The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-05-10
A SERIOUS CASE.
Reports that have been Concealed
for Party Purposes.

-O-
Reports that have been Concealed
for Party Purposes.
From the New York Tribune, 9TH,
1t is nearly ten years since a urilitar,
commission met at Cincinnati with clos
ca doors to investigate the conduct o
General Don Carlos Buell. in the man
lagemcnt Of one Of the most impvrtan
OF our Western campaigns. Buell. hat
been relieved OF his command updel
peculiar circumstances. He was an &C
complished stratcgist, but he was Ovel
cautious, and caution in the earlier year,
OF the war was virtue for which neith
er the people nor the administration l,af
much respect. He was a conservative
III politics, and very free in his criticism
upon the policy Of the government. He
was not OH good terms with either Grant
or sherman. There were MANY. copse.
quenty, who believed that his removal
was dictated by personal dislikes and
jealousies, and to this day his offense. Il
he really committed any, has not been
made public. The commission took an
enormous amount Of testimony. They
Inquired into all the operations of the
whole great campaign, aud emdexvoretl
to learn who deserved the credit Of its
successes and who was responsible for
Its imperfect results. They made a re-
port at last. and sent il to the Secretary
OF War. RumOr asserted land some OF
the truth generally leaks out of these
secret court.roOIns) that it vindicated
General Buell. and tore to shrcds the
reputation Of certain more popular COM
That it disposed entirely of
the i'm putations upon the Generals pa-
triotism is evident from the fact that on
Two occasions subsequently, he WINS Of
icrett command. But what il contain
ed has never been told. II was not
printed nor sent to Congress no official
notice of any kind was ever taken of IL !:
no satisfaction was given to General
BuelTs repeated demands for ius,ice !:
and when the wrongcd officer has applied
for n copy Of the testimony and report
he has always been refused. At last thc
House Committee on Military Affairs
was induced few weeks ago 10 take
action IN the matter. and the Secretary
OF War was requested TO transmit to
that body copy Of tho proceedings Of
The secret court.
Gen. Belknap replied that the papers
were voluminous. and he had MOI forcc
enough I" transcribc them. Further in
lniry revealed the strange fact that they
have been removed from the files Of the
department.. and nobody seems to know
What has bccome ot them.
The investigation of tbi, startling theft
must be no child's play. II is well known
with what jealous care the War Dcpart-
nrnt pretcnds to preserve its records.
They are not accessible to the outsidc
public under any circumstances, even
or historical purposes but il is hardly al
secret in Washington that they are ac-
'essible TO the military ring. Now. i'll
he Cincinnati and Nashville INQUIRY
General Buell., IL must have
rreparably damaged certain orher Off.
'crs OF distinguished rank, and it will
perhaps not be difficult to ascertain who
hose officers are. Let us know who had
IN interest IN spiriting these importuntl
,apers away. Let us know by what in
iucnce General Halleck's report Of the
shiloh and DOnclson campaign Inns alsol
,een suppressed. Let us know why the
War Department. reminded Of this sup
,ression by distinguished public man.
las refused to make any explanation.
Let Us know whether IL is true that the
ccords OF various cOurt-martials hayeI
,cSn removed from the files. aud wheth.
r it is true that General Badcau l,ss
'ccn allowed 10 carry some Of the most
important papers of the department TO
europe. And we may as well know.
90. what was the nature Of the service
which the Presidents young friend, Col.
Get rendered when he was arranging
rmy documents before his removal to
lcw York.
There is widespread suspicion that
he military ring has been allowed to
ampcr with these papers. The Presi-
ent must not rest until that suspicion
AS been removed. While il lasts there !,
: blot upon his reputation which his !
est friends can not overlook. II any
ficcr's fame is To he shielded BY theft,
does not follow, of course that that
Aicer is General Grant but until il il
hown who the guilty person is, the fin
or of suspicion points at every man
tho has access to the records and a
Ossible interest in their suppression.
We call for an immediate and searching
INQUIRY.
~ The Administration, the Hartford
'ournnt acknowledges, has committed
errors of the head, not Of tho heart"
hats il; let us have change Of head.
49, - A.