The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-07-25

N. WOODAAN, OF West Point.
Murder n the Army Service.
Our readers will have noticed tina, q
man was 20 severely punished at Bslti-
n ore . short time since that he died. He
Vas an old soldier. had served through
the Mexican Wsr and seen much of the
ha, d,hips and psril' Of bis occupation,
ssd bore the reputation Of an honest and
faithful man. He committed an offence
which was just cause Of reprimand,-hs
became intoxica' ed and for that he was
whipped and gagged and tortured. in the
most inhunan manner, despite appeals
and peni.ent beseechings which it seems
would have melted heart Of stone, until
nature could endure no longer. People
unacouainted with 1he treatment OF SOL
diers and seamen in the regular service
may consider this too exceptional case
10 Be regarded - IN any sense indicative
Of the general treatment 10 which men in
the ranks are subjected. 1t is hardly so.
True, i 10 not often that man is 20 &C.
vsrsly punished as directly and during
the administration of chastisement to
cause his death ]; but il death does not
often occur under such circumstances, it
IL not because similar punishment, even
for trivial offences. il not frequently ad-
ministered, but because the capacity for
endurance is commonly greater than in
this instance. Considering the frequency
with which severe punishments are in
ficted in the service, ii is marvel that
death does not oftener follow. II the
American people could for one moment
comprehend the treatment to which their
fellow-c i'izens in either branch Of the
military service are subjected, shout Of
indignation and cry for reform woulI 60
up such ss never yet swep, over the land.
Our officers. especially the petty officers.
who have the immediate command and
control Of the men, are invested with al
most dsspotic power over the persons Of
those under their orders, and they employ
that power which custom and the laws
have given them in the most arbitrary,
autocratical manner possible Let any
man 60 into our navy yards or barracks,
and he will witness what he has never
witnessed before men addressed in the
same persmptory style - . man addresses
his OF or bis horse,-nsy. in . more
harsh and naughty tone than any man
who expects to keep bis horse tractabls
and inSgood humor often permits himself
70 speak to him. He is spoken to like .
beast. driven about like . beast, kicked
and csfisd and haegelated as though he
possessed neither intellect nor sensiti!ity.
It il truly So word and blow" and
often the blow comes FIRST, Is . teamster
issues N order TO his OF. and cuts him
with hh whip at the same instant. And
no more response or complaint is thought
Of. Or intercourse Of any kind is expected OF
admitted in the one instance than in the
other. We suppose custom hsrdens men
70 il, but for one not Injured to such
scenes, ii is shocking to him. and renders
him instantly and highly indignant, te
witness the proceedings in the public ser
; vice. The slightest delay, either from
negligence, accident. or inability. ths
least lack OF difference 10 his "superiors,
according to the strict punctilio OF An ex
sctipg authority slightest hesitanc,
Or the most gentle remons.ranos. are me
instanter with an oath and blow, per
haps m order for the cat or the guar.
Z house, where mercy is stranger and III
anger Of petty upstart is the Judge
To ses perhaps boy Of nineteen kick
ssansn grown gray in the service. All
threaten him with the colt or the cat fo
. repetition Of the same trivial negligence,
O. failure 70 move with sufficient alae
ny "a promptitnde 10 please his lord
ship. wssld seem thing inhuman sn
considerable 10 ono brought up in civ
- asd aaacqaainted with military ma,
- nd practice, and i thing which i
Snfofhasjss y q slsoss momsntsry o.
suss6ase = The sAsional service. B.
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