The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-03

were CONSUMED &d 10 Wudt tAo uuey -. q
officer was under that law and order, anu
I observed, "One Of them whom l consult
ed, and consider him, perhaps, one OF Inc
greatest constitutional lawyers IN the
Country, gave it as his very decided Cpl
MON that we were bound by 10. Ana
think it right to tell you that on this SUD
iect the army Is q unit" He asked me
who the lawyers were. told him the one
7 consulted was kinsfolk of mine, Robert
7. walker, and that I had understood,
though I did not know Of my own know
ledge, that others had consulted Mr.. Re-
yerdy johnson, who, it was reported, held
the same opinion. The President replied
"The object of the law Is very evident"
After short pause, seeing there was no
thing more to say, thanked him for the
courtesy with which he had permitted me
to express my own opinion, and left the
house.
@. Did the President, in any form,
inquire whether you would obey an order
if it was sent to you without going through
the headquarters Of the General A. AS
nearly as can recollect, there was not 9
word said that have not put down, though
I could, of course, not swear that l had
put down every word uttered. You may
see by my testimony that myself intro
duced the subject of Order No. II, which
involves this question. There we're a
variety of rumors running about town that
General Thomas had given orders, or that
he had declared that he was going to give
orders, and I thought it my duty to state
the situation fairly and squarely to the
President.
TESTIMONY OF COLONEL GEORGE ". WAL
LACE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., February Is, 1868.
George W. Wallace sworn and examined.
By the Chairman:
O. Are you connected with the army ?
A. am lieutenant-c colonel in the army,
commanding the garrison of Washington.
@. How long have you been in command
of the garrison of Washington A. Since
the latter part of August last.
O. Have you at any time had any con-
yersation or correspondence with the Pre-
sident of the United States in regard to
military affairs, or movements, or opera
tions. a. had brief conversation with
him on Sunday morning last.
@. Had you the conversation at his re-
quest? A. The circumstance occurred in
this way: I was called to the Executive
mansion to see one of his secretaries, Colo
mel Moore, and while in conversation with
him I asked how the President was. He
replied that he was very well, and then
asked if I would like to see him and pay
my respects to him. I said certainly, and
in a few moments I was invited into his
room.
@. Did you have a conversation with
him in regard to military matters? a..
Yes. sir: q brief conversation.
O. State what that conversation was.
A, The President asked me if any changes
had been made in the forces under my
command. replied that four companies
of the Twelfth infantry, the regiment to
which properly belong, had been sent to
Charleston, or rather to that military dis
trict, the 7th of January that beyond that
there had been none.
O. Had you any further conversation
A. No, sir; that was all that occurred in
reference to military operations.
@. BE made no reply to your statement
as to the change in the affairs of your COM
mand A. No, sir nothing occurred be-
yond that.
By Mr.. Wilson:
@. Did anything further occur with re-
gard to military matters of any character
A. No, sir that was the only conversation
that had with him with regard to mill
tary matters. Indeed, I may say it was
all that transpired with regard to any mat
ter except mere passing remark.
By the Chairman
@. Had Colonel Moore any previous
knowledge or expectation that you were to
call about that time? A. Colonel Moore
expected to see me Sunday morning.
Q. What led him to expect your A.
He addressed me note the day previous
saying he desired to see me that he would
call upon me in person, but that he was
very much occupied. His object in send
ing for me, however, was upon an entirely
different matter.
By Mr.. Bingham:
O. Did the President say anything to you
whatever about the War Department mat
ter or the Secretary Of War that morn
ing A. No, sir; Colonel Moore sent for
me in regard to personal matter concern
ing myself.