Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-01-21
ALEXANDRIA:
VEDNESD7Y, J.iN'U.aRY 81. 1873.
FRoM OcR CORRESPONDENT AT WASH
ISGTOS,
Tuesday, .Jcnuary 90, 1918.


vas an appropriation bill, for military
purposes: and probably would have ex-
perienced little opposstion.if it were not
for an amendment OF it proposed BY Mr..
Lowndes, the chairman Of the committee
Of ways and means, who reported it, ard,
as he said, at the desire of that commit
tee. The amendment went to strike out
d clause which provided a sum O! thirty
FIVE thousand dollars for the payment OF
brevet officers. MIR. Mercer opposed this
proposition with much animation and
warmth. lie deprecated L as violation
Of the faith pledged by that house to the
army, and as such not strictly correct or
honorable. In the moment OF urgent
distress, at the commencement Of the
war, government held out this promise Of
brevet rank not only with its honors, but
with its emoluments, to induce our clti-
zens to enter into the army; and now,
the War being over, and there being little
or no occasion for their services, they
were to be cast of withou, their pay, ana
their claims repeIled, and in that house
baffled WITH metaphy sicsl Distinctions
The act which passed in 1919 held out,
as an incentive, breyet rank to officers in
cases where they distinguished them
selves; and particularly specified that
they should have the pay annexed to the
rank when employed in posts or dis
trcts or departments separate from their
own regiments. Mr.. Mercer dwelt with
great emphasis on the gallant and meri-
toruus conduct of the army. and said that
it was not SO much for the reward as for
the example he pushed the rights OF the
brevet officers, which were so manifest
that be deGed any ingenuity to sive
| construction OF the act of 1912 that could
defeat them. Till that law should he re-
pealed the committee of finance were
bound to provide for the payment OF tue
suns it promised; and had no right
whatever TO propose tn the house TO can
eel the debt in the manner now attempt
ed. lie was, he said, one OF the last whn
wouId! agree TO reduction Of the army.
He even thought the army established
for the peace was much too small; yet
he would rather reduce the army than
repeal the law of 1919. Mr.. Mercer was
supported in his opposition to the amend
ment by general Harrison, Mr.. osle,
! Mr.. Baldwin and general SMITH, who
were replied to by Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Cal
braith, Mr.. SERGEANT, general Read and
Mr.. Taylor. The observations of Mr.
Clay aie deserving of particular notice.
lie said, as nearly as We could cuI.ect 1t,
to the effect that spirit prevailed OF
making the army paramount object oil
national reward and ACCOMPLISHMENT,
and Of gratitude without any reasonable
limits, as it the Obligations it had confer
red were such as the country could
scarcely repay, and as if the country
were made fof the army; but this ex-
travagant spirit HE would ever oppose
knowing that the army was made Tor the
country. From what was constantly
heard, one would suppose that they who
composed the army were dragged into 1t
reluctantly, and that the nation had con-
tracted when their services was over to
| retain them on their pay list for life
Blu, every one knew that, by their orr
sinal contract. they were to be no longer
retained than should be found necessary
10, the prosecution of the war; at the
end of which it was well understood that
they were to return back again to civil
life. On these terms they were called in
and paid during the service. He ex-
pressed his ardent hope that he should
never see in this country during peace
such an army as would keep it at all
times prepared for going to war, being
convinced, and he arowed it with regret,
that il would end in the destruction OF
the Liberties Of the country.