Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-14

! OF bitter enemies, who were presided
over by General StaFgiss and MsjGr
! Lewis Merrill as judEe-adyOcate. The
| Jutge-advOc2te OF this court accepted
| the estimOly Of the two mess women,
! whose character was proven on the trit I
TO be OF the lowest grade. The offiefr
| who preferred the charges against me,
and the two officer upon whose testi-
mony / was convicted by this court,
have been subsequently csshisred and
dismissed the army, and two OF them
sentenced to the common penitentiaIy
for highway robbery and other crimes.
The proof that the Infamous court was
prejudiced against the truth Ia tha it re-
fused to credit the sworn tertimony of
honest, honorable and rslIabla witnesses
produced on my part. After the unjust
Judgment Of this court was promulgated
| was at liberty, and came to Washing
ton with letter from Hon. s. J. KIRK
wood to the late secretary of war, who
seemed to pay no more attention to the
letter than If it were so much waste
paper. He gruff1y said should o have
rehearing nor be reinstated. en-. plnyed
counsel and submitted my case to the
President, who, upon hearing that my
prosecutors han been found guilty OF the
charges preferred by me, sent my Domi-
nation to my old rank to the secretary
OF war. he sent fOr me and demanded
that should deposit With him 8 Iesig-
nation of the office, which was to take
effect 80 soon as had been confirmed,
which demand | declined to comply
with, but later aOeeded to, only to recall
1t In few hours after leaving it with
him. My nomination was defeated
through the Vaccinations OF one A. d.
Amee, then senator and tool OF the
late secretary Of war. then applied to
congress for an honorable discharge un-
der the act Of June, 1870 Ny case was
thoroughly Investigated by committee
OF the house OF representatives, which
made unanimous report exculpating
me from the false findings Of the court
martial, which was confirmed by the
house notwithstanding the exertions of
the late secretary OF war to the contra
ry), but defeated in the senate by his
false and malicious representations.
The result was the same the
next session. Finally, in 1874. |
my good character was fully viadiested
through the sid of Senator Clayton and |
others who Wers convinced of the injus- |
tice Of the persistent persecution on the |
part Of the late secretary Of war. Pend |
ing the action of congress in my case, 1 |
addressed several letters to the late Sec
rotary of war, in one of which, written |
in 1871, said: "D0es it stand to reason !
that 1 will allow false charges to remain |
on file unnotieed by me? No, sir. Ifit !
takes ten years will have Justice or re-
veBge." No reply being made TO this, |
and being convinced of his Dredilection |
for people Of low character, l sought for
Of my judgment, and IN |
less than two years found material |
enough to urge me in the patriotic duty /
Of exposing to the people Of our country
one of the most dangerous and powerful
enemies that ever sought to blacEen the
annals Of cur history. My first step in
exposing this individual to the merited
sc0rn- of the public was In my letter to
the st. Louis daily Times during the
month OfDecember, 1875, and to parties
IN the State OF Iowa, Tor the purpose OF
defeating him in the contest for the SEN
ate Of the United States. l quote from
rue Of my letters to the st. Louis Times,
published d scsmber q, 1876, aud again
published March 8, 1875: ~.
From what / know PERSONAL
Y of this individual, I feel satisfied
nat g proper investigating committee
would find him guilty Of having an in.
crest in post tTRderships in the army,
md having been paid Indirectly for po-
IitiOns ne has given persons as secretary
If war. That he has bsen interested in
telling clerkships in the departments OF
he government; that he has accumu-
sIed large amount of property since !
le has been in office; that he is not en-
irely free from completely with the
whisky ring; that the administration Of
lis department has been extravsgantly !
Lbused since he was S9ere tary Of war,
Lnd that he has m represented matters
which, for the good Of the country,
hOuld be properly explained. have
written this letter to show the real char
Icter of one who holds the high position
u cabinet officer and the confidence Of
he President"
My course in this matter has been, az
3 my usual custom, to treat it without
gloves, and with no fear for conse-
IuenceS, relying upon the public for my
In thus exposing the at
empts Of public good. 1 am not de-
ective or person VINO ever NEEDLES with
he business Of other people, but when
IA attacked / feel it my duty to find
,ut the character and standing Of my
lccuser, and as yet have never failed to
Prove them individuals not to be be-
ieved. So far no gentleman has ever
made the slightest charge sgainst me,
,ut l have been attacked by persons re-
,sTdless Of the truth of their statements
.ud unmindful of the proven facts which
20 to make up my record IS al officer
md a gentleman. What / have done
oward the overthrow of Mr.. Belknsp
md the punishment Of the two army
Ulcers heretofore named, 1 have done
lot only from desire to vindicate my
elf from the aspersions cast upon my
lOnor, but from sense OF duty which
my American citizen would in like
owe TO the republic.
GEORGE A. ARMIES,
No. Us Fifteenth street, Washington, D. c.