressional district that had secured the
place you held" 1t was no such thing, rs his let
ter to Hon. Duff Green proves. l was appointed
I,iln Inv
gcnScn, who was accompanied to the Department
by SenatOr-clect Riddleberger, Hon. Abe Fulker-
son, and Hon. John Paul would not have ac
| cepted the temporary place, with its small com
pensaton, but for the assurance given my friends
that would be promoted on the list of July if
proved efficient and capable
When l entered upon my duties was in very
poor health, and continued to grow worse until on
the 10th of June tainted ut my desk and was SO
i'll that was obliged to remain upon Il lounge,
brought for thetpurpose into tho office until the
Commissioner kindly ordered his carriage to con-
vcy me to my room. Commissioner Mcfarland
| insisted that should go home and place myself
under the care of n physician which did
On the 3D. of July I received the following:
DEPARTMENT THE INTERIOR
GENERAL LAND OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, July j. lss..
Mr.. John ". Holt= Division CO..:
Tho Secretary of the Interior has granted you leave of
absence for fifteen days, beginning July l. 1882 and end
ing July 10, lSS2, both days inclusive, WITHOUT PAY
On yourrelurn to duty please below the day md
hour You report IT your desk and this notice to
the chief clerk. Respectfully, &C.,
\. Z. MCFARLAND. Commissioner.
On the 10th Of July received Il notice similar
to the above, except that was furloughed wIfH-
OUT PAY until further notice."
My physician had ordered me to visit the sea.
shore, and it was while obcying his orders, and
while on leave until further notice" and WITH
OUT PAY, that was engaged in an effort to in
nvence the appointment of delegates in behalf of a
certain candidate for Congress from the First dis
| trict. Had Senator Malone been us anxious to
deal justly with me rs he to destroy my polit-
cal influence in the First district he would have
stopped to inquire "On what plea or at whose in
stance" was on leave.
IL rs true THAT WAS A CITIZEN, AND ONLY A
CITIZEN, AT THE TINE | WAS ENGAGED IN DOING
WHAT SENATOR MALONE COMPLAINED OF On
the 9th of AuGust-the very day was notified hy
Senator Mahoncs telegram that he had had uc dis.
missed was officially notified to return to nv
duties, ami on the 18th of August returned to
Washington and took charge of my desk.
Senator Malone had on the 9th of August ad-
dressed II letter to Secretary Teller saying: John
W. Volt, clerk in your Department, is engaged
IN making speeches in his district injurious to the
Rcadjustcr party" This statement of Senator Ma
hone wlS false, for l was too feeble to make
speeches. was engaged in quiet way in trying
to nominate my friend for Congress. There being
no recommendation i'll Senator MahUncs letter of
the 9th Of August and Secretary Teller being ab.
but on the 11tl of August Senator Malone learn
ing that had been put to work notwithstanding
his letter of the 9th called upon Acting Secretary
NJ. l.. Joslyn and demanded an instant obedience
to his wishes and that gentleman quickly respond
cd by giving me the following notice
DEPARTMENT OF TIE INTERIOR
M John W. IIOls present.
Land Office will be dispensed with from and after the
| 18th inst Respectfully,
NJ l.. JosLYS, Acting Secretary.
You will observe that drew no pay from the
government, and was not in the service of the
Government. at the time was engaged in the 20
I litical work for which Senator Malone ALLEGES he
had me dismissed, and he could have ascertaiuet
that fact had he desired.
The truth OF the whole matter is Senator Ma
hone knew that for ten years had in every politi
cal contest, been making speeches in and writing
political articles for distribution in nv district
lie knew that, rs a native of the State I had been
tar III advance OF all other white Republicans in
advocating the rights Of the negroes, and that my
influence with them might, in the early future
prove hurtful to his plans with reference to the
next national convention. He knew had repre-
scented the State in every national convention
since the war, and that would bo in the next ono
unless lie destroyed me politically. For these rea
sons, and because he wanted to control the nomi-
nation OF congressman for the district on the 18th
OF August he had me bounced" (He actually
drove in his carriage after coorcd man who was
q delegate to the Convention to tell him, ~ have
had that fellow Volt bounced l suppose you
| have heard it,
| will thank you to publish this statement of the
facts, that they may go before the American people,
Senator Mahone's conduct is inexcusable upon
any grounds, and it is to be regretted that the
President refuses to be the President of Virginia
as well as OF the other States of the Union
What have we Republicans of Virginia done TO
entitlc us to the distinguished honor of having a
President OF our own ELECTED him." l hear you
respond; and so we did; but we also tried to elect
Garfield and Arthur, and Mr.. Arthur ought not to
punish us for our failure
tried to reach the President and ask Justice
from him, but was told twas no use, as President
Alahone, of Virgins" was the only prominent of.
fetal now in Washington, and that he was too busy
looking after manned Union soldiers and other
Republicans to victimize to attend to such small
affairs as mine. have decided to appeal to the
people of my district, and have announced myself
us Republican candidate for Congress- Senator
| Malone will Enn an