Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-01-13

wears has been to make contracts with the ow
ners of the four founderies at Richmond
Georgetown, Pittsburgh and West Point. t
the amount of the annual appropriation, allow
ling about an equal proportion to each, AM
lpaying such price as the Ordnance Depart
lment, on the best information, judge reasona
bile.
/ his procedure has been repeatedly state
| in the annual reports 10 Congress, togethe
with the reasons which led TO it. These ar
!, founded in the capital and experience requires
to conduct this business; in the necessity Q
depending, in some degree, upon the integrit
and character of the manufacturers, as ther
may be defects in the piece not easily discove
rable, owing TO the necessity of mixing togeth
err iron of different quaities;i and in the belief
that. if general competition for these sup
lplies were excited, the existing establishment
would be broken down, and others endeavor 4
take their places, which would fall from SINH
ar causes, or furnish cannon unfit for service
land thus leave the Government at some critica
period, without the means of procuring thl
indispensable arm of defence. The provision
lof the acts of Congress of March Sd, 1909
lseenr, however, to present serious objections t
flthis course; and bring the subject before yol
at this time, that il may be fully considered.
j 1t appears TO me that public armory TO
1.-The fabrication Of cannon is required by oh
lvious considerations. BY forming such al
establishment, the necessary experience anC
lattisans would be provided, and such supple
Iof heavy ordnance manufactured as the Gov
Iernment might direct The actual value 0
the article would be ascertained, and contract
with individuals could be formed with full
knowledge of the circumstances. There woul,
Ibe no danger of combinations, nor would an
Injury result from fair competition. The sup
,Iplies might be SO controlled as to leave no fea
Iof efficiency in the quality or quantity of thi
t Essential arm of defence.
In the report OF the Surgeon General will b
f|found eview of the opeg atoms of the medi
cal department, and the propositions submitte
,by him for its better organization. Fourtte
: thousand dollars are annually expended for tn
employment of private physicians, because tn
corps is not sufficiently numerous to discharg
the duties demanded of it. We have sixty
/, four military stations and recruiting rendez
vous requiring surgeons, and we have in SCI
vice but fifty three surgeons and assistants
? There is no economy in the present arrange
\ nent, nor is itadvantageous to the public II
terest. An increase of the present corps, 9
h recommended by the surgeon general, is ev
Iently required.
II The considerations urged by him for an az
O iition to the pay of surgeons and assistants
ere certainly forcible. There is no portion
the army,whose compensation is SO inadequat,
} nor is there any, which presents less prospec,
4 of reward There are but TWO grades of ran
in our medical service, and the emolument {
5 the highest is but little superior to that of
captain.
y 1t is due to the army, that the subject {
brevet commissions should be placed befor
Iyou So far as respects the services and con-
lpensation of officers holding those commits
sions, the present regulations are Just. and we
Z calculated TO prevent any injury in the publ
y service. No officer can receive the pay of hi
orevet rank unless serving in that capacit
when on duty and having command accorc
:. ing to his brevet rank. There are 20 officer
i'm the army now drawing brevet pay.
81 These brevet commissions presuppose exp,
n rience IN the officer, and are founded upon Il
:. presumption, that circumstances NAV ari.
. when his services may be useful in more e,
renslve sphere than tina, in which, by his line
= commission, he is required to act; and the.
c circumstances will oftener be found in our Sc
i vice. than in any other. Our regular trooT
) and militia must frequently act together. Whtt
i thus co operating the officers of the reguli
. army take rank of all militia officers of Il
same grade, whatever may be the date of the
respective commissions. This rule is high
! beneficial to the public interest, because, will
- out creating invidous distinctions, it gives
e experience its proper weight. BY grautir
e brevet commissions, after ten years. service
}. one grade, agreeably to the present rule, exp
rlenced officers would be provided for con
mand upon detachment, or at posts where II
& objects are important or the dangers imminen
y he construction. which has been given
the law upon this subject, has restricted Il
granting Of brevet commissions upon prior on,
to those cases only where ten years servic,
have been rendered under such prior com,n
sions. There may be some doubt respectin
the correctness of this view, and also the e,
lpediency of the restrictions