Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-03-05
THE ARMY.
summary Dismissal Of m Onicer for
Political Reasons.

WASHINGTON, March l. Congress
passed laS providing for q reduction oi
the army. Many arbitrary changes
were made, all with the view to provid-
ing for administration tavorites. Fol
example, one colonel, who stood high In
the esteem of his brother officers, and
who was in every way fitted for his du-
ty, was qIeezed out of the active list,
and another colonel, a One-legged man,
who had recently proven himself fail
ure, but who was fsvoTite, was substi-
tuted in his stead. Among the lieuten-
ant-c1lonels oi the cavalry was an off.
Ger nsmed Whiting. He had served all
the better years Of his life in the army.
He was graduate OF West Point about
the time that Grant himself was in the
academy. He had served on the frontier
before the war. He commanded his
regiment-one of the regular cavalry
notwithstanding the war, psrticipst-
ing IN many Of the great battles. He
was taken prisoner near Richmand, and
in fact, rendered good and faithful serv-
ice during the entire war. At the time
of the passage Of the law referred to he
was stationed at one OF the remote from
tier posts OF Texas-sO remote from civ
ilizaiiOn that the first intelligence he re.
ceived Of the law was accompanied by
an executive order dismissiUg him from
the army. Colonel Whiting could not
believe but that some mistake had i6el
committed, and it would only be nece5-
sary 10 lay the facts before the President,
whO-himselfa soldier-wOulds see his Old
cOmTsde in arms Tighted. Colonel Whit
ing made his way to Washington and
induced Senator Ramsey, an old ac-
qusintsnce Of his, to accompany him to
the White House in his effort TO secure
his reinstatement in the service. They
sent their cards in TO the President, who
at once gave them an audience. The
subject OF Colonel Writings dismissal
was at once brought up. Whether the
presence Of Senator Ramsey induced the
President to svoid giving def
mite reply or not, the lat
ter, at any rate, asked Colonel
Whiting to call again in day or two,
which he did. This time, however, ne
called ulaccompanied by the influence
Of = senator. Imagine his surprise and
disappointment, however, when the
President cOolly informed him that
nothing would be done 10 reinstate him,
and that he had beeu struck from the
rolls of the army because the records of
the war department showed that he was
not friendly 10 the administration. And
has il come 60 this that a black-bOOk is
kept IN the war department in which
the political predictions of officers Of
the army are recorded? This may eX-
plain that which on other grounds has
appeared inexplicable, why certain Off
Gers OF little or no merit have of late
years been preferred and advanced to
the prejudice Of others more deserving.
HOW MAJOR MERRILL LOST HIS RE-
WARD.
WASHINGTON, March LIT is report.
ed on und0ubted authority that as re-
ward for the services OF Major Lewis M.
Merrill in taking upward Of twenty
Thousand dollars from the South Caro-
lima treasury and for imprisOning citi-
Zens OF that State, the President, on
MerrilPs request, promised to transfer
him from the line, where he is In dan.
ger of smelling-whAt he never smelled
betore-burned gunpOwder, to position
in the Judge e-advCcAte-generaps depart
ment. There would certainly be a fit
ness in the transfer. Merrill would make
au appropriate tail to bureau of which
Holt is the head. There is no doubt but
that the bargain Just described would
have been carried out had it not been
for the exposures made in the World,
and the scathing reviews Of that officers
conduct in the editorials Of the World,
and in the senate chamber by senator
Baysrd, all of which demonstrates that
while the President might appoint Mer-
rill, the senate would never confirm him.