The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-05-30
Official Laxity.

record The whole case was afterwards
deposited in the archives of the war de-
partment 1t is considered remarkable
| that the whole case has disappeared, and
il q present interest manifested in the
matter, which absorbs much of other
topics in the political circles of Washing
ton. There is an ugly look about the man
ucr OF their abstraction, and the silence
| which exists in regard to inquiries aS to
their whereabouts, which cannot he placed
to the credit of President Grant and his
special and peculiar friends The ques-
ton is, where are the papers They were
loaned to Badeau. we are told, and he has
them now in London. What does he want
with them? Surely not for the second
volume of his life OF Grant; for the first
volume Of that work. published before
Gen. Badeau went to London, brought
the history down to a period long subse-
quent to the time of General Bueil's leav-
inc the army. He may have had the pa
perS for use when writing his first volume.
but we do not see why he should have
taken them to London, or why he should
be now keeping them. Suppose ii should
turn out that Badeau does not happen to
have them Suppose it should be ulti
matelv admitted that these papers have
disappeared forever-havc been destroy
ed or suppressed, which is equivalent to
their being destroyed? Will not the ques-
ton ut once rccur-Nho DESTROYED hem-
who was Interested in having this record
disappear? Not General bucll for his
interest has been constantly to have them
published, 50 that he might obtain at least
a popular revocation OF the military ver-
diet against him. II is claimed, indeed,
by General Buelrs friends, and not now
for the first time, That he was tried be-
canse he did not win the battle of Perry
vile, and was condemned because Grant
did not win the battle of shiloh II envy
be SO strong as to destroy the obligations
of common gratitude, who shall say il
might not hr strong enough 10 tempt to
the destruction Of records that bear too
glaring a testimony to its oWA disordrrcd
existence? II jealousy is TOO proud TO be
saved, it is too proud to let The evidence
OF its salvation remain GA record. II Ibis
state of the ease, Tic Jealous and un~cru-
pulouS offices of n young Mr. Iact may
no longer seem 50 uperSerViceable, nor
will the arrogance of his self-asSert on
and the character of his reward be any
longer mysterious The original bargain
with Lindsay and GrinnelI was contracted
while this enterprising Young gentleman
was still at his task Of ''arranging papers
at the War Department" That task con
Sumated, Mr. Leet went straight to New
York and stepped unchaIengcd into the
full possession of his General Order bust
ness. Shall we hear from General Badeau?
It is consoling to know that there was
once higher standard of official honor
and integrity. and time when those in
high position would not permit such
dangerous tritling with the records of the
department. When John Tyler was Pres
ldent and John G. Calhoun was Secretary
OF State, and the annexation Of Texas cot
to be a leading question, it became i'm
portant to get access to the archives Of
the State Department for the examination
of the correspondence between Spain and
our Minister at the Spanish Court about
the time of the Florida Treaty The editor
of the Guardian a friend of Mr.. Calhoun
waited on the clerks in charge, and the
reply was that what was wanted could
not be allowed without direct authority
from the Secretary of State He waited
on John G. Calhoun, then Secretary. with
whom he was on friendly terms, and Mr.
Calhoun said:
Il do not see how il can be done Should
any u ember of The Committee OF Foreign fairs
call he would, of course. have the right to do
what you ask, but have no right to admit Il
stranger to it..
Then he was asked if he would not per
NIT one of the clerks Of the Office to copy
what was wanted. He replied:
Il might as well let YOU do it. as let another
do it for you. sir am not authorized to give
| you access to the papers, nor to let them be
copied for you"
And yet Mr.. Calhoun greatly desired
/ the annexation of Texas
| H., ,
under President Grants administration
General Badeau, Grants historian saws i'm
the preface to his work:
1.-The cor: espondence, tergraphic and writ
len, OF the headquarters of the armies is Access
Sible to me. | have also been SLOWED to ex-
anime all papers under the control of the War
Depar' mcnt.'
When badeau was appointed to his
Consul Generalshp, he took with him to
London original materials for his second
volume, and it may he some of the miss
ing Buell. records crossed the ocean. In
the first volume, which covers the period
o+ the Southwestern campaign of 1862
will be found severe, and as is. believed
unjust nculpations of General Buell., ant
an appendix full of private kilograms to
that officer, copies of which could only
have been had from Grant or the War De
partment, and were, no doubt, in evidence
before the court-martial.
Such instances show the lapse under
Grant from the high standard of oilicia
conduct inaugurated by our earlier Presi
dents. They are unwelcomc evidences
of low tone of feeling, Of an abuse 81
high public trusts TO private ends, and o.
the decadence of political morals.