Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-04-10

Oi ueSertiOn and fs5sce rsnsgcfed-aad he Is shot
as an example to the whole army. The Pro-
eeedIRgs OF the Court are laid before the Presi.
aent-the olher three are recommended TO the
mercy OF the Chef Magislrate--and are &C.
eordingly PaRDoNED
1t MIR. Randolph or Mr. FLOYD, can find any
thing IN the comparison of these two cases, to
justify or pailiAte the coaduct of Gen, Jackson,
they are welcome to it.
Let US now see whether Gen Jackson himself
mas shown that SUBMISSION to the laws, obedl
ence Of orders. and respect 10 his superiors
winch will ent'tle him to pour the vengeance OF
violated isws-"stern justice" without mercy,
upon The devoted heads OF poor, ignorant, de
luded militia men.
In The very FIRST service in which we saw this
ofhcer (6en. Jackson employed during the
tate war, he set at nought the authority OF the
war Department, and the rules aud articles OF
war Having early rendered his services to
government with 1850 Tennessee volunteers,
ne was ordered to conduct them 10 the lower
Mississippi, to assist the regular force there IN
rePellng descen, of the enemy upon Louisi-
slana, then, 1--WE never knew whyl seriously
apprehended. He marched with his usual
promptitu6e and CELEBRITY, and early in January,
1913, eDcsmped at his appointed station in the
Mississippi Territory. Here. shortly afterwards,
clouds OF war having blown over in that quarter,
De received an order from The Secretary ct War
directing him, on the receipt thereof, TO dismiss
those under his command from service and to
take measures to deliver over every article of
puohc property m his possession 10 General
windsor" Without the least hes.stinl, he
ciseteyed 1ese orders seized upon He ph6dc
stores, ADD ali the Transport alton upon which h,
could lay his hands, in spite ii the Quarter
Master and Gen. Wilkinson, and re conducted
his army IN body to Tennessee. Instead Of
making a modest representation of his motives
to the War Department, and throwing himself
upon the indulgence ofGovernment for pardon,
he announced the determination he bad take6
to disregard its orders in the haughtiest terms;
and aggta atIng the act of disobedience with
the grossest insult To the Secretary, General
Armstrong, and in effect TO the whole Govern
ment, he expressed he astonishment he felt
that such orders should have originated with
the 'fsmous author of the Newberg letters
the then redoubted advocate of Soldiers
rights" Soldiers rights! Why then it seems
that soldiers have rights--mere common sol
diers, and may hap even common militia-men
have rights, wherever it is not the pleasure OF
Gen, Jackson to suspend them, And this is
the man, who coaliy orders six militamen to
he SHOT like so many sheep. killing dogs-men
too, who, foral that appears to the contrary,
are every whit AS as good as himself, and far
less guilty they been guilty OF disobe
dence OF orders? So had he. Had they seized
npeH The pttbac stores, the property Of the I'm
ttd Sta'es' So lad he. Had they nsulted the
President Of the United States, the Commander
IN chief OF the army, and in effect the Govern
ment and People of the United States. by dis
regarding and dlsoeeyiug orders, and insulting
the Secretary OF war, through whom the or.
Gers OF the Government were communicated to
themt No. But jackson had. Jackson was
bred a lawyer, had been member of the
State Convention, of The Legfs ature of Ten
nessee, member OF Congress- JUDGE and
hnasiy General. He knew his duty welt
He knew the obedience that was due to the
orders--the respect that was due to bus military
superors weil--for he carefully exacts the
sametrom his interiors in rank. He sinned
with his ewes open. On the other band the
men that were shot, were humble, obscure,
ignorant, men--in the rank5--mlsled, if they
were wrong, by The opinions OF their officers,
snd on every account entitled TO the merctful
interpre aion,and mitigated punishment, winch
even the purity and justice of Heaven accord TO
those wh" sin through ignorance. "Aud that
servant which knew his lords Will, and prepar.
&c not himself, neither did according to his
will, shall be beaten with mann stripes. But
he that knew not. and did commit things wor
thy OF stripes, shall be beaten with fen STRIPES"
St. Luxe, CHI. xii, III l4.
Fellow.Ci,lzensl Militia men of The United
States. Ist to be endured that official rank
and audsCitv shall skreen one man from con
dign punishment tor certain crimes, and that
the same man shall afterwards nliict capital
and infamous punishmen's upon scores and
hundreds Of obscure and unprotected men, for
similar and less aggravated offences Is it come
to thrs? Where il the boosted equality OF our
justice and our laws? Have our laws too, be.
come, as was said of the laws of old, like
cobwebs. wbete the small flies are caught and
the great ones break through Fellow Citizensi
this rude AMI sanguinsry soldier, who makes
his own arbitrary will the only rule of his &C
tions, who violates constitutions, breaks laws,
and disobeys orders whenever il suits his pur.
poses, snd who has, to the ever asting disgrace
OF those whose dutysi, was to have checked
and punished him, been hitherto permitted to
do go with perfect impunity--this man now
comes forward and asks Of the militia.men of
the United 6 ates- What To make him Pre-.
sident of the United States, and Commander.
in.chiei Of the Army and Navy!!! II is yours
to answer to the call. II you think tina, his
exploits on the ace.field, and at the cock fight
his tavern broils, his d'rkings and pistolings,
hi. duels his disobedlence of express and
positive orders, accompanied with the grossest
insults TO his superiors in rank. his ordering
man TO be shot after he was acquitted by a
court martial, his proclamstIins of martial law,
his suspension of the right of trial. his i'm
rr;c,, nsnt a ao;SIafors and IndraS snd iast