Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-06-01
EX-MARSHAL LEWIS.

TO the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
HAERIsoNBURG, Va, May 80 notice
that the Richmond State of the 2Sth inst.
copies from your paper letter from your
Washington correspondent, in which Ian.
guage is used which does injustice to my ia
Their Hon. John F. Lewis).
In speaking of the personal attention
which Col. Scott gives the official duties Of
the Office which he is now holding, and
commencing him for doing so, your cor
respondent uses the following language:
The fact rs stated by Judge Hughes, that
Scott unlike his predecessor has devoted his
whole personal attention to his office, is import
ant, and Of great concern to the Government and
the public. 1t has been the neglect of such Cfi-
cials as he, to do this, which has produced the
trouble of the recent past in Virginia, as we'll
in other Southern States Tho accounts for in
stance, of Hon. John F. Lewis, cX-Marshal OF the
Western District of Virginia-a highly honorable
man-were found in 4 state of most unfortunate
confusion-thc result (as ADMITTEDLY of non atton-
tion Ramsdell's and Hughcss troubles were
doubtless occasioned in the same way-certainy
this is so as to Ramsdcll.'
The unavoidable inference to be drawn
from this language is that my father was at
some time or other in arrears with the Gov
eminent, and that this state of affairs came
about by reason Of his not giving personal
attention to his official duties.
1t is true that my fathers health, at
times was such that he was unable to give
his personal attention to his Office. But it
is a fact, which is undeniable, that he has
never for one moment been in arrears to
the Government TO the extent OF even as
much as one cent.
At one time his accounts we're, as your
correspondent says, in "a state of most un-
fortunate confusion" but this was brought
about by the action of an unprincipled de-
tective, one G. G.. Lancaster by name, who
made false and malicious report as to the
affairs of the Marshal's cilice in this district,
upon which the Government accounting Of
ficers proceeded to disallow and suspend
accounts Of my fathers amounting to about
$14 700.
1t is sufficient to say, as to this report,
that nearly every dollar of those disalow-
ances, made upon the strength Of it, was
afterwards allowed upon showing the falsity
of the report. When my father resigned the
Office of Marshal to qualify rs Lieut.. Gov
ernor the Government owed him, according
to statement of its own officers, several
dollars. My father doubtless lost
W hoo pSiuS hbiC " EiSC pciSOHdl
ton to his official duties, but not one cent
did the Government lose either directly or
indirectly.
He has lost much by the unfair and un-
just manner in which the Government at
officers settled his Official accounts.
assert that from the time my father as
sumed the duties of the Marshalship to the
present time he has never owed the Gov
ernment one cent. but on the contrary, they
have been in his debt, and he now thinks
and claims that there is quite largo sum
due him upon a fair and just settlement of
his accounts.
You will, therefore, at once perceive that
the intimation made by your correspondent
that he (my father, was at one time in ar
rears to the Government, is an injustice
which ought to be corrected.
Respectfully, d. T. LEWIS.