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,134 EAST TWELFTH STREET,
~ New York, March 80th, 1&70.
(js the []ficers ad 3 Heaters off the
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BROTHERS, :
ies s with much regret that I am compelled to appear before you in this address; but I feel
I would do an injustice to you, Brothers, and myself, were I to remain silent. A civenlar. bearing date March 17th, has
been issued from No, 10 West Fourth Street, signed “John O'Neill, President F. B..” wherein I a clared expelled ‘from
m de
the organization; the weasons set forth being ‘‘for writing a communication to the Mew York Daily Werald and Irish American,
and signing my name there
n your Senate ot in Pittsburg, Penu., in June last, in examination of the account books, vouchers, and other
papers of the financial department, they found that the hard earned money of the people was not being expended for the
purposes for which it was subscribed; the books were not kept in a correct manner; false balances were exhibited to the
people cach month in the Financial Reports ; and that the President was drawing more salary than he was entitled to. To
prevent a continuation of this state of affairs, they recommended to the President the nomination of 8 Secretary of the
Treasury, as called for in the Constitution. In ust last, when the Senate was in session in New York City, 1 was nomi-
nated by the President, and unanimously confirmed by the Senate, for the position. I was cognizant of ty duties, and knew
that it would not be an enviable position: but I accepted it, with a firm resolve, come what may, to protect with vigilance
the funds of the organization. I entered upon my duties August 2Ist, 1869, and found every officer then engaged at Head
uarters, the President included, had overdrawn money from the Treasury, making in the aggregate more than one thousand
dollars ($1000). I prevented those officials from drawing a dollar from the Treasury until their accounts were balanced.
3 of course produced a a very bitter feeling against me on the e part of those officials, and they manifested it on several occasions
a times would make me wait for hours to audit the books, that I might become disgusted at my unappreciated and unpaid
labor, and allow them to ‘lo as S they. pleased with the hard earned money of the people. [ met many items of expenditure.
which were not pleasing to me, but as I had no direct evidence of irregularity, [ kept filent, Upon February 15th last a bill
of printing, amounting to about $45, was presented to me for approval. . I recognized it to be for the printing of a circular
of January ‘Loth, which contained an uncalled for attack upon your Senate. I held it to be a private bill, and not to be paid
out of the Treasury of the F. B. On the 16th, I called au Head Quarters in my official capacity as Secretary of the Treasury,
but James Keenan, then acting under appointment of General O'Neill as Assistant Treasurer, refused to permit me to examine
the books and vouchers. I complained of kis conduct to the President, but instead of obtaining redress, was subsequently
notified that I was suspended from my position! The Senate soon after met in this city, aud among other business, sustained
action, and refused to recognize my suspension. While in the performance of my duties as a Senator, and a member of
its Andi ing Committee, watching over the funds of the organization, I was assaulted by James Keenan and the porter upon
ebruary 26th, and by Keenan a few hours before his almost Successfal assassination of Mr. P. J. Meehan. I have endeavoured
to faithfully perform my duty as a Fenian, from an humble member to the positions of District Centre of Connecticut, for the
manner of performing such duties I was publicly complimented by “Colonel Roberts and General O’Neill; a Senator, and
Secretary of the Treasury, I have responded to every call made upon my purse and time, and the books will show that I never
i kind.
en Mr. Meehan’s character was so foully slandered, when he lay upon a bed of pain “anable to help himself, and the
President, whose duty it was to officially deny the libelous statements which appeared in’the Jerald of the 9th instant, had
neglected to do so, I thought it would be cowardly in me to remain silent, knowing ag“I did that théy were false. “In doing
so I gave no private information, but simply proved the Herald statements to be false! The Evening Post, Herald, and other
pro-English organs, have contained articles from time to time upon the organization, written by men in confidence at Head
Quarters, wherein all information connected with the organization and. its movements have been published to the world. The
President acknowledges in his circular that he was at the Jerald office and read the manuscript of my letter to that paper.
This, together with what information I received from its city editor as to the writer of the slanders, and the manner in which
my letter was treated by the Herald, proves clearly that there was and is a collusion between the ‘ President”? and this most
Mnotorious pro-English sheet. The President shrinks from “a newspaper quarrel.” yet he sends the circular of iny unprece-
Aputed and unconstitutional expulsion to all the newspapers for publication
ou see, Brothers, from the foregoing, that the cause of m ¥ expulsion i is not for merely writing those eters | in defence
of Mr. Meehan’s character, but for zealously watching over the thom that you, in your confidence that all was right, had
sent to Head Quarters; and end eavoring, regardless of personal consequences, to see that your money was expended for the
purpose of assisting in the liberation of [relan
Believing that my conduct will receive impartial judgment from your Representatives at the coming Congress in
Chicago,
I remain yours fraternally,
RICHARD McCLOUD,
Soman and Secretary of the Treasury, F. B.