Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-04-18
GENERAL CHALmERs
Gets up on His Feet In the House
and Boldly Calls for Commit
tee to Investigate His Con-
duct at Fort Pillow
During the War.

Washington correspondent Cincinnati En-
qntfer: General Chalmers, of Mississippi,
rose to a personal explanation to-day, and
had read an article published In late num-
Der Of the Cincinnati Gazette, in which the
charges were reiterated of Chalmers's bar
barity at Fort Pillow, when, as was alleged
in a report made by senate committee, he
permitted colored children to be murdered
in cold blood. He also had read a report
from the Cincinnati Enquirer of a speech de-
livered by Congressman Ben BUtterworth, at
Music hall, just before the late municipal
election, in which he alluded to Chal .ners as
the hero of PoIt Pillow After these papers
had been read, a resolution was offered for
the appointment OF a committee of seven
members, to be composed of gentlemen who
had served In the Union army, and MAORI
ty of whom should be Republicans, to inves-
tigate these charges, which, if true, rendered
him, General Chalmers, unworthy to be a
member of this house. Chalmers subsequently,
said that, if these charges were true he was
murderer. his election was a disgrace to
the State of Mississippi, and his presence
here was stigma upon the American con-
gress. The charges against him were based
on report OF a committee of congress, made
10 the mid t OF war, and the people who tes-
tiled against him were not known to him
personally. He did not believe that such a
transaction, as was reported, occurred (refer-
ring to the charge of barbarously killing
negro chlldren). Only one witness pretended
to identify MN, and that witness described
him as wearing star upon his coat. That
statement relieved MIN. In the Confederate
service the star was the insignia of a major,
and not of a brigadler general. These
charges were ruug against him in the press
of the country years ago, and they were
then so fully denied that he did not believe
any respectable man in the country would
give credence to them at this day, or who be-
lJeyed him to be the monster OF cruelty he
was described TO he in the com nittee's report
This matter had now recently been renewed
in the press, and a member OF this house
from Ohio Mr.. Butterworthl, in a speech in
the city Of Cincinnati lately, animated that he
was the monster he was accused of being. 1t
was due to him, as representative; it was
due to the State of Mississippi and to his
party, and due to the honor of the American
congress that this matter should be investi-
gated and settled forever. Mr.. Garfield said
he would not object to Chalmers personal
explanation, but he wanted members to con-
slider how tar they would 90 IN these matters
of personal investigation and vindication
He alluded to Acklen's case last congress,
and said the house was then correct. This
was somewhat different, because the charges
were made originally in the congressional re-
port. he suggested, however, that the sub
ject be laid over informally. So that memt ers
might think about it and determine how far
they would go. Mr. Butterworth said that
lnasmCch as his name had been mentioned
he would say that, touching the article read,
he knew nothing about it or of its origin or
history. He eoald not understand why 1t
should be coupled with an extract from his
speech at Music hall. He was not familiar
with the grave charges made against General
Chalmers. He knew his name was
identified with what was regarded in
the north as a great outrage at Fort Pillow,
and in his speech he bad only referred to
the gentleman as the hero of Fort Pillow, be-
cause he was better known in Cincinnati in
that connection than in any other way. In
his speech at Cincinnati he referred to Chal-
mers as having accused the Union men of
1851 OF having been the traitors. He [Chal-
mers had intimated in his speech that the
Democrats had always stood by the constitu-
ton; that the north had not done it; that the
north had trespassed upon their rights In
1861, and were trespasslng upon them still.
He wanted TO show that it was the reverse,
and he believes so still. The report of his
speech which was read was taken from the
Cincinnati Enquirer, paper which had not
reported his speech correctly, and had mis-
him. All he said was that the
logic Of the gentleman S speech on the army
bill was that we were not the supporters of
the constitution, and that they were. That
was all that he had denounced, and nothing
more. Mr. Garfield suggestion to postpone
the whole subject, to be called up at
Mr.. Chalmers S pleasure. was then agreed t."
How Ohio Leaders View 1t.
Washington correspondence New York
Star: There is much talk among Ono poll
ticians here. and the immediate friends of
Senator Thurman II particular of the unex-