Columbia Democrat And Bloomsburg General Advertiser

Ed. Philada. Inquirer:

By the papers of Thursday, I learn that B. Rush Penriken, has been appointed by the Department of War, Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment of Infantry in the army of the United States; and in another column of one of the journals which records this fact I find a circular letter, addressed by the Secretary of War to the Governors of all the loyal States proposing several rules for guidance of the Executives in making military appointments under General Orders, No. 15, of the War Department.

It seems that, under the plan or organization of the volunteer officers called into the service of the United States, all regimental officers of those volunteers, from Colonels down to second Lieutenants, inclusive, are appointed by the Governors of the States.

Mr. Cameron, under the advice of Gen. Scott, advises the Governors to adhere absolutely to the following suggestions:

1. To commission no one of doubtful morals or patriotism, and not of sound health.

2. To appoint no field officer, major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel, unless a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, or known to possess military knowledge and experience.

3. To appoint no one to the office of Major who has passed the age of thirty-five, to the position of lieutenant-colonel who is beyond forty, and to the rank of colonel who is more than forty-five.

Whether this gentleman, Mr. Penriken, is entitled to such an appointment as the one he has received, under the 1st requisite, I do not attempt to determine; but it ought to be said, to be publicly known and declared, that he is not a graduate of West Point, and that he is absolutely and entirely deficient in military knowledge and experience.

Here we have the sorry sight of a Secretary of War recommending the Governors of the States to adhere absolutely, and without exception, to the rule of appointing no officer to a command who is not prima facie, either by previous education or by experience, competent to perform the duties, giving a high commission to a man who is as ignorant as a babe unborn of the difficult and technical art which he will be called upon to understand and to practice.

If the War department wants officers, let the graduating class of West Point be selected to fill vacancies or new positions, or the best of our volunteer officers be transferred to the regular forces. Many of them would be glad to get life commissions.

But in the name of justice, in the name of our country, and our country's honor, which is now committed to the charge of the army, do not let the Government prostitute its power by conferring responsible and honorable military office upon men who have nothing in the world to recommend them to the War Department but political services to its Chief.