Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-23
SWAIN TO BE INDICATED
ARTHUR ORDERS THE BATE
MAN CHARGES INVESTIGATED.

Secretary of war Lincoln Induces the
Presidents Action by Urging that the
Army's Honor is at Stake, and the Ad-
vocate Generals Defense of Himself
not Sufficiently Explicit.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-Secretary Lin
coin to-day addressed a letter to the Presi-
dent, in which he recites that on the 10th
inst. A. E. Bateman, Of this city, a men,
Der of the firm of Bateman & Co, bankers.
addressed to him a letter in which he
alleged that Gen. ID. G. Swain, Judge
Advocate General of the army, had COM
mitted a fraud upon said firm, the nature
of which he described. Mr.. Bateman's
letter, as telegraphed abroad on the day
of its date, is embodied in the Secretary's
letter, who then proceeds to say.
"On the next day and before any action
was taken on the communication of Mr.. Bate
man. another communication from him was
received by me in the following words"
Mr.. Bateman's second letter, withdraw
ing his charges against Gen. Swain, is
then set forth, followed by Gen. Swaims
Endorsement upon Mr.. Bateman's first
letter, all of which have been telegraphed
TO the press. Secretary Lincoln then
writes in his letter to the President as
follows:
Mr.. Bateman thought it proper to give to
| the press a copy of his first letter on the dav
of its date aud the grave charges made by
him against the Judge Advocate General
were thus given wide publicity. Its object
was apparently to enforce peeunary adjust
ment by means as offensive as possible, and
! his letter OF the next day shows that nOtWith
| standing the bitterness of his attack a satIs-
| factory settlement was quickly made, one
| element of which was his formal withdrawal
| of his charges, with the statement which seems
carefully framed to avoid charging himself
with having recklessly made false and
| libellOus charges in his previous letter.
THE ARMY's HONOR AT STAKE.
Mr.. Bateman's business adventures are
not entitled under any circumstances to the
protection of the War Department, but the
integrity and uprightness of the officer of
the army who reports upon every court
martial proceeding, which it is the duty of the
Secretary Of War to submit to the President
for his final action, is matter OF the deepest
concern to the President and to every one Of
his military subordinates. The law requires
that conduct unbecoming an officer and
gentleman" shall be followed by a sentence Of
dismissal from the military service and the
President alone can mitigate the sentence. If
there could be any distinction, every con-
| sideration requires that, more than any other
| officer of the army, the Judge Advocate
| General should be free beyond question
| from an lmputation OF such conduct. 1t is
/ matter of deep regret to me. therefore, that
| when the Judge Advocate General was given
/ an opportunity TO comment upon the charges
1 in question, he i'm respect TO the first charge
/ either was not able, or did not see fit. to make
| an explicit denial of its essential part or to
| give in detail such facts and circumstances
| as would show the falsty of the charge. IN
| stead of doing SO he has contented himself
with a statement which contains nothing to
| which Mr.. Bateman's allegations might not
! possibly be truthful supplement.
THE SECOND CHARGE.
| So in respect to the second charge, assisting
/ to negotiate army pay vouchers with Bate
| man & Co.. which Gen. Swain knew to be
| fraudulent, and trialicates of outstanding
| accounts. Gen. Swami response fails tOtiee
/ that the charge as made by Mr.. Bateman
refers not merely to the negotiation of army
1 pap accounts, but to the negotiation of pay
accounts alleged to have been known to Gen.
/ Swain as fraudulent, and to that element of
/ the charge no aHusion is made in his response
/ 1t is not overlooked that the final clause OF
| the response asking for It's publication,
refers stO the accusation as false,
/ but ,his specific answers to them
| are evidently intended to be found III what
has gone before. If there is no proof to
/ sustain the charges made or If the circum-
| stances can be explained so as TO remove
| every impression of improl ler conduct on the
/ part of the officer IN question, | am OF the
/ opinion that the welfare of the military service
| requires that proper steps should be taken for
/ his vindicatiOn. 1t is not a personal, but an
official and public matter. He has not in my
| view recognized this necessity. and as he has
| not done so / am compelled to recommend to
| you the appointment Of court of inquiry to
| examine into accusations above mentioned,
| and to report the acts developed by their in
vestigation and give their opionion thereon.
Upon the receipt Of this letter the Presi-
| dent issued an order appointing court
of inquiry. The following is the detail
for the court: Maj. Gen. John Pope,
Brig. Gen. Christopher q. Auger, Brig.
| Gen. Delos b. Sackett, Inspector General.
Maj. Robert n. Scott, Of the Third Artil-
| lery will act as Judge Advocate and Re-
corder. The court Will meet in Washing
ton, d. G., on Monday, the 9TH day Of May,
| 1854.