The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-30
TIE DABNEY 0AsE

At the last meeting of Emporia Post
No. So, g. A. R., Ia this city, on Sasur-
day evening last, q resolution was intro
duced and passed, appointing and in
structin9 committee to in
quire into the matter of the alleged charge
that DR.. T. 8. Dabney, an sppolntee of the
pension department, was an ex-confederate
and at one time q guard ct the Anderson
vile prison pen.
For the Information of the comrades on
the above subject We will state that the DIR.
Dabney spoken Of above was only ten
years Of age at the beginning of the war,
and, consequently, only fourteen at its COT
clusion.
AS matter of interest to our readers
generally, and also as matter of justice
TO Gen. Black, than whom. we believe, no
Drawer or better soldier ever wore the blue,
even though he be q democrat, we pub
lish the following correspondence in full,
which will give more thorough under.
standing Of the matter:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
U. 8. PENSION OFFICE,
WAsHIGToN, ID. g Dec. 12, 1885
To GoodsPeed Post. No. sS5, g. A. R., Depart
am IN receipt of your resolution of
December A, which reached me yesterday,
and OF numerous resolutions, letters, ETC.,
from various parts OF the United States
relative TO the appointment as q member
OF the board OF examining surgeons in
this Office of DIR. T. s. Dabney, of the CITY
OF New Orleans, La. Your resolution is
as follows:
"That we beg leave to enter this our
most earnest protest against the appoint
ment of one DR.. Dabney, Confederate, of
AndersonVille prison fame. to q position
on the Board Of the Medical division in
the u. b. pension Office, That we regard
the appointment as an insult to every ioval
man and ex soldier of the Union army,
and more than an insult and outrage to the
remnant OF the living survivors of that
earthly hell, and especially to the dead
that as Post comprising representation
OF ex-soldiers (Union) and prisoners of
wal, democratic and republican parties, we
request that the appointment of said DIR .
DAbney be revoked at once; that q copy
OF these resolutions be sent to his Excel
lency the President Of the United States,
and the Hon. ]. O. Black, commissioner OF
| pensions. Washington, D. c."
Dr. DabneV was appointed to the office
he now holds IN this bureau after exam
inAtion and certification of the United
States civil service commission more than
thirteen months ago upon my selection
He then was and now is q citizen of the
| United States, and on equal footing with
every other citizen. There were no pre-
ferred applicants for the place to which
he was appointed. He has since dis.
charged all the duties of his Office in an
able and efficient manner, as shown by
the reports to me of his superior officer
the medical referee. He has shown him
self capable and honest He Is in har-
monV with his lawful superiors IN their
views of duty and government These
things I'LL alike the requirements of sound
government, Of public policy and existing
law. DR.. Dabney may remain in public
Office, so far as / am concerned, while
these conditions exist.
The foregoing statement concludes the
entire law of the case; but that You may
not misapprebend the wisdom of his ap-
pointment, and that you may know who
and what this young man is and has been,
and that you may know that the recitaIs
OF your resolutions are not true. and that
your denunciation Is leveled at one who in
1865 was but child, and who never saw
the place you mention (Andersonville),
append certain papers for your consider
| alton and call your attention in conclu-
sion to the fact that the Union soldier has
suffered no harm at DIR. Dabney'R hands
IN his year or more Of service, as the
doubling record of the pension bureau
will show.
have the honor to be, very respect
| fully, yours. JOHN @. BLACK.
Commissioners