The New York herald., 1876-03-08


surrounding himself with corps Of assistants for duty
at the Centennial until his siaG promises to equal IN
dimensions that OF the General OF the army Ho has
displayed n marked apttude however. for selecting
men whose character surroundings wonderfully
in keeping with his own First there Major Lewis
Merrill, whose appointment 70 this duly almost the
last act OF the thieving Secretary and when Merrill Is
recalled the ofncer whose
NOTORIOUS TRANSACTIONS IN SOUTH cARoLNA,
by which, it is alleged, he put his hand
into the South Carolina treasury and
ried OF $4,000 OF the State money for doing
that for which the general government paid him
and whose conduct Senator Bayard has ofien exposed
in the Senate 1t will be that birds OF feather still
flock together. How appropriate 10 was that Belknap,
as his last Official act, should appoint thus
man TO be present Al the Centennial order that
might hold him up the admrlng gaze OF foreigners
and say owing the small army this is the
only officer had who charged a bankrupt state
$40, ,0OO for making upon IFS old men and defence
less and children. Another maer ndded TO the
stall OF the xSecrctarys iavorite is nephew OF Sena
tor Morton, who was appointed upon the principle that
'if you scratch my back I'll scratch yours" The
readers OF the HERALD will hesitate to credit the state
ment perhaps but Il Is undoubtedly and undeniably
true that under the corrupt reign OF Beknap tho TWO
staff majors claimed and exercised more potent nhu-
with the exSecretary and at all times were more
powerful than any general officer IN the
army save perhaps, General Sheridan, whose
influences for hereafter to be gwen, was very
great The influence OF Hancock and Mcdowell CON-
bined, although both are Major Generals was not
equal to that OF either OF these two junior officers
other staff corps had their representatives In the
army aud navy, but Belknap BabcOck and the twin
Majors with occasional suggestions from General
Horace Porter and General Rufus Ingalls, were
rHB MOVING SPIRITS
of the capital. The head of the Adjutant Generals
Office, an antquated AMI partially fosszed remnant
of the regular army il existed before the war; and
whose ability running back street Sunday schoo'
Is marked than his aptitude for military affairs
as they the present day has been most use
ful implement the hands of tho ex-Sccretary In
promoting without murmur or protest, the wishes o.
Bclknap. The scurvy manner in which Belknap
heaped ndignites upon the General Of the Army are
fresh in the public mind Little by little Belknap
sumed himself the decision OF all questions and the
exercise all authority which by law aud the demands
of tie service belonged to Sherman, until the latter
was actually forced-although other causes were
given-to has residence and headquarters to ST.
LOUIS where as little consideration possible was
extended to hun by Belknap In order TO make Sher-
man feel his humiliation the more Beknsp determined
to throw everything into Sheridan's hands which was
possible ignoring every occasion the General Of the
Army. In this way began and was cultivated
TIE IMMENSE INFLUENCE SHERIDAN
with Belknap, condition OF affairs which did not
seem to displease Grant No one has believed
hintcd even that Shendan's influence with Belknap
has used desired tor any but military objects
As the House has ft TO act upon former sugges
of the HERALD in regard to the military sugges
tions it contained let the majority who have the
fl,o of
to sustain Them consider the following means of
completing the breaking up OF tho Army Ring lately
headed by BeKnap, and with OF restoring the
control of army matters and the administration OF mill
tary Affairs here the senior officers Of the service
instead OF to a few sycophants OF corrupt power.
RESTORE AUTHORITY oy GENERAL SHERMAN.
As the first step toward the accomplishment Of this
desired end pass law requiring the headquarters Of
the General OF the Army TO be at transferred
ST. Louis TO this city, where they properly belong
and from which they should never have been per-
mtted TO 60 Then authorize General Sherman to re
issue the order he issued years ago when he nrst
sumed tho duties of General of the Army. and by
which the Adutant General OF the Army the Quarter
General of the Army odd as2oc heads OF star
departments were announced hrs stan officers and
quired to receive orders directly from him. That order
was not liked by the Secretary OF War; 1t would in
teriere with many OF his pet schemes He. therefore,
obtained revocation OF the order from the President
thereby leaving General Sherman shorn OF all power
and OF little moro service to the army than lfth
wheel TO a wagon. Then follow this up with law
regulation requiring sall officers now In Washington,
except chiefs OF departments, such as the Adjutant
General, Quartermaster General, &c, to be sent to
other stations while other and uncontaminated
officers the latter be ordered to duty In the
rious departments here. This would give much
needed change, there officers serving here who,
aside from any connection influence with the Army
Ring have served at stations at which they
were likely obtain knowledge OF the real wants OF
the service New York City and State has hundreds OF
officers more familiar with the actual demands Of
military service than many of the prominent well as
subordinate officers In OF the stan bureaus here
With Sherman installed here, and granted the
power and influence that belongs to his high position
and with genuine sitting out OF the barnacles and
hangers on who have detracted much from the
service of late years, we would soon have more Of
amy rings except disagreeable and dIshon
thing OF the past.
PRESIDENT AND YRIESDs
affect surprise the revelations concerning the sale
post tradershps by Secretary Beknap In the West
They will have occasion for much greater surprise in
few days. when orvile Grants operations shall have
been laid bare The HERALD made detailed and specific
charges against brother orvie and Secretary Belknap
last summer Editorials written at the time
calling the Presidents attention TO the facts presented
and an investigation demanded as Congress
should assemble. General Grant keeps a Gle OF the
HERALD the White House, and there good author
ity Tor saying that he reads IT. But Notwithstanding
the timely warnings given the shameful traalckng
In government patronage was continued Tho post
traders OF the Upper Missouri received that
further tribute would not be taken from them Tho
only show OF repentance made this -0ryilo Grant
went TO the correspondents in Washington and ex-
hibted certain papers, purporting that he had los,
money the business OF farming out the tradershps
and that he obliged to from business Now,
the truth is OrvIlle Grant put money In
THE coPARrxERsmIP
which he had formed with his administration friends
They invested and ho furnished the influence They
put the cash and he furnished the Intimidation In
one instance where the Indian woman relnsed 10 close