Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

TO THE PUBLIC.

BUFFALO, June 12.
The disbanded officers of the army on the Niagara frontier, hold it a duty they owe to their friends, their country and themselves, before they pass into the hands of retirement, to give this public expression to their sensations and sentiments on the procedure of the board of General Officers. in forming a military peace establishment of the United States.
They decline any animadversion on their part, on their thankless dismission from service, by the 12th congress. The principles. of all republics are well known to be in hostility to a permanent military force, and they approve, with every good citizen, of its reduction. But to the soldier after all his exposure and fortitude, and " seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth," to find the councils of his country bankrupt in thanks as well as in funds, was an unexpected as well as unwelcome reward for perils & his dangers.
The government, rich in lands, a few acres would not have impaired the national funds: and with the troops enlisted for the war, and now discharged, their officers could have formed a military frontier, that would hereafter have set at defiance any savage eruption.
Allowing to the officers retained, all the merit to which they have a fair claim (even more, it would be acknowledged by the most meritorious, that accident and good fortune alone placed them in their post of danger, and therefore of distinction. But where their fellows not so fortunate, would, it may be presumed. have plucked equal laurels. had the field of honor been open to them. Instances of individual gallantry they honor, and yield with pleasure their claims to distinction. It is the soul of service.
But they deeply regret, that the board of their brother officers. who have made the selections, should, in many instances, disregard their claims, and overlook the war worn veteran, whose health and youth has been exhausted in his country service, and whose small pittance had been expended in her warfare, to introduce many promoted only by patronage and connection : some who had ignominiously fled their standard in the face of the enemy. Besides an officer may be as useful to his country in recruiting. disciplining and preparing men for the field, as his brother who fights them, because, if not trained, his corps will most probably disgrace him and itself. They regret too, that a Winter's Campaign at Washington, should offer. avail more than seven in the hole & that those who remain at their posts, on a frozen frontier, in the performance of their duty, should thereby loose their grade, to give place to some, who had been basking in the sunshine of favoritism ; and feasting on the delicasies of the Metropolis.
They acknowledge no mode of gradation as fair and honorable, with the exceptions above noticed, but that of seniority, where the second stands heir to the first. every other is biased in favoritism, prejudice or combination.--- Hazard would afford a better criterion of merit.
The intermixture of officers from different corps. they hold a pernicious rule, as whilst it unfits them for efficient service in any, a favorite, may by means of such transfer, be promoted insidiously and without merit.
The practice of Razing. as derogatory the officer ther disclaim and hold in abhorrence—They deprecate that in the hospital department, promotions have been made from the lowest to the highest grades without the rendering of any service or even the capacity of rendering any, to the exclusion of acknowledged talents, and long service. In fine, whole families appear to have been viewed as endowed with military talents and to have sprung up heroes from the counting house and desk: the most remound to the future fame of their country, & it is a great source of consolation to the retiring officers, to be able with the patriotic Grecian who was excluded by suffrage, to exclaim. I rejoice that my country can boast so wealthy citizens."

ROB. PURDY. col. 4th infy.
In behalf of the officers of the line of the army.
WM. THOMAS, Hosp't Surg.
In behalf of the hospital and Medical Staff