The National tribune., 1892-06-16
MR.. SMITHS UNIQUE PETITION.

Mr.. Franklin w. Smith, of Boston, has pre-
scented petition to Congress that is absolutely
unique, there being nothing in the Govern
ment archives in Washington that can compare
with it. The petition asks for the appropria-
ton of 5000, 600, which. it declares, is justly
due the petitioner in return for an outrage he
suffered during war times from q naval court
martial. Mr.. Smith does not ask that any part
of this money be turned over TO him, but that
it be held by the Treasury Department, to be
paid By the Treasurer Mr.. Smiths gift for
the promotion of National Gallery of His
tory and Art at the National Capital, whenever
the President may think the gallery has been
established as a National institution.
In his petition Mr. Smith states that he was
the cause OF reducing the price of supplies for
the Navy in 1863, and that his action called
forth violent denunciations from persons
affected by the exposure, and he gives samples
of what was said about him in his petition, by
Navy Department officials and others, which
are to the effect that they proposed to get even
with the man who exposed their nefarious prac-
tees. Officials of the Navy and Others con-
spircd against Mr.. Smith, according to his pc
ttion, and in June, 1864, he was arrested by
military force, his warehouse, office and home
in Boston were seized and searched, business
and private papers taken away all without
the presentation of charges, such charges not
appearing until August of that year. long
and expensive trial by eourt-martial followed,
and Mr.. Smith was found guilty, as alleged, of
defrauding the Government. But the sentence
of the court-martial was never executed. as
President Lincoln promptly overruled the
courts decision, saying:
l am unwilling for the sentence to stand and be
executed to any extent in this In the absence
of q more adequate motive than the evidence dis
closes am wholly unable to believe in the exist
ence OF criminal or fraudulent Intent the part of
of such established good character as is the
accused. If the evidence went far ward estab-
fishing guilty profit of one or two hundred thou
sand dollars as it does of one or two hundred dol
far different aspect. That this contract involy-
ing from 81 100000 to 81 200 600, tho contractors
shonld attempt fraud which NJ the most could
profit them ono or two hundred or even one thou
sand dollars, is TO my mind beyond the power Of
rational belief. That they did not in such a
strike for greater gains proves that they did not,
with guilty fraudulent intent, strike at all.
The judgment and sentence are disapproYed and
declared null, and the accused ordered to be dis
charged.
Mr.. Smith says that the result Of these per-
secutions by the Navy Department officials
and others, was to completely destroy his BUSH
in counsel fees, and to PROSTATE his health so
that for several years he was incapacitsted for
mental labor. In view of these facts he makes
claim for 100000 to be disposed of as stated
above. In his petition he also gives the design
for National Gallery, prepared by a cele-
brated architect. Altogether Sir. Smiths petit
ton is one of the strangest OF the many strange
things that are considered by Congress every
year, many of which never get outside Of the
committee rooms at the Capitol.