The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1861-05-10

The Way Colonel German Responds
to tho Orders Of tho Government--
An Edifying Example OF subOrdi-
nation to the Rank and File.
On Saturday evening last, Gov. RAMSEY
received the following order from the head.
quarters OF the army:
WASHINGTON, May 4. 1861.
Gov. RAMSEY: The General-in Chief desires
you to send two companies of your regiment
to Fort Ripley; two to Fort Ridgley, and two
to Fort Abercrombie, to relieve the companies
of the Second Infantry at those posts. Keep
the remaining companies at Fort Smelling until
further orders. The movement to be made as
soon as your companies are fully armed and
Ed. TOWNSEND,
Asst Ad't Gen'l U. S. A.
On the receipt of this order at Fort
Smelling, on Sunday morning, Col. GoRMAN
called the commissioned officers, then at the
Fort, together at his quarters, organized
meeting whereof he was Chairman, and at
which resolutions were passed protesting,
in effect, against the order of the General>
in-Chief, and appointing Gov. RAMSEY as
agent or attorney Of the regiment to pro-
cure reversal of the order. Gov. RAMSEY
left for Washington yesterday, and, it is
understood, carried with him the resolutions
thus adopted at the meeting over which
Col. GoRMAN presided.
We hope, for the credit of Minnesota,
that the action thus instigated by Col.
GoRMAN may never be laid before Gen.
SCoTr in an official shape. The first duty
of the soldier is obedience, and his second
duty is obedience without question, argu-
ment, or dissent. Instead of yielding such
obedience cheerfully and promptly, Col.
GoRMAN enters into an expostulation with
the Generalin. Chief, to convince him that
he don't understand his business; that his
order does not meet the reasonable anticipa-
tions of himself, his brother officers, and the
men of his command; and modestly asks
Gen. ScorT to change his programme on
this account. It will be most gracious
relaxation of discipline on the part of the
General.in- Chief, if the presumption of Col.
GoRMAN does not cost him his sword.
Col. GoRMAN would be astonished, if,
next parade day, when he shall utter his
commands to bis Regiment, each Captain,
instead of repeating them to his company,
and securing their obedience, should Or
ganize 'mpromtu mass meetings, to consid-
er whether the commands were agreeable to
the men, or whether other commands would
not be more appropriate. And yet such
conduct would be quite as proper as that
which Col. GoRMAN inaugurated in respect
to the order of Gen. Scorr.
We hope, in Gods name, that our Regi.
ment, and with it our State, is not to be
disgraced by the impertinent vanity of its
commanding officer. The men of that Re-
giment are the pick Of our State in all the
qualities requisite for brave, efficient sol
diers and such they will become if they
are given time to perfect their drill and dis.
cipline, and if they escape the demoraliza-
tion which such conduct as we have noticed
is calculated to produce. The order of the
General-in. Chief, in furnishing the Regi-
ment time to prepare itself for the perilous
duties of the field, should be regarded as the
most bene6cent that could be issued, in.
stead of being complained about by those
who are entrusted with its execution.
We cheerfully acquit the officers who at
tended Col. GoRMAN's meeting, of respon-
sibility and blame in the matter to which
we have alluded. Those who were present
and participating in this act of insubordin-
alton, have not seen service, are unacquaint-
ed with military discipline and etiquette,
and are not, therefore, to be held to like
responsibility with their commanding officer,
who, having been appointed on the ground
of his reputed military experience, ought to
have known better, and thus saved his as.
sociates and himself from the consequences
of his absurd action.
Note From Col. ID. A. Robertson.
ST. PAUL, May 4, 1861.