The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-04-11

and it may not be long until the horrible
scenes of San Domingo may transpire
in our midst.
A PRETTY LITTLE STORY SPOILED.
\ few days prior to the adjournment
of Congress, the redoubtable Butler,
the Beast, got on the rampage about inn
parchment of the President. In the
course of his rawlings, he charged that
the President, upon the letter of the
Democratic candidate for Congress in
this District, pardoned one hundred
and ninety-three deserters for the pur-
pose of enabling them to vote the DEM
ocratic ticket. The fabrication is thus
nailed to the counter by the Washing
ton correspondent of the Baltimore ,SUe,
whoproduces the documentary evidence
Of its falsity Read the following:
WASHINGTON, March 31.-General
Buffers charge, made last Friday, that
the President, upon the letter OF dem
oeratic candidate in West Virginia, par
loned one hundred and ninety three
deserters for the purpose of enabling
THESE CllGlS w NOtC UllC 0siiIOSi ttpl'
ticket, is about as wide of the mark
aimed at as many other of the charges
of corruption made against Mr.. John
son and recently proved to be utterly
untrue.
The President never received letter
on the subject from the democratic can
ditlate named, nor do the papers on any
file in the Executive and War Depart
ments indicate that the candidate had
anything to do with the matter, and he
certainly had hot 50 far as known in Ell
Their of these Departments.
The application, and the sole paper
on which the executive action was based,
was the following letter Of the late sur
geon of the division in which the al
lodged deserters served.
Washington, D. c., October I'D, 1866
To his Exeeleney Andrew Johnson,
President Of the United States,-Sir:
TIE soldiers whose names will be found
on the accompanying list were nearly
all mark ed .ahsent without leave" in
the year 1864, during that terrible cam
paign to Lynchburg, under command
airy those 50 marked had their horses
killed, and were obliged. like the disa-
bled infantry, to make their way back
within our lines or hide in the noun
tains until the command returned.
If a soldier is absent at three roll calls,
and the officers do not know where he
is, he is marked deserter. When that
record is made, Il trial by court-martial
is necessary to remove the charge. This
opportunity these men never had. They
reiOined their respective commands and
served nobly to the end of the war;
when mustered out of the service they
were unable to draw their pay due
them.
You will perceive there has been . Sc
lection made of the deserving men from
each regiment. The small number
taken from each is proof of this fact.
do not consider these men deserters.
They certainly neverintended or thought
of deserving, and justice requires that
the charges should be removed, and
thus restore them to all the rights and
privileges ofsoldiers and citizens. These
men are registered and want to vote,
but will be debarred unless the disa-
bility is removed.
Most resp'y yours, NJ. MCEwEN, NJ. ID.
Late Surgeon-in- chief I'd cavalry di-
vision. and brevet colonel United States
army.
The President referred this letter to
the Secretary of war, with an order to
remit penalties, &C., attached to the
men if the facts were as stated. The
Presidents order was of October 23d,
1866. The election in West Virginia
took place on the 25th of October two
days after date of order.
The Secretary of War did not release
the supposed deserters until nearly a
month after, viz: November 3lst, and
Adjutant General Townsend states that
there were some discussions in the De-
partment about the case of men who
were reported as having deserted to
the enemy. Only one case OF that kind
was found, and his name was not inclu-
ded in the order which was issued in ac-
cordance with the Presidents instruc-
tions. Such are the real facts in the
case, and they do not support the charg-
es made by Gen. Butler.
Drowning men catch at straws.