Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-10
ALTER ORGANIZATION MARINE CORPS.

REPORT, in part. upon so much OF theSPresi.
dents Message, referred 10 the Military
COMMITTEE, as relates TO the rxpediency Of
merging the Marines in The United States
Artillery or Infantry.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES, FEB s. 1880,
DIR. DRAYToN, from, The Committee on Nfhfary
1faiys made the foilo,oiag Report:
The COMMITTEE on Military Affairs, 10 whom.
among other parts of the Presidents Mes.
sage, was referred SO much of il as related
to the rxpediency " of m-rging the Marine
Corps in the Artillery or Infantry" reports
Tha, the anomalous character Of the Corps
OF Marines, sometimes governed by the laws
aud regulations Of the Navy. and sometimes by
those Of the Army, would, unav oidably, lead TO
occasional embarrassment, unless their rights
and duties were expressed with the utmost full
ness and precision. According TO existing
ussges, whenever a detachment Of Marines is
on duty a; Navy Yard. or any other naval sta
lion, its commander does net consider himself
10 be subject 10 th- orders Of the naval officer
present, whatever may be his rank; because no
law has declared that the command, under such
circumstances, should devOlvp upon the Off cer
OF the Navy The naval officer, upon whom
The e-ponsibility rests, is thus unable 10 take
those precautions which, in his judgment. are
he most sppropriaic; and although il is pro-
b bic that his views and those Of the officer uf
Mlrnrs would accord, or that the later would
comply with the Instructions or requests Of The
former ye' ought no. mater OF so much i'm
por:anre % b. drpe ndant upon coinc idence Of
opinion or courtesy. II is b, lieved .hai no mi
Ii airy principles are better established. Than
lhsi priority Of rank should he clearly defined
aud that responsibility should be accompanied
by command.
By Law, only one officer, with the rank OF
Lieu,rnan, Colonel, has been assigned to the
Marine Corps; and yet, as has been brought to
the view Of hi, House in the Presidents Mes
sage, besides il. Lieu enan' Colonel Common
daht, there are at ached 10 IL 1--WE bre'ci Lieu-
tenant Colonies, who receive the full pay and
emoiumen,s OF their hreset rank,
TO remedy the defects in the regulation and
organ,z, ION of the Marine Corps, which have
been noticed, aud also some others OF minor
consequence, the Committee are OF opinion
that it would be cxpedien. TO pass The Till
which they now report.
A BILL. 10 alter and amend the organization OF the
Corps of Marines.
Be IL enncied By "a. Senate and House Of Re
pyeseniative, of the United States of .7nerica in
Congress assembled bat, from md after the
tin, hereinafr r mentioned, he Corps OF Ma
rines &c the Uaird SAFES SILL cousis' OF tn
following commissioned Ulcers o wir:--one
Lieutenant Co cuel, ono Major, eight Cap
,ains, six zen FRS Li"u;enanls, sixteen Second
Lieu,enants. one Paymss er, one Qnar'ermas
ter, one Adjutant snd one Surgeon; aud OF tn
following nop-commissioned officers, must,
claus, aud D iya,cs, to wi: one Sergean Ma
iur, one O sr,ermaSter Sergeant, one Drum
Major, one Fife Major, sky four Se'geants,
sixty four Corporals, sixteen Diummers, six
teen Filters, and sevrr hundred and hiity six
Privates; he said Cops 10 be organized and
disciplined aud be liable do duty, at STA or
on shore, iu such MI IS the President Of
the Unied Ss'ss hall direct.
SEC find be IL further enacted, That the
said OTHERS pon-comm'ss,oned officers, mu-
sicians and pri> a,es. shall be governed BY the
same rules and articles as have been, or shall
hereafter be prescribed by law. for tie ar
my Of he Unied States, snd Tor The govern
mrut of The NAVY, according 10 the nature Of
he service iu which hey may hr employed.
Ssc s find be II fWthe, enacted, loa', when
ever he said Corps OF Marines, any par oil
them shall be on day in any Unird States
por or s,stion they shall be sub CT 10 he or
trrs e he senior oficer Of ;hr Navy, present
Provided He be superior in grade or rank 10
the commenting fficer uf Marines according
TO the relative Fax Of land and naval ofh ers,
"a expressed in the sixth article OF he Gem
rr,I Regulations Cor The Army issued in or
,,ers by ,hc FreIideat Of 'hr Uni ed States,
on ,ne FIRST day of March one thousand eight
hundrel aud wen, 6se; and IN ascertaining
the relative rank Of tn" said officers, no com
mission BY breve, shall confer upon All officer
OF Matrices any priority or precedence: find pro
u,ied also, That, on board Of any United States
shin or ,es,cl, the command shall always be
in naval Officer. whatever may be MS rank, as
conferred with that Of any marine officer pre-
seat.
SIC. 4, find be il further enacted, That the
nav and emnlumeuts allowed To the said com
missioued officer, shall BE- IS follows, IN wit:
To he Lieu,ran, Colonel, SEVENTY hNe dollars
per m nh. five ra,iocs per day, six'cen dollars
per month for forage, and 'wo servants; 10 the
Major, sixty dollars per mon h, io"r ra'ions
ner day. sixteen dollars per month tor forage,