Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-28

4 gina.
Governor Tyler has not previously given
/ out this correspondence, or any part OF
| II, thinking 1t indicate to do so until a
reply from Washington had been received.
/ However. the Washington officials have
| discussed his letter very fully through the
press. and Governor Tyler, therefore. con-
sents to the publication of his statement
| Of the case.
THE GOVERNORS LETTER.
! Following is the Governors letter:
Commonwealth OF Virginia,
Governors Office,
| Richmond. Va, December 9, 1898.
/ Hon. A. L. Spauldng. Acting Secretary OF
the Treasury, Washington, ID. C.:
SRI am in receipt OF your letter en-
closing one from Hon. X. }. 1raceW'"'
Comptroller Of the Currency, Wasn'hs-
ton. ID. c., dated November Il, 1873, IN
regard TO a claim due me as Governor Oh
the State of Virginia. for clothing shoes'
&C.. furnished Virginia volunteers VINO
entered the United states service al tne
beginning Of the recent war. In THIS let
ter MIR. Tracewell sets out at length rea-
sons for Withholding this amount on &C
count OF claims said to be due by the
State Of Virginia TO the United states
Government. as evidenced by certain
Indian trust funds held by the United
States Government, &c.
As TO this matter of Offsets, l propose
10 treat presently. l feel that a mere
statement of the nature OF inns ciaihl
am at present making against the
United States Government or supplies
recently furnished the United states
troops. as per direction of the president
and Secretary of War, will show you that
the position of the Comptroller is upteh-
able. and should not be brought up as
an Offset against any claim the Unlted
States might have. however reasonable
against the State of virginia
RESUME OF THE CASE.
When the recent call was made upon
Virginia for her quota Of troops, notified
his Excellency, President Mckinney
that ! had no funds available for the
mobilization Of troops, and that as tne
LEGISLATURE was not in session, would
expect all expenses to be borne by the
General Government. This was readily
agreed to, and the troops were ordered
TO be rendezvoused in this city. At the
same time assurances were given that
all supplies would be In readiness upon
their arrival. The men, under such nou-
fcaton, came with praiseworthy prompt
ness, large majority of them not even
bringing a change of underclothing. The
supplies of clothing were not furnished
as expected, and although almost daily
communication was made, some three or
1 four weeks were allowed TO pass before
the matter was attended TO. i made two
visits TO Washington, and sent the Adj
jutant-General of the State there several
I times 10 hurry up these supplies. The
/ President asked me to see to IL that the
I wants OF the men were attended 10, and
/ directed me To have everything gotten
! that was necessary. saying that he would
see that the bills were paid. When II
became apparent that the men could not
wait any longer, l directed a member of
my staff to ascertain the amount of the
supplies which the men were in pressing
need of, and to purchase the same In open
market in Richmond. In few hours
after this ascertainment was made, and
orders had been given 10 merchants for
said supplies, an order was received from
the War Department directing Lieuten
; ant Price, then acting as Quartermaster
! for the United States Government. to
buy these things, and he accepted the
supplies purchased by me, as per the or
: der received by him. These accounts were
, made out against the United States Gov
eminent and the merchants expected to
get their pay from the government,
though, Of course, they held me RESPONSE
BILE.
MADE HIM PAY THEM
The United States Government would
not pay the accounts 70 individuals, and
required that they should be paid by the
Governor, and receipted for. these re-
ceipts 10 be- the Governors vouchers
Out of very limited private contingent
fund. placed in my hands to meet Incl
dental expenses, ! paid these accounts
For me not to be reimbursed is, indeed,
a hQrnQhln w ka
by the way, is personally acquainted with
the situation. would not sanction II
brought to his attention
AS to Virginia owing the United States
Government, | viii say that she has been
and will always be. ready to adjust these
obligations upon fair and honorable terms,
There is no need OF efforts being made
to intercept this claim, which is OF pri-
Vate character, to pay claims alleged 10
be due by the State. Virginia does not
deny that the United States Government
holds these State bonds given bsfore her
dlsmemberment and before a war that
devastated and impoverished her and not
withstanding her territory was divided
by the General Government against her
consent and notwithstanding her bleed
ing and desolate condition, she has ever
been ready TO have the matter adjusted
so as TO ascertain the true aVpount she
owes. But above and beyond all this
Virginia can point with pride to her gene
rosity to the General Government when
the scales Of fortune were reversed, In
donating vast domains OF territory. out
of which were formed five of the most
prosperous States of the Union.
VIRGINIA'S FORMER HELP.
But she calls attention 10 the fact that
In other wars she generously loaned from
her treasury large sums OF mopey when
needed by the General Government. These
loans have been repeatedly recognized
by each branch Of Congress at different
times. and Mr.. Boutwell,, ex-Secretary of
the Treasury. is on record as stating that.
In fair and equitable settlement OF ac-
counts between Virginia and the United
States Government, the latter would be
indebted 10 the former to the extent OF
at least one million dollars.
That the United States Government
should intercept this claim for sum
comparatively Insignificant upon the plea
set forth, converting. at II were, private
claim into public one, is reilly not In
accord with the spirit of justice and
right, and I therefore request that you
will look at the matter from this point OF
view. and give the claim your favorable
endorsement.
with considera ton OF high esteem, am,