Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-09-11

FOR JHE WHG
THE RIGHT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND THE RE-
CoGNIfION OF TIE PERSONALITY OF THE
SOLDIER, NECESSARY AS A C0UNTERP0lsE TO
The EXCEssEs AND ABUSES OF ARBITRARY
AUTHORITY BY OFFICERS.
Whatever be done with regard TO regiments already
constituted let their actual experience as warning
to such may in future be formed. Let Southern men
refuse in becoming soldiers to forego their persoast
rights and dgues citizens. let us give 10 The army
more DENT cratic constitution by the stricesl limitation
Of delegated authorities Let US form volunteer corps
the true and full Of that word corps of men, who
While Jealous TO obey their Chiefs in the hsld maintain
their personal liberties in other respects; who will not A.
low themselves to be treated as prisoners culpris 10
be deprived of their social rights and punished for re-
claiming them.
1t viii of course be answered that such extension or
assertion of personal liberties would put end to DIS
cipnc and lead to the disorganigiton cf the army '
would in fact put an end to fal-e dicpiae, by the
reorganization Of the army on souid o'ncples on prn
crss which would permit OF ils beia popular and at.
rac,iye institution which itcan become under he
present sys!em. This has n fact s.srnsd the char
acer Of japanese dael In Japan the challenger and
challenged attest their honor by ripping open each bis
own tely 10 the otbers presence. SO the question be
tween tie Northern and Southern rrmcs seems to be,
which can most Effectively destroy itself by maladmais
rston Our battles with the enemy unmportant Cpis
cd,s as compared with the cot ficts which either amy
engende.s between the welfare Of the soldier and his
duties The Northern army is dssoving by the ifser
on Of dssecied individuals companies and regiments,
the Sou heIp loyal 10 its constitution and rmc in
prsonsl character, is melting away by disease, under
leaders possessed Of military talent bat who bouay the
most deplorsble idiocy in what reguds hygiene or the
medicsl department.
Comfortably with The traditional folly of The Worlds
rulers those who have turned uppernost Fortunes
wheel at last political saaC ysm ignore the fact that
the sol iier is man they II, az him, provide for lis
beirg treated as thiug--a coarse sort of thirg-
w;hOu. Affections tastes, principles They do hot
estimate him eqrally with machine, 70: machinery is
sedulcusy protected from rust. while the soldier stag
uatCs ald msls with home sickctsI confined amid the
9th q the camps wi.hOu; IA ics of cleanliness even
in their hospsl or means Of during ahs Ct
iOac;ion The bor OF an engine regularly supplied with
approprats fee hecQueiy positive and stringent nceis
ofhc soldiers stomach often neglected and constantly
deceived To feed army wish india rubber bread"
Ike their mixture OF q iur ard wafer fried baked
with grease IL like feeding the boiler OF engine With
wet OF rotten wood To lot regiments breathe she
stencil Ct their own excreOns Is Ike exposing the a.
cate spnnes of watch to corrosive gases. The human
organism, Ike other machin.ry, bscomes cogged by
hth and the attention 70 cranli1ess Is needed
keep them boih IN good working order
These are 20, merely figures OF speech. They the
g,roas dsiucdonS aud clear demonstrations Of animal
chemistry sustained By the experience OF armies 10 all
ages and countries.
DO our pie real the fsct that at the largest
hospitals, such as that Of tho Richmond Aims House
building, where our soldiers ase eated there is not
much as ba h.room, ia the way Of hygsrc provisions
and that public military hospitals like our camps
have never been provided with vegetable food
To compensate such gross Omissions in our service OF
Conservation embracing the medical department with
the commssiiat and quartermasers, End an excess
OF misplaced Cci.ude in the creation OF medical
censors.
The board in question sts at Manassas Junction
Station at distance Of from 2 to II miles from
different camps and decides whether the sick iurlougt
granted by the rsgmeuial officers shs, or shall not
be considered valid for The soldier who canno. be
ried away without their permission.
Never WI there an oic al body created with less causs
or reason OF existence. However ldcious its decisions
mar be- they ire vitaed 10 advance because unnecss
sry and impairment interference with the authority
OF regin eata ooers. In the fst place, soldiers
will not leave the of action il they in ,hiug
orler in the second place. their suFgeoas and officers
are not in the least dipased to grant unnecessary fur
loughs In the third place. it is desirable to facilitate the
If ,ho 4 a.
receive proper attentions instead OF throwing in their
way an additional obstacle and Of delay The meci
cal board in question has like all t.ia bodies It's own
hours of session and will not convene at any Others
II is daily liable that the SEX brought um.
Der Of miles from the camps around and finding 20 hoard
in session. have be detained several hou:s and even
through the night else be carried back TO their camps
10 return next day. 10 all cases this s distressing, Il
may make the difference between life and DEATH bn
what Is the lfe Of soldier compared with the convent
enee of slried officials The foul and infectious eond
ton of the cap, with their formidable sick sts show.
oil the neglect by surgeons Of their duties OF preven
tive hygiene For the enforcement of these boud of
medical inspectors demanded 1t has been created
but the flrcion gued BY the war Office has been rot
to the spread of disease the camps but to check
and enbarass the removal Of the sck from the cimps
VeIaous 10 Onr soldiers, insulting TO officers, the
appointment of these medical inspectors evnces al guo
and misconeepon Of the aud needs Of our
army.
If we have money to throw away or il salaries must he
provided for political fisLd lie! Us hope ha, our heads
Of departments will seek channels of waste in some d.
recon lees grossly offensive than this 10 the dignity of
the army and find some other objects Of persecution than
our sick and exhausted soldiers. Let us not however,
uncharaby ascribe evil motives it suices to sboE the
result OF the blunder in ques on which President Dasi,
will doubtless correct his attention is clied
toit. ME- l..
Prom the ttiuntOn Spectator
THE BATTLE OF HAINESvILLE
CANP Rex,