The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-05-16
Deserters.


WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator
Plumb has addressed the president a
letter upon a subject of wide interest.
There are now at large over $4,000
deserters from the regular service of
the United States. All of these deser-
lions have occurred since 1873. when
President Grant issued the following
general order of amnesty:
General orders, No. 102.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT
GENERALS OFFICE. WASHINGTON.
the United States commands it to be
made known that all soldiers who have
deserted their colors, and who shall,
on or before the 1st day of January,
1874, surrender themselves at any
military station shall receive a full
pardon, only FORGETTING the pay and al
lowance due them at the time of deser-
ton; and shall be restored to duty
without trial or punishment on con
dition that they faithfully serve
| through the term of their enlistment.
by order of the secretary of war.
| &c. d. TOWNSEND, Adjt Gen.
| Senator Plumb has recently had his
attention called forcibly to the subject
by several cases in his state. There are
men in Kansas, leading praiseworthy
lives and raising families and accum-
ulating property, who have hanging
over them the disgrace of desertion and
the constant fear of apprehension and
( exposure. AS the result of cOnSidera-
bic inquiry the senator has become sat
isfied that the present time and circum-
stances are appropriate for another
general order of amnesty, but in differ
ent form from that of 1872. He
preached the matter to the president
some days ago, and General Harrison
manifested great interest.
SENATOR PLUMB'S LETTER.
The president and the senator have
had several conversations upon the
subject, and, at the suggestion of the
president, Senator Plumb has put his
views formally i'll writing. His letter
is as follows:
ITO THE PRESIDENT: Agreeably Il
/ your request, l submit herewith some
of the considerations which moved me
to suggest to you in former commu
nication the grantinp of amnesty b.
general order TO ali ueserters from thu
regular army. Since the last amnesty
order to deserters, dated October 10
1878 (copy herewith), 1881 enlisted
men of the United States army have
deserted; and it is estimated that only
about One-fifth, or $3.50 of the whole
number, have returned 10 the SERVES
by surrender and arrest. There are
therefore, over 81 600 deserters at large
of whom only small percentage vii
ever be apprehended. They. are un
doubtedly in practically all the walks
OF life, going about their daily task IL
constant fear of arrest and punishment
for an offence which evidences no lacl
pf patriotism and involves the leas'
possible moral turpitude. This com
! Oaratively wholesale desertion in time
ST peace must be referable to somt
opecial cause or causes. a large poi
: ton of those who have surrendered, OF
who have been apprehended. have jus
titled their offense by allegation
which are to the effect that the private
soldier does not receive proper treat
ment under the law. The articles q
war under which the army OF the Unit
, ed States Is governed are noI Only ana
Quated, but they make no ea5sqnat.
provision for the control Of tae ONCE
: in his dealings with tbs men usleeE NJ
command.
: They were led 1Kela ssls sslel