Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-05-19

with you, by the endearing ties Of fellow
citizen, and have no other relation to the
government, but what is common to you
all. My claims to your attention arise
from the persecution | have experienced
and the injustice have suffered. Having
received this persecution and injustice from
your servants, for my conduct, while in
your service, it is a duty, which | owe,
both to you, and myself, to present to YOU
a true statement of my case, to satisfy you
have been faithful to your interest, and
appeal to your judgment for reversal of
the unjust sentence which has been pro
nounced against me.
Whilst was an officer of the govern
ment, considerations of duty, and sense
of propriety, prevented me from making
any communication to you, in vindcation
OF my public conduct.
fully expected in an investigation before
tribunal organised under the Constitution
and Laws to have Convinced you that du-
ring my military command had deserved
we'll OF my country Bdt how vain have
been my expectations !-lnstead of having
been honorably restored to your confidence,
have been branded with the imputation
of crimes the most wounding to the feelings
OF an honorable man, and authorities ema-
mating from YOU have passed on me the
highest sentence of the law, for acts dictat-
Ell by the purest motives, and the highest
sense of duty. Although your President
has RENTED this sentence it is no satisfac-
tion to me. The remnant of a long life
which has uniformly been devoted to hon
orable pursuits is not worth preserving in
dishonor.
am an innocent man, and as brave now
as when followed the standard of Hash
sRgton, over those memorable fields where
the battles were fought which secured the
independence of our country.
In the critical and highly responsible
situation in which was placed did what
| believed to be my duty l still believe
did what | ought to have done am now
satisfied that the calamities to our country
would have been much greater, if | had
pursued any other course Notwithstand
ing what | have suffered. | now rejoice
that | had the firmness and courage to dc
my duty-to 40 that which your interest
rendered proper and necessary to be done
In the solemn appeal now make, | ex
pect 10 satisfy you Of this truth The OBJ
ject of this address r to request you tt
suspend your opinion, until you have be
fore you the statement OF my case and the
evidence on which it is founded This shall
be done as soonxa the nature Of the subject
will possibly admit A large majority o
tie court was composed of young officers
recently appointed. and VINO had seen M
military service. From their want of mill
tary experience, they were incapable o
forming correct opinion on the conduct o
an officer commanding an army. In a go
vernment like ours this appeal must be
founded in propriety.-The tribunal of the
public is the highest of all tribunals In
you is the sovereign power Your deierm
nation therefore must be final and concla
sive. To you, then my fellow citizens, in
the last resort appeal, in the full convc
ton that your decision will prove, how cru
ely nave been prosecuted, and how an
justly have been condemned
WILLIAM HULL.
Newton Nav TO- 1914