The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-20
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS, spy,


FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
In the (Concord) Yeoman's Gazette of Nov
Z, under the editorial head, find some remark
upon the Militia System-from which max,
the following extract -
But the most remarkable adventures are re
lated of a military election or attempt at a,
election in Southboro', about twenty miles from
this place. The town has had for few wears
handsome volunteer company, heretofore dis
tlngulshed for good discipline we believe it il
R!fe Corps. This company was lately, anc
probably IS now, destitute of commissioned off
GERS Not long since, the Col. of their regi
ment ordered company meeting for the pur.
pose OF electing officers, at which meeting ne
presided in person. On the first ballot the sol
diers with quixotic spirit of galantry elected
as their Captain, discreet maiden LADY, but on
inquiry, it was found that her age disqualified
her from bearing arms. Upon this, the presid.
ing officer demonstrated with the soldiers on
the indecorum of their proceedings. They felt
the rctuke, and, as they aver, in penitence for
the military pecadillo, elected staid methodist
clergyman to bear the sword over them. But
he would WELD none other than a spiritual
sword in his work, and declined the honor Of
fered. Whereupon third ballot was taken,
which resulted in choosing the Col himself to
ne the Captain of the corps. There the pro-
ceedngs ended, as the Col did not choose to
call for another vote. Subsequently, orders
were issued to the first Selectman of the town
commanding him 10 parade the company. He
issued his warrant, requiring the clerk of the
company to warn the soldiers for parade. But
the clerk conspired with his fellows to evade
the duty. He raised by contribution suffi-
cient sum to indemnify him for dsobedience of
orders the disgrace of being punished for a
legal offence, he and they estimated at nothing.
Thus protected, he neglected to warn the COM
pany and no parade was had. -Afterward, but
before legal process was commenced, the clerk
pocketed the money raised by contribution to
detray contingencies, but feeling no vocation to
contend ooith the Commonwealth, as is natural
when the Commonwealth has the right of the
matter, he gave leg bail for his appearance to
answer for his offence.
1.-The preceding anecdotes are given las told to
US; there may be circumstantial errors in the
narrative, yet we have no doubt they are sub
true
The editor has, in his zeal to bring contempt
on the militia system, either aoitfuLly misrep
resented, or been made the dupe of the most fla
grant Imposition. If he has been imposed upon
| sincerely pity his credulity if these remarks
were the effusiUn of his own overheated zeal,
he may yet have to learn that falsehood or mis-
representation are but miserable weapons of
warfare, and that the cause must be poor indeed
whose advocates have no other arguments for
its support. The truth is, (the editors opinion
to the contrary Notwithstanding the state
ments, SO far as they would impeach the char
acter of said company, in room of being Sub
stantially true" are not only substantially, but
absolutely destitute of truth Notwithstanding
the editor has "no doubt of the truth of his
narrative, will inform him that 1t IS not truc
in any one particular, except the single asser-
ton that such company exists in Southboro'
and that it has been, and is n0a1 distinguished
for good discipline. For the editors information
would observe, that, "this company was" not
" lately" d" is" not " now" and neUer has been,
" destitute of commissioned officers" since Its
first organization &c Not long since, the Col"
did not order " a company meeting for the cleo
ton of officers" and no election has been held
in said company for IL months, nor has any of
flee been vacant in said company during that
period. Consequently the "quixotic spirit of
gaIlantry"-" discreet maiden lGdy"-her sage
her disqualification " from bearing arms
" the military pecadillo -" staid methodist
clergyman" and the choosing the Col. him
SELF" &c. &c. may be set down as original
matter to the champion of the corps editorial.
The editor of the Gazette is further informed
that =" subsequently,, orders were" not issued
to the first Selectman" or any SeLectman, that
he did not Issue " his warrant" that the clerk
did not " conspire with his fellows to evade the
duty"-he did moi raise " by contribution a suf-
fcient sum- &c.-that he did not neglect "to
warn the company"-tEat there ne0er was
time when said company was ordered out on
duty when " no parade was habitat no clerk
of said company ever "pocketed the money
l. r.
his appearance" &c.
But this is not all. In December, a commu-
nication from the commanding officer of said
company was forwarded to the editor of the Ga.
zette, apprisng him that his statements, so far
as respected this company, were altogether
without foundation, and requesting him to cor
rect them. But, although sufficient time has
elapsed, no notice is taken Of this communica-
ton, no disposition seems to be manifested to
do justice to the character or feelings of this
much injured company, or to heal the wound
inflicted by this unwarrantabe attack.
We have no acquaintance with the editor
aforesaid, but if we must form an opinion of
his magnanimity or sense of Justice from this
specimen, one would almost be led to infer that
he was as destitute of that virtue, as that part
of his " narrative as he calls it, which relates
to this company, is oftruth. We cannot, how
ever, believe that the gentleman has subscribed
to the principles of the old adage, that false,
hood well stood too, is as good as the truth
but confidently hope and believe, that he will
yet feel the rebuke" which he ascribes to the
members of this company that his "peni.
tence" for the indecorum" and injustice of
his proceedings" will be manifested and
" aver"ed, and that he will not g decline the
honor preferred him, of performing at least
one act of justce-and that he will not leave
us to infer, that he estimates the " disgrace" of
persisting in misrepresentation, of the same
magnitude, which he says, tho clerk, &c. OF
this company estimated the disgrace of being
punished for legal offence"
A FRIEND TO Truth.