New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
GENERAL HALDEMAN'S GIFT.
.o,,r Of THE LETTERS RECEIVED BY
HIM GIVEN TC THE SMITHSONIAN
,,p,oMAr. SOLDIER AND MAN OF THE WORLD
HIS sIAMEsE coRREsPoNpENcE-lN sIAHoh
or THE WHITE ELEPHANT A
CHARACTERISTIC LETTER FROM


CHARACTERISTIC LETTER FROM
SENATOR INGALLS,.
washington. Jan. IS CspeciaD-A rare collection
=, autograph letters been presented to the
e,hsonan Institution this winter by General
Yohn 4 Haldeman. 10 whom they were written from
all narts cf the world They go back TO 1855. when
General Haldeman private secretary to Andrew
u p pseder the first Governor OF Kansas. and come
,ovn TO the present time
Educated at the Bar in Kentucky. General Halde-
80, at the age of twenty went to Kansas.
ubere he was successfully private secretary to the
first Governor major OF the 1st Kansas Regiment OF
infantry and major-genera of the Kansas State
frces in active service. the first field officer Of
the United States volunteers commissioned in Kan
s,s His early day in Kansas In the stirring
era of border ruffianism.' After the war General
uajdeman travelled extensively in western Europe,
Greece Turkey Egypt and the Holy Land Later
he was appointed Consul to Siam, then Consul
General and finally advanced to the dipo
matte service and made the first Minister of the
United States to the court of Siam.
The letters cover a long period of most interesting
Incidents in General Haldeman's life, as soldier.
traveller and diplomat They are a graphic record
Of official and personal relations with men whose
moral force made them tower of strength in the
wears Immediately preceding the Civil War and with
men Of world wide reputation in after years. Gen
eral Hademan was opposed to slavery, and he
actively sympath hzed with the abolitionsts in Kan
sas His services to the Governor at that time were
invaluable because of their confidential character
The following letter. though giving only glimpse
OF the dark picture, in its showing of the political
condition of Kansas in her struggle for freedom is
interesting as an expression of hope. but also OF
anxious opinion. from her first Governor over
forty years 1t in the last year OF Pierces
Administration that Governor Reeder, then in
Washington. watching the attitude OF Congress,
wrote this letter to his private secretary:
Washington City. May II, 1880.
Dear Haldeman: ! do not think you are very
from nj The washington Union showing that the
action The President does not hesitate to say EN-,
that aans s NJ seem es wSSS Ss
ppehensye that shall be attacked @ M % on my
Of the end" The South is divided and am now
satisfied will not stand by Missouri ! have met
inent ones who say very distinctly they approve
my course and that the Kansas bin Is not to be
Il was ever so unanimous before The whole Peo,
4y DsDeTs w hs, nG aR sn9m rsn
have the ne 5e mssns OF at h Weston
shockei at the death of Clarke. and if the account
Isaw Is true Mclean deserves punishment opt not
YET heard what has been dor done Wh raTRe ISces
the mob &c go down and iynch MIN on the o'h' ou'
/ have not heard the result o. ,o.,
expect to start for Kansas on the 10Th or I'm
Of June and with my whole family. Being detained
here beyond my expectations my time VIII e 0e snpr, pe
Present compliments 10 all 1rlendS anu Wil'e
me on receipt Oh '"'S i0"'' A. n REEDER.
A number Of letters in the collection are from
General Grant. with whom General Hademan was
on terms of personal friendship The one below
Was written after General Grants tour OF the world
when he had been guest of the Samese King
No better introduction could have been desired thah
this personal commentator which. like all OF the
great soldiers letters. is strong in its sense ana
simplicity and which. after visit home Generai
Ha,denan carried back to Siam:
Galena H.. May 10. 1880.
His Majesty King Of SIAM take pleasure IN pre- pre-,
as United states Minister TO your country. General
Haldeman. feel sure, will give great atsiac.'on on
ohr % eoo obse than % to preserve friendly rsIs
ons between his own % Of aSa am ann sure II
YN,r Waiesty should want 20 consult or advise with
Nnu could m do SO with full assurance OF sincere and
honest desire his part to be entirely ,h Ssa
Of Your Majesty. thought saw where imposi'i9nns n
h been upon Siam Siam S %hSn sv DO Of not and
know his country would not approve since my re-
turn the United States have ave owe Ssen cSuntry
have had most delightful visit TO Cuba ana Mex
GO negrssend b dea 40 of Visiting the Gnted this
year / hope you will come yet. even II II shouid
With assurances Of my high regards cRaNT an very
sincerely, Your obedient servant l. >. HfANl'
While r Siam General Haldeman was active ana
successful In his efforts TO suppress nefarious
traffic in spirits carried under cover OF the Ameri-
can flag For this he received the special favor OF
the King who bestowed upon him the decoration OF
Knight Commander Of the Most Exalted Order OF
the White Elephant. His Majesty. 1t must be SAID
while appreciating and thus honor!ng the Minister
was not wholly disnterested but mad an eye to the
main chance for the revenues Of his Kingdom Ihis
spri; traffic, under cover OF the American nas
eyaded the tax and paid no license to the Siainese
Government. The King not only conferred the
above decoration and number Of others. but also
Anerl-
can Legation and in many gracious acts showed MS
personal regard for General Haldeman.
while all this had been going on in the far away
Orient the eunfiowered praries Of the West were
heard from In the following breezy letter:
state OF Kansas, House Of Represcnailyes,.
" W Topeka Feb IL.
Dear sir: I have just read with much pleasure
that YOU have put stop the disgraceful use OF
Consular permits from the unted shains as trac G
opium and liquor under the Sar-Spansed i'afnei
May good sense ed he psents and the good
Lord enable and strengthen you to perseyore IN tine the
sns sa@s Of the Of my Slam
home furlough some time ~ .ne id 10 yo bv
had been s505mea dme one h1ee IN but
right and told him that knew irdeI ySu man and would
do Just what you have done, "a now ma puDsh.u o
He tod ,n me that 1or ,bar mGS that
is the best for every European sn Kansas a save
the Struggle over the temperance amendment legs,
lation which now draws TO close, ana rear @ uie
law will be too severe and fail in all the large CUM
ties for that cause. f., -. u.rorce We
this winter represent the city OF LaWIence, L, y,
shall have hot time over the reappor 49, W
the state This has been very, very coIl, ious -
winter the most continuously cold ever , known o, ~
the State I shall be pleased 10 near if0In ou'
Win hest wishes your friend. ED RUSSELL"
General Haldeman. while modestly accepting creu''
for his stand on ouor traffic. declares 'hat o
tai abstinence would have slim chance III SIAM
even among missionaries from kahsas. IL Is "o'
nrobab,e that the Order of the White Elephant. con-
ferred on the Minister by the Siamese monarch mao
anything to do with the covetous aspirations OF r.
Barnum though It would appear, az Things '"rneo
nut 10 have been a stimulus to final EFFORT Inc