Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-04-06
From THE FaEDERIcxTowN HERALr
COL. BUFFERS TRIAL.
Continued
DEFENCE.
DEFENCE.
Mr.. P,sf9sat, and
Gentleman Of the cogrt---

! GeHEtehTsN " SHr SUS'1Ff-s
In claiming your solemn attention TO the oe-
fence which I shall proceed to otEei against inc
charges that for the cause OF my arrest oy me
commander in Chief on the a2d day OF May last,
and which have been fully exhibited TO you'
shall be equally studlous of breviy and dec Drum,
and trust that shall nst appear TO have sad
more than, was necessary and proper for the oc
casion before you. The charge under which
am arraigned, is two foId--Ist disobedience OF
order, and neglect of duty. OF the FIRST charge
there are fwo specifications.
rst. For difabediesce of the general order OF
! III. 10th April, 1901, regulating the uniform
Of the hair, as will appear from the SAID order
and his 1.-THE Colonels) correspondence held with
the c ornmsnding General, during the month
OF May last. !.
| ad. For dy55ediraee of the order OF the Presi-
DENT of the Unlted States, comolnnic ated 10 him
dhe Col through the regular constitutional
| channel by the Inspector of the army, on the
9th of April, z5th May and Sth Of June 1902,
- will appear from the letters Of the Secretary
! Of War, May the 9Th, 1902, (meaning the
| igth) and 10 thescommanding general che TN and
10Th ofaAuqust 1902, and by other testimony.
| Or the second charge there is ihgle Specifca.
/ ton as follows
"a. For neglect If duty, in hot descending
the Mississippi TO take command q Fort Adams,
and organise the troops agreeabiy TO the peace
/ establishments, and accarding to the above orders
| Of the president of the United States, but pro-.
/ eeedine TO Pittsburg with military command on
! his private buliness, and without permission as
will also appear from the correspondence above
referred to, and other testimony.
| 10 .hole have plead, genefaily5 nor guilty /;
lurder which plea il can hardly be Snecthhy to
,emnd you Gentlemen, ! am not cen6ned mere
" to difproying the circumstances alledged
i IN shes Specifications, nor do thereby only un,
deetake TO deny the exiltence OF th2ie circum-
Ranccs, but am allo at liberty either &c thew that
they do no. amount TO the offences, or to otter
any fpccial matter Of publication whatever. And
indeed with regard TO the frR fpecihcation,
which relpe6ts the general order regulating the
Uniform of the hair, the nature Of my defence will
be entirely iueihcatory fsf there is no dd
put. about the facts it being admitted and proved.
That on the gosh April, Sol, the commander In
chief did iiIuc an order, puFporling that, tor
the accommodation, comfort and health OF the
troops, the hair is TO be cropped without excep
ton, ard the General will give tn; example !
that by an after order on tie I'd q AuguH toll
lowing, was made an exception, and had PR
| milton TO wear ny hair that afterwards in the
month of MAY, 1909, was rcqaeittd to CONFORM
| 70 the 6rf order In tie aforementioned corref-
/ pondcnce with the general, which terminated
! IN nv deciin NJ TO comply therewiths and con.
! f.cuent arref. I fay Gentlemen a eoyeqaent
arreR, becaufe from hewhole tenor OF that COR
! refpondcnce, and from all rhc teftimony III the
| cafe, it mutt be evident, that however 1t has
been deemed advifcabe to combine with that
matter other charges Of more fleming Importance,
! the true and immediate caufe OF the Generals
| dfpIcafue, was the non compliance with his or
| der for cropping the hair, which alene produced
my arreie, and has fabj-tfed you and the govern
| mens 20 the trouble and exPence of the pre-
fent trial. 10 an affair 70 traing then, as it
| NAV perhaps be viewed, might be aiked, why
not. asa leafonAble man rather aquleice, even
lifI did not. conceive the order binding, than,
permit luch ferrous and unueceaary diff cnEies.-
| But though can anticipate the gueition, ii is
| ont ofmy power to anlWeflt without lDtroduc-
| ina motives and considerations % which 1t is
nut the ofice OF this court in its9egal, capacity
Is d.cide. Safice ii to FAY, that felt nyieh
in fyuation IN which acquicf1euce would have
been diihonor, ndthat my coOdlce, fppP ofng it
matter OF ddcretion, was no1lefs guided by
nv own hone,t C.nie Of prorrictys than as mat
ter of ,ight, hope and ttof itFaill be ianesonsd
by your jldgmrnt.
But for my own part | wlll.not treat.the main
caufe Of my arreit as rriRing II will moi fuppofe
flat iteaa boa frivolous caue, ilnce it detertnin-
ID nv iIIuarious accuier on the iiep ct congening
general court martial; nor will pretend bur
rbsf i isof (uficient moment, in cafe tie geikt