Daily Kennebec journal., 1883-06-16
FROM WASHINGTON.
STEPHEN ". DORSEY.
His Letter to John A. Martin, Secretary
OF the Republican National
Committee.

WAsHISGTON. June 10.
Ex-senator Dorsey has written the follow
ing letter to the newly elected secretary of
the republican national committee, General
John A. Martin. at Atchison. Kansas
Dear Sir -
At the time when was confined in dark
room, not able TO see the wall that surround
ed me. received letter from you, which
answered bv dictation, as had been obliged
to 10 for many months l supposed the an
swer was sent you, but it turns out that the
stenographer's notes never were transcribed.
| regret for reason that W lud not wish 10
feel guilty of discourtesy to a man who has
alwavs been Iust to men. When | was ap-
pointed secretary OF the republican national
committee, at the request of Gen Garfield.
and accepted the place at the earnest solicita-
ton of Gen. Arthur representating the Grant
side of the house, and Hon. VIM. E. Chan
dler, representing the Blaine side, made the
same request of Gov. Mccormick. who was
nv predecessor. that you have made of me.
had at that time fanciful notion that a
record had been kept of the republican party
that show ed its life and purposes and that it
would leave permanent history of its hon
orable existence, and what had transpired in
1885, 1860. 1864, 1865 and 1872 and that that
record belo nged to the republican national
committee, and that the secretary was the
pro; er custodian of it. The answer | re-
ceived from Gov. Mccormick was that no
record had been kept; that bonfire of for
getfulness was built to eat up what we had a
right to resume to be evidence of honesty at
the end of each campaign. By the great mass
of the people of intelligence in the North it is
] believed now and will be believed for all
time, that there is not scrap. word, dot
or a line in any record tlat will show a
wrongful action on the part of any person
charged with the duty of repres-
enting the republican party during
national campaign. Mr.. Chandler was un-
questionaby the ablest man who served as
an executive officer of the republican na-
tional committee. being one of the first, if
not the first, VINO was recognized as the real
head of the republican party in the sphere as
| signed him. 1t was, therefore, only proper
| that those who followed him should be gov
erned by the precedents he laid down.
Chandler gave Gov. Mccormick no records.
Gov Mccormick in response to letter SINH
| lar to the one you have written to me told me
| he had no records to give. They were my
predecessors and you are my successor.
| have nothing more to give to you than they
had to give to me. | have a great mass of
papers relating to the last campain. They
are made up chiefly of letters addressed to
to me, and letters written to me by others, in
which no one could have any interest except
to obtain the curious information of when
accepted the secretaryshp, | made it con-
dition that not penny of the money sub
scribed for political purposes should come
into my Lands. There never was dollar OF
subscribed money received bv me or paid
out by me. My expenses and the expenses
| of clerks serving with me were paid
! from my own pocket amounting to something
over $4,000. | say this much, lest you may
| think that | have records showing the re-
ceipts and expenditures of 1880. The only
records of that kind have are paid checks
of my own contribution and unfortunate bank
books, showing the charges of my own folly
| regret more than | can tell 1that made il
possible that such records should be in my
hands, but they are here and | think best tC
keep them as IA reminder of the splendid graf
itude of dishonest power | do not owe the
republican national committee cent of mon
ey or a grain of thanktulness. In the midst
of a storm brought about by the efforts had
but forth under its directions and in its be
| half brutal assault was made upon me at
| the last meeting of the committee, when
was not present to defend myself. Not one
among the 80 members present had courage
! or manhood enough to resent the miserable
cowardice of an ambitious hyporcrite. Sc
far as you are personally concerned, if there
is any paper IN my possession, or any sugges
tion can make that you think will be useful
to you, will be gratifed to respond to your
call. Sincerely Yours,
STEPHEN w. DORSEY.