Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-02
For the Daily State Sentinel.
Col. w. VI. mcCarty and Governor
Morton.

4
Morton.
sHELErvnIE, Sept. IA, 1861.
MR. EDIroR-I send you the correspondence
had on my part with the officers of the 33d reg-
ment. | had determined to unmask the Cover
nor's motives and show that he had suffered his
personal prejudices to control his public acts.
have had two-foId motive in my action In
Ohio, disgusted at the acts of the Governor, the
service suffers for want of volunteers. Instead of
suppressing presses that criticise public function
aries, hope thousand may be created, not only
to denounce the corruptions but the imbecity of
the Government, until a storm of public indigna-
nation has infused energy and virtue enough into
it to rescue it from its humiliting position of the
defensive.
If men have weighed this Administration in the
scales and found it, up to the present juncture,
equal to the emergencies, let it be thundered.
The elements of power in the people and patriotic
devotion is ample, and it is to a lack of admins
trative talent that no partial successes even are
not won, and the hopes of the people are diluted
with fears Whilst | admit the hercuean task
must condemn the want of sagacity to foresee
and measure il, and hold it duty to lash any
official who will suffer his petty fortunes and ma
ln,tO
fere with duties rendered doubly sacred by the
pers of the times. The liberty of the press the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the dsplace
ment of civil law by the military, are not party
questions, and whilst | will justify almost any
resort if the public safety requires it, claim the
right crticse either impolitic or despotc and
will readily defend the liberation Ofths rig
any other. and hold that perfect loyalty is com
patible with any criticism of these doubtful meas
II f..- l,..., q
Lincoln's Cabinet was not. | know of no way
of dealing with crime but to suppress and punish
it. and the crime of this treason TO overthrow
model Government and involve happy people in
the calamities OF such a war, marks n wickedness
almost without parallel. w. NJ. McCARTY.
sHELBrILLE, Sept. Il, 1861
GENTLEMEN: Your dispatch, informing me that
had been unanimously chosen Colonu of the
33d regiment, is received. 1t is highly hattering,
coming as it does not only wholly unsolicited, but
in the face of my protest that would not accept of
it. The appointing power, however. is vested in the
Governor, and as no commission. and as upon a
former occasion when selected by the officers of
regiment, l rejected by his Excellency,
what guaranty have that yours may not share
the same fate, and especially as Col Walker as
serts that he violated his written pledge to himr
Ny position is delicate one. Upon the first
requisition for troops. appreciating my duty and
the public exigencies, asked of his Excellency
the privilege OF raising regiment. That re-
quest sleeps unaccepted, whilst during the whole
interval since, the Government has been on the
defensive, and even now, alter six months of
warlike preparation, a rebel flag is insultingly
Haunted In view of the Federal capital A COM
mand would have been awarded me by the Off
GERS of the first six regiments, but that they
were artfully scattered by the Governor to pre-
vent it.
| had hoped that party spirit would be buried
until the country rescued from its perils.
But so palpabe seemed to me Gov. Morton's
design to humate me by subordnatng me in
relative rank, (for in the Mexican war / out
ranked every officer serving Indana) that
have remained in private life. l saw, or
fancied that | saw, the Governors patriotism so
allowed by selfish and sinister motives to al
most make it counterfeit / saw or fancied that
saw, a pestilent brood of politicians using the
war to pension party jackals on the Government,
anc that the luster of our arms and the perpeJu-
ity of our institutions was almost subordinated to
the allotment of the spoils and plumber.
After the lapse of months, and the To-
cation of large batch of officers when
a commission, if it we're to come from his Excel
lency would SAVIOR much of insult as of honor.
declared that | would not take the rank of Col
onel. Needy as am dollars and cents do not
weigh with me against what military men prize
commissions for.
Prominent men of Gov. Morton's own party,
his peers in intellect with traits which fit them for
military life, can not get positions, and it is
ascribed to political jealousies.
As Gov. Morton has been the impediment to
my service until am placed at the foot of all the
Colonels and Generals heretofore created if | ac
cept, l have felt that ought to do so. And
assure you, gentlemen, that feel as sensbly your
kindness and partiaity, as | have felt the dis
paraging insult to Indiana by sending her COM
missions out of the State and the modification
felt by me, after having served with regiment
that had the singular merit of being the only one
that did not recoil under the enemy's fire in the
battle of Buena Vista, in being studiously kept
out of this.
In conclusion, as / would perpetrate no fraud
upon his Exceliency, nor permit his signature to
be affixed to commission to me without an ex-
hibition of this letter to him, would scorn 10
conceal any fact which, if known, would prevent
his commissioning me. He is entitled to know
that place my commission to your credit. | do
not believe he will issue it. lfhe does will ac
cept it and try and fight my way up. Again
thanking you, / am, yours,
W. NJ. McCARrY.