Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-03

CAPT. .WELLS'FRIENDS
They Criticise the President for We
toing His Relief Bill.
ACTION TAKEN BY MEADE POST
The Statement of the Case Made
by the Captain.
A M AFTER OF RIG H T
ACTION TAKEN BY MEADE POST
A latter OF RIG T

restore Capt. Eugene Wells TO the regular
army has inspired a great deal Of critical
comment among the old army people in
Washington, and especially in the ranks
Of the g. A. r. Dissatisfaction with the
Presidents course took substantial form at
the last meeting of George G. Meade Post,
No. 8. Of the G. A. R.. of which branch Of
the Department of the Potomac Capt. Wells
is an honored and influential member. The
captains comrades were not only angry
at what they considered the injustice done
to Capt. Wells by the refusal of the Presi-
dent to acquiesce in the finding of Con-
sress, but were indignant at the statements
Mr. Cleveland saw fit to make in the mes
sage which accompanied the veto. The
wide publication given to the latter docu-
ment by the press was also considered
hrrtful to Capt. Wells among persons who
did not know him. and Meade Post there
fore passed resolution stating that asPresi-
dent Cleveland had in the judgment of the
post done an injustice to Comrade Wells In
the message vetoing the bill for his relief and
as the newspapers had published the same,
II was only fair that a communication
which Capt Wells had sent to Meade Post
pointing out the errors in the Presidents
communication to Congress should be given
equally wide dissemination. The communi-
cation referred to was read at the meeting.
Capt. Wells Statement.
In justice to myself and many Others"
wrote Capt. Wells II desire to make a
statement relative to President Cleveland's
veto Of an act restoring me to the army.
and which recently passed Congress without
objection In either house.
1T Is safe to say there has never been a
Dill or this character before Congress that
mas been more carefully considered and
thoroughly investigated than this one. Six
favorable reports have been made upon 1t.
three from each house. by gallant and dis
tinguished soldiers of both the Union and
confederate armies. 1t has three times
passed the Senate. and passed this Con-
gress, as l have said, without objection, as
affairs. formed. as these committees are, Of
distinguished officers Of both armies Of the
late war. were absolutely convincing as to
Its merits and the Justice Of my claim.
These reports contained letters and indOrse-
ments from such soldiers of the late war as
Gems. Stannard. Hancock, Slocum, Butter
Held ard others. certifying to my courage
and ability as soldier during that war.
They also contained several letters from
those who were my commanding officers
after the war and while I was serving on
the Indian frontier. certifying as to my
character as a soldier and a gentleman.
will reproduce but one. and that from Mai.
Alex. Chambers Of the fourth infantry, who
was my commanding officer when I re-
signed from the service In 1870. He writes:
take pleasure in stating that Capt
Wells. late Of the fourth United States
infantry. served under my command. and
was In department a gentleman and one of
the most efficient officers in the regiment at
that time In my estimation. and my social
and official intercourse with him was Of the
most pleasant character. His company was
then and Is now the best In the fourth in
fantry.'
These reports show conclus,yely that
President Hayes admitted that great injus-
tice had been done me by not having all
the facts properly called to his attention
n an thn
to him. and that adverse action would not
have been taken thereon II he had been cog
nizGnt of the unanimous recommend tion of
the court-n artial.
Inability to See Mr.. Cleveland.
MY friends and myself were most anx-
ious that there should be no such error
this time. and, therefore. two Of them, SOL
diers OF the late war. and at present and
for several terms members Of Congress, re-
peatedly called on Mr.. Cleveland while the
act for my relief was pending before him
for the purpose Of fully explaining the case
We could never see him. Is 1t, therefore
surprising that Mr.. Cleveland, in his veto
message. should have referred disparagingly
to matter which occurred in 1870 and
which had been fully explained to the salts
faction of President Grant when he reap
pointed me to the army, and to the commit
tee on military affairs of the Senate when
was confirmed In 1875.
I'VE were. however. utterly astounded
when Mr.. Cleveland stated in his message
that the record showed / had been found
oensurable relative to a personal difficulty
with an officer in 1877. and upon which, in
reality. the whole complaint was based.
when. In fact, such record discloses that
was specifically acquitted Of all blame
therefor.
'The question now is, what official gave
Mr.. Cleveland this false Information which
was 30 prejudicial to me. Mr.. Cleveland
his secretary and the assistant secretary of
war were not soldiers. and. therefore. relied
on some War Department official for infor-
nation Of this kind
Alleged Antagonism to Civil Ap-
1T has been for many years a matter of
surprise and indignation in and out Of
army circles that these errors and acts Of
injustice seldom or never happen except in
the cases Of those officers who. like myself,
entered the army from civil life or the
volunteer service. And 1t Is an astonish-
ing fact that both in 1877 and now, when
my case was before the executive. some
official Of the War Department withheld
important Information. to my serious det-
rinent. l state this because while 1 we'll
know. as a rule. the old soldiers do not ve-
lieve Mr.. Cleveland has the same feeling Of
sympathy and kindness for them which has
actuated all Of his predecessors since 1851
still,I can scarcely deem 1t possible he would
knowingly make a false statement to Con-
STeSS IOT tne purpose OF lnJur1ng one Tor
whom 1t had just passed an act to rectify
an acknowledged injustice. There Is not
syllable in Mr.. Cleveland's message to in
dicate he had ever read the report of the
committee on military affairs and the i'm
pOrtant letters that accompanied 1t, which
set forth the evidence that completely vim
dicated me, while 1t Is quite manifest he
had carefully read the report of the adju-
tant general, which, / have good reason to
believe. cid not pretend to present such evil
dence.
Regulars Allowed Relief.
This is the first time that any Presi-
dent has. under such circumstances denied
gentlemen a hearing, and, as am informed
on high authority, Mr.. Cleveland is the
only President who ever vetoed a bill Of
this character. The President allowed three
cases Of restoration and retirement to be-
come laws at this session Of Congress. In
each of which the officer was a graduate
Of West Point and had voluntarily resigned
from the service. Their restoration was
purely an act Of grace, doubt not fully
merited. My removal was admittedly
an error, and therefore my restoration
would have been an act Of justice. I de-
manded a right and failed; they asked a
favor and succeeded. This is precisely the
difference In our cases. and this is a fair