The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-04-03
Gen. ButIer's Charge in Regard to
the Second West Virginia District.
wAsHINoroN, March 81.

l.
Gen. Buffers charge, made last Fri
day, that the President, upon the letter
of Democratic candidate in West
Virginia, pardoned one hundred and
nlnety-three deserters for the purpose
OF enabling these deserters to vote the
Democratic ticket, is about as wide of
the marx aimed at, as many other of
the charges OF corruption made against
MIR. Johnson and recently proved to be
utterly untrue.
The President never received a letter
on the subject from the Democratic
candidate named, nor do the papers on
ME IN the Executive and War Depart
ments Indicate that the candidate had
anything 10 do with the matter, and he
certainly had not so far as is known in
either of these Departments.
The application, and the sole paper
on which the executive action was
based, was the following letter of the
late surgeon of the division in which
the alleged deserters served:
washington, ID. C., October odd, 1866.
10 his ENcellency Andrew johnson.
President of the United States.-Sir:
The soldiers whose nameswill be found
on the accompanying list were nearly
all marked "absent without leave" in
the year 1854, during that terrible cam
paign to Lyuchburg under command of
Major, General Hunter. In the cavalry.
those so marked had their horses xiii.
cNI anu NeE6 OOIlBeuf 1lke the disabled
infantry, to make their way back with
in our lines or hide in the mountains
until the command returned
II 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, a trial by
court martial is necessary to remove
the charge. This opportunity these
men never had. They reioined their
respective commands and served nobIy
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 a
selection made of the DESERVING men
from each regiment. The small num-
Der taken from each is proof of this fact.
do not consider these men deserters.
They certainly never intended or
thought of deserving, and justice re-
quires that the charges should be re-
rights and privileges oil soldiers and Cit
lEens. These men are registered and
want To vote, but will be debarred un-
less the disability is removed.
Most respectfully yours,
J. MCEwEN, NJ. d.
, late surgeon-in-chief I'd cavalry di-
army. = 1 S''A'>'9
The President referred this letter To
the secretary OF War, with an order to
remit penalties, &C., attached TO the
men, II the facts were as stated Ths
Presidents order was OF October. Sd
1896. The election in West Vir.inis,
took place on the 9Th of October to-
days after date of order.
The Secretary of War did not releasa
the supposed deserters until nearly \
month after, viz: November 2Ist. and
Adjutant Townsend states that there
were some discussions in the Depart
ment about the cases of men who were
reported rs having deserted 10 the enc
my. Only one case OF that kind was
found, and his name was not included
IN the order which was issued in ac-
eofdance with the Presidents inseruc-
tons. such are the real facts in the
case, and they do not support the
charges made by General Butler,
The next thing, says the Cincinnati
ConneretGt, TO a genuine church or
ganizatiOn with thorough evangelical
agencies at work, is the tsYonne Mensi
gymnasium Association of this cftv
Ihey afford opportunities for develop.
ing and cleansing the body; and |.
young man who exercises his muscles
and keeps clean skin, is aIreasiy in
the direct range of proper religions
influences, and all such. when met and