The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-19
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Continued from Page OneD
statute were terminable by my direc-
ton as commander in chief of the
army. It was my clear duty to termi-
nate those contracts when the public
interest demanded it; and 1t would
have been a betrayal OF the pubic in
terest on my part not to terminate the
contracts which were keeping in the
service of the United States a body OF
mutineers and murderers-
Color Cut No Figure.
Any assertion that these men were
dealt with harshly because they were
colored men is utterly without foun-
dalton Officers or enlisted men,
white men or cOlored men. who were
guilty of such conduct, would have
been treated in precisely the same
way: for there can be nothing more
important than for the United States
army. In all It's membership, to under
stand that its arms can not be turned
with impunity against the peace and
order Of the civil community.
There are plenty of precedents for
the action taken call your attention
TO the memoranda herewith submitted
from the military secretarys Office of
the war department, and a memoran-
dunn from the military secretary en-
closing a piece by ex-Corporal Hesse,
secretary's office, together with a let
ter from District Attorney James
WIlkerson. of New Orleans. The dis
trict attorneys letter recites several
soldiers. being arrested for crime
were tried. and every soldier and en-
ploye of the regiment or in the fort
al which the soldier was stationed
volunteered all they knew, both before
and at the trial so as to secure justice
In one case the soldier was acquitted
In another case the soldier was con-
victed Of murder. the conviction re-
f10 Of f1of
der. from the commanding officer to
the humblest private, united in secur-
ing ali the evidence IN their power
about the crime In other cases for
less offense. soldiers were ronvicred
purely because their comrades in
arms. in a spirit Of fine loyalty to the
honor Of the service. at once told the
whole story Of the troubles and de-
clined to identify themselves with the
criminals.
During the civil war numerous prece-
dents for the action taken by me oc-
Cured in the shape OF the summary
discharge Of regiments or companies be-
cause CT misconduct on the part Of
some OF all of their members The
Sfxtteth Ohio was summari1y discharged
on the ground that the regiment was
dlsorganized, mutinous and worthless
The Eleventh New York was discharged
by reason of general decentralization and
numerous desertiOns. Three companies
Of the Fifth Missouri cavalry and one
company OF the Fourth Missouri cavalry
were mustered out of the service of the
United States without trial by court
martial by reason OF mutinous conduct
and the disaffection of the majority of
the members of these companies (an al
most exact parallel to my action) An
other Missouri regiment was mustered
out of service because it was In a state
bordering closely on Inutiny. Other ex-
amples. including New Jersey. Maryland
and other organizations are given in the
enclosed papers.
I call your particular attention to the
special field order Of Brig. Gen u. S.
Grant, issued from the headquarters of
the Thirteenth army corps on November
is. 1882. in reference to the Twentieth
Illinois. Members Of this regiment had
broken into 8. store and taken goods to