Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-06
HOwARD'S CASE.
The Sanctimonious Warrior Comes
the Christian Martyr Dodge.

NhC NlEEsSI.ah DCNA6Is
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
Il WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-The House
Military Committee viii doubtless re-
port early next week. in the Howard
case, but what the report VIII be can
not be definitely asce-tained. Howard
displays great uncasiness IN regard to
the course they may adopt. Although
his letter to the committee was bold
demand for trial, he has steadily ar
gued against trial when before them
in person since the letter was written,
especially a trial by court-martial or
a military court of inquiry. He justi-
iies his objectionto court-martlal con-
yened by the Secretary of War, by ord
er OF Congress, by urging that the Sec
rotary, having submitted Vincent's re-
port and other charges to the House, is
really his accuser, and 1t would be I'M
Just to permit his accuser to select a
court to try him. ThisFis sheer twad-
die, of course, as the Secretary In for
warding the charges for the action of
Congress simply performed his official
duty, and as it was not necessary, did
not personally vouch for or indorse
them IN any way AKA
In private the pious General asserts
that Belknap has forwarded these
charges, aetaated by malice, and ex-
plains this by saying that when he
lHoward) was In command In Tennes-
see, Belknap was holding subordinate
position under him; that he had occa-
sion-as Belknap was sadly inefficient
to reprimand him on one or two oe-
casions somewhat sharply; that Bellnap
was SO foolish as to take offense at the
impartial discharge of his duty as a
fearless Christian soldier. Belknap is
said to display some anger when this
story is told in his presence. Another
story that Howard is fond of telling, is
that he is being prosecuted for relig-
ions sake; that Adjutant- General
Vincent, who made the investigation
which developed these charges, is a
Catholic, and is prosecuting him How
ard because he is a Protestant. Vim
cents wife is a Catholic, and that is
about all the foundation there is for
the story. Again, he publishes that
Vincent is jealous of him, Vincent
having graduated at West Point some
time before he did, and this move
is merely an effort on the part of Vim
cent to degrade him, whereby he Vim
cent would be elevated in rank The
truth Is that Vincent belongs to the
staff of the army, and if all the Briga-
der Generals other than those of the
staff we're dismissed, he would not be
advanced a particle in rank.
These are but few specimen in
stances of his writhing and creeping
and crawling, filed, as he is, with fears
that his misdeeds Will be published to
the world. He is active and untiring
in working upon the sympathies of
those who will listen to him, and when
he tells the tale Of Catholic persecu-
ton, a thrill of horror runs through his
dupes, who can swallow any story that
Howard, who IS regarded, and anxious
to be regarded as martyr, tells. If a
court martial be not ordered, Howard
VIII be IN as bad a predicament, if a
Congressional Investigation alone is
had, as he was before. a military
must soonerOr later pass upon
the case. crit willnever be definitely de-
cided. No expedients TO shield himself
viii be neglected by Howard. In his
letter to the committee, it viii be re-
membered he whined that he was
charged with the wrongful acts that
were committed really by his subordi
mates. This was an indication that he
if an opportunity offered. to
pack on those Of his subordinates who |
were participants with him IN his pee
UlatiOns, and aroused Gen. Balloch, |
who was Towards Chief Discussing |
Officer. Balloch sought his old COM |
panion and persuaded him IN some |
way that It would not be to his interest |
to attempt TO shirk in this fashion. In
order that the matter might be thor
1ughly and definitely understood, Bal
och took Howard up to the War De-
Dartment few days ago, where, in the
Of the Secretary, he gave as
that he did not intend to cast
elections Of an unpleasant sort on
Balloch.