Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-19
A Strange Proceeding.

In our advertising columns may be found Genera!
O6-rs,' signed by the Secretary Of the Navy, which
will agrae, public attention. Il Is the posting of
g,on Of the Navy and nartia for honorably ac-
quitting thar surgeon, by the Secretary We know no.
thing Of the parties circumstances but what is de-
tailed in General O,da5s. From that we learn that
naval surgeon was arraigued before martial for
scaadilcus conduct-baj full aud f,i, trial, and was
hoHoraby acquitted The fading Of the court was not
agreeable % the Secretary and be returned il for re-
consideration. "Bl; the court" Says the Secretary
"bas ft 20 adhere its former dccision aud per-
sists in honohby acqu.tng Surgeon Garrett" Where
upoa the Secretary having no authority but to rafy
proceeds TO vent his impo;ent rage by stigmstizing
both surgeon and court-mira and holding them up TO
tie rePro5atiol Of mankind
This extraordinary Publication induced II, to inquire
who Surgeon Gsrastt is and we we're told that hS-
nos. respectable veIl-behnved gen'--- Sho' on the
festive occasion rcr,ed tor6eneral Orders, nnlucky
got into N ss..ario1 with two officers OF the marine
1922 u ms aPsiEsts slsiF sbioh IHght ,befAll any
gentleman, aud was made the ground for public arraign-
ment Brought before his peer, a court organized by
she Secretary himself and acting under OATH and all the
Circumstances fully investigated he honoably
Quilted. One would suppose the demands OF Justice
salsaed Not Toe Secretary insisted the courts
rccolsterirg ,he finding i. had made under oath 1t
d. reconsider, anJ again "hlg seen H. under oath to
reldirn its decision This so far from satisfying the
Secretary lnalmes hin vito redoubied iJry. It was
bad enough to aequii MAJ whom he had arragnsd,
ba; 70 persist In respecting their os,hs aa he hai
pressed bis opinions AID wishes to The eoutrary uer
i;s and receives toe emphatic rebuke Of 5s Depart.
ueat"
In the Pcrsorl aspect Of tie case SO far as it relates
20 the individual s'Eagaed aud acquitted this strikes US
a most veaton piece Of tyranny. The accused had
been tried b. bis peers under oath aad fully acquitted
&c vas 90 innocent man, unjcs,ly acoused,-ibe Law
bad vindcs,ei hin. Bu; bis superior not content,
whe forced % 5lJCt to the law seeks 10 break its
force aud to degrade IN the eyes Of the world, him,
whom che law had pronounced innocent This is to as.
saul; az unarmed and helpless man-for this surgeon
dare not without nccrring instant dismissal open BIS
mouth or raise finger against the gross outrage, which
lbs 5,sn iadiotcd upon him one would suppose some
spirit Of intense personal resentment had prompted the
10 sarautaJls proceeding OF this, however, We know
nothing Il is Only explcabc TO some such prr-
cps and shoad ajm0n.h US Of the dlnger Of entrust
ing TOO much power ia the hands Of any Sc;
OF men.
In the public aspect, the matter is sill more grave
Tie Court Martial Is the Jury Of the army and navy
.5ee Of tue Confederlcy It's decisions have all the
fore Of ares in civil cases and its purity and indie
suinoe are of essential consequence TO the lives and
ij-uass Of all in the army and the navy. We do not
knor who composed the Court Martial in question; but
ts ass generally composed Of the most respectable Of
asors Of the service Now, Mr.. Mallory, in assailing
tl5 Court Martial for perstng in decision, which its
ilsmslt given under oath, approved, sssais the Sde
peadsaes Of the tribunal and threatens the rights and the
lives of every mau in the Army and Navy 1t is mott
foaoa to all other Court Martills that il they have
more respect for their oath1 than his wishes they must
los only look promotion Get expect she stern
bgSs Of the Department