Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-16

PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Mr. MORRILL,, of Vermont For the frst
lime in my life, Mr.. Speaker, rise to ask
cave to make personal explanation
A few days since | offered a resolution,
the President to strike from the
rolls Of the Army any officer guilty Of habit
ual intoxication. That resolution embrace;
no name, but it pointed so directly to an
that the public attention Was
parti ularly .xed upon him, and it is but
just to say properly fixed, as und .rstcod at
the time. allude to General W. F. Smith.
Ii is proper for me to say that rumor has
charged that his confirmation as brigader
general Lad been for a long time suspended
in conse quence of charges as to his habits in
this respect; although did not know per-
sonally whether well or i'll founded. Alter |
the conflict on the 10th Of April, at York
towD, wherein the Vermont troops were 50 |
cons.,icuousiy engaged, those rumoEs we're |
more particularly revived, and especially IN |
this city. In the course of a day or two |
gentleman was introduced to me from New |
York, by the name of ii. l. Suydam, who |
was present on that occasfon on the battle |
field, standing in the rear Of one OF the Chin |
neys of house which had been burned by
the rebels few days previously, and while
he stood there, as he informed me orally,
General Smith came to him and he had
conversation with him, and he was enabled
to make observation as to General Smith S
condition at that time. | do not think il
necessary to repeat all the details which
made him believe, and which made me be.
lieye also, that the General was at that time
intoxicated. But in order to secure myself
with proper voucher, tie next day l asked
this gentleman TO put in writing the main
points of his charge against General Smith.
And will say here now, Mr.. Speaker, that
this gentleman was vOuched lor 10 me 10y
the member from the Geneva district Jf New
York, [Judge CHANBERLIN. now in his
seat, as man OF the most respectable char
acter, and | call upon the gentleman from
New York to say whether that is not so.
.Ir. CHAMBERLAIN. The gentleman referred
to, Mr.. Suydam, is a resident Of Ontario
county. a man Of standing and character and
should fully rely upon all which he might
say upon any subject. | have recently seen
many Of Mr.. Suydam' neighbOrs and friends
| and they inform that he is a man to be re-
lied upon as a man OF character and verac-
ity.
Mr. MORRILL,. now send To the Clerk E
desk the etter Of Mr.. Suydam, that it may
| be read.
lhe letter was read, as follows:
| WASHINGTON, April %, leo2.
| DEAR Sih; In answer TO your irauiIy Of this
| morning relative to the conduot of GeneyaI smith
IN the battle OF the 10th instant, near Yorktown,
| am sorry TO have to say that was an eye-pit-
ness Of the battle and that General Smith was tco
| much under the influence Of liquor to command n
devoted hand Of volunteers, he having fallen from
his horse during the afternoon, which is well
| known by the 9TH and Sd volunteers Of Vermont.
The fact is, there is use trying to keep 1t from
the men, for they saw it, and the wounded in the
| hosrita talked to me during the night, as was
| taking care Of them. In fact the remark was
made that he (Smith) should be shot
Hoping that justice may be done to Gen. Smith,
tne volunteers, and the country, | remain sir.
very truly, yours,
JrsrIx :. MORRILL,, Esq.
Mr. MORRILL, Will merely add one sIl-
gle fact in relation to this matter which was
given 10 me orally by Mr. SGydam, but not
stated in the letter, and that is that General
Smith. as that time, was too drunk TO sit
upon his horse.
Mr.. Speaker. now, 50 tar as | am concern
ed, do not expect that our officers IN the
Army are to be teetotalers, or that they are
to be entirely saints. | VII not criticise
them for indulgIng in their usual habits. |
know that, exposed to all the hardships, ex-
cltements, and Ierils of the camp and in the
field. we ought not to expect that they will
be better than the average OF mankind. But
upon the information which ! received, and
as it is now before the House, felt it to be
my duty, as one of the Representatives of
Vermont, to call public attention to the mat
ter. have done so, but with no malice
against any individual whatever. And in
relation TO this gentleman in particular,
knowing these rumors to exist, l exerted
mvstlt at the time OF the communication
said to have come from General Mcclellan
asking for the confirmation Of General Smith
as brigadier general, by conterring with
some members of the Senate. 10 remove any
difficulty that ght exist in the way of his
confirmation. But vouched for. as this
statement was 10 me, by man who was H.
troduced to me, as | have related, as ger
tlemsn Of the highest respectability, felt 1t
to be my duty 10 DO no less than what have
done,
Now. Mr.. Speaker. desire 10 send to the
Clerk desk, TO be read, letter from Gen.
Smith received since | came. into the II use
this morning.
The letter Was read. a. follows
CAEP yEAR YoRAIovS. NA.,)
Apri! 80, ls62.
Hoo. Justin 5. Morrill->iI: You have seen f:
in your place III the House Of Representatives, to
utter foul slander against ne. You have offer
ed to the Juntry no evidence in support Of your
naked assertion. You have, So far as learn,
tax public steps to c-lieet testimony to sub
stanii4te your charges, and the indignant denisls
which have gore from officers IF this division to
yourself ard colleagues have failed to elicit from
you op,r ard r. nk apology. 1t is now my time
to Ieak, and here face &c face with brave foe,
turn hack t. you, assassin, and tell you you |
u-ust prove yCCr charges agains; Ice, or make |
yoUr retract:on public as the litei; ana | an /
certain that thro' ghout the length and breadth |
Of thi: great land, every manly hear, will saw | |
have demanded more than ! have right Il
,onpel.
WILLIAM F. Smith,
ccmnsLdiaG iV'sion in the Army of the PO;o-
mac.
:, T. = snail endeayor 10 have this letter psb-
lated.
Nh Morrin. Now. Nj. Sneaker. as i,
', VIII be seen that this letter is to be pub-
.i'1ea' -, and probably Is already published in
- f'ierS' waving al comments upon its
l propose to offer the testimony
sen' 10 one Oi my colleagues ves,e,dar ID
"Llcn l saw yesterday ior the frs, - -
'ne ohcefs 81 our Vermont trirade nrda,
the command OF General Smith, VIII n. sa.I-
contradict the testimony o, Mr. S.,IS IIaHS
and do 1t for the purpose @: dolnc ;1I.;n
to the case and to myself '''''ee
The Cleik read, as follows
CANP WINFIELD sooTT, VIRsiS-,
NEAR YoEkTows, April 70, 1859. (
To tie Iern.ont Congre'siOaa! Ds.,yat'ou
The undersigned, field officers of the several re
;imerts composing the Vermont br igade c.mmard