Checking the Wanton Spirit of Desertion
Document 1799Hamilton affirms his support of the death sentence for Joseph Perkins for the crime of desertion. He argues that the sentence is fully authorized by the Military Code and is needed to check the wanton spirit of desertion that afflicts the soldiery.
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Type
Autograph Draft Document
Description
Hamilton affirms his support of the death sentence for Joseph Perkins for the crime of desertion. He argues that the sentence is fully authorized by the Military Code and is needed to check the wanton spirit of desertion that afflicts the soldiery.
Date
07/03/1799
Author
Recipient
Sent from
New York
Collection
Document number
1799070340100
Notable persons
James McHenry
Alexander Hamilton
Notable locations
New York
Notable items
Court Martial in the case of Joseph Perkins who is sentenced to death for desertion aggravated by very atrocious circumstances
regularity of the proceedings
propriety of the sentence
the articles on which the sentence is founded are not specified
the Military Code does authorize such a punishment for such a crime
operation of military justice
the necessity of severe examples to check a wanton spirit of desertion
if not checked, will render the enlistment of soldiers a mere waste of the public treasure