National Republican., 1883-06-16
THE DEMAND ON DORSEY.
MIR. Martins Request for the Records OF
the Committee and Dorsey's Reply.

MIR. Martins Request for the Records OF
the Committee and Dorscy's Reply.
1t was reported on Thursday night that Mr..
Dorsey had declined to turn over the books
and papers of tho national committee to Mr.
John A. Martin, of Kansas, his successor As
Mr. Dorsey was not to be found yesterday
afternoon, n dispatch was sent to Mr.. Martin,
inauiring as to the truth of the report, TO
which the following reply was received
ATCiusoS, KAS June l5.-He did not refuse.
JNo. a. MARTIN.
Later in the evening Mr.. Dorsey was found,
and at the reporters solicitation furnished his
answer to Mr.. Martins request, for publica-
tiOn:
GEN. john a. MARrIN Atchinson, Kan.--Dear
Sir: At the time when was COufned in n dark
ROOM not able to SEQ the walls that surrounded
mo, / received n letter from you which | an
swercd by dClation, us / have been obliged to do
for many months.
supposed my answer was sent you, but II turns
out that the senographic notes were never trans
criUed regret this for the reason that would
not wish TO feel guilty of discourtesy to a man
who has always been Just to me-
When was appointed secretary of the republi-
can national committee at the request OF GEN.
Garfield, and accepted the place at the earnest
solicitation of Gen. Arthur, representing the
Grant side Of the house, and the Hon William i.
Chandler, representing the Blaine side, l made
predecessor that You have made of me,
had, at that time, II fanciml notion that a
record had been kept of the republican party
that showed It's life and purposes, and that would
leave permanent history Of its honorable exist.
ence land of what had transpired inS56, ,ls60, 1884,
1868 and 1872, aud that that record belonged to the
republican national committee and that the Sec
retary was the proper custodian OF II. Tho an
swer received from Gov. Mccormick was that
no record had been kept that bonfire of forget
fulness was built to eat up what we had the right
to assume TO be the evidence OF honesty ut the
end of each campaign.
by the great mass of the people Of intelligence
In the north IL is believed now, and will be be-
lieyed for all time, that there is not II scrap, u
word II dot, or a line In any record that viii
charged with the duty of representing tho repub.
lican party during national campaign.
Mr.. Chandler was unquestiOuaDly the ablcst
man who served an executive officer of the
republican national committee, being one Of the
first, If not the very first, who was recognized as
the real head OF the republican party In the
sphere assigned him. IL was therefore only proper
that those who followed him should DO governed
by the precedents he laid down. Mr.. Chandler
gave Gov. Mccormick no records. Gov. McCor-
mick in response to letter similar to the one you
have written me, told me he had no records to
give.
They were my predecessors. and you arc my
successor, have nothing more to give to you
than they had to give to me-
have Il great mass of papers relating to the last
campaign. They are chiefly made up of letters
addressed to me, and letters written by me to
Others, in which no one could have the slightest
tlon. When l accepted the. secretary
ship l made 1t condition that not a
penny of money subscribed for political purposes
should come into my hands, and there never was
n dollar Of subscribed funds received by me or
paid out by me personally. Money was used
under my direction, but all my personal expenses,
and the expenses of the 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 receipts and expenditures of
1880 The only records of that kind have are
tbs paid checks of my own contribution, aud the
unfortunate bank book showing the charges Of
my own folly.
regret more than can tell that made II posi-
BILE that such records should be in my hands, but
they are here, aud l think best TO keep them as II
reminder OF the splendid gratitude of dis
honest power. ! do not owe the repub-
lican national committee a cent of money
or grain of thankfulness. In the
midst of storm brought about by the efforts
had put forth under its directions, and In
lis behalf brutal assault was made upon
me at the last meeting of the committee
when | was not present to defend myself
Not one among the forty members present
had the courage or manhood TO resent the miser.
able cowardce of an ambitious hypocrie. But
never mind that. The balance sheets Of justice
will some time be written by the hand OF honors.
SO far us you are personally concerned, II there
Is any pnper in my possession, or any suggestion,
can make that you think will be useful TO you,
/ will be gratitled to respond TO your call.
Sincerely yours STEPHEN w. DORSEY