Wilmington expositor. (Wilmington, Del.) 1831-18??, 1832-01-13
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
DEPARTMENT OF WAR;
November. 81 1891 Z

DEPARTMENT OF WAR,
November, 81, 1881, !
6rR: In obedience to your instructions, / have
the honor to submit here with general view
of the operations of this Department, and of
the various branches of its administration. to-
gether with the accompanying reports of the
officers in charge of the different bureaus for
the past year.
The plan of organization by which the great
objects ofpublic concern, committed to the War
Departments, are divided into different classes.
and placed under the more immediate control
of respectable and responsible officers is well
calculated to promote fidelity, promptitude,and
economy in the management of these import
ant interests. By assigning to each Office a
particular branch of the service, experience in
the general administration is acquired at the
Department, and in the practical details at the
places of execution. On this subject have
only to remark, that the importance of our In
dian relations, both present and prospective,
demands similar arrangement for this portion
of the public affairs. The existing organza-
ton rests upon executive authority. but the
efficiency and responsibility of that department
would he greatly promoted, if its duties were
regulated by legislative act.-- This measue
has more than once been recommended in the
reports of my predecessors, and / beg leave to
add my conviction to theirs ofits necessity.
The condition of the army is satisfactory in
its material, and SO far in its morals as depends
upon the exertions of the officers. Its appro-
pirate functions are performed honorably for
itself, and usefully for the country. Although
some of the details of the service are suscepti-
bic of improvement in their administration,
and some in their legislation, still, in the gen.
eral result, whether viewed as an arm of nation
al defence, or as depository of military knowl-
edge and experience, it has attained the great
objects for which it was raised and is maintain
ed. 1t is efficient without being expensive,
and adequate to the exigencies of our service
without being dangerous. refer to the re.
mort of the Major General commanding, 70,
the detailed operations of the year
The annual reports of this Department have
already brought before the government the sub
;ect OF desertion; and regret to state, tina
this serious evil not only continues but increas
es, inquiries have been Instituted into TIL
causes Of this offence, and the most efficien
remedy. and much valuable information is con
ta;ned in Report from the War Department
of FEBRUARY II, 1880. But no measures hav
been adopted to check practice, which, tror
its extent and IMMUNITY, not only materially IN
lures the service by the loss OF the men and tn
consequent expense, but threatens in its prog
ress, and by its example, TO destroy that prin
cipie OF huelity Wnlcn Is tiic ohiy oalc oohu
connection between the soldier and his countr,
In the present state of our martial law, and ,
its necessary administration, there is in fact n
ADEQUATE punishment for the crime of desc
tjou. Confinement and employment at har
labor are the only efficient sentences, whie
military tribunals can infict; and where a SO
dier is confined in a guard-house, and his cor
nanions stationed without to secure him, al
with all the faculties of constant commune
tion,we may we'll doubt whether his situation
so much more unpleasant than theirs, as to 81
20 this mode of punishment any salutary effe
uron the discipline of the army; and at all o
posts, and particularly those upon the lnla
border, the soldiers are generally employ
either in the line of their duty or upon tatig'
and a sentence to hard labor subjects them
little more than the ordinary demands OF
service.
Whether any system of moderate rewal
will prevent this practice, may be doubted;
certainly the abolition of all efficient punis
ment, without providing any substitute to {
crate upon the pride and hopes of the soldi
ia in fact to invite him to abandon his colo
whenever the restraints of discipline cause te
porary dissatisfaction.
To retain part Of the bounty and the p
and thereby TO provide fund for the use
the soldier when discharged, to reduce the
.r;od of service, and to increase the pay OF
rank and file of the army. and PARTICULARLY
.,hc non-commissione officers, are among