New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-17
4 TYPICAL CASE.
THE LAMAR DECLARATION-WAS A LOYAL
MAN DISPLACED BY 4 TRAITOR?

Washington, June 16.-who can have forgotten the
gushing paragraphs which appeared in Administration
newspapers three years ago in regard to noble
declaration" made by Secretary Lamar to the effect
that il it should unfortunately become necessary to
dismiss an ex-UniOn soldier from place in tho In
terror Department while the aforesaid Lamar remained
at the head OF it, the vacancy thus made should be
filed by the appointment of some other Onion vote
ran? I remember very well that public servants OK
that class derived great comfort from tho declaration
for in those days their official tenure was regarded as
specially prccarious. Later the doctrine was pro-
mulgatcd that Of vacancy caused by the re-
moval of An ex-Union soldier VINO was Republican
might be properly filed by the appointment OF an eX
Union soldier who was a Democrat. The veterans
did not complain Of that stili later, other doctrines
were adopted of which public parade was made
and acts were performed which seem to have been
studiousy concealed. Now that the Democratic party
las named as its National candidates two who to
say the least. were not War Democrats It seems
full tmo that some Of these hidden dongs should be
revealed
In 1881 W. c. Miller, veteran who had re-
signed his commission First Lieutenant and Ad-
jutant of the zth Cavalry few months before &C
cepted appointment as clerk in the Interior De
partment He proved to be so efficient and capable
that by successive promotions after competitive
examination In each he soon reached ths highest
grade in the classified Cvil Service, and at the time
when Mr. Lamar made his noble declaration
MlIcF was q 1Ourtn-CldSS clcfh IcSClNlAt eol~iJ
Of $500 per snnum. When General"
Sparks took command Of the General
Land Office, Miller serving III that Bureau he
was one Of its most efficient clerks. lie had bcch
continuously the military service for period OF
twenty years. and could not, by any stretch Of cop
perhead Democratic Imagination, DO denounced as
an offensive PARTISAN although like an oyerwhelm-
ing majority OF veterans, he was Republican IN
prnciple But he had helped TO coerce" the south,
and that made him offensive TO General SPARKS,
who caused him to be reduced to clerkship OF
lower grade al 81 400 per year; and last year Sec
rotary Lamar ordered his dismissal on tho plea OF
physical incapacty" Probably It was thought that
a man who had served IN the Union Army must be
physically disabledr-cx necessitatc rel; at any
rate he was dismssed-ex abrupio Now do you sup
pose that an exUnon soldier was appointed in Mil
lcr,s place? The Grand Army of the Republlc-Of
which Miller is member in good standing-inveSti-
gated the case thoroughly and l am informed that
they have discovered that MlleI's was at
one time an officer in the Army Of the United States.
In fact it IS asserted that Mr. Washington, the
cessor did hold time the rank Of First Liouten-
ant and AdIutant IN the LIST United statos Infantry
the same rank it Will be observed, that Miller had
when he resigned, although in different arm OF the
service. Lieutenant r. Washington was serving In
Texas In the winter of 1560'6I aldc-de-camp
10 MajorCeneral D. E. Twiggs. with his treasonabe
plotngs long before secession the country was rather
familiar On February 4, 1861, Twiggs wrote letter
20 the AdJutant- General at Washington, stating that
the Texas act Of secession will be complete Feb
ruary %, and saying: g. send Lieutenant Washing
tom my aide decamp, to Washington for instructions
as 10 what dispositions will be made OF the troops in
this Department AS confidential aide Of Twiggs,
of course Washington acquainted with the con
tents of this letter well of other reasonable let
tiers written by General Twiggs in the three months
proceeding. Lieutenant Washington returned to
Texas still wearing the uniform and drawing the pay
of an officer of the Army of the United States On
March 90, 1861, Earl Van Dorm, Colonel c. S. A.
wrote letter TO the rebel Secretary of War, In which
he said: Lieutenant T. Washington has rendered
his resignation and has written TO you by Major smith,
Offering his services to tho Southern Army" In
other words, Lieutenant Washington could not walt
for the acceptance Of his resignation at Washington
before Offering his services the rebel authorities at
Montgomery In the same letter Van Dorm recon-
mends Washington for place in the quarternaSter's
department, or tho adiutani- generals department.
Apparently the lieutenant had less stomach for fight
ing than for keeping accounts or making out Official
reports lie entered the rebel service, however, and
gave whatever ability and force he possessed In aid
of An attempt 70 destroy the Government which had
educated him and given him an opportunity 10 enter
mon an honorable career at his expense.
Can IL be possible that this tratOrOus ex adlutant
Washington. has been appointed to superseds the
Union ex and that in the face of Mr. Lamars
noble declaration" The case is one which seems TO
deserve thorough Investigation by the srnae special
Committee of which Mr. Hale is Chairman Members
~ the Grand Army of the Republic and other veterans
Of the War ought be Informed whether the foregoing
Sor * fr1Ie and II so. whether Washlngt0n's political
diisoaSnjtics were removed before his appointment.
In tho interest of Civil service reform inc lOmitee
should ascertain also wheher p ros gars a. az Ss
Civil service rules and without competitive examina-
ton