Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-18
AN OFFICER NO MORE.
GOVERNOR M'kINNEY DECLINES TO
COMMISSION LIEUTENANT SeAY.
Wherein He IL Not n Proper Per-
son 20 Put in once Again.

The Seay case has been disposed OF by
the Governors ordering that no commits
sion issue. The case is explained IN the
following report of the Board OF Military
Examiners. which has been in the hands
of the Governor for some two weeks:
RICHMOND. VA, May 20. 1893.
To His EIcsliency, Philip ". Mckinney,
GocGnor aud Commander in chief;
Sir.-Wo have the honor to report that
as Board of Examiners. acting in ac-
cordaDce with the provision of Section
sos of the Code of Virginia, we have this
day examined William VI. Seay. who on
April 6. 1898. was elected first lieutenant
of Troop G. First Regiment Of Cavalry, VIr-
glnia Volunteers. and that we have found
hun TO be sufficiently acquainted with
cavalry tactics to qualify him in that re-
spect to perform the duties of the office.
But We are of the opinion that tactical
knowledge does not OF itself constitute
qualification for military command.
Physical, mental. moral. and educational
qualifications are all TO DO considered,
and we deem it TO be Of the highest i'm
portance that oil persons in the military
service Of the Commonwealth, and espe-
cIally those who bear her commissions as
officers. shall be clear in their conception
of the vital need OF SubOrdlnatIon to au-
tborIty and obedience TO lawful superlors.
In all military systems tnese constitute
the first requisite ana the fundamental
principle.
NECESSITY OF OBEDIENCE.
In the army of the United States the
very frat article OF tho regulation reads ::
Interiors are required 10 obey strictly
and TO execute promptly all lawful orders
OF the superlor5 appointed over them " :;
and our Code provides that any commits
stoned officer convicted of disotedience of
orders may be cashiered and iDcapacltated
from holding any military commission.
Unhappily for him, "a will be seen rom
the enclosed printed sheet General Court
Martial Orders, No. /. January 10, 1888.
this has been, and quite recently, the eX-
perlence of Lieutenant Seay. BY regu-
larly-couvened court martial held III the
city of Lynchburg III the month of Novem-
Der last he was found guilty of " dlso6e-
dience Of orders and disrespect 10 his
superior officer. and was sentenced to
be cashlered and lncapacltated from hold
ing any military commission"
THE SENTENCE MODIFIED.
This sentence was modified by your Ex-
cellency 80 tar as to relieve the subject OF
il from the disability it imposed. but the
board cannot suppose that 1t was ever con-
templated by your Excellency that the
clemency so extended would be taken adj
vantage of by Lieutenant Seay and his
friends to nullliy the other part OF the
sentence. which would be the effect Of his
being now again COMMISSIONED, as he
would thereby become his own imme-
date successor. while the Commonwealth.
that through its proper tribunal only
few months ago declared that for his bad
conduct a. al officer he sboIld be dis
missed from the service. would he re-
CURED TO say In the language OF the new
commission she would issue that she
row repOses special trust and confidence
IN his fidelity. courage. and good con-
duct" The board Ia OF the opinion that at
least an interval of probation should be
required before the Commonwealth
should be called on TO relnstate him IN
Office, and thereby virtually reverse the
findings and sentence of the court-mar-
tal.
The board does not think it necessary TO
animadvert on the effect on general dlsci-
pline OF procedure which would show
how easily one Of the gravest offences
known to the military code may be COM
United with practical lmpunity and SEN
tencc that to a soldier OF senslb!lity might
seem second only 10 one OF capital PUNISH
ment be replaced by language OF hlgh Oh
fclal commentator and compliment.
UNWILLING To COMMISSION.
For these reasons the board is unwilling
to award 10 Lieutenant William NJ. Seay,
DR.. the certificate of qualihcston re-
CURED by law for those who hold COM
Inands in the military service Of the state.
JANIS MCDoNALD,
President of the Board;
CHARLES J. ASDEEsON,
Brigadier-G neral;
WILLIAM /. WIcNHAM,
Colonel First Regiment Cavalry;
Jo. LANE STERN.
Lieutenant-C olonel and Assistant lnspec-
tor-General.
TIE GOVERNORS ACTION.
On this communication was made yes
terday the following Endorsement
Respectfully referred to General
James Mcdonald, Adiutant-ge general by d.
rection Of his Excellency the Governor,
with the Endorsement TO wit The Board
of Examiners having declined TO award to
W. NJ. Seay a certificate of qualification 70
perform the duties Of FIST lieutenant
Troop G, no commission will issue.
&C. MCLEOD, Secretary"