Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-16
1nnnEy.AkY or WAR.
DEPAnTMENr OF WAR,
Both November, 1929. (

10 tie P.esiSster De Uaisd States
SIN: Tue Secretary OF War submits to the Prcsi-
dent oftbc Uncd States n report, showing the man
fcr IN which the business of the Department has
been conducted, that its details may be before him
Tor consideration. The COMMUNICATIONS received
ffOn the different officers connected with the War
Dcp@.tm mt, here annexed contain every thing min
uteiy, and mSce IN DETAIL than can be presented IN
TINS report. Such general suggestions, reference
10 them, may appear warranted by the public
terest becomes his duty to submit, that they may
rcceive from you the attention they shall be found to
merit.
1T is-with pleasure made known, that the army is
satisfactorily fulfilling their just engagements the
coun4y aud that harmony and proper zeal prevails.
The rank and die is nearly conplcte, and although
deSerton has not entirely ceased yet less ire
qucnt than heretofore. The rigid exactions of the
law, an reference to this crnc, is believed TO carrv
ton great severity tor of peace, and should be
memo atcd niio something better corresponding with
tic magnitude of tue offence. 1t Is not the ouan.
tun hat the certainty OF punishment that is cacu-
iated 10 deter Offenders; and soldier in pcace
has neen executed under the sentence of n court
maFtai,b mas accustomed THE impression that so Sc
we're penadty Will most probably not be en- lorct.d
and hence, disregard of itis entertained. | would
oy no means be- Understood recommending a re-
turn 10 tue Iniction OF stripes punishment al
tosether too dcgradmg II strips the sOluier of that
proud spirlt, and OF tiIose lofty f.cnus of honor
which VIII tend to prepare him, when suitable oc
casion my offer, 10 become traiior to his country
fhdt has branded niin with nfainy: the stirina OF
when, no !utuFc good conduct his pat, can re-
move.
The efficiency of army is to be d!sccrnei tbr,,b
The pTIde-tLc elevated character OF the uo,id,als
WHO compose H. 10 secure tins condition otthiutrs,
ho man should be gled into public service under
false pretcuces, anI when his mind is in sltt!a-
tlon TO engage IN contrace. lie who siIollu bar
gam with gllbour for MS property when found
III state vi into%icatiUn, would De Justly reprehen
s!be, and obnoxious 10 the mputajlun of practIscd
wrong now much more cautious then should a GOV
crurnent be- the guardian OF the rights vi lis citizens
20 avoid temporary purchase of their liberties, at
such time, ana under circumstances. Rest
ing upon the correctness OF tins IMPRESSION order,
nave been issued prohibiting any, when in,ovcu,rd
20 DC enlisted, ana fUrbding any Contract 10 b. Il
Hay cousuinmacd, until tune and opportunity
afforded iof deiheraton. Pursuing this course
qnniihed and valuable materials Will enter into ana
compose the ranks of army, and cha -ncier and
pride DC obtained. To attain this end an efectuaI
alteration would be TO withhold the premium, winch
at present is given for enistments; the effect oil
which may be To induce careessnc.s and ind tfar
as To tue description of men who are rcrr,,cd
IL might be better TO MAKE the premium thus wrong
y otS'o"ed III increased bounty ~ tie enlisted re-
cruIt.
The long controveried question rcsncci;nc hro,.,
rank III the army has been decided IN a manner
WHch IS OciieVed TO be IN Conformity with existing
.""S vi INC SUBJECT am happy TO add, that, as I,
lar Us opinions nave BEEN asccraincd the officers
OF the army are disposed 10 acquicc e in the cciinn
because OF The certainty which has been arrived ar
ana Tue increased harmony which it is expected vii,
DC consequent upon that certainty.
There Is u doubt resting in cunnovinn ,r,b ti;.
suoJect' WHICH Deg leave to suggest the pfoprjcly
OF bringing TO The consideration of Congress- il Is a.
70 The compensation rghffully to be extended 10
breVct officers, when cUnlmand is held corresoonJ
cnt to their rama The Interpretation Dive1 IN I'm. |
law upon tins subject, by regulation of the War
Department, IN 1927, is, that when CAPTAIN is IN
Tie command OF any larger numerical tore tDaI, a
company, no matter how lnconsiderabe; a Major a
greater lorce than TWO companies; Colonel more
thah regiment General any force greater than
brigade that IN all such and similar cases the
officers respectively TO be considered as having
command acco ding to their brevet and pay corrSs-
poHdlng 20 their rank cOntormabiy the conceived
PROVISIONS OF the act Of the 18th of April IgIn !
Ihe effect Ot ts construction has been that so "a
as the pay oil the army concerned instead OF hn,.
ing one MAJOR General and two AIGs-de- Camp as /
the act Vi ior organizing the military establish
ent contemplated, there have been IN service three
Mayor Generals aud six AIDS; and instead of ,,o
Bngadiers, Is IS required by the same act tbc-a
nave peen Tour Coioneis, vino, in virtue OF the req,
ulation OIL l0SI, relative to brevct appointments aS
received the pay and cmuluuents of a R-;oaJ,a,
General; thus Impending the army three SIn,crs
ana iour Drgadicr Generals, with other officers Of
lower grade, not contemplated by the s,t nf P1I g.
tXlng military peace establishment II ia SUNNI,
ted TOR Congress to determine how far thu bart
lore authorized procedure shall continue or IN future
be restricted, to the conceived Interpretation of the
law " ''0
AS this construction had obtained i, was co,,s;do.
cd 1t not strictly correct, least not nproper to ne
continued; especially previous aDDronri,,,o,s- h,,
tong'eSS Ior OTeVct Compensation had been made
ana at tnelr last session too thercby lndic,iny ~
acquicsccnce to the regulation of 1921 Hnt g.,
TO The number OF brevcts winch, in pursuance NJ
The law requiring them, were conferred previous ~
the adjournment Of the Senate, payments made IN
th's account wIl exceed the estimate presented from
the department Tor the year 1922 and the apnron-
nt'on consequent upon That estimate.
Under THIS constructive mode Of ara ,tir,- ov,r, a.
iowonces, there has likewise been conceded T., a..
Surgeon General ofthe army, fuel and uusrlers and
c4nmu,SVon OF them The language Of thc nct
OF the 4th ot April, 1898, is, "thcre shall he n So
gcon General with usalary oftwo thousand five hun.
aTe1 ooers per annurn;" evidently inicn,Iing N
render TINS salary officer, with fixed and cp{iain
compensation The act 0fthe both Of NJ rich mi
provides, that the Physician and Snrgoon Con-
6fthG army be entitled to two rations por Jov and
forage for two horses. AT this time the coniocnsr.
tioa given,was also twenty-five hundred J,jlsr.
year The subsequent act, however. of tois g.
ing and regulating the peace establishment scys 40,
thing Of perqusitics cnoIumcDfs and il 80 =,