The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-08-26

gallant officer nor to the Presidential you as
sign any sufhcientor even plausible reason for
this extraordinary proceeding The whole
army, l believe, and the whole country,
when the transaction became known, enter.
tanned but one opinion on the subiect-and
that was, that you had inflicted an injury
and an outrage upon brave and meritorious
officer. Such an act-almost the first on
your assuming Communicated disas-
trous' consequences to the public service, and
devolved upon the President the duty of in
terposing to protect the injured officer This
interpoSition you have made a grave matter
of accusation against the head of the War
Department, and have characterized it as a
censure and rebuke. 1t may imply both.
and still, being merited, may leave you
without pretence t.r complaint. The
President, after abiding to his duty to sus-
tain the rights of the officers under your
command, as we'll as your own rights, in
formed you that he did not discover in the
case, as you had presented it, sufficient cause
for such an order; that, in his opinion, Col
Harvey had a just cause to complain; and
that he hoped the matter had been reconsid-
cred by you, and the Colonel restored to his
: appropriate command. Your own subse-
quent course in this case demonstrates the
unreasonableness of your complaint, and vim
dicates the correctness of the President s
5 proceedings. You had really rebuked and
censured your own conduct for even be-
S fore you had received the Presidents views,
: you had, as he hoped you would, reconsider
G ed the matter, become convinced of your err
: ror, reversed your own order, and restored
: Col. Harvey to his command; thus giving
i the strongest evidence in favor of the pro-
d priety and corrcctRess Of all the President
: had done in the cause. give you too much
= credit for steadiness Of purpose, to suspect
1t that you retraced your steps from mere ca
o price, or for any other cause than convic
/ ton that you had fallen into error. Aftcl
S the matter had thus terminated, it appear
unaccountable to me that you, who abov,
1T all others should wish it to pass into oblivion
er have again called attention to it by making
$ it an item in your arraignment Of the Wa
e. Department.
IT You struggle in vain to vindicate you
of course in this case, by referring to your ow
to acts in the campaign of 1914 You the
t sent away as you allege, against their wishes
ID ''three senior field officers of as many reg
IL ments who were infrm, uninstructed, and il
d. efficient, in favor Ct three juniors, and wit
In the subsequent appreciation Of Major Ger
m eral Brown and the head of the War D
no partment" This precedent does not, in m
he Judgment, change the aspect of the presel
M case. Col Harvey was not "iniirm, uni
nd structed, and Inefficient you did not assig
lie, and, in Difference to he known opinion
Up the army aad country, you did not ventu
ed to assign that reason for deposing him.
on do not understand the force of your logic
Tas deduction, that because you, on former c
mt casion, had deprived officers under you
de- their commands for good and sufficient re
adj sons, with subsequent approval, you m
be now, and at any time, do the same thil
vas without any reason whatever; and if t
led President interpeses to correct the procedu1
you have a just cause to complain of an
of dignity and right to arraign the War [
art partment
ent Asyour animadversion upon the tone
pt. my letter is probably not a blow aimed a
I'm. much more conspicuous object, to be reaC
My ed through me, ought, perhaps, to pass
me, without notice. On revision of that lett
re- [ cannot perceive that it is not entirely
lces spcctful in manner and language. The vie
wi Of the President are therein confidently
not pressed, because they were confidently
ton tertaincd. It seemed to be admitted by J
As that, eff dictated to the grcenest General
him the recent appointments" the letter wo
ugh not have been exceptionable. was not
: it ware that it was my duty to modify ;
seen graduate my style so as to meet, according
ruz, your fastidious views, the various degr
that of greenness and ripcness Of the Generals
lave whom am required to convey the order:
Ion the President; and for any such defect
curt nv official communications I have no APP
etrl- ges to offer.
been In the same letter wherein you comp
k at of being censured for the course III relatiO
resi- Col Harvey, you say, 81 am now rebu
pre- for the unavoidable-nay, wise, fit had
r ex- been navoidable-release, on parole, of
COM prisoners taken at Cerro Gordo, even be
COM one word of commentator from the gov
ened ment had reached this army, on account
ence its gallant conduct in the capture of Il
rawn prisoners" Accident alone-not any 0
owed sight Or neglect on my part-has given
t did the apparent advantage of the aggrava
d he which you have so artfully thrown into
rank, charge; my letter commencing yourself
light, the gallant army under your command
sepa- the glorious achievement at Cerro &c
ID on was written and sent to you on 10Th of
scene eleven days before that which you
that pleased to consider as containing a rebu
uture But meet the main charge with
ID of tive denial You never were rebuked
ohout discharging the prisoners taken at c
the Gordo. This issue can be tried by the
have cord. All that was ever said on the su
!, and is contained in the following extract
} you my letter of the 18th of May:
man "Your course hitherto in relation to
that oners of war, both men and officers, in
Rough charging them on parole, has been Ii
lrther and kind; but whether it ought to be
COM longer continued, or in some respects cI
I'm. ed, has been under the consideration Q
nvey- President, and he has directed me to
your municate to you his views on the sui
lppro- He is not unaware of the great emba
y you ment their detention, or the sending of
er to the United States, would occasion;
,eo Of so far as relates to the officers, he t
,pblic they should be detained until duly exc
: the ed. In that case, it will probably be
voDr expedient to send them, or most of the
!, com the United States. You will not, ther
,ohs.- except for special reasons in particular
unaer discharge the officers who may be
otbors prisoners, bat detain them with you, OF
- them to the United States, as you