The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-27
FACTS ABOUT NORFOLK NAVY YARD.
Colonel Brady Cites Proofs of Democratic
False pretenSes.

Colonel Brady Cites Proofs of Democratic
False Pretenses.
Washington Special to New York Tribune.
In the course Of his hot speech in the House
on Friday, Mr.. WISE of Virginia, said II pro-
test that these honorable soldiers of the Union
army ehall never again be subjected to the treat
ment they were subjected to under the last ad-
ministration, when men who had fought b-avelv
for the Union. under the circular bearing the
name of William Malone. as chairman. and
Iamos D. Bsady, the prseOnt member of this
House, as secretary, were required under the
whip of o master, to give money for partisan
purposes; required like slaves to hold their bal
lots up, that their bosses mnions might see
whether they voted right"
Colonel Brady excitedly denied the existence
of such circular, and challenged Wise to pro-
duce copy of it. 1t will be observed that MIR.
Wise feels deep concern for the welfare of the
Union soldier. He also seeks to defend the COM
mandant of the Norfolk nAvy-yard. In his
speech Mr.. Wise declared that Lyons, the super
intendent of machinery, was discharged from
the Norfolk navy yard after twenty three years
of faithful service account of 'beastly intoxi-
cation" and that his successor was appointed
after competitive examination.
In reply to an inquiry on this subject, Colonel
Brady to-day said: "The statement that Lyons
was discharged on account of incorporate habits
is not correct, and nobody ever before heard that
he was guilty of 'beastly intoxcation.' 1t is not
true that Lyons's immediate successor, Corwin,
the ex Confederate soldier, was appointed after
a competitive examination. After he had
been in the place several months. and after
his incapacitv had been fully shown, n board of
examiners was convened, and the result was the
appointment of man who, believe, halls from
Maryland. Corwin. however, was retained
in the government service In some
other capacity. Again, Mr.. Wise asserted
that an exUnion soldier. who was twice wound
ed and twice promoted for his gallant conduct in
the war, was removed from his Office of post
moster at Portsmouth by Senator Malone. The
facts are that the postmaster was not removed
but served out his term of Office. He was a
quartermaster's clerk at Norfolk during the
greater part of the war, and toward its close OBJ
tained commission as assistant quartermaster.
He was once assigned to duty in the field, but
was relieved soon. AS i am informed and be-
lieve he was never wounded in the Union
service"
How about the charge that honorably dis
charged Union soldiers and sailors have been
dismissed, and their places given to ex-confed
eratesl"
1T is true. Now, I want to say beSc that
while was Union soldier, I am also Virgin
ian by birth, and no man in Virginia who knows
anything about my career will deny that ever
since the close of the war have labored in sea
son. and sometimes, perhaps, out of season. to
restore harmony l have been opposed always
to every manifestation of i'll will toward the ex-
confederate soldiers. Fifty thousand of them in
Virginia to day are members of the Republican
party But do hold, as the spirit Of the law
requires, that in the government service honora-
bly, discharged Union soldiers and sailors, who
are qualified and efficient, should be preferred in
the government service. Within three months
after March no less than sixty two men en-
ployed In the Norfolk navy-yard were dismissed,
and more than twenty of them were ex-soldiers
or sailors of the Union The places of at least
five of these men were filled by the appointment
of ex-confederetes. Many of the men dis
charged had been in the navy-yard for years
some OF them from the beginning of the war,
and many of them are Virginians who were
loyal to the Union. About dozen ex-confeder-
ates, believe, have been appointed in the navy
yard since Mr. Whitney has been at the head OF
the Navy Department, but not all of them to
fill the places Of ext Union soldiers Let me give
you the facts in two or three cases.
IA. j. Hopkins, engine tender, was appointed
IN 1869, on the recommendation of Constructor
Webb. In 1861 Mr.. Hopkins was arrested by
the rebel authorities and thrown into Libby
prison, on account of his loyalty to the Union.
Afterward he served in the Union navy until the
end OF the war. He is an honored and respected
citizen. On May 4. 1885. he was removed. and
in his place was appointed Virginius Freeman
who was in the United States navy at the out.
break OF the rebellion, but deserted the flag of
MS country to enter the rebel service He did
not apply to Congress for the removal of his
poiitical disabilities until after the election of a
Democratic President.
IA b. Kinney, store clerk In the bureau of
yards and docks was appointed in 1870 by En-
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