Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-05-28

Y0u1o, etc., LAC.
The O0ss Of the First Rsgtnsnt.
lFrso - Occasional Cassssponasat]
HsAD QUAns.Rs lss Iowa RosrnsxFl
Ksokuk, Nay Is, lssl.
FaIHSD RlouARDson I'll noticed in
your paper few days since > commu-
nication containing some structures up
on the course pursued in electing officers
for the Fint Regiment and the effects
Of said officers in procuring their cleo
ton. Now, Lieut.. Col. Merritt, 10 and
has ever been esteemed ~ an honest,
upright man, and has held Offices Of
high trust in our State add ~ 70 his
stopping to do dishoneat act even to
obtain his present position, ] am salts
fed 10 not %.
Considerable has been said in GER
tain section about the appointment Of
Dr.. White, surgeon Of the let Regiment
will be candid enough to stats that
be vas probably not the choice Of the
officers elected, and had the appointment
been left with them, some particular
friend Of theirs would have received it.
As it 10, however, oil has become agree
able and perfectly satisfactory, - far IS
can learn.
Now concerning the election: 1t
was fixed on the 10th, but by the re-
quest Of commanders, changed to the
18th, ~ am informed. The voting,
the Ad'et Gen. decided, should be done
in conformity ~ ~. .-...a.- -.iis -ea,d
rolls containing from 81 t. l07 men and
oficers-only two companies exceeded
I one hundre ! mcn--one Capt. Wise's one
hundred and six men. He, with hia
men, was favorable to 1t. Merritt and
Msjor Porter ; the other, Capt. Cum
mings, 1Q7 men, opposed to them. 1t
was claimed BY those opposed to those
gentlemen that tho Adjutant had no
right to change the day of election, and
that the change made it illegal. This
may be %, yet it was unanimously re-
quested BY the Captains. l have taxed
some pains to inquire into the cocrse
pursued-more especially by Col. Mer.
rift, and cannot fnd that be asked Z
single person to vote for him or that be
did anything dishonestly but Of thin
much, am equally confident: severa
gentlemen from certain city, did use
not only fair bat every unfair means
which their dishonest hearts could sug
gest to bring about the election Of the
present officers-not that they cared
whether the officers we're satisfactory T.
the Regiment or not, but in order t.
secure certain appointments. To man,
instances, and without grounds, theJ
fabricated the most gross missepreseuta
tions - to the feelings intentions ant
capacities of certain partses-especially
WAS it the case with Capt. Msthies,
Who was now nominated for Lieutenan
Colonel. He il . moat perfect gentle.
) man, and capital officer, and perhaps
- veil versed 10 military affairs - IN,
msn in the State; and - for, Capt
: Cummings, the unsuccessfal candidat,
for Major, he was through the Mexican
vav, and proved himaelf good soldis
: and . high-uisdsd gsntlsmss, AID ye
the trickstess alluded to, circulated tht
most infamous lies about him, stating
that he vas intoxicated every day bu1
the truth WA Cummiugs va sober ans
els traducess were looking through yer,
drunken eyes. / an confident, how
ever, that oar Lieutenant Colonel knew
; nothing OF the course pursued By thoa'
Low bred specimens e hnmaaity.
OCcAaloNAL.