The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-08
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

The hfstlmpression created on reading this do
cumentis, thattis simple, Straightforward, bust
ness-like paper, in which the Secretary shows
thorough knowledge of the organization of the
branch of service under his direction We
hold this TO be essential 10 the able administra-
ton of any department, and without it, in fact
We do not see how department. can be well
administered. IL is the first lesson which Sc
creary should learn as it makes him thorough
ly acquainted with the labors of his office, and
with those under whom they are distributed.
In this respect Judge Porter in our judgment,
has begun al The right end-at the beginning;
has, like a skiliul mechanic, made himself &C
quainted with the tools with which he has 10
work, and has now only 10 apply them as ext
gences aud circumstances shall arise. OF bis
ability so TO apply them there can be no doubt
From this report, we learn that the aggregate
OF the Army amounts 10 sob, which consli-
'ues the whole existing force of General Staff,
officers Of the line, and rank and file. The d.
vision of this aggregate into various parts, is
itself so well condensed in the report of the Sc
cretary, that we cannot do better than merely to
refer our readers TO it. And in fact the whole
Of the report which treats of the organization
of the Army, It's divisions into corps, the ar
rangement Of commands into distinct military
departments, and the distribution of The forces
in each, the division of the labors of his office
into bureaux, and the duties Of those bureau1,
cannor be better expressed or more clearly con-
densed than is done in the report itself.
] The actual force OF the army, from latest re-
turns, is about 254 in excess of rank and 6,e
over the organization 10 which it is to be re-
duced by the last law on this subject The re-
ducton is going on in conformity with the law
as the times ofservice expire, and as discharges
occur from other causes.
The Secretary recommends that as much of
the act Of the 23d August, 1912, as aboshes
the Office Of one Inspector General, be repealed
He remarks that "the services of the two vaua-
bic and experienced officers filling those stations
are deemed essential to the well-being of the
Army" and from all we can understand, we be-
lieve this sentiment TO be warmly rcciprocared
by the Army generally.
The Secretary states that the I'd Regiment
of Dragons has been dismounted in conformity
with the law, and armed as Regiment Of II fe-
men. He recommends that the Regiment
should be again mounted, and states that the ex-
pense will not exceed more than twenty per
cent of the amount for which the old horses
sold. His reasons for the recommendation
are strong and conclusive, and we cannot for
bear the remark that in laws bearing upon the
details of service, much weight should be given
to the opinion of the Department charged with
executive functions, which experiences defects
and difficulties of organizations, and which can
not possibly have either feeling or interest, sep
srate from the most efficient and most economi.
cal administration of its duties.
With the remarks of the Secretary upon duel
ling between officers and citizens, and of the
remedy which he proposes, we fully agree yet
however, we fear that TOO much importance has
been given TO some isolated case, and that the
remedy would give 10 ii an eclst more injurious
than beneficial The true remedy for this evil
is in the moral feeling of society. Whenever
the practice shall be considered as unbecomipp.
!, will fall pto dlsuse; but so long as society