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


THE AMENDAToRY ARMY BILL.
1t seems difficulty has arisen under the proyis-
ions Of the late law Of June 18th, 1896 which re.
quires further legislation in regard TO the generals
who are TO command the volunteers.
This law is Supplemental to an act entitled An
act providing for the prosecution Of the existing
between the United States and the republic Of
Mexico and for other purposes" And its 2l sec
ton is as follows
Csc. 2. Ind be further enacted, That the Pres-
dent Of the United States be, and he hereby Is,
thonZed TO call into the service, under the act APP
proved May thirteen, eighteen hundred and forty
six, such Of the general officers Of the militia as the
service IN his opinion, may require, and 10 organize
into brgades and divisions the forces authorized by
said act according to his discretion"
The President proposes TO organize the addition
al forces into eight brgadss, two Of which will be
commanded by the two brgaders recently author
Eed to be appointed the other six will require as
many new appointments, or will have to be placed
under the command of existing brgadiers, holding
commissions from the States.
The bill which was before the Senate to-day
is intended to correct any defect which the
original bill has produced in this regard. The
question is presented, whether the brigadiers in
commission in the several States shall be selected
by the President-or shall new appointments be
made without any particular reference to them.
The objections to the Presidents calling out the
brigadlers now in commission in any Of the States
seem to be numerous.
|. He has record Of their appointments and
might be msinfomed by rumor, or the imperfect
know ledge Of The members Of Congress.
,. He would have means of Justly deciding
upon the rival pretensions of those officers so as to
avoid the injustice of appointing junior officers,
without decidedly superior qualifications.
3. These officers, so called out, would have com
mand Of twelve months volunteers, being them
selves under no obligation to serve over three
months militia officers, and might not be liable
to punishment for any nsubordination after that
period.
T. These militia appointments in some of the
Sta es temporary. In the State of Mississippi,
for example, the brgadiers are elected by the votes
of the people for the period of four years only
Their commissions might thus expire in the midst
Of the campaign, thus depriving the Presiden, Of
| tue III ANS u SVuuuEs'ss go .-.L r,-- - r
hciency.
This plan, therefore, would seem wholly nadmis.
sible
But Mr.. Crttenden proposes that whenever 2
whole brigade shall be raised in any one State the
governor thereof shall appoint the brigadier.
There Is very little force in his arguments: and
we think the reasons urged on the other side by
Mr.. Benton, General Houston, Mr.. Reverdy John
son, and others, entirely destroy their application
Without from,
ofthe troops of one State commanded by off GERS APP
pontedby the governor OF another the difficulty in
deciding the questions Of rank between the generals
of the respective States and the like, we may in
woke the authority of Mr.. Madison in 1912 A SINH
lar difficulty then existed under the act of 9th Feb
ruary of that year, which is now felt under the act
of 18th June, 1886.
On the Both June, 1912, Mr.. Madison recon-
mended as follows
ITO the Senate and House Of Representatives.
Of the United States:
with view the better TO adapt to the public
service the volunteer force contem plated by the act
passed on the sixth day of February, recommend
TO the consideration Of Congress the expedIency of
making the requisite provision for the officers there
of being commissioned by the authority of the United
States.
"Consdering the distribution Of the military
forces of the United States required by the circum
stances Of our country recommend also to the
consideration of Congress the expedency of pro-
viding for the appointment Of additional number
of general officers and Of deputies in the adjutants
quartermasters, inspectors, and paymaser g depart.
men,s of the army and for the employment, in
cases of emergency, of additional engineers.
JAMES MADISON.
"June &c. 1912"
In consequence of this recommendation an act
was passed on the 9th of July, 1912, "suppementa-
ry to the entitled AN act authorizing the Presi
dent ofthe United States accept and organize GER.
tain volunteer military corps,'" which contains the
two following sections:
CSC 2. find be II further enacted, That the Pres
dent be, and he is hereby, authorized to form III,
corps of volunteers into battaions sauadrons repi
ments, brgades, and divisions, and to appoint there
to, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate, general, field, and staff officers, conformably
with the military establishment of the United States
and who sha! be entitled to the pay and emoluments
of officers Of similar grade and corps in the army
Of the United States.
"SEc. 3. .fnd be IL further enacied, That il shall
be lawful for the President Of the United States in
the recess of the Senate, to appoint all the officers
authorized by this act which appointments shall be
submitted to the Senate, at their next session for
their advice and censent.n
II will thus be seen the bill before the Senate to-
day is to remove a similar difficulty to that COM
planned Of by Mr.. Madison in 1912
We learn that the supplementary military bill has
passed the Senate to-day. 1t now goes to the
House of Representatives.
ANOTHER ARMISTICE.
The New Orleans Tropic of the 18th inst s,o,,s