Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-12
rresident Grant and the Colored Del.
eg0teD.

koSSOs
VISIT OF THE CIVIL RJeHrs CONVENTION TO
THE wHIr8 HOUSE
The members Of the National Colored Con-
ventton proceeded to the White House ct II
O'Clock this morning to pay their respects to the
President. On arriving at the Executive man.
sion all filed into the blue room, preceded by
George T. Downing, the drst vice president Of
the convention, and the other vice presidents.
Here they were met by President Grant, and
the delegates facing him in . semi-circle, Mr..
Downing advanced and said:
"Tresstent Grant,-The convention of colored
men representing every state in the union has
been in session in this city for few days, pre-
sided over by Mr.. Pinchback, who regret Is
70 be ems a
me mbers to tender to you the kind feeling of
the members who express the entire sentiment
OF the coiored people Of the land for the valua-
BILE services you have rendered them during
your public life. By what has already been
done we begin to feel that the country has near
ly arrived at that state designed by our fore
fathers that all men are created free and equal.
The convention has assembled to express our
grievances and ask of Congress to give us re-
lief, and from the expression Of your senti-
we have no doubt that such relief viii meet
your approval. In the name of the colored
race l thank you for such expression"
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT.
Inc President replied as follows: 81 am very
glad to receive the convention and listen to
your remarks. 1 have always believed that en-
pany emancipation. These rights should have
followed without legislation. 1t is unfortunate
that any enactment is necessary to secure such
rendered it necessary. hope the present Con.
gress will give the relief YOU seek"
Mr. Douglass then said: 81 thank you, Mr..
President, for the full ex preston yeu have made
and the sentiments you entertain"
general hand shaking followed, after which
the delegates took their leave.
The Alleged Freedmen's Bureau
Frauds.
SECRETARY BELRNAP's REPORT TO CONGRESS-
The Secretary of War has sent a letter to the
House of Representatives in relation to the
charges of fraud and malfeasance in office
against Brig. Gen. o. o. Howard, in connection
with his management of the Freedmen's Bureau.
This letter is accompanied by evidence from the
records and accounts of the late bureau, which
it If claimed, sustain the charges. The 4lst
Congress, it will be remembered, at the instance
of Fernando Wood, Investigated Gen. Howard
and virtually exonerated him from being infiu-
enced by improper motives in his man agement
of the affairs Of the Freedmen's Bureau. Sub
sequently 1t was alleged that Gen. Balloch,
Towards chief discussing officer, had kept
SlS50OO of the bureau funds on deposit in a
bank, and had been drawing interest upon it.
and disposing of It, as he claimed, to make good
the losses OF himself and brother officers sus
tanned by erroneous payment of bounties- Bal
loch had previously resigned and could not be
tried When the bureau was abolished, shortly
afterwards, Assistant Adjutant General Vim.
cent was put in charge of Its papers, aud began
the investigation which has led to the discovery
OF the facts communicated to the House by the
secretary. preliminary report on the subject
was made to the House last session, but at too
late a day for 1t to be considered.
The Secretary liz his letter saws that the
responsibility and accountability attaching to
the late commissioner, SO far now ueyeloped.
amounts to upward Of S27S, 513 66, and NAV be
stated under the following headings:
Claimed by colored claimants, who allege
that they have not been paid their pay and
bounty, although the records of the Treasury
department show the settlement of the claims
and vouchers have been filed by the late bureau
as evidence of the payment of S33, $3.50.
Second Defalcation of st. Clair Vaudeville,
Third: Defs,catiOn of o. C. French, reduced
to S3,0H.54.
Fourth. Defaleation of b p. Runkle, S6,32i
Fifth. Acknowledged by Georg e w. Balloch
to have been paid TO b. p. II unkle to reimburse
the latter for mistakes made by his agents in
paying bounties to the wrong parties, 81 ,33l.03.
Sixth Due by the late bureau in consequence
of illegal double pay and certain accrued inter
est, several thousand dollars.
Seventh. Irregular fund.- called retained
bounty fund, under the act of March 2, 1867,
not accounted for, upwards of s12l 900.
Eighth. Misapplication OF public funds and
fling vouchers with the accounts covering
certain month when payments were made In
prior neutrality-suspicious., S36,314; vouchers
covering the time subsequent to the actual
S73 ,0ie-tOtal, S109,363.
The Secretary says the commissioner was not
tried by court martial because the latter be-
came barred in part, under the statute OF linn
itations, before it was discovered that he was
amenable. The Secretary believes he could yet
be tried on some specific charges by court mar
tial, but deems it best that the entire subject
should be submitted to the House of Represen-
tatives. He also states that "the Department
OF Justice, however, has been furnished with
some cases, and others are to follow, of appar-
ent malfeasance, with q request to institute
either criminal suit or civil suit, to recover
moneys belonging to the United States, or both
suits, as may be proper, against such of the
officers and agents OF the late bureau as may be
The letter of the Secretary of War was pre-
sented to the House to day aud read. Mr.. Wood
upon the conclusion of the reading, introduced
a resolution directing the reference Of the sub
iect to the Committee on Military Affairs, ana
instructing them to request the Secretary of
War TO convene a cOurts-martial for the trial of
Gen. Howard or any other official implicated.
This resolution was objected to and voted down
Tor the reason that 1t was mandatory in its
terms and in measure prejudged the case.
The letter of the Secretary was then referred to
the Military Committee without instructions.