Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-07-19
TO THE PUBLIC.

In compliance with a "Card" which appeared in
both the papers of Staunton some time since, ask
ing suspension of opinion by the public, in rela-
ton to any thing they might know Ut the difficult
ties existing between COLI. b. Baldwin and myself,
until was in a situation to give publicity to the
same, now feel at liberty to redeem that promise
1t is generally known that the Governor refused an
application for Court Martial in my case, but In
the order discharging my arrest takes the unheard
of and unwarranlable course of passing sentence
upon me, without shadow ofevidence, out simply
FROM the charge made against me by my accuser.
1t is needless to say protested most seriously a
gainst the discharge of my arrest, and renewed my
application for a Court Martial. After consdera-
Die suspense, and writing number Of communica-
tons to his Excellency, in tur,herance OF my APP
peal, was unable 10 hear word from him per-
sonally; and it was only, until had the opportu-
nifty Of applying to him through friend, as he
passed through Stanton to Lexington, a few days
since that | was enabled to know his dec;son.-It
was, that he (the Governor) ncrer granted Courts
Martial unless when the offences charged were We
nv fragrant, &C., on account of the expense. In
tending to make some comments upon his course
In the proper place. will remark that he intimated
that 1t. Governor Wiley might do as he (Wiley)
thought proper in the matter. | determined
would make no more appeals to Gov. Smith, Lit.
ter, but adopt the only medium of redress, other
than Court Martial, and submit succinct histo-
~ of the facts of the TO tho public, with such
comments and remarks as think they merit.
At the Regimental Court of Enquiry which con-
vened at Spring Hill on the Goth November last,
Col. Rankin resigned. 1t was generally known at
that time that 1t. Col. Bell, Capt Baldwin and
myself were candidates for the office of Colonel
On the 2nd of December, when my way TO the
city of Richmond, | learned in Staunton that It.
COL Bell had notified the officers, through the
Spectator and Democrat, that election would
take place at Spring Hill the 18th of that month
to fill Col. Rankin's vacancy. Anticipating alb
sence from home of six weeks or more, requested
4 friend to personate me on the day of eeclion.-
The 18th December came, and pretty full attend
auce Of the officers then in commission. Twelve
Were absent, seuen of them were friends Of mine,
three of Capt. Baldwin, and two were doubtful
The election gone into, and on the first ballot
resulted thus: Bell l6, McCue IA, Baldwin H..
At this stage the friends of Capt. Baldwin refused
to drop him, in accordance with long established
usage, but insisted on running him and myself to-
gether.-For the sake of harmony my friends ac-
quiesced, and the ballot resulted in my choice 1t
Col. Bell and myself were then run, the ballot
sulting in my choice. The certificates of election
not having been prepared, the superintendapts a
greed to meet on Monday following (court day) to
certify the election to the Executive. On that day
one Of the superintendants (asupporter of Capt. b
declined to certify, but with the assistance of Capt
b., prepared string of objections for the Execu-
tve) to the legality of the election. returned on
the 27sh, and found some excitement produced by
the course of Capt. BIS friend. Among number
Of objections made by them, | will only notice two
or three: 1t was urged that large number were
absent from the election, and in consequence the
interests of Capt. b. were compromised. | have
before stated that f,1ere absent, of whom
Were supporters of mine, three of Capt. b., and two
were doubtful. Is it reasonable to believe his in
terests suffered much2 Another objection was that
the officers were called together by newspaper no
tice, when they say it ought to have been written
1t is true there is an old statute among the laws
regulating the militia requiring notices of training
&C.. to be written because at that day. there were
few newspapers through the State; but for fifteen
years past, our officers of all the Regiments
have been called together by newspaper notice, and
no one has ever plead before Court of Enquiry as
sufficient excuse for absence from muster, train
ing, Sc, that he was notified through the newspa
per, when it ought TO have been written. But the
objection they urged with most force, and on which
they seemed to rely principally, was this: The
order directing 1t. Col. Bell to hold the election
was issued on the 30th November, and having beer
forwarded TO Parnassus, the address of Col. Ran.
kin, it did not reach 1t. Col Bell until the 20tl
December, t,cO days after the election. This wa;
a great improperly, they urge, in 1t. Col. Bell
and Of course ought TO vitate the whole election
What does Gen. Richardson, our able, acute anC
most excellent Adjutant General, say on the sub
ject, in to letter addressed him. by friend
unknown to myself until the letter was put in my
hand?
"Adjutant General Of1ice,1
Jan. 25th, lS4S.