The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-01-21
CamerOn's Injustice to Gen. Thomas.
Gen Rnyntnn in his cnrrasnnndanca with

'tus ItOii III HIS tUlIts HOuutntt WIi
the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette says:
The more the record OF Gen. Thomas Is examined.
the more unjust, inaccurate, and uucalled for does
the late speech of Senator Cameron appear. OF
necessity, all Southern officers were obliged, Oh the
threshold of the war, to decide upon their course,
This decision for George II. Thomas was made In
December, 1860, when he arrived In Washington
on leave from Texas and reported that Twiggs in
tended treachery. The Second Cavalry, to which he
was major, had Albert Sidney Johnston for Its
colonel, Robert +. Lee for Its lieutenant colonel and
Hardee Its senior major, while Van Dorm.
Kirby Smith. Hood, aud FitShugh Lee were among
Its officers. All but two Of the Southern officers In
the regiment Joined the Rebelllon-Thomas and one
other. Among such Influences he stood loyal from
the first. In Gen. Garheld's oratlon Mt Cleveland
before the Society OF the Army of the Cumberland
the evidence Is set forth to show that while the con-
test was confined to the politicians Thomas might
have been perplexed, but ''the fash OF the first
gun revealed to the clear Intellect of Thomas the
whole character and spirit OF the controversy, aud
his choice was made In an instant.' Few are better
authority on Thomas than was Garfield.
But the authorities are full Of evidence against
Cameron. As has been heretofore shown, the Of
fetal report of Fiz-John Porter the very points
wherein Cameron recltes him as witness are
against the Senator. While his brother officers
leaving TO go South, which was before the date OF
which Cameron speaks, one OF Thomass comrades
secede. 81 VIII help TO whip her back again. ~
was his answer.
Gen. William HartsuG has put on record the fact
that he saw Thomas many times In New York In the
latter part OF isGc and frequently heard him discuss
the state OF the country with Southern officers. This
was also tefOre the time OF Which Cameron Speaks
Gen Hartsuff said that while Thomas reprobated
very strongly the course Of certain men and parties
at the North he denounced to these Southern officers
the Idea that 1t necessary to go with their States
and denied the necessity OF dividing the country or
destroying the Government.
Gen, II. W. johnson, who was an onicer In Texas
with Thomas and went with him to Carlisle Barracks,
where they were previous 10 the date named by Cam
eron, says; "Gen. Thomas Ainched nor fal-
tered, nor wavered In his devotion to his country. ~
Gen. Patterson, under whom Thomas first served,
going from Carlisle to Join him, wrote thus; "Gen.
Thomas contemplated with horror the prospect of a
war between the people OF his own State and the
Union. but he never for moment hesitated, never
wavered. never sweryed from his allegiance to tho
nation that educated him, and whose servant he was.
From tho beginning would have pledged my hopes
here and hereafter on the loyalty of Thomas. -
Cen Sherman, writing OF his knowledge OF
Lincoln was Installed IN o,ce, and manifested the
deep feeling OF love for all parts OF the country, de-
the Union should be maintaned even lit had to Se
fought for, and that forcbIe secession treason,
then Thomas. IKE all national men, brushed away
the subteiies OF the hour saw clearly his duty and
proclaimed 1t, not by mere words, but by riding
In full uniform at the head OF his regiment and bril-
gade, invading without o murmur his native State
and commanding his men TO put down forcibe re-
sistance by the musket.h
Thus Gen. Sherman testlaes that so early as March,
1851 Gen. Gen. Thomas had proclaimed his position.
The date Cameron gives as that at which he un-
decided until Flt1-John Porter persuaded him was
April IS. Hon.. ,. a.. .o.o,.n,., .,,. !.
Gen Thomas has put record the following notes OF
a conversation with the General on the subject
under discussion. the notes being made at the time
." slander upon the General was often repeated In
the Southern papers during and Immediately sub
sequent 10 the Rebellion. II was given upon the
authority Of prominent rebel ocers, and not denied
by them II TO the effect that he disappointed
In not getting high command In the rebel army he
had sought for hence his refusal 10 Join the Rebellion
In conversation with him on this subject the Gene
raj said this was an entire fabrication, not having an
atom OF foundation. Not line ever passed between
him and the rebel authorities; they have genuine
letter Of his: nor was word spoken by him 10 any
ono that could lead to such an inference. lie dened
any one to produce any testimony, written oral to
sustain such an allegation. lie never entertained
such an Idea for his duty was clear TO him from the
beginning
In the beautiful order announcing his death Gen.
sherman, who knew him intimately since they sal
boys on the same bench, ~ wrote: 'The great civil
war found him ~ his post, true aud hrm amid the
terrible pressure he had encountered by reason OF his
birthplace.
Tho Senate aud House, at the time Of his DEATH IN
atteslng "the sympathy Of Congress at this national
bereavement declared that ''his never faltering
faith and zeal In the integrity OF the Government,
aud his stern execution OF every trust conded TO him.
constitute record In life made memorable In death.
In the face OF such extracts from records as are
here recorded Senator Cameron has duty to perform
which he cannot discharge by silence. There prob
ably l50, 600 men now living who served at some
time under the eye Of Gen. Thomas. and there are
millions who equally with them glory In his unde-
Waiting loyalty and revere his memory. such Is the
company which win Justly feel outraged at the delib-
crate speech Of the Senator.