Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-07-17
DOMESTIC.
yiead Quarters Of Me -Army Of M'
United States.
WAsuINGTnN CITY. IIrNE l.
GENERAL ORDER.

ed to him by the Department OF War, the
Major General considers it due to his
situation to direct the attention OF the
army 10 certain points relative to its
discipline and duties. The state OF the
military establishment is of nature to
excite deep concern for its interests.
Minute divisions which it has suffered,
from the necessity of furnishing garri-
sons for the numerous posts that line
our inland and maritime borders, and
the abridgement Of the sources of COM
petition, inseparable from its dispersed
condition, are alike unlavorable to its
discipline. The principle of emulation,
which in combined forces, has an irresis-
tible operation by force inherent in it.
self, is lost upon bodies which do not
feel the influence of contact and can
find a substitute only in the increased
devotion Of those who are invested with
command. Discipline, no longer nour-
ished by principle Of constitutional
activity, becomes in great degree de-
pendent for existence on the application
OF the authority by those in command,
and on the principle of obcdledce in these
of subordinate situations. Viewing the
subject as he does, the Major General
cannot repress soicitude for the pros
perity of the army--a solicitude which
is relieved only by "a confidence in those,
by whose cooperation his own efforts are
to be sustained. Subordination in au-
thority is the essence of military govern
,nent, and it must be fostered by that
respectful defence, which is due from
all officers to each other, in their private
as we'll as in their official correspon-
dence.
The Major General feels it his duty
forcibly to enjoin ON the officers of the
army the necessity Of maintaining spi-
Fit of harmony among themselves. In
addition to the consideration that person
al chisms tend directly to the subversion
of military order and discipline, it will
be obvious to them that their profession
imposes obligations, which do not exist
in the other walks Of life. Dissentions
and controversies among private gentle
men effect only the characters of the in
dividual parties; while those among
military officers impair the reputation OF
the body of which they arc members
and it is but just to expect that every !
gentleman of honorable sentiments will
sacrifice the qualification Of his personal
enmity to the consideration that the repu-
tation of his associates will necessarily |
be involved in the obloquy which he
draws upon his own. Although it may
be alledgcd that the distinction which
has been made between the military and
the other departments of society is an
artificial one, and that it is deducible
rather from the popula- jealousy of mill
tary instructions, than from any princi-
piles of reason or justice; an admission
of the fact would form no argument
against the existence Of the propensity
to charge upon the body the errors of
its constituent parts; and while the pro-
pensity exists, it is the duty of all to af-
ford no pretext for its action.
The prevalence of desertion has been
an evil of serious magnitude, and it does
not appear TO be justified by view of
blishment. All research in this field
for its causes has been unsatisfactory.
The character Of the military profession
Is honorable the soldier is as we'll pro-
vided with comforts as the citizen in
common life, and his occupation is nei-
ther more offensive nor more labori-
ous.-Thcre are restless, discontinued
spirits in every sphere Of life, which no
indulgence nor kindness can bind to sta
bility; but these examples do not exist
in sufficient number to justify the range
desertion has taken in the army. The
evil must be referred, in a degree, to an
undue severity, or to the absence of
system in the conduct of officers towards
their men.-The officer is the deposit
tary Of the rights of the soldier. and the
obligations of his office, as we'll as the
laws of honor and humanity, claim a
faithful execution of the trust. When
the soldier ceases to regard the officer
as his protector, the authority with which
the laws invest the latter loses its effica-
cy in his estimation. The surest RENE
dy for the evil Of desertion is contained
in right and steady discipline. To be
salutary It must possess both these qua
lities; but no violation of law can be
deemed essential to its enforcement.
It's effect upon the soldier becomes i'm
paired the moment he feels that the
system which governs him is fluctuating
in its course, or that it violates the prin-
ciples upon which it is founded. The
certainty of laws constitutes their prin-
cipal efficacy, and, however severe re-
strictions may be, they are obeyed so
long as they are dispensed by the hand
of justice, and not of oppression.