The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-12
THE UNION.
CITY OF wAsHIN TON.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 10, 1876.
VOLUNTEERS or LOUISIANA.

VOLUNTEERS OF LOUISIANA.
We learn by the newspapers from New Orleans,
which reached vs. Monday evening, that much sx-
element prevails in that city ia consequences Of the
discharge of the gallant volunteers who have jasi
returned to the eityi and the administration
particularly the War Depsrtment--is violently as
sailed for this procedure. That the administration
or the War Department has acted, as ia broadly
charged with bad faith towards these volunteers
that the public engagement with the" has been sio'
lated; that their patriotism has not been duly appre-
ciated by the governms q that any step has been
omitted, which, under the law, was authorized to
be taken to carry out their wishes and comply with
their expectations, is most confidently denied.
From the tone and tenor of the articles to which
we have referred, il is very evident that tho facts OF
the are not well understood, and that most er-
roneous notions are entertained in relation to the
powers and duties Of the government on this sub
ect. The principal error relates TO the term Of
vice Of these volunteers. IL is assumed that they
legally in service for sir months that the gov
eminent was bound to retain them for that period;
and that the dischaging of them before It's expira.
don act of bad faith, and an indignity offer
ed TO them. Upon the correctness Of this assump-
ton, muchnot 10 say sll-hat gives plauability TO
the condemnatory remarks upon the admins
tration depends. So far from It's being true, ii is
eontended in direct opposition to it, that the longest
period which they could be required to serve
only three months aud that il was not in the
power Of the government to extend that pc
Rod one day beyond the three months in any
other way Than was proposed by bringing them in
under the law Of the 18th Of May last If this pc.
sition can be maintained, and we think il is tri-
umphantly maintained in the documents which il
is proposed to submit to the public, it appears to
US that the whole ground for indignant reprobation
against the government and the Secretary Of War
Is sweptawuy. We have right to ask of all-snd
to expect from those who do not desire to peryert
the excitement to sinister purposes-to examine in
spirit of oandor and fairness the orders and in.
structions to General Taylor, and the correspond
ence between the Secretary of War and the gov.
erhors of some of the States upon this subject
When this is done fully and fairly, we may not
unreasonably indulge the hope that the bitterness Of
invectiye against the administration, especially by
those who claim to be its friends, will be abated, IL
not changed into APPRECIATION.
II, as the facts are affirmed To be, the Louisiana
volunteers were legally and constitutonay in service
for only three monthsif their term of service could
not be prolonged beyond that period without viola,
tion flaw, except in the way proposed and indig
nautly rejected, what other course, may imagine,
was left open for the administration to pursue but
to give directions to have them discharged at the
end Of their term Of service, and even sooner, IL
the exgencies Of the rendered that service una
valuable.
Such, we are convinced, was tho actual condition
Of things in relation to the Louisiana volunteers, and
such was the course, with every disposition to take
one more agreeable to the volunteers, which the ad.
ministration was compelled without an alternative
to pursue in regard TO them.
Not only is the main fact-the discharge of the
Observation-Disclosures in the most indignant Ian
gusge OF excited passion, without any Just cause, ,
as will be shown blythe documents now laid before
the public, but the orders and instructions of the
Secretary of War Saracterized by all sorts of
disparagng epithets. They are affirmed to be dis
couteoss, inconsistent tosadotory nolsni, evincng
imbeciity, pacdti0n and total incapaciiy Such is
the character ascrbed to them in the most uncrcum-
scribed language Of vituperation, without the least
specification; yet, strange to say not Of his or.
ders instructions, we venture to assert has been
seen by these INSCRIPTIONS commentators-not one
ofthem has yet been published. What will be a
fair critique upon them, we will not undertake to
predict; but we hazard nothing in saying that the
text will discredit the comment.
The Secretary Of War certainly asks nothing more
than is due, in common justice, to every public
functionary, and in an especial manner to such as
have devoved upon them responsible, difficult, and
embarrassing duties He asks for fairness, not for
favor-srRIKE" if chastisement IN rnerited but frs,
'HEAR."
We feel all possible respect for the volunteers
who rushed to the standard of their country
We feel the deepest regret at the disappointment
to which so many Of them have been subjected. We
would gladly have seen them retained under the
eagles of their country. We would have srown
their paths with roses, and covered their brows
with aurels if it could have been done according to
the common laws of the land; but how was it posi-
BILE for the secretary to reconcile his wishes to serve
them with his respect for those laws' He was
anxious TO retain them under the law of May last
If that proposition was defeated, how had he the
power to change the law to six months, when the
former law recognised only three months, and the
law Of May last extends the volunteer service to the
term oftwelve months'
DOCUMENTS.
ApJUrANT GENERALS OrrrcE,
Washington, May Is, 1886.
GENERAL I am directed by the Secretary of War
to say, it is quite probable, and highly desirable
that many of those patriotic volunteers from Lousi-
ana and other States, who have sailed from New
Orleans, or who may be assembling to follow, under
the acquisitions and calls suddenly made in that
quarter, may from the same patriotic ardor, be will
ling re-enro themselves under the act of the 18th
instant treipe month volunteers, that you be- and
you accordingly, requested to invite them to do
so; and that you cause all such may consent to
be enrolled in companies and regiments giving cred
for the time passed under their first hssty enrol
ment.