New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-24

rotary OF War had done III, In tho OPINION Vi
many people, an average OF once day, ana
tho general run of his fellOw-citzens thor
oughly approved his course. AS to tho question
of yeracity, it was one which might easily have
arisen among men at variance in business mat
tiers, and would have attracted no attention
had it not been for tho strong personal feeling
existing at the time between the Secretary and
the SurgeOn-Gencral
At all events the dismissal Of DR.. Hammond
excited little comment at the time except among
those Immediately interested. The Sanitary
Commission, which had tho right, perhaps to
sneak with more authoritative voice in rela-
ton to such matters than any other Organiza-
ton, stood stoutly by the Surgeon Gcncral from
beginning to end, and even after the conclusion
of the war defended his administration with
especial earncstness in Mr. Stiles admirable
history. But there was too heavy u sea on at
that time to allow tho country to give much
attention to the cry of man overheard. DIR.
Hammond was too wise to waste his time III
trying to right himself in the midst of such
tempest as was then blowing. The army In
which he had spent all his years of early man
hood was closed to him. lie could not even
serve as an Assistant Surgeon after his SEN
tencc. But tho world was still open to him,
and he felt strong enough to make his
own way, oven with a weight like that at his
heels. He probably considered the sentence
heavier weight than it really proved to be.
There must have been general doubt OF the
Justice OF the verdict which dismissed him,
because the honorable profession 10 which he be-
longcd welcomed him back, aud society never
closed it, doors to him. lie began practice in
New York whore competition was scvereat and
where Success il gained would be greatest
lis Success has been beyond question. As q
man Of science, - a practitioner oil medicine,
as a scholar and gentleman he is as well and
rs fayoab!y known here and abroad. rs he ever
could have wished III his most ambitious days
OF youth.
But this material prosperity and good repntc
are not enough 10 Il man of fine SENSE oil
honor. and Dr. Hammond iInhs the time has
come for the Government to reverse It's action
Of dozen years ago, and eXpun2e from the
records of the army the blot that stands there
upon biz nanc. He wishes To have his ease re-
opened and referred tO Commission composed
of three Major Generals of the army. being
confident that upon the evidence which Will oe
submitted to them they will find him not
guilty of any Of the charges brought against
him. He proposes, among other things, to
show by the testimony of the Assistant Secre-
tary of War that Mr.. Stanton himself regretted
tho rigor with which be had attacked him,
and felt convinced that he had done hun
wrong. There il serious question whether
such n reversal Of military verdict il pos
sjblc but it certainly lies within the discre-
A, ,ftl fp rpy
n court martial, and if it be shown to be I'M
Just, to make what reparation would lie Ill
general order to that effect. and In
removal Of the disabilities consequent upon
the sentence. Whatever amends OF thu. KIND
are possible under tho law and the equities oil
the case. are certainly due to DR.. Hammond
in the interests of justice, 10 less than those
Of learning and science.