The Delta independent., 1907-01-25
NEGRO SOLDIERS
ANOTHER SPECIAL MESSAGE BY
THE PRESIDENT.
RESULT Of INVESTIGATION
President Recounts Evidence Of Which
coIored Soldiers Were Discharged
SAYS His Power Was Ample and
Not Subject to Review.


Says His Power Was Ample and
Not Subject to Review.
| Washington.-By direction OF tho
President, Secretary Taft Monday 10
sued special order modifying the spe-
cial order dismissing the negro battal-
ion Of the Twenty-tifth infantry. strik-
Ing out the clause relating to the ea-
clusion of the discharged soldiers from
employment in the civil service.
The secretary, now that the war De-
partment's inquiry has closed, VIII uh-
dertake to pass separately upon inc
Implications for re-enlistment OF tho
discharged men wherever they are sup
ported by evidence OF their non-com-
plicity in the ARRAY.
With message summarizing the
facts upon which he based his dis
charge of colored soldiers and declar-
ing his power ample and its exercise
fully justified except In one particular.
the President Monday sent to the Sen
ate the full report OF the investigation
OF the Brownsville afIair made by an
assistant to the attorney general.
The President states plainly that the
action he took cannot be reversed e1-
cept by another executive order.
| In my message to the Senate OF dis
missal without honor OF certain mem
| bers OF the three companies OF the
| Twenty. fifth Infantry" says the Presi-
dent, Il gave the reports OF the ON
GERS upon which the dismissal was
base. These reports were made In ac-
cordance with the custom In such
cases. for II would. Of course. have
been impossible to preserve discipline
in the army save by pursuing precisely
the course that in this case was pur-
sued.
"lnasmuch, however. as In the Sen
ate question was raised as to the sum
| cheney OF the evidence. ] deemed IL
wise to send Major Blocksom and as
sistant to the attorney general. Purdy.
| TO Brownsville to- make thorough In
vestigation on the ground in reference
TO the matter. herewith transmit
Secretary Taf,'s report and the tcsu'
mony taken under oath OF the various
witnesses examined In the course OF
the investigation.
| Il also submit various cNhiblts, In
cluding maps OF Brownsville and Fort
| Brown, photographs OF various build
ings, n letter from Judge Parks to his
wife. together with n bandolcer. thirty
three empty shells. seven ball cart
ridges and four clips picked up In the
| streets OF Brownsville within Few
hours after the shooting. three st"c! jack
ct bullets and some scraps OF the cas-
| ings Of other bullets picked out OF the
houses into which they had been fired.
| Fourteen eye witnesses. namely
| Charles X. Chase. Amado Martinez,
| Mrs. Kate Lcahy. Palermo Prcclado.
| ynacio Dominguez. Macedonia RIA
,l,.y 10
nez. J. =. Mcdonald. +. II. Sanborn.
Herbert Elkins. Hale Odin, Mrs. Hale
Odin and Judge Parks. testified that
| they saw tho assailauts or some oil
them at varying distances. and that
they were negro troops. most OF the
| witnesses giving their testimony In
such shape that there Is no possibility
| OF their having been mistaken. TWO
| other witnesses. Joseph Bodin ana
| Gcncro Padron. saw some OF the assall'
ants and testified that they were soh
diers (the only soldiers In the neigh
borhood being the colorcd troops).
THE testimony OF the witnesses on
the position Of the bullet holes show
| that fifteen or twenty OF the negro
| troops gathered INSIDE the fort. and
| that the first shots fired into the town
| were fred from within the fort: some
| VI lleHl i'"HS '''ii Nh' spP'' t'.'
leries OF the barracks.
| THE additional evidence thus taken
renders It. In my opinion. impossible
| to question the conclusions upon which
my order was based. have gone most
| carefully over every Issue of law ana
fact that has been raised
| Il am now satisfied that the effect
| OF my order dismissing these men with
out honor was not to bar them from
| all civil employment under the gov
ornment. and. therefore. that the part
| Of the order which consisted OF n dec
| laration to this effect was lacking in
| validity, and / have directed that such
portion be revoked.
| "As to the rest OF the order dismiss
ing the individuals In question without
honor and declaring the effect of such
discharge under the laws and regula-
! tions to be n bar to their future rc-en-
listment either in the army or the navy.
| there Is no doubt OF my constitutional
and legal power.
| THE order was within my discre-
ton. under the constitution and tho
laws. and cannot be reviewed or re.
vcrsed save by another executive or
| der.
| "The facts did not merely warrant
the action took--they rendered such
action imperative. unless was to
prove false to my sworn duty.
| III any one of the men discharged
hereafter shows to my satisfaction that
he Is clear of guilt. or Of shielding the
| guilty. l will take what action Is war
ranted; but the circumstances I have
above detailed most certainly put upon
| any such man the burden Of thus
clearing himself