Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-01

e supplying the army, previously to, ae
l. during the late war, and for few yea
: after its termination, must be sensible
J. the superiority of the present plan.
5 the quality of the provisions, in the ce
o tainty of the supply, and in the econon
i OF administration. its operation is dec
9 dedly superior to the old system, whel
: contractors furnished and issued all Il
n subsistence required. The continued fai
a ures that took place, and frequently in tn
most critical state of affairs, the centr,
VERSES arising out of perpetual attempt
to issue unsound provisions, aud the Sc
: rious obstacles which these and the othc
: Operations of the system ipterposed TO tht
! public service, must be fresh in the recol
Election 81 every military man, who parti-
iclPated in the events of those periods
The army is now well and promptly sup
lpl!ed, and the faithful officer at the head
of the Subsistence Department has estab-
F'iShed a system of purchasing, Of issuing
and OF responsibility, which, while it en-
sures this result, guards the public inter
EST against loss and imposition, as far as a
business, necessarily so extended, permits.
Dufiog the fifteen years in which this de-
parlment has been in operation, more than
hive millions and half of dollars have been
Expended underits direction, u the whele
loss which has been incurred by the de
falcation OF its officers, does not amount TO
Islxteen thousand dollars.
consider that the time has arrived
when the present arrangement should be
rendered permanent, and therefore pre-
sent the subject with that view, to your
notice. Aud also beg leave to suggest,
that the compensation ofthe Clerks in the
office should he increased. 1t is now low
or than the average amount allowed in the
other public Offices, and less than is due
to their labor and responsibility.
The report of the Visters. appointed
to examine the Military Academy, shows
that The Institution is III "A prosperous coG-
dition, aud is fulfilling the duties commit
ted to it, in the education of the young
men destined for the military service OF
the country. The suggestions, made by
the vislters, for the improvement of this
national school. are the result of a care
iul examination, and coming as they do,
from body OF able aud impartial citizens,
are entitled to much consideration. They
appear 10 me just in themselves, and pro-
missing, in the ev Mt of their adoption, sal
uiary CO sequences to the institution.
There i one subject, which | feel par
ticula'iy DESTROYS OF placing before you.
The situation OF Teacher of Drawing cor
responds, neither with the nature and i'm
purtahce of the duties required of that
officer, nor with the professional merit Of
, the distinguished artist, who has relin
pushed the fair prospects held out TO hin
in foreign country, to accept it. The
ari itself is highly important 10 military
men, and lis acq tisition is essential to Z
respectable standing at the Academy. |
Iisvsry desirable that the instructor shoull
unite in bis person those high qualilica
lions, natural and acquired, which have
i lin all ages been the lot of those, who have
4 at aimed eminence in the art, and which
have placed it among those pursuits, tina
are at once the cause and the effect o
advanced improvement in society. res
f pectfuIly recommend, that this officer b,
placed in the same situation, as the Pro
lieSsoTc dt tne ACdueuiy, anu Sniiol pu
! believe, that such measure would no
, only be just in itself, but would be pro
, per tribute of respect to the liberal arts
fland a proper notice of one, whose profes
isonal talents and success have been hon
orable to his country.
| | have had the honor heretofore to sub
nit to your consideration my views in re
lation to brevet commissions in the army
!. and am induced, as an act Of justice Il
/, those entitled to them, again to Presen
the subject. If no new legislation is con
. templated nor any action of the Senate
which shall change the principle or prac
tice heretofore prevalent, no objection
, occur to me to delay, any longer, thes'
! promotions. The officers have earne'
{ them by length of service, agreeably II
: the established usage, and TO make dis
(, termination, without any previous deela
ration, SO as to exclude from this advan
tage those who are at this time entitled t.
it, does not seem called for by the exigen
: cy of any Circumstance, connected witt
q this subject. And in fact, there are II
: very obvious reasons, occurring 10 me
: why these professional honors, which il
/ common cases make no demand upon tn
S Treasury, but serve to foster those pre-
C fessional feelings, which give elevation t