The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-06-19
TIL. SIX AULITIANrN

The execution, by Gen Jackson, Of SIX Militia
men, two weeks after the PRONUNCIATION of the
news of peace, Cor the commission of an act
sanctioned by the laws of the land, cannot but
excite deep nteres, in the mind of every reflect
ng individual. The most enthusiastic admirers
Of Gen. Jackson should pause before they give
their votes for man fill the first Office IN the
Republic. who stands before the world charged
with the perpetration Of deed which necessarily
proves him to be reckless Of human life or pro-
foundry ignorant of that class OF laws which,
from the nature Of his profession, he ought to
have been familiar with. Reluctant 10 regard
him 1.-The former light, we shall assume the lat
/ ter proposition as true. In this course, too, we
are fortified by memorable circumstance, of a
! character somewhat similar We allude TO his
construction of the ID section Of the Rules and
Articles of War, by which he would have huoga
half dozen leluded factionsts assembled in con-
vcation in the peaceable city of Hartford, as
foreign spies, lurking about his camp Atho'
it is difficult to conjecture how so palpable an
error could have been committed, yet it was ge-
uted to any other cause than ignorance But,
we have now another case, in which his ignorance
of the provisions of the laws which were design
ed TO regulate the conduct of our armies, led him
into the awful error of causing SIX men tobe shot
who had committed no crime aud at time, too,
when their death was not necessary as an exam
pie to their comrades WHAT are the fac
Just previous to the close Of the war, by an or
der of Gov Blount, of Tennessee, several cou-
panies Of the militia of that state repaired TO the
scene of action. By the law under which they
were called out, they could not have been forced
to serve for longer period than three months.
When this period had elapsed, they demanded
discharge. II was refused; and, in pursuance
of the advice of their company officers, many
of them left the camp, and proceeded home
wards They were pursued, arrested, trlcd on
charges of mutiDy aud descrtion, and SIX of the
number shot. after the news OF peace had been
promulgated throughout the country and when
such a bloody retribution was not required by |
any considerations Of public utility. Ought |
man who has thus, on two occasions, manifested
such total ignorance of laws relating solely to
military matters, and with which, therefore, ii
would not be ungencrous to say that he should
have had superficial acquaintance, 90 be eleVa-
ted TO an office requringa mind well stored with
knowledge, and capable of compromising the
most abstruse questions of political economy
and Governmental science and the most knotty
and complicated points of international IA"
I, ,,,ust not he we trust that there is a redeem
inc virtue in the breasts of the American people,
whose slumbering energies will be aroused IN
,i,a n o,ard ao anst a result so dreadfully por-
,o,touS of the destiny of the Republic, and to
ho do,recated as an evil only inferior to the dis
solution of the Union itself II these errors had
becn Of minor importance, we should have urg-
edthis argument but as they were great IN them
se,vos and horrible in their consequences, we
hone il will strike every one with treble force
As President, with his powers increased IN exact
,ronortou to his duties, what reason should we
40, have to apprehend the commission of errors
,,,;cb might prove fatal TO the peace, the honor
or interests of the nation This is no IDLE lear
an dream of the Imagination, conJured up 10 a.
,a..,, tho ,in,id. It's fear founded in sober re,
a.. ,d ;s a natural deduction from the specl-
mems given by Gen. jackson OF legal erud'''on
o,,e would think that man holding, as II were
,.,as the lives of six of his fellow NOR
,ooe. tain that iD sentenCin