The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-25

and hereby 10 appoint by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate such number OF major generals
and bgader generals as Of such volunteer
ioroes into brgades and divisions may render necessary
ma, iss egsaeI gsGssi' sad ~ t PreH
dent OF the United states when the war with Mexico shall
DC terminated by sdehnltFs treaty auy e9heillsd
teers at time in the service shall be reduced IN numte
the brgadier generals and major generals herein provided
the number Of the bTgades aud divisions; Ind Prordsd
llt4tr That each brigade Of volunteers shall consist 81
not less than three regiments ana each division shsI
consist Of not less than two bhgades
Mr. CRlTTENDEN moved to amend the bill by
striking out all after the word "Mexeo," in the 9th
line, down TO the proviso az the end Of the same,
and inserting the following additional sections;
Sac. Be further Enacted, That when the number Of
Of such volunteer orces called into the service
of the United stes from any one State under the said act
of the 18th Of May 1916 shall be sufficient 10 form brigade
bFgadieT general for the command thereof shall be APP
pointed by the proper authority Of the state to which they
belong in the manner prescribed by the laws Of said
State.
Sac Be furth.r snaeisd That the second section OF
the act ented IAN supplemental 10 act providing
states and the republic Of Mexico for other
approved the day Of June ls4b be, and the same Is
sEc 4 Be Il further enacted That the President Of the
United states be- and he hereby authorized to appoint by
in addition to the present military establishment
Mr.. BENTON sad this was a renewal Of the de-
bate Of yesterday, and a few remarks would be suf-
fcIent 10 show that The amendments proposed ought
not to be adopted. They were incongruous TO the
bIl and seem TO proceed upon an erroneous idea.
The amendment seems to suppose that divisions
and bngades are TO come from States, and 10 act
geIher as sgchI no; so the fact. Regiments the
highest orga1szsuon suthoriZedI and although II
may happen that a sufficient number Of regiments
may be called from one Stale 10 constitute brig
ade, or dlTlsion yet they not called such,
and nay rot be employed together after they 90
into the fed. One regiment may 90 10 one place,
and annfhtr 10 another DlAfe and nnaV
together brigade or division. The incongruity
OF the Stale generals would be manifest. The vol
unteers are hr year; the militia generals will come
by seniority, and be for SIX months All the genera
in the service should be on the same footing-all
appointed by The President and Senate and all enti-
lied equal Command and respect according TO their
grade The Dill proposes to appoint generals to
serve during ae war: If the war continues more
than year, AID generals gain some experience, we
do not wish TO isband them. The States without
a new law, eOud not appoint generals to serve eth
err for the war or for year the generals for SIX
months wouli be an incongruty. Seniority is the
rule Of seuile among the militia, and that rule
might give general too old for the active and dis
tant service which these volunteers may have 10
perform. Th' President and Congress are respon.
slble for the management Of this war: II is "A
federal, and MT a State war. The federal gov
eminent il responsible for its management, and
its management will depend upon the gen.
erals. Congress- yotes-the President orders
but the gemrals act: and, thus, the manage
ment Of the var deyolyes at last upon the gener-
as. They ecome the executors Of the votes Of
Congress, AID of the orders of the President, and
therefore, shNld be appointed by federal authority
by the President and Senate. This is the principle
Of the bill rsored by the committees and to transfer
the appointment OF generals to the States, would be
to put the Management Of the out of the hands
Of those VIII declared it, and who are responsible to
the countryor its management The amendment
OF the SENIOR from Kentucky seemed to Mr.. b.
| to involve rcongrutes and impossibtes -incon-
gruites in giving six months generals to twelve
months mn-ImposslbllltIes, in looking TO the
| States for snerals which are 10 serve for a term
unknown to heir militia systems, and which would
re 4uire the Sale legislatures TO be called together
and pass nv law for their appointment
| Mr.. CRIIrENDEN explained his amendments
and pointed OF the difference between his PROPOSE
ton and thatf the Military Committee at length,
and urged VIII much earnestness several arguments
in favor of HI proposition.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, opposed the
amendmenof Mr.. CRIrrENDEN. He showed the
difficulties be encountered in carrying out the pro-
i visions of &c amendments.
Mr.. CAS- was in favor of the bill as it is. The
President responsible for the war What he
thinks necessary should not he withheld.
Mr. CRrTENDEN replied to the senator's from
Michigan " ttiMstsEylsnd defending his amendment
a9aaSSosS<}iiIvr 80.
hFNr
AIDES that lis bill was intended.
Mr.. HGS TON supported the bill, and spoke in
reply to M. CRIrrENpEN.
i Mr.. W,STC0TT offered an amendment to that
of the senior from Kentucky Mr.. CRIrrENpES !
by which he President to call on the executive
OF the Stat or Territory furnishing brigade of volun-
teers, to tta and furnish brigader general Of the
militia ofsad State or Territory to command such
| brigade; nd so, also If State furnished division
major gnera OF militia to command such division;
and If a fgade division was composed of vol
uneers tDm different States Territories that the
Presidenmight call on the executive of any one of
them forsuch officers He said his objection to the
amendmat of the senator from Kentucky was, that
1t was nprachcable-nay, impossble-tn carry ii
out IL Povided that the governor of the State was
TO apPonthe generals according to the law of the
State. NV, IN several of the States-in Florida
tor nstanethe general officers of 'hss militia are
| elected by those subject to military duty in the
! bounds o brlgades and divisions. In others, the
legislatures elected these officers. In others, the
regimenta officers or brigade officers The amendment
| of the senltor from Kentucky would not secure the
volunteers officers of their choice. What brigade or
division should elect in Florida, if that State fur
nIshed irigadier or major generals commando In
those Staes where the legislature choose such off.
GERS, 1t must be convened. 1t could be readily
seen in such cases the laws could not be carried
out Al any rate, great delay would ensue
Mr.. w. said he was opposed to the bill reported, as
nc cohceFeu IL was deadly blow to the rights of
the Statei, as tending to degrade and destroy the
militia. He believed the militia general officers in
the Stats were mostly excellent officers and best
quallhedto command volunteers. He believed there
were good sfcers in the militia as in the regular
army Mr.. President, (said Mr.. w. y in your city,
(Ph,ladephiaD | believe there is much military
ability, and intelligence, and patriotism and of every
quality requisite for good general officer among
your militia generals there is to be found possess
ed by the same number of regular officers. 1 would
as soon trust the militia general officer of my own
State, as the best in the regular army, and much
sooner, in command of Florida volunteers; and
say this without meaning, in the least, to disparagc
the officers Of the army. Sir, (said Mr. w } the
militia officers are chosen by their fellow citizens
who know them personally. But, ask how is the
President to ascertain the fitness of the candidates
who will be proposed for brgadierships, &C. sup
pose by the recommendations of members of Con-
gross as he cannot know all the candidates person.
ally. Instead Of being selected for superior auaf-
cations, will be next to an mpossibility for the
President to avoid selecting whose chief claims
are political services rendered or to be rendered
Mr.. w. said he was not for unnecessarily increas-