The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-07
WASHINGTON.
Further Improvement in the
Presidents Health.
Last Winters Rebel Naval Raid on
James. River.
.>~~~~~~~~>~~>~~~~~.,>
Commander Parker Found Guilty Of
Neglect Of Duty in Not
Preventing 1t.
The Finding and Sentence Dis0pproyed and
the Commanders Discharge Ordered.
~~~~~~>~>-o~~~~~>>>>
Release Of the Rebel Gov
\. ernOr Vance,
DC, &c, 10.
The Finding and Sentence Disapproved and
the Commanders Discharge Ordered

WASHINGTON, July Q, 1885,
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN THE PREslDENT's
HEALTH.
The Presidents health continues to improve, and he
expects DO able TO hold a Cabinet meeting tomorrow
for the FIRST time in weeks. few persons-Cabinet
officers and other officials special busness-were ad
mitted to-day, and few papers were signed No recep-
tons will be held this week. however, and is not pro-
babe that hereafter he will attempt much In the way
of public promscuous receptions of all sorts Of PEG.
pie, with and without business, as heretofore.
THE APPLICATIONS FOR PARDON.
Applications for pardon still flow In, although there is
considerable diminution in the numbers daily. Among
late petitioners are Brigader Generals Richard B. Lee,
Frank Hugee, s. s. Lee; Major General J. G. Brown OF
Tennessee and K Allison the last rebel Governor of
Florida.
PARDoNs GRANTED.
About hundred and twenty 1--WE pardons have been
granted by the President this week, mostly to North
Carolinians
THE TRIAL OF COMMANDER WIN. A. PARKER BY
NAVAL COURT MARTIAL.
general order OF the Navy Department. just issued,
promugates the proceedings Of the naval general court
martial convened board the United States
Baltimore In James river March 49, 1885, for the trial Of
Commander VIM. A. Parker, the following charges
and specifications
Charge Ffyt-Vioation or the ninth section OF article
three Of the Rules for the Government of tho Navy.
Specification Firth this that about the oath day
OF January 1885, the said Commander William Parker,
at that time commanding the division of James river
and being board tho United States Onondaga
then lying below and certain distractions which
had been placed James impede the progress Of
ebel vessels in coming down the river reliable informa
0n having been given him that vessels belonging the
rebels were coming down the river and were engaged IN
removing said DISTRACTIONS, did withdraw himself and
did 0rdor the United States steamer Onondaga to move
down the river out Of all exposure to danger from tho
ahore thereby allowing the said obsructions to be
displaced and the vessels Of the rebels to pass and rcpass
Of the United STATES and Of he safety Of its military
forces. therein withdrawing from and keeping out OF
danger to which ho should have exposed himself.
Specification Sccond-In this, that about the I'd
day Of December, 1884, the said Commander VIM. A.
hsn and Ssns from that dy o o the SaS Sy
OF the North Atlantic squadron known as the division
of James river and having received from Rear Admiral
David ID. Porter, then commander OF said squadron,
orders in these words:-'The picket always
be kept readiness night with their torpedoes ready
down they must destroy her, II they all
'sunk; for this purpose you must select men
anything, no matter how despsrate-did not obey said
specific orders or one OF them thus failing properly
TO observe the orders Of bis commanding officer and
ordered 70 prepare for baltic.
Charge Secnd-Fang to his utmost to overtake and
capture destroy vessel which II was his duty TO
peciGcas;oIn this that on or about the oath day Of
-
then commanding tho navy division Of James river,
knowing that certain vessels Of tho enemy coming
then was did order The United States steamer onondssa
board Of which vessel he then was, TO be
moved down the river, and away from the vessels
of avoiding an encounter with said vessels.
In this the Court found that much Of the second
ussd dsobeyed orders In not entrusting tho command to
OF nerve, not proved and that 30 much Of the
novod down the river for the discredabe purpose Of
avoiding encounter with the enemy. was not proved
with these exceptions the specifications were found
proved The accused found guilty OF both charges,
and sentcncsd $50 be dismissed from tho navy OF the
United statesn Appended TO the sentence Is recon-
mendaiion TO clemency subscribed by tho members COM
posing the court, with exception This rccommen-
daton given They state Sin consideration of the long
Official Of thirythree years, and believing that
he acted in this case from an error Of Judgment"
scon q ,ns IN r' sscona OF the Chargers
preferred against Commander Parker Is one OF most
general and comprehensive character The ways In
which officer might fail TO do hs utmost TO encounter
and capture or destroy enemy vessel
and as right specification in all cases is secured
Der on the part or the prosecution, particularly tho
offence charged was capital to SPECIFY the precise man
ner In whn nad 10 70 bS MS
It was accordingly charged that no had
given certain order Tor the discredit n,.e
was the specific allegation against which he was called
upon to defend himself The court have found this ale
accused Of tho charge Of avoiding encounter with the
enemy The facts averred In the specification OF tho
sou are bic with entire on the
or merely statutory These facts are therefore ore
insufficient In themselves to prove guilt yet the
court have found him guilty and must have inferred
che guilt from facts not set forth in the specin-
law 70 have been set forth being material
20 constitute guilt All the allegations in the specaca
tion aga INST which the accused warned TO defend
hiuae fare tnSuficient prove
guilt and he Is found guilty upon allesaons OF when
he was not Informed and Which are not even stated N
sorry power The legality Of such finding Is too cues
tionabc to be lightly admitted 70 establish precedent
II Ia TO be inferred from the opinion OF the ndividia
members of the court stated In their Recommendation
60 clcmcncy, that the sole offence Of Commander
was error Of Judgment The department is at Q
loss understand whether the court considered error
OF Judgment crime IN ITSELF or under some c'rc cn
Neither position DO sanctioned by the department
The findings Of the court under the second charge and
kcspg on the nndngs under both charges cannot nov
be modified, II is necessarily set aside and Commander
Parker Is hereby relieved from arrest.
GIDEON wELLES Secretary Of the Navy.
EX-GOVERNOR VANCE RELEASED ON PAROLE.
Ex-Governor Vance has been released from the Oh
Capitol Prison on parole, and Is to return to Nortl
Carolina.
THE WITHDRAWAL or BELLIaERKNr RIoHrs 81
SPAIN.
Il IL understood that on the nth Of June, and o.
before the Of the resembling Of tho blockade
could have been received the spanish government
voked s grant Of bellsersnt rights TO the insurgents
CHS country.
MusrxRrNa OUT TIM VETERANS.
In pursuance Of general orders No. 100, dated Head
quarters Department Of Washington July 1885, Bre
bet Major General Bartletts DIVISION consisting Of IN
esventy ninth Pennsylvania, Seventeenth New York
thirty NTH New Jersey Forty sixth Pennsylvania On
HUNDRED and Forty.thrd New York Fifth Connecticut
Second Massachusetts, Twenty ninth, Twenty eighth
pne Hundred and Forty.seventh, Seventy third and On
Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania sixteth Nsv
Fork, Thirty-thrd New Jersey and Ono Hundred AM
Second New York regiments, will DO at once mustere
but Of the service and ordered TO tho rendezvous OF the
kespective States The rst separate cavalry brigade
composed Of The First and Third New Jersey, First Con