New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-04
THE GRANT PARTY'S TREATMENT OF
SOLDIERS.

GEN. sLOCUM AT PHILADELPIIA-THE LETTERS
STOLEN BY GEN. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR
THE BENEFIT OF A FEW SOLDIERS.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 3.-Gen. ii. w. SlOcum
OF Brooklyn addressed large Liberal meeting In this
city this evening and in the OF his remarks said
me history Of all the aehev emens OF soldiers dur
ing the late war is or should be- found ~ tle oheia
preserved with the most scrupulous care AS rule,
believe they have been so preserved No CIVILIAN is per
united access them. Even the representatives. OF our
state Governments seeking 10 complete for their respec-
awe States the history OF their troops nave never peeh
the files How different been the case however,
when officer, writing In the interest OF PRESIDENT
doors been thrown open but documents by the hundred
have been delivered to him, and ultimately lost. That
evidence the Acknowledgement or the army, gwen dur
ing the last session OF Congress ,,
War Department. res sur DO lnos that shlls Gen Bssesq
s- believe Liverpool he h however berls
upon the retired list presume 2. an GGcsrGt iee time Of which
OF w Gen BGesu end eorrespond'
S sls sS'y sGt Ee va eS ca @ have them
dates which they were nu,ei to bis care Some time
Of tn Sc paper. sa had search made Tor them 1hey
Se fSnG i a red that he ssd delivers, them to n
va. assistant in charge
Adutsnt Office and asked him for Information concerning
lie said that all the papn returned to him were Immediately
h S 1 1 sent iH%ssie e Of missing every
chef esss TS. had o. s be ma made T s hey IN
Ds q sg s Sa S G nt RSs se S Ind ea D'
Gen socum read list Of the missing letters as given
in the Adutant Generals report, and continued:
Here is q list OF several hundred important letters
taken by gentleman once upon Gen. Grants staE VINO
is now Consul to Liverpool but whore name In violation
OF laws Is still borne upon the rUlls OF our army
Now let us examine as to the LEGISLATION OF TIE hepu9
the great OF our soldiers, or whether III has
not been more With view oI m a rese nc tSe
retirement OF officers was passed ny Congress- so peculiar
placed upon the retired list with rank much higher
tnan that held by them IN the regular army ana giving
doing no duty Than they would received had they
remained active duty In the field Dlll was intro
dueed repeating this unjust law IL came up Tor discus
sion In the House Representatives. the sh OF May
last or OF the law sought 10 lie repealed
remarks OF the leading Republicans in the
House Mr.. COhun, Chairman OF the Committee on MIL
itary Affairs. declared that "a more moDstrous
piece OF injustice has never been embodied In the shape
Of n law In this country"
the long wounded and disabled volunteer onee who
s I IL The hop the ssd or the Once such cases be un
the hundred n4 b. the thousands yet we forget pass them BY and
sy Of the very hshes they accidentally have b 10 the
ought paid position held when they
Cen Butler Of Massachusetts said:
bas the njusee Of the p.u. system o. for retired
now 20 the President or Secretary
solicitation or through their friends procure hs i,s9
been disabled in the volunteer service and get themselves ret red
volunteer has Of second who
believe within " days after be appointed
IN regular army and that within the last Now let US see
how this thing oestes will give You an instance from the Anay
ofer anybody ~ Who at the date Of
Aug He
Gung and retired mslorgeneal He
dale Oh
b. pay active list only s2.20I year"
The bill for the repeal OF this odous law was passed by
the House dissenting votes. IL went 20 the
senate and was referred 10 the Committee on Military
Affairs Of which Senator Wilson, the Radical candidate
the Vice Presidency, was chairman He could not
deny the injustice of the law but would not consent TO
its absolute repeal for that would restore the favored
Few who had taken advantage OF Its provisions 10
equality with their brother soldiers. Through his nnu'
ence the House bill amended TO prevent such
fayoritisn In the future but It left undsurbed those
now the list Can clearer proof be gwen OF the
fact that Senator Wilson, while pratng about the
soldier stands ready TO egslate for the few who have
already received the lions share rather than In the In
terest OF the great OF deserving who, In the
Language OF Gen Coburn eking out bare sub
sistence IN every part Of the land.