Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-03
Williamsburg, Sept. %, 1926.
TIE ARMY.
EItract ofd letter to the Editors.


Your Correspondent is right The President of
the L. States may be attacked on every side, and
in every form. His public acts, even his private
life, made the subject of the severest scrutiny Sc
majors, Judges, men OF the first rank and character
grown grey In years and services--are liable TO
be called on in the most public and unceremonious
manner to give an account even OF their domestic
transactions But the commander of petty mill
tary post-who GO: there, Heaven knows how
can do no wrong. The King of England who also
- can do no wrong can be assailed by attacking
his ministers, against whom the courts Of law, and
The public prints are open This resource, how ever
tails against his &c snless compeers'' in Re
PuORcan America; as to the complaint OF a SOL
dier, IT is nugalory. An officer must complain
alter certain way, and then be silent, no matter
how calling the injury. Though he publish any
thing, however true, he is liable TO be cashier ed
and, even stating his grievances in cow ersation
Is breach OF military " discipline," as tending
to " bring his commanding officer into contempt.'
The consequences of this freedom from controul
nave oeen TOO often, such may easily be guessed
1t 1t should be asked what they aie, would refer
to the proceedings of the Cour Martial on -,
which few days since was brought 10 my notice
By an officer of the Army.
was pleased that you republished certain
paragraph respecting g Quarter Masters duty" al
Panama 1t is unpleasant 10 do that which brnes
individuals before the public; hut sometimes il cam
not be avoided. For example: If an officer trem-
bling at his own boldnesT, should disclose some
OF the secrets OF his prisonhouse 10 friend who
considering them OF some Importance TO the Nation
should state he was Informed that fay ouritism
existed IN our military seryice-ihat officers were
unfairly. because unequally trea,ed-that they had
been, Tor instance, taken off and put on dsaereea-
BILE detail. to suit the caprice of those who had no
business" with the mst,er-that aft r the details
were made, some officers were forced TO obey
them, while Others were not only excused but ia
vored with "favoIite" situaons-so that the Off
Ger, who was doing light duty, under comfortable
circumstances, received pay double of that given
to these OF the same rank, ho Were subjected TO
fatigue, and the want o. every comfort: That the
comfort, convenience, and lives OF abandoned per-
sons were TO be jeopardized, ihst one might have
his choice OF residence that there ere instances
oil Officers holding two commissions by laws in
compatible" &c.-he would be answered--s these
are vague and groundless. statements things
wo"ld not be permitted if they did exist, they
would have been told of long ago" In sef.de-
fence II then becomes necessary to say -. A is
- while + - Z and ID are - Z is moving
Heaven and E'rih---.'' 1t is true there would
be an immediate cry of personality, persecution
ct al. Quevedo mentions an artfu fellow who es-
capped, when closely pursued by throwing himself
down IN the street and crying out that the Roeue
had run over him, and nearly broken his leo. -