New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-28

CoUm u
The Cou, vatives and gusrras under the lead Of the
the resident himself gave for the removal
and nre.um. 1t is the best one he had The President
bad heard ~ IN. cotton speculation" charges and had
written letter Gen. Curtis upon the subject but III
oonyipceA the President there was no truth in
them and the Gene al was retained in command loas
aferwsrd. till the ma chinations Of the member Of tia
Cabinet who removed ), ldge Edwards for Radcaism
eliminated in temporar, success BY the appointment
Of Schvfcld.
When Gen. Curtis, then IN command Of the Army o.
the South West. reached Helen about the middle
July lsa he found himself surrA undcd BY peculiar or
cumsfsDces The back country b. boon stripped q
subsistence by troops the Mississippi hvor had but ~
Gently been opened up to navigation 'sn the North
the chief resident population composed Of negross
whose fugitive masters had fed upon the approsch
our armies; INSCRIPTIONS traders. both Jews Isnd Geo
tiles, swarmed down the river. a. intent upon riches
supposed to DO In cotton wero tho early navAators
who dreamed Of ship loads Of gold Lying around csS
on tho Western Continent; no general regulations a
trade had been adopted by the Treasury DEPARTMENT
In word chaos and Old Night had come again, % IN
az many important administrative matters were con.
eerned. The only rule which had been adopted know,
TO Gen Curtis was that trade should follow the fac.
This was mani.estly improper. BY 1t the army would
have been demoraxed and the only loyal citizens a.
class Of the country thimblerigged ont Of their ua
dues BY the unscrupuouA Gen. Curtis. therefore, Or
dered that trading shoud not be allowed In his DepaY
ment except to persons having permits from his head
quarters and he granted permits except to parties
undoubted loyalty. II he sometimes inquired inA
tho character aud standing Of those who sought pcr
mits at his hands, 1t was in no inquistoral sprtbut
with the view to honorable and Lones dealing 1t can
not DO forgotten that Cen Grant, long asrwsrd issued
a sweeping order sending all Jews beyond his lnsa
Evidently q commander having any regard for tie
morale Of lis troops. would keep keen eye on tAs
traders within bis lines 1t was just this which raised
the "cotton clamOr" against Gen. Curtis In the first IN
stance. The circumcised and tho uncircrmcised whe
wore not peImitts to trade, united Ia tie oamor and
last it became openly asserted that Gen. Curtis wu
himself engaged In speculation. 1t rea he'd the dignity
Of public rumor; officers in the army and intelligent
Correspondents were imposed upon by it. Men in hisi
Official position who stood by and still stand BY Orda
No. 81 whose great object then and sincc was the pre-
serva.iou Of the Union and Slavery. especially Slavery
saw Ia this rumor, thought they saw, che vulnerable
heel Of Achilles They did not in fact care 90 much q
tho value Of row Of pins for the cotton business bu
they thought 1t might be the Of orsting radie
general from command.
THB COURT OF INQUIRY.
TIE rumors having been "gotten up" tA
ross and confusion raised. the public press having bees
made to asser. many things which. unexplained dam
eyed the reputation Of the General and to hint at
"a Court Of Inquiry was ordered 1t was In many ~
spects an extraordinary Court As Court Of Inquiry
rot having been demanded BY my officer, it was blty
Illegal since it was couvensd BY order Of Gen. Haeck
and rot by order OF the President required BY III
Articles Of War. 1t was ordered to Inquire whethn
officers in the service had trateked. or been directly
or indirectly engaged in traffic in cotton or other prod
uce in the Mississippi River Or its tributares" u
risdicon extensive both In the geographical sense
and to the persons ought to stand on the firm bass
Of undsputed Law. The Gcneralin.Chief probably N
tended 1t as general commission. with tolerahly pro
uiscucIs smelling powers. II 30. be should have -
stated In his order By the face OF which 1t was Court
Of Inquiry-a term of fixed Specification in military
law-meaning certain kind Of tribunal whose 20 vera
duties etc. are exactly set forth In Articles Of waR
Before this rowing commission ct traversed the Mjsss-
s!ssppi from ST. Louis to Lake Provdence Gen. Curtis
eoud not appear defend to explain TO examine
10 rebut because he not specifically mentioned any
allow the case go by default, submit to sort Il
consciousness Of guilt The court called just what wit
ncsses it pleased examined them in very loose mannes
permitting them to testify upon matters Of private opia.
ion. based upon what they had heard and, after ell.
only found tina. Gen. Curtis had ro been in any marr
connected with traffic. except in four lots Of cotton. and
Just how much in these /: not pretended TO DO die
covered. His friends now come forth. and show BE-
ILL., 81. r.. MD h.y hal Ia n
with these lois o. cotton. They show thar other men
bousht every hale Of it, or that Geo. Curtis conscateA
hat was not 70 bought fon the negroes loyal own
ers aud turned the proceeds over Government Thus
10 they accoun, for all the property with which 1t was
rather inferred than found by the Court that he had
any.h!ng-thsy did not know precisely what-to DO.
Almost the Jsry moment in which Gen Curtis could b
heard N lis owp defense be was completely yndicat.d
Tho Radicals Of Missouri had .rn confidence in Gso.
Curtis. 1t IL within my own knowledge that they
would have formally asked the President TO replace him
in command Of the Department. Of Missouri but for s
positive refusal to allow his to lie used in that con-
necton until at any rate the last yestige OF the cotton
charge should be removed from his record That hA
now been DONE and ii is not improbable that hs viii b
placed In command OF the Department when tie change
which csnaot be much longer postponed shau taSe
place. To bring abont eoIsunmation 90 deyoutly u
be wished. viii now be the labor Of not few Of the
most earnest and honest and able men In the West
fuIut that 1. Is no mere than simple fair play that ire
Journals which did so mreh 10 The way Of giving pub
lefty TO the charges against him should 10 none the ess
explicit In their Acknowledgements Of bis v'hdcation'
Ard submit. this brief statement Of the case 10 IN
TRIBUNE because through that channel II VIII reaoA
more o! the people directly Interested thaa coais
,brouch INV othsr with which an acquainted }. D. L
Washington City. Nov. 90 1868.
sngxDxnu1nEnsrxrSD1sN
r,o,,;,.rdmeus Of Fort Sumter in April.
Thu coiIo,r;r- /, an extract from q letter from