Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-05-07

'iic oettie NoTuS as uiS regulation dicddy con-
tanned in regard 10 promotions. The explana-
ton of the whole matter which he had recev-
ed. was, Mr.. A. said, SD satisfactory TO him
that he should, il the house thought with him,
oppose the inquiry upon the belief that no fur
Their inquiry could lie necessary i'm relation to it,
In addition 10 this MIR. A, heldin his hand a very
short document, proving the material fact of
the corrected copy having been formally trass-
ferred to the Military Committee, the organ
of this house, which document he read as
follows:
DEPARTMrNr OF WAR.
o3d February, 1921 {
The Secretary Of Wars compliments 10 General
Smyh, and transmits him the system field SCR
vice and police, with the correction of Major &C.
| neral Scott.
Philadelphia, 20ih Feb 1921.
1921, Feb. General w. Scott returns his comm;
lation of field service
Gei'- ~. SmMh. Charm and police FOR the army
Committee II. A. Ho3se Of of the u s. as printed
Reps. bv the II. of Represen,a
tives with corrections
Inc above arc correct comics from the hooks If the
War Department. .vANDEvFNTER.
" appears. from the remark in red ink TFalic1 ~
bove, that the letter OF Gen. Scott of the ao,b Feb
above, was transmitted to Gen smyit.
c. VANDEVENTER
S0th April, 1922"
Mr.. MITcHELL, of s. c. asked the gentle
man fiom Virginia whether this corrected
copy spoken of was certainly the one acted
upon by the Military Committee and intend
ed to he established?
Mr.. ARCHER said it was not for him to saw,
not having been member of that Committee.
But he had established the fact that it was
sent TO that committee from the War Depart
ment, with tie request that it might be adopt
ed.
Mr.. WRIGHT was in favor of investigation
ofthis matter by Il committee, and against dis
cusslng 1t at this time. He battered himself
| from the high standing and honorable charac
Ter OF the officer in question, that ne had no.
thing to apprehend from any investigation.
Mr.. SMYTH made very particular state
,nent offacts, confirming, in general. what he
had said yesterday, and what had fallen from
Mr. Stevenson and Mr.. Archer to day. His
recollection did not enable him 10 say, whe-
Their he had laid before the Military Com
mttee either the first corrected copy which
he received from Gen. Scott, or the second
more complete copy, which latter however,
1t was strongly impressed upon his mind, that
he had given to the clerk. either for the pur-
pose of being filed. or sent tn the Senate with
the bill. The clerk, though he has it not.
thinks he saw II, ard he could not well have
seen 1t but at the clerks table, where he fAIr.
S. must have placed it, The first copy re-
ceived from Gen. Scott, Mr. s. now produc-
ed 1t was not nearly as correct as the last
received: but even this copy contained. in
| all. fOrty-seven different OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
however, yet nineteen blanks not filled
though lessening the number Of blanks in the
original manuscript. II was obvious. Mr.. s,
argued. that Congress did not mean to adopt
the original Sketch, with its blanks.&c. and i,
was equally obvious that they would not have
enacted the first corrected copv, containing
as il did, so many blanks vet to be filed. The
copy which they enacted, therefore, must
| from the reason of the thing, have been the
complete copy.as he well recolected such ia
have been his Intention. Tn examining this
coue Of Regulations, Mr.. 6. said he had moi
very infinitely scanned it. He glanced his
eye over it, and. seeing much 10 approve and
| nothing 10 condemn, he had recommended il
| adoption. in so doing, what did he act upon
| Upon the confidence he reposed i'm the Ia
| Tents, integrity, and military knowledge oil
General Scott And on what did the house
act in passing the act I? On the same princi-
pie I; and i'm that view it is obvious that thew
must have taken the perfect copy. The re-
gulatiOns must have been adopted in the shane
in which they were when the bin was report
ed for establishing them-which was the shape
in which they were now promulgated As to
the practical operation OF this corrected arti-
Gle. Mr.. s. said il could have no effect on the
question now before the house because II
could not, when adopted. be fOresepn in what
| manner IT was tn operate. Gen. Scott, i'm the
most positive and clear manner. had declared.
| that he had not designed the article with a
view TO its operation on any particular indi-
viduaI. If the gentleman from Virginia OBJ
lected 10 the article respecting brevets, it was
enough to say that it contained no more than
was already contained in the regulations of
hot e,,l,s -
better that the provision on the subject.
| should be legal and fixed, than that it should
depend on regulation. The War Depart
ment, Mr.. s. added, had nothing TO do with
this thing. The thing was altogether with
General Scott and the military committee OF
the last session, or himself the chairman of
that committee. For himself he did verify
believe that he received the last corrected
copy of the Regulations, and that the volume
promulgated is transcript of that COPY
Tue law therefore, is published precisely as
prescribed by the act Of Congress
Mr.. CocKE made statement Of facts in
this case, TO the best of his recollection. He
gave history ofthe Incidents of the day, the
material part of which was, that himself be-
ing member of the military committee and
occasionally acting as chairman oft in the alb
seuce Of Mr.. Smyth, (who had disagreed with
the Committee respecting the reduction OF
the army,) he had no recollection of any cor
rected copy of the Rules being laid before that
committee nor did he recollect ever to have
seen or heard ola corrected copy Of them I'M
til he heard of the official copy varying from
that which was laid before Congress. lie did
not propose to inquire into the effects of this
or that regulation but he thought it due to
the house to state the facts he had mentioned
in regard TO which the recollection of other
members of the committee corresponded
with his.