Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-09-29
OFFICIAL TYRANNY.

from noticing it for week TO see if any contra
diction, explanation, or qualification would be made
by the Administration of charge so grave and so
revolving to every idea Of just and constitutional
government The Administration, however, stands
mute, and we are authorized to assume that the
facts are true as stated And now we entreat our
readers to peruse carefully this story of official
despotism. Because military government is an abb
solute one, and all officers are bound to render
unhesitating obedience to their superors, does the
President regard the gentlemen of the army as
slaves, without privileges, rights, or feelings, to
bow In abeot submission and silence to any insult,
however cruel and unjust, which may be dictated
by official caprice, political prejudice, or private
malice Has the President SO long recognised no
rule of conduct except military necessity" as to
forget that citizen, whether soldier or civilian,
can be rightfully punished without trial and con-
victon? Has he welded arbitrary power SO long
as to have forgotten that the American people
have any rights? Or has he surrendered all exc
cutve power into the hands Of the absoutis of the
War Department We SO often hear of most estima-
BILE private citizens being seized without warrant,
merely the naked order of some provost or detec
tive and hurried off to prison, without any charges,
and after months of incarceration turned loose with
out explanation, that we are reminded of the days
of the Bastile and lettres de cachet Is this free
America, or are we reviving the days of Louis the
18th and Oliver lie Dain?
From the Neio York World of august 18Th
Another Superintendent of the Military Academy at
West Point has been removed and subordinate officer
dismissed because of the grafton which delivered at
that place by General Mcclellan The following are the
facts in connection with this curious and for Messrs
Stanton and Lincoln, most dscreditable matter
The committee who were appointed at West Point to
invite General Mcclellan to deliver the Grafton and attend
to the ceremonies connected with the battle monument in
auguraton Lieut. Col Bowman the Superintendent
Lieut. Col Ctz of the sixteenth regular infantry and
Lieut. C. c. Parsons of the fourth regular artillery As
the reached Washington that Gen. Mcclellan
had been invited to deliver the oraon excited the wrath
of Secretary Stanton, who sent Brig Gen. Cullum on
special mission to West Point to procure the withdrawal
Of the invitation. The committee on the behalf of the
Military Academy, declined respectfully for the reason
the senior major general Of the army (beng
of the Academy the proper person to on such
occasion and besides it too late to notify any other
person Gen. Culum, behalf Of the War Dspa rtment
the officers that grave consequences to
would follow if Gen. Mcclellan was permitted to d. silver
the GRAFTON. Sure enough the blow fell the week follow
ing Lieut. Col Bowman removed from his posi- ton
Superintendent and Brig Gen. Tower put in his pls &C.
couple of weeks after, Lieut.. COL Citz the second
member of the committee, old officer who had served
10 the Mexican war, and who wounded at Gaines 3
Mills ordered into active service in the field in the
twelfth infantry, and additional punishment he wa
degraded to the rank of msor Lieut. Parsons the third
member Of the committee, the next victim and with
him fell Brig Gen. Tower will be by the follow
ing statement taken from this weeks Army and Nav
Journal
"We made the brief announcement last week thu {
Breader General Cuum had been ordered to West Point
relieve Brgsdier General Tower superintendent of
the Military Academy The latter gentleman it was we'll
known, had but few weeks previously been assigned 10
the position from which he relieved and il was very
evident that unusual circumstance had occurred to
procure the hasty change which made We however
forbore adding any thing to the statement of the
transfer of officers awaiting the further development of
the causes Of the action of the Secretary of War These
causes, now explained to US, are follows: Gen
Tower had convened court martial TO try of the ca
diets certain charges assigning Lieut. c. c. Parsons of
the fourth artillery Of the corps Of instruction of the
Academy, as judge advocate. The Secretary of Wsr,
learning these facts ordered suspension of the trial.
acty on what grounds not informed. Cen Tower
after examining the authority the subject deemed
proper to disregard the Secretarys order issued
position TO law and precedent, and the trial proceeds
Thereupon hr Stanton promptly relieved him Of the
perintendency, and Gen. Cuum sent TO the Poiut
We understand that, at the time Lieut. Parsons as
dismissed the serpice.
This statement Of facts give as IT comes to u.s. and
must delay any expression of opinion the merits Of tn
until have fuller and authentic particulars
1t is not to say that Gen Tower officer of
uutarnshed reputation, and that Lieut. Parsons bears
high character for professional attainments and thor
ough officer and gentleman. His dismissal from the ser
vice will strike every one who knows him with the greatest
surprise"
We may add that Lieut. Parsons special offence was
his agency in getting the official copy Of the Grafton and
ceremonies attending the battle Inauguration
printed and circulated among the officers of the regular
regiments in the army.