Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-27
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Rastnp lima Of 1851

Boston, June 20, 1861.
Mr. j. ". Ely, president Of public meeting
in WeSfeid-My Dear Sir: | have the honor
to have just received from you copy of GER
tain resolutions adopted at meeting of citi
zens of Westfeld, Directing to certain egisls,
ton of this commonwealth which relates to
the appointment OF military officers, and also
objecting to the substitution OF some officers
(n0t named) lor some other (also not named)
in the Westfied company
Your citizens, however, are under mistake
in ascribing the power Of appointment CT the
officers of the volunteer regiments by the gov
ernOr, 10 the authority OF the statutes OF our
commonwealth. These regiments are not
militia. Ii they were, then by our constitution
the officers must be elected not appointed.
But they are roiunteerS, specially enlisting
themselves under the authority of the United
States, Tor particular service, into which ser
vice they cannot be received cave by conform
ing to the terms of enlistment prescribed by
the United States government One OF those
terms, as contained in General Order No. Is
OF the war department Of the United States,
is that the commissioned ofiicerS-except the
chapan-of each volunteer regiment shall be
appointed by the governor OF the state furnish
ing it; and | am held by the war department,
by my own conscience, and by public opinion,
to rigid accountability for the manner in which
use this grave and important power. Every
officer not capable Of his duty is charged'to my
account, not TO that of his company or regi.
ment. Nor can l avoid the responsibility thus
imposed if | would. | therefore yield to the
necessity of my position, and endeavor to the
best of my limited capacity to perform its du.
ties.
My method is, after the colonel of regi-
ment is designated, to require him to confer
fttltp
agreed upon in conference with the colonel,
and if practicable the lieutenant colonel)-and
after such conference, haying reference also to
the recommendation as received and filed at
this department and TO all eXtraneous infor-
nation that can be gathered concerning the
candidates, to nominate to me or arrange with
me the lists Of staff officers and lieutenants.
In the case of the 10th regiment, the remote
ness OF which from the capital is considerable,
it being organized from the four western coun-
ties | took great palms. as did also the officers
OF my own staff, TO study the recommendations.
And have to remark that before any appoint
ment as subalterns was made, received list
from Col Briggs, with his certificate, from
which the following is an extract: 81 recon-
mend the persons above named for the respec-
tive offices designated, having so far as the
company officers are concerned, acted upon
the advice and recommendation of the COM
manders of companies"
On inquiry l have been informed that the
objection telt by gentlemen in Westfeld is
limited to the instance of first lieutenant.
can only reply further to your communication
that IN comforting the appointment in question
understand that ii was denmed The best pos
sible by the colonel OF the regiment, and the
captains of the companies.
Knowing personay-as l do-that militia
elections frequently turn in favor OF inferior
officers, and feeling purpose, which nothing
can control, to commit the lives of my fellow
citizens and the honor of Massachusetts, into
the hands only of such officers, as, according
to the light which is afforded TO me, believe
to be the most competent within my reach,
should never hesitate, wherever i have the
power of appointing, to take the best man at
my command, even from the ranks, to lead