Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-20

wisdom of congress. The duty OF this de-
partment is to administer properly the
laws pertaining to it as they are and to
use, if necessary, the means provided by
law to ascertain whether or not imputa-
tons like those in question are well found
ed. I agree with you that an investigation
of the truth of the imputations must be
bad, but cannot concur in your views of
the propriety of this department appealing
to the senate direct. 1t is provided by
article 115, section 1,343 of the revised
statute, that court of inquiry to examine
into the nature of any transaction of, or
accusation or imputation against, any
officer or soldier may be ordered by the
president or by any commanding Of
ficer, but for the reason stated that a court
of inquiry shall never be ordered by any
commanding officer except upon de-
mand of the officers or soldiers whose
conduct is to be inquired
into 'ln case, therefore that a
court of inquiry is not asked for to inves
tigate and report upon any matter which
may be laid before it impugning the Of
fetal fidelity of officers engaged in the
performance Of the duties OF sour bureau,
I shall feel it my duty to advise the presi-
dent to appoint a court for that purpose.
Referring to your request that your letter
of yesterday, be given to the press, you
have my assent to its publication accom-
panied by this.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
ROBERT I. LINCOLN,
Secretary of War.
To Gen. w. B. Hazen, Chief Signal
officer q. s. A.
HAzEN TO LINCOLN.
The secretary of war, late this afternoon,
received the following communication:
To the Honorable, the Secretary of War:
Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter of the 18th inst.
The motive of the chief signal officer in
asking for an official investigation is very
clear. Two bills are pending before the
legislative branch of the government, one
favored by the secretary of war, as I I'M
derstand his annual report and his letter
of the 18th inst, and one favored by me.
Assertions have been made
in the public press that
are false and make difficult a
fair discussion of the merits Of the propo-
sition involved. It has not seemed proper
to the chief signal officer to ask for court
Of inquiry, because he desires fuller in
vestigation than such court can give. He
is surprised to learn that any one familiar
with the services of charges, or with their
true character, should deem any inquiry
necessary, except for the information of
the public, and he is sure that congress
sional investigation is best adapted to that
end. The chief signal officer Is as deter |
mined that fair investigation of his bu-
reau shall be had as any one
can be. He has thus formally |
his desire as to what
means shall be employed. The chief signal |
officer is also surprised that the secretary |
should understand him as saying that he |
feels that justice may not be done him by
= court of inquiry. He said that he desired
Justice for his bureau and himself, and the |
text of his letter shows that in saying that |
the desired end could not be obtained by |
court of inquiry, he meant simply that an
by such tribunal could not |
be broad enough to accomplish what he
believes all friends of the service desire. |
am very respectfully your obedient SER
rant,
Signed w. B. HAZEN,
3rigadier and Brevet Major General, Chief |
SirnaI Oficar TT G