MISS CARROLL'S PAMPHLETS IN AID OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THE
PRESENTATION OF THE BILL.
In July of 1862 Miss Carroll presented her very modest bill for the
pamphlets that had been accepted at the War Department, which included
the expenses paid by herself of printing and circulating.
Of the Breckenridge pamphlet she printed and circulated 50,000, which
went off, as Hon. James Tilghman (president of the Union Association
in Baltimore in 1860) testifies, "like hot cakes."
In the library of the State Department specimens of two large editions
of the War Powers may be seen side by side in the volumes of bound
manuscripts. It is over 23 closely printed pages in length, and was
circulated east and west with admirable results, all expenses borne by
Miss Carroll personally.
The Power of the President to Suspend the Writ of _Habeas Corpus_, The
Relation of the Revolted Citizens to the United States, and other able
papers followed.
The Secretary of War suggested the presentation of Miss Carroll's
bill, advising her to obtain the opinion of one or more competent
judges as to the reasonableness of her charges and a statement of the
understanding upon which they were written.
The bill is as follows, and the testimonials are as reported in the
Miss. Doc. 58 (House), 45th Congress, 2d session:
_Secret-Service Fund of the War Department to Anna Ella Carroll, Dr.,
as per Agreement with Hon. Thomas A. Scott, Assistant Secretary of
War._
1861.
Sept. 25. To circulating the Breckenridge reply $1,250
Dec. 24. To writing, publishing, and circulating the
"War Powers," etc. 3,000
1862.
May ----. Writing, publishing, and circulating the relations
of the National Government to the rebelled
citizens 2,000
------
$6,250
Credit, October 2, 1861:
By cash 1,250
------
$5,000
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, _January 2, 1863_.
I believe Miss Carroll has earned fairly, and should be paid, the
compensation she has charged above.
THOS. A. SCOTT.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, _January 28, 1863_.
All my interviews with Miss Carroll were in my official capacity
as Assistant Secretary of War, and in that capacity I would have
allowed, and believed she should be paid, the amount of her bill
within, which is certified as being reasonable by many of the
leading men of the country.
THOS. A. SCOTT.
* * * * *
PHILADELPHIA, _January 28, 1863_.
The pamphlets published by Miss Carroll were published upon a
general understanding made by me with her as Assistant Secretary
of War, under no special authority in the premises, but under a
general authority then exercised by me in the discharge of public
duties as Assistant Secretary of War. I then thought them of
value to the service, and still believe they were of great value
to the Government. I brought the matter generally to the
knowledge of General Cameron, then Secretary of War, without his
having special knowledge of the whole matter; he made no
objections thereto. No price was fixed, but it was understood
that the Government would treat her with sufficient liberality to
compensate her for any service she might render, and I believe
she acted upon the expectation that she would be paid by the
Government.
THOMAS A. SCOTT.
* * * * *
NEW YORK, _October 10, 1862_.
Without intending to express any assent or dissent to the
positions therein asserted, but merely with a view of forming a
judgment in respect to their merits as argumentative
compositions, I have carefully perused Miss Carroll's pamphlets
mentioned in the within account. The propositions are clearly
stated, the authorities relied on are judiciously selected, and
the reasoning is natural, direct, and well sustained, and framed
in a manner extremely well adapted to win the reader's assent,
and thus to obtain the object in view. I consider the charges
quite moderate.
CHARLES O'CONOR.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, _September 19, 1862_.
Without having seen the writings mentioned in the within account
I have heard them so favorably spoken of by the most competent
judges that the charges of the account seem to be most
reasonable.
REVERDY JOHNSON.
* * * * *
706 Walnut St., PHILADELPHIA, _Oct. 11, 1862_.
Having been requested to give my opinion of the pamphlets
described in the within list, I have in a cursory way looked over
them. As I have just returned from Europe from a long absence and
am at present with many unsettled matters of my own, I cannot
undertake therefore to study them. From the examination I have
given them I cheerfully say they appear to be learned and able
productions and the work of a well-stored mind. They are written
in a clear style and must be read with interest and advantage,
and certainly cannot fail to be of service to the cause they
uphold.
Much labor must have been given to these productions. Their
actual value in money I cannot determine, but I think they are
well worthy of a high and liberal compensation.
BENJAMIN H. BREWSTER.[33]
[Footnote 33: Benjamin H. Brewster was a noted
lawyer of Philadelphia and a member of Arthur's
Cabinet.]
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, _September 23, 1862_.
I have read several of the productions of Miss Carroll, and,
among others, two of the within mentioned. The learning, ability,
and force of reasoning they exhibit have astonished me. Without
concurring in all the conclusions of the writer, I think that the
writer is fully entitled, not only to the amount charged, but to
the thanks and high consideration of the Government and the
nation.
RICHARD S. COXE.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, _September 10, 1862_.
Having read with care the several pamphlets mentioned within, and
comparing them with professional arguments in causes of any
considerable importance, and considering the vast learning and
the ability with which it is handled, I have to say that in my
judgment the charges are not only very reasonable, but will, in
the estimation of all men of learning who will carefully examine
the documents, be deemed _too small_.
L. D. EVANS.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, D. C., _September 23, 1862_.
I have read the pamphlets mentioned within, together with others
on similar subjects written by Miss Carroll, and I fully concur
in the opinion above expressed, believing that said pamphlets
have been of essential service to the cause of the Union.
S. T. WILLIAMS.
* * * * *
_September 8, 1862._
I have carefully perused, some time since, the papers referred to
within, and without entering into any question of concurrence or
non-concurrence of views I deem the documents of great value to
the Government, and that the estimate of the account is
reasonable.
ROBERT J. WALKER.
* * * * *
WASHINGTON, _October, 1862_.
Miss Carroll:
While I never put my name to any paper, I would very cheerfully
state at the Department that I consider the charges for your
publications _too small_, but I do not think it can be necessary.
What more could any one want than such an endorsement as you
have from Mr. O'Conor and other eminent men?
Very respectfully,
EDWARDS PIERREPONT.[34]
[Footnote 34: Edwards Pierrepont was Minister to
England under Grant.]
* * * * *
Later developments showed that the $1,250 that Miss Carroll had
credited to the secret-service fund had come out of Thomas A. Scott's
own pocket as his private contribution to the national cause and to
help on the circulation of such important documents.
Mr. Scott sent the following letter, to be found in Miss. Doc. 167:
PHILADELPHIA, _January 16, 1863_.
Hon. JOHN TUCKER, _Assistant Secretary of War_:
I believe Miss Carroll has fairly earned and ought to be paid the
amount of her bill ($6,750), and if you will pay her I will
certify to such form as you may think necessary as a voucher.
THOMAS A. SCOTT.
* * * * *
Mr. Tucker not having the settlement of the account, and the matter
being referred to Assistant Secretary Watson, Miss Carroll submitted
the account endorsed by many eminent men as reasonable, and also
endorsed with Hon. Thomas A. Scott's recollection of the agreement
upon which they were produced.
An agent tendered but $750, _with a receipt in full_.
On objecting he said her redress was with Congress, and, upon being
informed by Mr. Reverdy Johnson that the receipts would not bar her
claim, she accepted it. The original account, with endorsements, etc.,
it is stated, is "on file in the War Department." The Senate Military
Committee of the 41st Congress, 3d session, Report 339, referring to
these publications, said: "Miss Carroll preferred a claim to reimburse
her for expenses incurred in their publication which ought to have
been paid."
Miss Carroll having also credited the $750 to the secret-service fund,
Mr. Thomas A. Scott wrote her that she should not have done so; that
it came out of his own pocket in his indignation at finding the
agreement made by himself in his capacity of Assistant Secretary of
War disregarded by his successor. For thirty years this account has
been presented in vain. In 1885 it was retransmitted from the Court of
Claims on some judicial grounds, though accompanied by the "moral
assent" of the court.
Miss Carroll had written the great and influential pamphlets of the
day which ought to have made her a minister of state. She had devised
the military movements that ought to have given her a very high
military rank. Under our arrangements for securing a male aristocracy
no services, however brilliant, could secure to a woman any post
whatever. She must remain an _unrecognized_ member, and being an
unrecognized member for her there was no pay--not even her traveling
expenses. Any help towards the circulation of her invaluable pamphlets
had to come out of the private means of Thomas A. Scott. From first to
last, for all her intense and unremitting labors through all the
years of the civil war, she has, it would appear, received from the
_Government_, in any department whatever, not one cent. To her
personally, through the generous and unhesitating use of her own
private means, the result has been a long martyrdom of poverty and
suffering.
That is how America has treated her noblest daughter.
That is the result of belonging to a disfranchised class.