The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-06

MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND RELIGIOUS RIGHrs.-
We have received from one of the private soldiers
stationed at Fort Columbus in New York Harbor
communication calling the attention Of the proper
authorities to the military discipline Of that station,
and making some inquiries respecting the religious
rights of soldiers, as secured by acts of Congress
and the gulations Of the army. The following is
the communication, which We publish perbslttm 1t
ht0atim -
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
foRr CoLuMBUs. N Y. HARBOUR !
April ~, 1851 !
per Authorities through the mdium Of your Collums to
the that myself and Twenty other Soldiers Belonging
to the 18th Regt Of Artillery stationed at this post Were
Sunday morning last Connd in the Guard house for
- hours for not Attending the Protestant Episcopal
Church at this Post
who are Like myself Roman Catholics to Attend apro-
testant Church
it has Ben bone BY Orler Of Lieut. winder he being
officer ofth Day aud APPROVED OF BY Col Gardner who
Released few and has the Others waiting for trial
who marched to church in military rder and stood
the Door Being Asked why the Did not 60 in gave the
following Raison that the Did not Belong the church
and would not in. being Asked what religion the
Of made the Roman Catholichs upon which
he Inssd thin going in Some went in to church in
order rdd OF Punishment and Others Would 90
in upon which the are waiting for trial and charged with
Dsobedience u orders in not going to church
Now this has Been Done once Before BY Lieut. Brown
and got about eight hours Of cold wintir Day Standing
1 Doubt whether the Government is Of these
Transactions not this Buisnes Carried is Enough
cause mutny and Dosertions very SUDDEN
there is nothing to hurt mans feelings much
Compelling him tog) to church where he Does not Be
long. this Is free cuntry yeas free Cuntry whore
Soldier is Compelled to church whore he Docs
Belong punished in this manner cannot stand this
if the military Laws do not max Amendment in this
NUT what the civil Law do If the waat to
have attend to their religious Duties let them send
the to their churches But this the will do
tie will scarce give a man few hours pass on Sunday in
order to keep them this church upon which some
rather than Be punished will and Others will die Be
tore the trample their Cross and take mp Another
Doubt very nluS whether the instgator of this
Of Religious Characters or not
However have ventured TO Hope that You will give
Publicity to the is the only means have Of OBJ
tanning justice. am MIR Editor
Respectfully Yours
Soldier.
Y, s. have with bed my name II Should be Judged
Guilty Of a high. military offence in making this com
paint.
We have investigated this subject, and we find
that officers of the army have power, under the
laws, TO command soldiers to attend any form Of
woship-that religious attendance is entirely dicrc
tonary with soldiers, is with citizens; and such
a command, If it given in the case referred to,
unjust and arbitrary, and the soldiers who re-
fused to obey il perfectly justified in the
which they took. We can hardly believe. however,
that any officer of the army could be guilty of such
an net Of petty tyranny, and shall be pleased to
have it in our power to make formal denial Of it,
BY cnlisting in the army Of the United states, n
sells his scrvices-and bis services ouly-for IL
consideration. lie retains all other rights, anu
does not barter away his opinions religion or any
other subject. The physical man he sells-bat not
the mental.