Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-06
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

NIX ELflN6 AkIlLLER1.-lne following /
communication from the chairman Of the COM
nittee Of arrangements for the national cele. |
brstion Of the Fourth, has reference TO the |
failure Of this troop to join the procession. He
eorrects our Misrepresentation as to the circum- |
stances under which they were ordered hither, |
which arose from the fact that we knew that
there were previously no United States troops
in Washington 10 fire the usual national salute
On the occasion. The question left in issue il
only that of the propriety Of permitting the
troops of the United States TO participate in
the affair, after one portion Of our fellow -citi-
gems had determined to make it party affair
by getting up rival celebration to be attended
BY those who act with them politically We
take il for granted that this was the only rea-
son why the Secretary Of War countermanded
the order which we now understand to have
been given before the Know Nothings pub
lished their purpose Of getting up celebra-
ton of their own
Mr.. Editor In your paper Of this evening
You say:
The United States Flying Artillery, that had
been ordered 10 Washington to fire the usual
nstional salute at noon, did not take any other
part in the ceremonies of the day, as had been
|. expected by those concerned in making the
arrangements for the national celebration
\ standing army regulation makes il the duty of
United States troops, wherever they may be,
and however engaged, at noon Of the Fourth
of July 70 fire military salute in honor Of the
occasion. As there are no United States troops
or seamen here accustomed TO manage field
pieces or other cannon. the Light Artillery
were ordered on from Fort McHenry for that
duty, which they performed. Many of our
fellow-citizens seemed much disappointed be-
cause they failed to join in the procession. 1t
struck US as highly improper that they should
do 50, as our Know Nothing fellow-citizens
having determined to have u celebration Of
their own, the original one was necessarily at
tended by but one political party. All persons
of discretion will at once perceive the inpro-
priety of ordering or permitting troops Of the
Uni;e1 States to participate in any thing
smaeking OF political party
Upon reading this paragraph one is necessa-
rly led TO the conclusion, that the United
States Flying Artillery was ordered here soIeiy
70 fire Saints at noon because there were no
troops or seamen IN our city competent 10 per-
form such duty and that the committee of
arrangements for the celebration of tho ma
tionall anniversary had introduced these troops
into their programme GCith0ut authority.
In justice to the committee of arrangements
. i deem ii incumbent ON me to assert, most pos-
sitiyely, that these troops were orde red to the
city of Washington solely 10 participate with
the citizens in the celebration of the 4th of
July, and for no other purposc-they did not
come here either to tire salute az noon, as is
rIlsfonarg, or on trip of pleasure'-and
that the committee of arrangements were fully
authorized TO include them in the programme,
l. and IRE morning, noon, and night. Why this
was not done, others, who can, may answer
NJ If (when application was made for the Artil-
lery 20 be ordered to this city for the purposes
|. menuOned) the request Of the committee had
been refused, or even If the committee had
Z been apprised earlier than o'clock D. IN. on
the Sd inst, that the artillery would not unite
in the celebration and give the salutes they
L. -.
| would have been saved much trouble and no
little modification.
i shall not attempt to cOunteract your views
I in regard to the pTOpriety Of United States
| troops uniting with civilians, in celebrating
the fourth Of July or upon the aTnIy rSeUia-
trsns on this subject-but this 1 must say,
that it would have been far more agreeable TO
: the committee to have been made aware of
these opinions and regulations before they
were induced 10 believe the United States
! FLYING Artllsry would unite in the procession
/ diSclaim, III making this statement, any dis
respect, or a desire 10 impute improper motives
70 any one. My object il 10 correct the infer
ence5 to be drawn from tho paragraph in your
paper, and, at the same time, 10 justify my
fellow citizens, a we'll as myself, in the part
We have enacted in endesvoring TO celebrate
our National AuHRUerSGry In a national man.
ner, without reference or respect to individuals
OF to party
Hoping you will receive what have said,
ID tbs spirit in which il is meant,
l am, very respectfully, yours, &c,
TROs. MILLER.