Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-06-08
Army Officers.


Ed. PH1LADA. INQUIRER BY the
papers of Thursday, l learn that b. Rush
Petriken, has been appointed by the De-
partmont of War, Colonel of the Eleventh
Regiment of Infantry in the army of the
United States; and. in another column Of
one of the journals which records this fact,
l find a circular letter addressed by theScc.
retary of War to tho Governors of all the
loyal States proposing several rules for
guidance of the Executives in making mil
itary appointments under General Orders,
No. Is, of the War Department.
1t seems that, under the plan or organ
ization of the volunteer officers called into
the service of the United States, all rcgi-
mental officers of those volunteers, from
Coloncls down to second Lieutenants, in
elusive, are appointed by the Governors Of
the States.
Mr.. Cameron, under the advice of Gen
Scott, advises the Governors to adhere
absolutely to the following suggestions -
l. To commission no one of doubtful
morals or patriotism, and not of sound
health.
2. To appoint no field officer, major,
lieutenant colonel, or colonel, unless a
graduate of the United States Military
Academy at West Point, or known to pos
ess military knowledge and experience.
3. To appoint no one to the Office oi
Major who has passed the age Of thirty.
five, to the position of lieutenant colonel
who is beyond forty, and to the rank Of
colonel who is more than forty. FIVE.
Whether this gentleman, Mr.. Petrikon
is entitled to such an appointment as the
one he has received under the requisite j
do not attempt to determine but it ought
to be said, to be publicly known and de.
clared, that he is not graduate of Wes
Point, and that he is absolutely and en-
tircly deficient in military knowledge and
experience.
Here we have the sorry sight of See
retary of War recommending the Cover
nors of the States to adhere absolutely
and without exception, to the rule of ap
pointing no officer to a command who i.
not Trimo tac,e, either by previous educa
tion or by experience, competent to per
form the duties, giving high commission
to man who is as ignorant as babe un
born of the difficult and technical ar
which he will be called upon to understand
and to practice.
If the War dep partmont wants officers
let the graduating class of West Point b.
selected to fill vacancies or new positions
or the best of onr volunteer officers be trans
ferred to the regular forces. Many o
them would be glad to get life commissions
But in the name of justice, in the name o
our country and our country's honor, which
is now committed to the charge of the ar.
my, do not let the Government prostitute
its power by comforting responsible and
honorable military Office upon men who
have nothing in the world to recommend
them to the War Department but political
services to its Chief.
Other appointments, equally as bad and
censurablc on this ground as the one now
noticed, have come to my notice but | dc
hope that those who have been rendered
them will have sense and patriotism enough
to refuse acceptance of the preferred hon
ors. l write, Messrs. Editors in perfcc
good faith. I am not, nor have not been
nor shall not be, an applicant for any mil
itary appointment, and do not speak there
fore, out of the fullness of a jealous feeling
but simply, and only from just concern
for the safety and honor of my country.
Yours truly, A.
RhiiadeIphia HQVtre'.