National Republican., 1886-02-20
.BRADY'S REPLY TO WISE.
THE NORFOLK NAVY YARD INFANY IN
ITS TRUE LIGHT.
Removals of Disabled Union Veterans,
Skilled Mechanics, and Laborcrs by
the Rerorm Administration in Viola
tion of Law and Justice.

ON the evening of the 10th instant, in the
House Of Representatives, Hon. James d.
Brady, Of the fourth district Of Virginia,
delivered the following, the House having
at the time under consideration bill OH. II.
G7) for the relief Of Fitz.John Porter:
q Thc,dscussion Of the bill under consider
alton has taken quite wide range. We
have heard much of the confederate soldier
and Of the Union soldier and Of Gen. Grant;
and following the example Of the gentle
man from Tennessee MR. Houk,) who has
devoted a considerable portion Of the time
allotted to him to an able and interesting
discussion with reference to his own posi-
tlon as to the politics Of Tennessee, trust
the House will indulge me in making some
personal explanation and some comments
with regard to matters In the state OF Nir-
ginia.
MIR. Chairman, member Of Congress
who, for any purpose, would knowingly
make false statements Is an unfit repre-
sentative Of the people, and sooner or
later he will lose the respect and confidence
of tie honest aud respectable members of
his own party. This House is not the
place for Tie blatant dCmagOgue, nor Is II
ihp pruICr arena Tor the exhibition OF the
willy Couturtiuuist The characteristic
lOurl.ou politician is 80 accustomed on the
stump IN Virginia to misleading and mis-.
informing the people, aud II Is 50 natural
for him To traducc his political opponents,
that In any presence lie Is out OF his sphere
unless he wildly iudulges In bitter inyective
aud Claptra
Mr. Chairman. II Is my earnest desire, so
long ~ ! remain member Of this body,
inat In Nll my actions, In all ! say, and In
all my intercourse With my fellow members
! shall not, under any circumstances, forget
the honor, the courtesy the high duties,
and great responsibilities belonging to my
position.
The honorable gentleman from Virginia
Mr.. Wise, In discussing the report from
the committee on naval affairs made to the
House on Friday, Jan. ~, concerning the
cfasurc Of certain inscriptions from the
dry docl; engine at the Norfolk navy yard,
made number Of statements which are
not true. The gentleman appointed to
succeed Mr.. Lyons was not selected after
competitive examination as stated. The
truth is that Il Mr. COrwinc was, without
said examination, appointed, vice Lyons,
removed. lie held the position four
| months, aud not being qualified to perform
the duties thereof he was succeeded by Mr.
Carr, another Democrat, who now holds
the office.
The fucts are that Corwine, Democrat,
incompetent, was appointed in place of
| Lyons, Republican, competent and twenty
| three years experience, and four months
thereafter Corwinc was displaced and
another Democrat, Of Baltimore, Md, given
| the position, which he holds at the present
| time. II appears that no Democrat In Nir-
| ginia could be found qualified to discharge
| the responsible duties of the position held
so long by Mr., Lyons.
In reference to the cruel statement that
| Mr.. Lyons was dismissed for "beastly in
| toXicaton, have to say that | have
| known this worthy gentleman intimately
! for twenty years. 1t is now nearly ten
| months since he was removed from the Of
| flee he held so long and discharged the du-
ties thereof so faithfully, as know from
the splendid testimonials he has from a
| number of the most prominent and distin-
| guished officers line and stafT, of the navy,
| and never before has such reason been as
signed for his dismissal. II II were true
the Democrats would have long ago pro-
claimed it, and | am confident that the ae'
| CusOtiOn cannot be sustained. IL Is denied
by the present chief OF the bureau Of steam
engineering, in letter addressed to me on
the 2Gth OF january last (which letter Mr..
Brady then read)
1t was stated upon the floor Of the House
that this gentleman held u bombprO9f pO-
sltum throughout the war aud rendered no
hand Il copy of the Niiy Transcript, pub
lishcd IN Portsmouth, Va, In May, 1861,
| The leading editorial dcnOunCCs the niOn
army in Virginia as the "coming OF the in-
vadeTsn
In another editorial Mr.. Lincoln is de-
| nuUuCCd as n traitor to the country; and
hud on the list published IN this same paper
the name Of this same man, Mr. Lyons, as
having voted against the ordinance Of Sc
Ccsson.
From this same paper, the Portsmouth
TiWpScyiW, Of Aug. ,, 1861, | find that
this same man Lyons was arrested and con
fined In iail for uttcrng reasonable sentl
mcuts 10 the southern COnfcdcracy,
Here Mr.. Brady read letter from en-
Secretary Of the Navy Mr., Wclles showing
the character Of the valuable services ren
dcrcd hy Mr.. Lyons; also, letters from thl
late Mai Gen. Wool, Commodore John w
Livingston, Chief Engineers RObic ant
Dade, late Chief Of Bureau Shock, Chic
Engineer Stewart, Rear Admiral Davis, Rea
Admiral Cooper. Chief Engineers Melville
Williamson, and Winaus, Capt. Glassn, Rnt
the present Rear Admiral Livingston, al
showing the splendid record, character, ant
standing Of Mr.. Lyons.
The gentleman also states that "durng
Arthur's administration the postmaster a
Portsmouth, who was n Union soldier
twice wounded, and twice promoted 70
gallantry, was removed at the dictation o
William MRhOnc.N
Mr.. Chairman, the other side of the IIous
loudly cheered and laughed over this won
derfu sally Of their champion, ! dcclar
to the House that the statement Is not true
The postmaster at Portsmouth was not r.
moved. So says the first assistant post
; master general.
PoSTorFICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICE or FRS
| ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL, WASHISGTON
| Nj 4
your Letter OF this date would state that th
commission of the postmaster at Portsmouth
Va, Will expire on June 90 lsss NJ, staple
served his full term of four years. Yours, yer
b. | truly A. L, STEVENSON.
Hos. JAMES d. BRADY, House,
. lie was not "a Union soldier twic
: wounded and twice promoted for ga
- | lGntry.n
!. This postmaster, although an active syn
|, pathiZer with the bourbon Democratic part
: Of Virginia and bitter opponent Of th
J, Republican administration, was permtte
; under the administration OF Presder
= Arthur to serve out his full term. lie wa
:, never wounded or promoted for ga
:, lantry."
: The gentleman has gratutously Intr,
/, duced the name Of William Malone int
! this debate. Mr.. Speaker, the name M,
;. honcn In my state makes the average bou
:, bon Democrat foam aud spluttor,
r, frightens the Democratic bosses aud strike
II terror into the hearts Of their clans W
=, had a mild exhibition Of the effect Of tht
? name In this House the other DAY.
with regard To the federal patronage 4
D Virginia under President Arthuf's admni
r, | tTu'iOu, no mau In public life has been mol
!. unjustly assaicd than Gen. Malone. "a
sert that during his whole term as scnat,
:. no person holding n federal preadenti
n Office has been removed therefrOm upon b
r. recommendation or suggestion, The gel
!, tleman's party now has the books, Let hl
t. examine the record aud contradict me II
+ can, also ask the gentleman to name Il
IS Union soldiers and sailors who have bee
1f removed from Office In Virginia by &c
4. Malone lie GaunOtshOw single iustauc
H. except one, where u Union soldier was o
r pointed TO a minor Office held by a Jul,
D, sailor and very soon after this change Il