Kentucky Gazette

MILITARY PUNISHMENTS.

We publish this day from the Missouri Intelligencer, an editorial article on charges made some months ago, in this paper against the practice of cropping soldiers' ears. We learn in addition to that article, that the secretary of war has ordered Gen. Henry Atkinson to institute an enquiry into the above cause of complaint. Should the enquiry conclude favorably, we shall most cheerfully give it to the public. It is a misfortune inseparably connected with our free institutions, that our officers, both civil and military, are very much exposed to accusations—nor do we see how it can be avoided, without restrictions on the liberty of speech and the liberty of the press, which would be much more dangerous than the licence now exercised. Every day's experience goes to confirm the doctrine, that the strictest watchfulness alone, can preserve our rights, and secure a people from the violation of laws by those appointed to administer them. Editors of Newspapers have but narrow limits assigned them in attempting to do justice between the accused and their accusers. Our profession seems to impose it upon us as an absolute duty, to give publicity to every well founded charge presented against men in office—and at the same time keep our columns open for defence.