The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09

am. cy;msoa uosx pl0sas scikA tho blood fvosr
o,Oa soliisrs3 II you are resolxyd 70 dp this,
be- assured tbs feelings Of your fellow citizens
win not 20 with you. WIN you subject your
gallant officers, who gained you 20 much honor
during the last war. % the revolving task ID
i = AN employment for which they have no
stomach. Though accustomed 70 scenes Of
hiood !, il the blood Of their enemies or friends
who iall in the defence of their country, that il
Is NOT permitted soldier TO regret Ii IL were
NOT from the apprehension Of charge Of gar
n,l;tv which il Is said belongs to the character
of some old soldiers. could tell what felt
when. at the age of eighteen. it fell TO my lot to
command the guard which executed two soldiers
for desertion; and phdt Idiso teH when, as the
commander Of your army, was called on TO
sanction a sentence Of death. But will tell
YOU what have seen General WAYNE, the
Marcellus of your country, suffer on similar
occasion. witnessed the tear starting from
his fine blue eve, and his breast heaving with
emotion. whenever he was called upon TO per-
form this painful duty.
.f you do not wish to revive this punish
ment, viii you restore the omnipotence of the
cat-of-nine-tails, that instrument OF torture2 If
YOU do, you will find it Intellectual. Resort to
severe punishments of that description pro
cure the shlag from Prussia or the knout from
Russia-it will never be efiectual in an Ameri-
can Army. The punishment Of the picket has
even been tried but in vain; the only one that
has proved effectual is death. Perhaps il may
be said il will be best to continue the present
system of combining the deserter to hard labor in
a fortress, with ball and chain round his leg.
Will the Senate consider what viii be the effect
of this congregation Of bad men2 Amongst
this number there are many old offenders. who
are hardened in crime, and others who are but
IL tbo ufyo cf MI
ways being to bring the least guilty. to the stand
ard Of the greatest. And what mass Of vii
lany will you periodically turn loose on the
community? Try, then, beseech you, some
other plan-fry the effect Of ienity and instruc-
Hos,-take the fetter from the leg, and apply it
to the mind of your soldier, and make him what
he shouidbe, the riiling and faithl Jul serpant Of
his country.
After all, sir, this bill is not entirely TO my
mind. would have added some other induce
ments; would have added honorary distinc-
ton; and would have increased the pay of the
corporals but feared to go too far, lest no
thing should be obtained There is another
clause would willingly have added; TO restore
again to your army the ministers Of religion.
Until lately had not known that the grade of
Chaplains had been abolished. May not to this
cause be in part attributed the increased num-
Der Of assertions in your army2 know there
are objections in the minds Of some military
men to the employment Of Chaplains; but it
has always arisen from the character of the
Chaplains themselves. | know also that books
of caricatures have been printed in England
against that grade; but, in the reform that has
lately taken place under the duke of Yelling
ton, considerable change has been effected in
that particular. They are now chosen with
great care, and faithfully do their duty. A
Chaplain, properly chosen, and employed where
he can have constant access to the men, will no
doubt bs of effectual service, and regret they
are no longer to be found as a component part
Of our army"
FAMILY OF GENERAL BROWN.