The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-24

-. -. ,,,;,hont working material changes in
~ no;ev AZ oar government, and without develop
i ing facts which may have very material, perhaps
yery advantageous, perhaps very disadvantage
10 ~ ,he government. What Is 70 DC the influence
mon the President Of the United States Of the en-
i tsnsion OF our empire, when, 10 the future, We
shall behold chain OF States upon the Pacific, and
4 when Texas shall be filled to overlooking with
American freemen-=what is 10 be the increased ex-
tent Of his patronage and what is q be the effect OF
that immense Increase upon The workings Of our pc.
itieal institutions, remains 10 be seed But he would
not 90 into that subject He would content himself
at present by saying that he was opposed per % 70
the augmentation of the Presidents patronage, and
! in favor Of the amendment of the gentleman from
South Carolina, Mr. HoLnEs,l which proposes
TO limit the patronage Of the President IN
the appointments under this bill and that the
regiments hereby proposed 10 Dc raised shan
be ofheered by transfers and promouoDs rom
| the army Why do you keep up at vast ex-
pense the Military Academy, II II is not to supply
the wants OF the army for officers from ~ And
| while "supernumersTies" IN name, and supernume-
rares in fact are receiving the support OF the gov.
eminent why will you soPersede them by allowing
the officers for these regiments 10 be taken from CIV
| n life2 The chairman Of the COMMITTEES on Mill
tary Affairs mr.. HARALsosl says, If Il is wise and
proper, the selection viii be made from these ca
diets. The discretion is in the Presideni and the
President doubtless will wisely exercise that dis
erection. He will not be compelled TO make the
selections from civil life. He (Mr. g. was utterly
opposed 10 leaving anything TO Executive discretion
which the law-makng power can provide for spe-
cihcally and he held II 10 be one great principles de-
pdrture from which has led US into many Of the
palitieal evils with which have been visited for
several years past, that the law-making power
ought TO prescribe in all In which u can, and
let the Executive be the executor OF the law. AT
the last Congress bot one, on proposition for regu-
ahng the appointment OF cadets at West Point, from
the debate in the Senate Il clearly seen chat IL
was the object Of Congress 10 give 20 the President
the power to select at large ten cadets, and il was
obvious that the intention Of Congress was to ena-
BILE him 10 select the OF mertorous officers In
the army--of men who have rendered signal ser.
vices TO the country. What had been the actual
practice under that law' But one solitary son OF
an officer Of the army had been appointed cadet
by the President in the exercise Of this discre-
tion. Did that encourage them to commit things to
the discretion Of the Executive, which Congress
could regulate and should regulated He said not.
Let them not do il. IL 10 the misfortune Of the
times an evil that has fastened itself upon our pO-
litical institutions, that appointments are now made,
and have been made, not with view TO the public
good but with reference 10 the degree Of political
influence favorable to the existing administration;
and hence the public service suffers in every branch
Of the government.
MIR. RHE1T interposed, and (Mr. q. giving
way) said he understood the gentleman to say that
the President Of the United States in exercising the
appointing power Of the ten cadets given him by the
law, bad appointed but one son Of an officer
Mr.. GENTRY. | understand that TO be the
fact. II misnfomed, should be happy to be cor
rected.
Mr.. RHETT The present President Of the
United States has had no power TO appoint any at
all. On the contrary, the late President, when he
went out had appointed the full number OF cadets
up to the last year, and the time has not arrived
when they were to be appointed for the ensuing
year.
Mr. HARRISON, (Mr. GENTRY still Yielding
was understood TO say that the gentleman from
South Carolina was mistaken; that appointments at
large had been made by the present Executive. But
the gentleman from Tennessee mistaken, on the
other hand with reference to the existing law.
There nothing in 1t which prescribed that these
appointments at large bv the President should be
confined to the sons Of officers Of the army.
Mr. GENTRY resumed The gentleman from
Georgia, IMr HARAEsoN,l had entirely misunder-
stood him Che said. The law itself did not express
that fact but he who looked into the debates upon
that bill before it became law could not fail to per-
ceive that il was the object Of the Congress Of the
United States to enable the President to appoint the
sons Of widows Of officers Of the army who have
died in the service who still living have render
ed meritorous and signal services to the country;
and the President in the exercise of that discretion,
has wholly diRegarded and tramped upon the OBJ
jet and intendment of the aw-making power
But with reference to the protection Of our from
tier settlements in Texas and in the western States,
independently Of our contemplated action with ref
erence TO Oregon it is right and proper that the mil
tary strength of the U. States should be augmented
to the extent proposed by this bill, and to greater
extent. And if the committee charged with execu-
ting the policy of the administration-the admins
Of tt,a
better than he could-should bring in measures still
further to enlarge the military strength Of the Uni.
ted States, he (Mr. G.) should sustain them. He
could not in view of our doubtful future, in view of
the uncertainties that hang around our relations
with Mexico and with England, and Of what may
happen on our western frontier in case Of rupture
with either Of these powers-he could not vote
against any measure in conformity with the recon.
mendatons of the President, having in view the
preservation Of national honor, or the defence
Of national rights.
A few minutes still remained Of the time allotted
to debate
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS said he did not in.
tend to enter into a wide discussion with refer
ence to the tariff, to Oregon, to Texas, or to the
improvement of the rivers and harbors Of the coun-
try. The House had under consideration a propo-
sition to raise two regiments Of riAemen. The only
questions to be determined were-lst, the necessity
Of the increase; and, second, the mode in which il
bnOulu Dc tHduc. ucTt WeTc Two great PROPOSE
tons embodying different modes one to increase
the army by increasing the number of regiments;
the other to add to the rank and file of the existing
regiments. Our organization under peace estab-
lishment is designed only to be the skeleton of an
army; we organize our regiments not SO much with
view to their present efficiency on the arising
If an emergency, which shall require them to ena-
&c ms to I'll them up and render US the greatest
nee. We who were literally the rife people Of the
world who were emphatically skilled in the use
Of the rifle were now falling behind France, Eng
land, and other nations who were paying attention
to il, and now actually had no rifle regiment. For
this reason, il there were no other, he would vote
to raise rife regiment to perfect our organization,
and add the wanting bone to the skeleton of our
army. #g
Another reason in behalf Of this bill was, that i,
was recommended by the President of the United
| States. Mr.. d. read that part Of the message
| recommending tho establishment of stockade forts
on the route to Oregon, Gel 1t did not depend
| upon the notice, upon future emigration, but
was necessary to protect the emigration now passing
TO Oregon. He pointed out the dangers from the
attacks Of nomadic hostile Indians, to which the
traveller across the prairies is exposed the ne
cessity OF mounted rfemen for their protection and