Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-04


certain But we are referred to the "tes-
'lmony OF Lieut.. Barrett, Ensign Holt and
private Westmorcland." Where Is this tcs.
umonyl l cannot see il: and do YOU ey
Pcct the public VIII take assertions with
out proof, as rctutatien of the BODY OF
evidence have adduccd? Vain prcsurnp
non And venture to affirm that not one
OF those witnesses referred to have said
one word about the previous desertion OF,
shiS boy; nor can any record be produ-
ccd, showing that at any former time he
had been guilty OF these crimes
Here let ne stop for moment 50 anaIyze
the offence, for which the unfortunate voi,th
suffered dcath-Firxt, ''disobedienIc of or
he refused to do FATIGUE du-
ty when he was on guard-Couid any or
DER to Woods have been legal, or such as
he ought TO have obeyed, unless given
through the officer of his guard? | think
every military man liz the Union will say
not. Then was Woods Shot for oisobcv-
in!g an ordar, which, if obcyed, would have
subjected him to Be shot; because in obev-
ing this order, be would necessarily have
been missing from his posts and this would
nave been seriods CRIME. The next cl,arge
Is "dIsrespect of his commanding offiser."
20 what officer does this ailuda? 10 Bar
fe't, enc oihcer OF his guardl 1t docs not
SO appear, for Woods gave up his gun and
10 Cen Jackson? ! presume no.: unless
because he did not fall down dead. when
BIS General commanded ten balls to be
blown through the id rascal. Then 7
suppose II must have been 10 Adjutant Ca,nn
Truly, II every man among "a rap militia
JUST mustered intp service was to be shot
because they did not know when, how.
where OF whom 10 obey, among their c.
quaiiy ray officers, there i1aight socn be
nut few LETT. Shot 10 dealt, for 'd:srcspec,'
TO @ man who ut that time had no lceal
right to command hinl!i! Farewell liberty.
II SUCH Is the slender tenure upon which We
hold our lives. The third charge is ssrnnti-
ny--wiiat are the facts? Why, in refusing
to give up his gun. or be taken prisoner bT
a man who at that time co,,id have no iee5j
command over hin-and then walkipo
straight 10 the officer o: his guard, raho alone
mad the right to command him, ant, 10 whom
ne immediately gave up his gun and stirsen-
dered. | will venture 10 assert, that This oe
ticer. when he first mustered his roar1: Cor
duty, cautioned each and eYcsy OK: OF them
not to give UP their guns 10 any person, M
.deF any i1Tstenco whatever; jet this bow must
De SHOT 50 death for keeping lis, and going
10 ms own officer, when 1t was demanded
by another. There is hardly Il doubt but
Young Woods expected to be applardea
oy iicHt, Uarett for his conduc;--and pro-
Saoly would. II he had .os Witnessed the
fury OF the Gcaeral Dus il inuy be said
wood vas at lis tent, and not IN bis pro-
per place: hare proved By hir Hanna
that ne had obtained leave Of absence
rom his Office, and by AIossrs. Couch.
Ferguson and Stewart, thai woods tol1,
Camp he was OH guard, and bad obtained
leave OF absence tacknowIofjoo IF Wa :,
had told g lie, and was not on nn.r1 he
ought TO haze been punished for MS con
duct, but Us 1t vas, he might have received
praise instead o. 61uth, Without ir;l,ring the
service.
1t Is also stated IN fhc defence, ;:.at "thc
nnisstatements of Or. Armstrong; Witnesses
are too numerous TO be noticed, and their
testimony altogether too vague and unsnb-
stantlai to be regarded Very sagacious
and prudcrt course indeed, and for the sim
re reason because they cannot be refuted;
HE !ohn u. Anderson, OF Nashville, syou
consider 1t MGhiy unnecessary to advert to
iacts., y heated rari!zaD may consider this
sound logic. bnt tlic sober par. crthc coraDI;-
ntv will NOT
You char@e poor Woods, in tic general
order for his execution. with the crimes OF
n,mutiny and Gescrtion,' at Il previous ti,nc.
ih9 order says, YOU, Holm Y, Gods Sin vio-
i. .ioa OF your engagement, OF all the pri,l-
cipics OF honor, and OF the order Of ronr
commanding General, rose in rI,.tinv md
deserted. 1ou wire arrested and broncht
bAok," and with your comrades the General
iAougiit proper to grantyou all pardon -
1naa III the command Of an army, r1ay use
what language he pleascs TO poor fallen
PROSTATE scretc', and that scrstct cannot re-
sent. What !hcn must have been the feel.
ings OF this young man when knecling by the
sido OF his coffin about to be launched into
AN awful eternity, to hear himself charged by
tis h"mone General, with crimes he never did
%oinmlt; and to hear it stated that these al
f2ge0 crimes constituted thc burden Of the
ofder, why mercy could not be extended TO
him. None OF the witnesses with whom I
have conYcrscd were nigh enough to have