National Republican., 1883-10-27
THE VENOM OF A TRAITOR.
Jacob ThOmpSOn's Supplemental Interview on
Judge Holt
His sianderous Charges Proved TO he False
by IncontrovcrtIble Record Evidence.

Judge Joseph Hollis reply to the fooishly
malicious and unCalled for attack made upon
him by Jacob Thompson, Buchanan's faithless
secretary Of the interior, has drawn another
volley of abuse from Thompson, or, more
properly speaking, an attempt to roburn the
powder that was consumed in the first as
sault. Thore is little in Thompson's supple
mentary interview, which was published in
tho Memphis appeal of Oct IL, beyond q
repetition of the charges and falsifcations
that were given in the original. Among
other things he says!
The idea of saying that the president appointed
him postmaster, general over the dead body OF
Gen. Brown and that, TOO in tho face Of his ad 3.
mission that Brown was great iavorltc of the
presidents. Such thing has never been done In
the whole history of the United States. Holt says
no cabinet meetings were held between the death
Of Brown and his appointment to the vacant office.
This | know TO be untrue. Three or four meet
successor wis Hetiy discussed at ali Of them. M"
In another place he says:
cannot imagine what he means by his con-
slant illusions TO the Intcligtnccr, and as TO the
matter Of the dates he has gwen to alleged clip;
them, as he did SO many other things
The above extracts comprise absolutely all
that is new, the remainder of the interview,
which is about column in length, being q
defense against the allegation alluded to in
Judge Hollis letter, that he (Thompson) had
criminal knowledge Of the conspiracy to as
sassinute President Lincoln, and sketch of
his military career. He explains the ridicu-
lous adventure he had onathe Mississippi river
in the vicinity of Vicksburg, when he was
picked up trembling in skitf, by saying that
he was searching for friends lost boy, an
explanation so destitute of plausiblity that
it will raise a universal laugh. In conclusion,
he remarks:
IT is true that during this visit told Gen. Grant
that was Inspector general OF Pembertons forces.
did have an active military command, but on
account of my age aud health found 1t insult ed
pnce on his staff. do not lay claim to military
distinction. have been under fire several times,
aud once had my horse killed under me, but
never had any fancy or fitness for martial life.
Although too old and decrepit twenty. .one
years ago to take an active military COM
mand, Mr.. Thompson has managed to prolong
his existence with robustuous tonacity until
the present writing, and, according to the
latest advices, he promises to turn into the
twentieth century unless an accident or a
pesticncc should cut him down in the bloom
of his youth and beauty.
The interview in question was shown to
Judge Holt, who was asked if he had any
thing to say in addition to the statement he
had already given to the public through the
columns of THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
The judge said he could not see how any good
could result from prolongation of the discus
sion; that he had in his published letter very
fully refuted the ISLANDERS uttered by Thomp-
son, and that tho latter had not strength
ened his position in the least, having merely
gone over tho same ground, repeating the
same stale untruths, and essaying o lame ex-
PLANTATION and defense of his own conduct.
If, however, THE REPUBLICAN cared to verify
his statement in regard to the date of Post
master General Browns death and his own
appointment he had no objection, and would
himself lend such assistance US lay within his
power to obtain the necessary record evidence
bearing on the question. The result of the
inquiries is presented below, the following
correspondence needing no key nor cxplana-
tion. Suffice IL to say the testimony is, in its
character, incontrovcrtible and that upon
the points involved it completely falsifes
Mr.. Thompson's statements rs made in the
first interview, and now. in effect, shamelessiy
reailirmcd by him:
WAR DEpARrssNT LtnRsRy, ,WhsuINGToN, D. c.,
Oct. %, 1ss3.-1o THE EpITokAST: | have the
honor to state IN reply to your request OF ycser-
day that an examination OF the HES Of tho Ma
UOndi InttHigtNcsr of Malch, 1859, show that on
Wednesday, March 0, on the second column of
the third page will be found the following item:
About IL O'c oCR p. IN. that would be Monday,
seventy tho president called to see the postmaster
general, and the last interview between these
two hgh officers OF the government was quite
touching. As Mr., Buchanan was about 10 leave
the room. which he had quietly entered, and
from which lie was noislessly departing, Mrs
Brown remarked to her husband that the presi,
dent had called to inquire into the colfdidon of
his health. HG9 quickly answered that he would
returned TO his bedside. Mr. Brown re-
marked; 'Mr; Buchanan, I have endea,
yored faithfully, to discharge all my public
that his efforts had been successful, aud that the
whole country would attest 10 MS fidelity asa pun.
mai IN iQtr n n
mserating his suffering condition, expressed
hope for his restoration TO health. Mr.. Brown
passed, and with evident feeling, having thanked
the president Tor the uniform kindness which he
Ind extended To HIM aud his family, bade him
adeu. In y few hours he was no more"
] have given every word of the paragraph,
which contains twenty-five lines.
On the same page, IN double loaded type, being
the first paragraph (editorlaO of the first column
appears tho following:
at is with unfelgned regret that we have to an
postmaster general, who expired at his residence
In this city yesterday morning about o'clock"
And concluding IN account of the disense OF
which he died, and brief memoir Of his life 20
his appointment rs postmaster general by Presi-
dent Buchanan, is the following tribute:
The aboriops dutie; Of thls responsible post he
discharged with assiduity and efficiency, and with
nm mrbanity gratifying 10 his associates aud sub
Thursday, March TO- there will be found Oh the
third page, In the third column, the following edi-
torial paragraph:
Hon Joseph Holt for some time past commits
sioner of patents, was yesterday nominated by the
president. aud forthwith unanimously confirmed
by the senate, to the vacant office of postmaster
general admitted on all hands aud In all respects
to be an excellent appointment"
In the same paper, issued March II, 1859 (Fri-
day. In an account of the Funeral of the Late
Postmaster General" In the second column of the
third page will be found the following:
"At IL O'Clock the president of the United States,
accompanied by Secretaries Cass, Floyd, Toucey
Cobb, Black, and the new postmaster general,
Holt entered the room through the reception par
lors and took seats near the Clergy"
On Tuesday, the fifteenth Of March, 1859, will be
found In the same journal, oil tho editorial pogc,
ularity Of the southern mails One Of the frst
things our new postmaster general should Look
to Is the irrcsularity of the southern mails" I"
| have been very careful to give tho extracts
r>T6 et III. et pNnct, and any one who doubts their
accuracy can easily verify II for themselves at the
congressional library, or any other public library
where file OF the National Inteilfgencer Is kept
The extracts given by Judge Holt, which appear
In his letter to your journal of the twelfth instant
Hre correctly copied and the correct dates given.
This of itself cOnclusively shows that any stale
mcnt no matter from whom emanating, which
tries TO prove that any delay interyened between
the death of Postmaster General Brown and the
appointment of Postmaster General Holt, Is false
OH its face, and is shown by the excerpts given
above, very easily cnntrovertcd. ] remain, sir,
very respectfully, your Obcdrnt servant,
DAVID FITZGERALD,
Librarian.