Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-08-16

on the 9th. On the 9TH was called upon by Mi
Jared Nj. Hotel, who informed me that Volun
teer company Of Artillery had been formed in the
Battalion, near Mount Scion, and applied for a
order 10 elect officers. Ii was not an academia
conversation as the Major states. told Mr.. Hot
tel that had not yet received my commission an,
could not act. He seemed afraid that if the matte
was delayed, the Churchville company would gel
the start OF them. stated 10 him that if had the
decision Of the question would give the Mt. Scion
company the preference. for the reason that there
was no Volunteer company in the I'd Battalion.
also expressed my qualification at the effort to form
such company, and assured him of my cordial CO
operation in all proper measures 10 accomplish such
a result. He left me, as understand, to 90 to It.
Col Bell, and afterwards learned that Bell had
issued the desired order
! On the 10th or lth Of April, was called upon
by several gentlemen from the neighborhood Of
Churchville, with similar application in behalf Of
the company formed there. l informed these gen
llemen Of what had been done in relation to the
Mount Scion company, and stated TO them my rea-
sons for preferrng that company. They admitted
the propre,y of that preference under equal crcum-
stances, but stated that they prepared TO prove
that the movement at Mount Scion was all sham
intended only TO defeat the Churchvie company
and that 1t was no secret that the members Of the
Mount Scion company did not intend TO comply
with the law in regard to uniform.
at once told them that while | preferred the
Mount oolon company, i thought, under the cir
cnnstances. it would be just to them to require Of
The Mount Scion company some assurance of the
sincerity OF their intentions-that if they were in
earnest they could not object 10 show tiff not
they deserved to DO defeated. With this view
issued an order of which the following is a copy:
Lieut.. Col. WIN. A. Bail
Dear Sir: am directed by the Colonel Com
Inandant to inform you that he has received an APP
pcaton for the organization of volunteer compa-
ny at Churchvle. Understanding that you have
issued an order for the organization of similar COM
pany IN the neighborhood of Mount Scion, he di-
reefs that you will suspend proceedings under that
order until further instructions from him.
The design of forming such company meets
with the cordial appreciation of the Commandant.
and ne fully recognizes the prior claim of the I'd
Battalion to have such company within its limits;
but am instructed to say that he will require from
any company that may be selected the most salts
factory assurances of an intention, within reason
able time, TO comply with the law in regard to uni
form. Such requirement is deemed important in
view of the repeated failures which have attended
similar efforts heretofore made within the Reri.
nent; and more especially is it important in this
case, when two companies applying for orga4
niza,lOn where the law permits but one
In executing this ORDER you will be careful to ex-
plain these views of the Commandant to the mem
oclS composing tile VtOuHl IoOlOn company.
Respectfully,
JNO. l.. PEYTON,
Adj't Tooth Reg't.
1t will be perceived that this order was addressed
to 1t. Col. Bell 1t so directed because I'M
derStood that he had given the order for the cleo
ton. knew nothing Of Major McCue in the mat
ter, except that | heard he was to execute Bells
order.
Upon receiving my order, It. Col. Bell very,
properly submitted To my authority. and in confoI-
nifty with my directions attempted to suspend pro-
ceedings under his former order In doing so, he
omitted TO explain my views to the Mount So
Ion company, as | had directed
When Maj McCue received the order from 1t.
Col. Bell 10 suspend proceedings under the former
order, he informs he determined to disobey and
did proceed 10 hold the elections.
The mere act Of holding the elections however,
was not of any force, as the Major well knew
The elections must be certified to the Governor
The MAJOR knew that if he certified the facts as
they had occurred, the commissions would not be
issued lie was bound to certify by what authori-
ty he held the election. He knew that after the
suspenGing order he had no authority, and he also
knew that if the Governor heard of any such sus-
pending order there would be no chance Of getting
the commissions.
1t was then, necessary, either TO certify to what
was positively false, to effect the same purpose
by suppression of the truth.
The Major did certify that he held the elections
by virtue OF an order from 1t. Col. Bell but he
the fact equally important, that before
he acted under that order it had been cOuntermanded
by the very man who gave it.
The certificate thus prepared but here
new difficulty occurred. lf,he certificate should
be sent by mail it might be DELAYED, and | might
possibly have an opportunity to give the Executive
a hint OF what was going Ii was therefore
necessary to be i'm fnrJpa rbinr he
iiicate Another difficulty still occurs. If the
commissions are issued and transmitted in the reg
uIar way, they Will fall into the hands OF the Col,
onel, and the whole affair will be blown up.
In this complication of difficulties, the Major de-
termlnes TO go for the commissions himself, and
accordingly he mounted his horse, late in the eve
ming of Saturday Immediately after the election,
and rode across the country TO Waynesborough
next morning he took the stage for Richmond He
called upon the Adjutant General, presented the
certificate, and was promised the commissions
lie called next day and received the commissions
In an unSealed envelop addressed to me. When
he took them he well knew that he could moi have
gotten them if the Adjutant General had had the
slightest hint of the true state of the case, and he
knew that by suppression of the tTath he was in
ducng the AdJutant General to believe that all was
right lit was intended that he should have had
the entire control of the commissions, why were
they addressed to me? The object of this is too
plain 10 be misunderstood !; it was TO impose upon
the Major the responsibility of acting as my agent;
and of delivering them 10 me, or disposing Of them
according TO my wishes By taking the commits
sions the Major undertook that agency under
took it with the deliberate design TO violate it.
To show the estimate placed upon this conduct
Of Maj McCue, need only state, that in conse
quence of it, General Richardson 'our able, acute
and most excellent Adjutant General, an expert
enced officer whose attention TO the Militia has
been unremltting," has abandoned the practice Of
delivering commissions TO any one but the Com