The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-24
THE GlRF1ELD.CHlSF LETTER..

YfE GIRFlEL B-CHiSE LETTER.
General Jacob n. Cox delivered before
the Society of the Army OF the Cumberland
in Milwaukee last Wednesday an Grafton
on General Garfield. The most interesting
part is his treatment of Gar6cld's relations
to Rosccrans, and it will I've seen, from the
cxtract we give herewith, that General Cox
does not think Garfield was guilty of any
treachery OF dishonor in writing tho celp-
brated letter to Secretary Chase. ON this
subject General Cox said
since his death one Of the very few hostile c,lu-
Cisms which have Jared upon the general harmony Of
admiration and Kindly good will which has matkcd
the treatment VI his character has laid hold upon his
correspondence with Secretary Chase In the summer
VI lsG3 rs basis for attacking him I'm his relations to
ten. Rosccaus, Assuming the authenticity ot the
correspondence, (which Is questioned by some who
are most competent to Judge, there are facts In the
ptior relations Of Chase aud Garfield which throw iu
tcrcstlng light upon tho letters themselves. when
Garfield entered the ohio Senate In January, 1900 II
was ut the Cluse Of tho givcrnprslp OF chase aud
| the inauguration Governor Dcunlsun. Governor
chase resided ut columbus, aul his house was nat
| uril centre for the ardent Union men, who We're
earnestly considering the probable course of events
| In that great ctSls, The intimacy that thus
tabshed between Chase and Garfield was close one.
Aftct his election to Congress, Garfield cunyaesccnt
| from his Illness NJ the summer, was ordered to
Washington upon court -martal service, and, In
preparation for his political duties, hc Of
cultivated every opportunity of getting Into tho in-
| most councils OF the leading men there. The friend
| ship with Mr. Chase and his family was already n
basis fora than ordinarily easy entrance into the
confidence Of the President and the Cabinet, and
| a..
to occupy toward Garfield member elect Of the next
House the relation Of 4 political leader, with whom
| his duty to the country demanded close coopcra-
| ton, aud with whom also confidential relations
were both public duty and personal privilege 1t
Is most equally clear that RoscCrans began to occupy
sent political position after the battle of Stone
| River I know that some, whose opportunities for
| knowledge are peculiarly good, insist that pMt, at
least, Of the delay movement by tosecrans was in
accordance with suggestions Of political advisers, aud
were more political in character than military.
have not the means Of forming decided opinion on
| this point and limit my purpose here, among those
| who are warm personal friends both the ON ,ers
| named, to calling your attention to the facts which
have stated. and Of which have personal knowledge,
because they seem to me essential to proper under.
| standing ut the relations of the parties without
| such nm understanding, any debate upon the core
spondence which has been referred tn must he quit,
| at random. II the letters are authe attic, Gar
field had become convinced that the long della,
was imperlling the interests Of the country and h
| success of the camraign, when every months pro-
longatlon uf the draining the resources Of tn
country ald making foreign complications mure prob
able. That he favored early and vigorous action /
undeniabc, nor is Vt questioned that his advice t
Rosecrlns was In accord with his convictions. III
impetuous nature devoted, first of al, to tn
cause OF his country, and the hyperCriticsm whicl
has questioned his right to y confidential expression
his judgment in the circumstances which have hee
stated caunot be regarded having great weight
How earnestly he defended the conduct and reputa
tion ot General Rosecians and Of the Army of th
Cumberland from his seat in the House of Reprcgcn
tatyts is matter of history lie did this cloquenty
boldly, and without reserve, when do It was To N
ray himself AZ ,inst the cyerShadowng power In mill
tary affairs and in politics. l think | PERSONAL
know that in doing so, he solved every doubt of hi
own mud in favor OF the cause he was chlmpionlng
and felt called upon To be than Just be uobl
generous In portraying In brightest Culors. all tia
/ was prasewurthy in that remarkable campaign. an
in covering all that might he subject to criticism.