The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-18

hcers. shall be clear in their conception
OF the vital need OF subordination TO au-
thority and obedience TO lawful super
visors. In all military systems these
constitute the first requisite and the
fundamental principle. In the army OF
ire United States. the very first article
OF the regulations reads:
interiors are required to obey strictly
ana 70 execute promptly the lawful orders
vi the supervisors appointed over them;
anu our own Code provides that any
commissioned officer convicted OF dis
obedience of orders may be cashiered
ana incapacitated from holding any mill
tary commission. Unhappily for him. as
VIII be seen from the enclosed printed
sheet General Court Martial Orders,
NO. !, January 10. 1899, this has been
ana quite recently the experience Of Lieu
tenant Seay. BY a regularly convened
court-martial. held In the city of Lynch
purg' In the month OF November last
ne was found guilty Of 'disobedience OF
oruers and 'disrespect to his superior
oiilcer' and was sentenced to be cashier
ed ana incapacitated from holding any
military commission"
This sentence was modified nv vour
Excellency so far as to relieve the sub
lect OF II from the disability Il tmpose Il.
but The board cannot suppose that II
YVES ever contemplated by your Excel
lency that the clemency so extended
would be taken advantage of by Lieu
tenant Seay and his friends to nullify
the other part OF his sentence. which
would be the effect Of his being now
again commissioned. as he would thereby
become his own immediate successor:
whlle the Commonwealth, that through
us roper tribunal only few months
ago declared that FOR his bad conduct
an an ofic1r he should be dismissed from
heT service, would be required to say,
IN the language Of the new commission
she would Issue, that she now reposes
special trust and confidence in his
hdelity, courage and good conduct.
The board is Of opinion that, at least,
an interval Of probation should be re-
quired before the Commonwealth should
be called on 10 reinstste him i'm office. and
thereby virtually reverse the findings and
sentence OF the court-martial
1.-THE beard does not think It necessary
to animadvert on the effect on general
discipline Of a procedure which would
show how easily one OF the gravest Of
lenses known to the military code may
be committed with practical impunity,
and a sentence that, TO a soldier Of sem
sibility, might seem second only 10 one
language Of high official commentator
and compliment.
For these reasons the board is unwill-
Ing to award to Lieutenant William VI.
Seay, Jr., the certificate Of qualification
required by law for those who hold COM
missions IN the military service Of the
State"
Mr.. Mcleod, private secretary Of the
Governor. yesterday returned this re-
port to the Acknowledgement with the fol-
lowing lndorsation:
Respectfully referred to General Jas.
Mcdonald, adjutant-general. by direction
Of His Excellency, the Governor, with
the following Endorsement, to-wit The
board OF examiners having declined 10
award to William NJ. Seay, Jr., GER
tifcate Of qualification 70 perform the
duties Of First Lieutenant Of Troop C.
First regiment cavalry. Virginia VOlun-
teers, no commission VIII issue"