Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-08-22
Extract of Letter to the Editors

Extract of Letter to the Editors
- think we pay too liule attention to the
army 1t Is true that it is small, in comparison 10
the bulk OF the nation-but a wise man. of other
days, has well said, He that despseth small things
SHALL fall by little and little I've were told SOM
years since, that the army was reduced as low as
the preservation OF public property, and the neces
sary garrisoning of the Forts on the Lakes and the
oeaboard would admit. II was said, that for these
purposes the force was scanty sufficient, and the
importance oil troops remaining at all the military
posts, much Insisted on. Calculations were na5e
OF the expenses likely TO be incurred for repars S
SHOULD TINS oe that at the breakno
ou' VI war; many OF them would otherwise be
found completely inefficient, out OF repair with
out armament or stores, and without of, GERS ac-
quainted with the localities, and of course incapa
Ole oil availing themselves of circumstance. which
might be highly important to success Not only
were The arguments, inse themselves well founded
urged with much vehemence but he who do, h, "a
Oh their application even TO single post then earr,
soned, or any of those in construction ,vas do
ciared TO be an enemy to the institutions of the
country. - "e
f1ow comes II then, that within the last two
years. nearly third of our artillery has been alb
stracted irsm the posts, which it was tbouoht n,
one time, so necessary 10 garrison and preserve ,
Is IL mat The fashionable principle of making all
thihgs subservient to the General Government i,
nIgtra fiOn
also! Is there determination that the army shall
be made TO feel itself the mere creature of ,ba u.
ecuuve, and not as II ought TO be in free country
portion oil the community? This brngino to
gether large portion OF etroops TO one spot & the
principle that officers must be prevented as murb as
possible by frequent changes, from forming anv as
sociailons In civil life, has too much the appear-
ahce Oh an intention to make them a separate BODY
In the State. In England the building of barracks
caused a
from the people, instead of leaving them as tbev
had mostly been, dispersed among the community
mas Deen continually attacked as a step towards ar
DHrary power. 1t IS general complaint that anv
thing which is TO be given in the army is not besto,v
yer on account OF talents or servires-but from, IN
huen0e-" political" monves--reasons OF state
OF iavori''sm in some shape. 1t is not long since
l heard an officer, give as an answer 10 cues
ton addressed to him, Figaros', on pensoit mo;
pour une place, mais par malheur, Nv etois pro-
pre-; IL ialioli un calculator, ce fut un danseur mi
Pobnt'' 4''
" An additional and powerful means of breaking
down all Independent feeling, and reducing the
proud spirit OF the republican soldier TO the lead If
an aspirin satellite, Is the difficulty Of an inferior
o"Icr oo'aihng redress tor any injury -nominally,
ne has the means-bu, in reality the thing ;s nex,
10 impossible. Not only he has rank and influence
10 struggle against, but every difficulty is thrown
IN tne way In the first place, he is 10 send his
complaint through the commanding officer. in all
Prooaohlty ihe very person he complains Of who
transmits It with such remarks as he thinks proner
then there are some chances against its ever
reaching the Secretary at War Still less likely To
reach the President. In the mean time the person
complained off, has every facility for making such
representations and taking such measures as NAV
SUIT his views Then {" il =
"a man OF too much honor TO do such a thing ,,
" II has been an accident" mot quite rigb,
70 be sure. Ii is rather hard case, but disci-
pine must be kept up" Pray what is mean.
nowadays by 4" keeping up disciplne;" Is il
supporting weak or bad men, in doing foolish or
oppressive actions? There ought to be no disci-
pine but that OF the law, and the superior officer
whose talents, requirements, and conduct entitIe
MIN to support, need not fear investigation Of anv
KIND as 1t must always rebound to his credit After
al .ne thing dies away, and the complaner has
made bad worse Some time back, an officer,
after stating, what appears to me to be really a
hardship and an unmilitsry procedure, observed in
the hearing Of my informant, III could onv b,,,
brought the matter before the President, was not
without bopes-but care was taken that If nsver
reached him" II is worth noticing that these
complainers'' are generally of unexceotions5Is
character
"fou may remember that I have always been IA
voraolet the military school at West Point. but
lately some circumstances have renewed my reeoI-
lection OF certain proceedings some years ago.
which went TO the g keeping up Of discipline. ," I
lear the consolidating spirit is there also I wish
some competent person would tell the truth about
that institution.
+" With The Secretary Of War, I have nothing 70
o~-5us should like to ask Che individual, whom