The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-03

tionsI Democratic convention held in the
city of St Louis in 1876, the following resolu-
tiOn was adopted:
Resolved That the states be requested to in
struct their delegates to the National smo-
cratic convention to be held IN 1880, whether
IL be desirable to continue the Jwo-thirds rule
longer In force In the National convention,
and that the National committee insert such
request in the can for the next convention.
WILLIAM II. BARNUM, OF Connecticut,
Chairman;
FRED'K. o. PRINCE. of Massachusetts,
Secretary:
The PRESIDENT WILL TAKE no ACTION RE-
GARDING THE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL
SHERMAN.
The following letter explains itself:
WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. q, $50.
Mr.. II. v. Boynten, Washington, d. O.:
SIR-I am directed by theisecretary of war TO
furnish you with the following copy OF in
dOrsement upon the charge preferred by you
against General w. II. Sherman. viz The
PRESIDENT directs that a court marshal IN this
case be not allowed, inasmuch as the civil
courts afford an ample remedy for the acts
complained OF. ALIEN RAMSEY,
Secretary of War.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS F. BARR.
Judge Advocate.
TIE CHARGES AGAINST GENERAL SHERMAN, AND
WHAT He SAYS ABOUT THEM.
The following are the official Endorsements
upon the charges preferred against General
Sherman for conduct unbecOming an officer
and gentleman" and the closing correspond
ence with the war department on the subject:
Received at the Office OF the secretary OF
war January 2S 1880, brought 10 the notice OF
ruary Is, 1880. directed by the president to be
referred to General sherman"
s'WAR DEPARTMENT, Feb. IS, 1880.
Respectfully referred to the general of the
army for such remarks as he may deem proper
(Signed) ''ALEx. RAMSEY,
Secretary of War"
J-pon reaching (,enerel Sher n an he indoryed
them as follows:
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
THE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1880
To Hon A. Ramsey, Secretary of War:
SIR I have TINS moment received, for the
first time, the communication of ii. V. BoyH-
ton, addressed TO you, under date OF January
=, 1850, inclOsing charges and specifications
against General w. I. sherman, with his vol
uTne marked exhibit b. recognize the man.
uscript document as substaDt TALLY the same as
has been published in all the newspapers for
the past two weeks, and herewith return II
with the few remarks deem proper 10 make.
and my past record of public services, and
which has stood 80 years without single
eatT The on two my first hOnSp
involve purely the civil offense OF libel or
SANDER compressed into the short letter 1
wrote him under date of January 10, 1850,
every word of which is true, and which am
prepared TO justify. AS to the third specihca-
ton, have never heard that Generals Grant
or Thomas or Logan or Blair, or any OF the
great men whom he assumes TO defend, have
ever appointed General Boynton as their at
torney. To the living and TO the friends of the
dead, am ever responsible for every word
spoken written. yield to no man In my
love and veDeration of my comrades, and
have been for Is years. on all suitable occa-
SiOns, their eulCgist All men have their good
qualities and their human defects, and in ac-
counting for the actual events OF a terrible
civil war, was forced, like every commander
OF an army, to account for the actual
results. If ever in my life, at any
time, I have done Injustice to any person
whomsoever, which deny, will cheerfully
submit the matter to an umpire and abide by
his Judgment. l have made this proposition
again and again, and will renew IL publicly
at our next army meeting. These meetings
and felt the causes referred to, and compose
the rightful tribunal for the matter set forth
in the third and last specification. l admit
the right of H. V. Boynton, or any other citi-
zen, to prove these or any charges, and that
am always amiable to,sa court martial, and
am glad he has reduced his complaints to a
tangible form. He has right to impose
upon the United States the heavy cost of
military trial OF witnesses from distance ana
necessary attorneys fees regard his prema
ture publication of these matters OF scandal
as in the line of his profession, and meant
purposely to avoid the only trial which is
right ar proper. VIZ in one of the many civi
tribunals, which exist in the District of
Columbia for this very purpose; beg tnere-
fore that you will understand that l am
abundantly ready 10 answer before any court,
lcIy TS threate ed me with suit. i empioyed as
my attorney Hon. Matt. III. Carpenter, who Is
ready to answer in my name at any and all
times. 1 have the honor to be your obedient
Vt. SHERMAN, General.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. 1880.
Hon. Alexander Ramsey, Secretary of War:
sIR-Ihave the honor OF acknoT Lodging the
courtesy OF your note OF yesterday, enclosing
copies OF various official Endorsements upon
the char ge and specifications preferred against
General W. T. Sherman, for conduct unoe-
coming an officer and gentleman and also
your note of the oath inst, informing Eae of the
fpaI action OF the president in the matter l
Of citizen TO prefer the charges, in which his
opinion agrees with the rulings of the judge
notice further that General Sherman, in
stead OF availing himself OF the opportunity
extended to him of exercising his right TO
charges which he publicly made against my
character could be tested, and where the adj
vantages would be altogether on his side, he
sets forth various reasons why the proceedings
should be had, instead. before a civil tribunal,
as the only trial which Is right and proper.
General sherman also declines, when this OPP
portunity Is offered him, to ask that the
character of his memoirs" over which
ne forced the pending controversy, may be
submitted to military court, in which alone
they can be effectively tested, and takes the
somewhat novel ground that the righuul tn
branch Of the subject is an army reunion. On
the other hand the president, who has author.
fty to order court under such circumstances
as attend this case whether an accused officer
does or does not desire IL, has decided that the
civil remedies are ample. that the civil courts
opsn for the trial of the crime of sIander and
libel Is not matter OF doubt as 10 need
high official decision, but my attempted pro-
ceeding, recognized both by the Judge advo-
cate general and by General sherman himself
as legal was for a military offense of conduct
unbecomiDg an officer and gentleman"-an
ofense not known TO the civil courts. BY the
presidents decision, no military officer Will
hereafter iDjure his army standing. at least
during the term Of this administration, by de-
nouncing any citizen through the public press
In language OF the f0ulest abuse,
even though he repeat this Languages
to the president in official form. Against ade-
cision which justihes this construction, i, as
citizen, most respectfully protest. While this
decision, in its terms, is as broad as the army,
the high sense of honor which always actuates
the great body OF its officers, renders IL GER
tain that the presidents indulgencies will be
rarely, II ever, needed by any officer below its