The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-10-03

IL the following communication from the late
Brigade Major of the Second Brigade of this
Division, is correct statement of facts, he
has some reason to complain of the late Gen
eral Order. The Order having met the pub
lick eye through the medium of this paper,
We cannot hesitate to insert his vmdication.l
For the Massachusetts, Spy.l
"With hasty judgment e'er decide;
First view the question on either side.''
The impression Intended to be made upon
the publick mind, by the late General Order,
an extract from which was Published in the
Spy of the 18th ut. cannot be misunderstood
That Order his but one object in view, and
that is, to relieve certain military characters
from publick odium by attaching the odum
wholly to one Individual. Even if the truth
or justice of the case demanded this transfer Of
gait, yet The manner Of doing it is, in my view,
wholly unjustifable.
" That honorable sensibility which none
but good soldier feels" has caused the late
Brigade Major OF the Second Brigade and Sixth
Division OF the Militia to read with much at
tention the Order above alluded TO, and he is
filled with establishment at the course which
has been pursued to cast 4 stigma upon his
military character and reputation at the very
close Of his military career And he is the
more astonished when he percelves that his
character is to be made sacrifice to publck
disgrace, at the secret representations and dark
insinuations of those who had before been i'm.
plicated and censured as guilty, with view
to redeem thoir characters from merited re-
proach. If the Brigade Major was believed to
he guilty of the charge alleged against him,
why was not his conduct made the subject OF
frir investigation before competent military
tribunal Why, in imitation of the dark pro-
ceedings Of the holy inquisition," has he been
secretly tried, sentenced and condemned? p
Why has he not been permitted to meet his
accusers, face to face, and TO he heard by his
evidence himself and his counsel ? Why
have his aecusers been allowed privately to
approach the ear of the Commander in chief,
and MAKE such representations, whether well
or i'll founded, as have satisfied his mind of
the guilt of the accused? And all this done,
too, without giving the slightest intnnation
to the accused OF what was going forward.
or who were the actors. Is the character Of a
military Officer to be branded with infamy
and disgraced by suchex parte representations
and hearingse l. this consonant with the
e. honorable Feasibility" and nice feelings of
soldier? And is a Military Officer, whether
IN or out of office, to he condemned and held
up to- pubicls detestation, without being
heard If such be the Constitution, laws Of
the land, or military usage, then have they
heretofore been most grossly misunderstood.
The situation Of the late Brigade Major
leaves but one course for him TO pursue
: Through the medium of ;e newspaper he must
seek that justice which he cannot now de-
mand and receive at the hands Of military
tribunal. This is likewise the medium through
which the charge against him has met his and
AepubGck eye. lie trusts and believes that he