The daily union., 1846-06-26

II
| ilttculty is thus removed The original bin was
passed by this House in this shape. There was no
objection 10 It them and all the difficulty arose from
the fact that the Senate struck it out, which gave
rise to the necessity far supplemental bill, which
| has been found impossible TO be carried oUt.
| Mr. COOKE inquired il the present bill did not
contemplate change IN the rule to the number Of
regiments that shall constitute brgadel And if So
what was the reason therefor
Mr., HARALSoN replied that the practice had
been heretofore for two regiments To constitute
brigade. There had not been q law distinctly de-
caring IT, IL was now proposed that three regi-
| ments should constitute brigade. He could give a
| reason for the provision which might or might not
have operated on the Secretary Of War the Pres.
/ ldent in making this order One good reason was
| that by this arrangement there would be less num-
Der Of general officers required, and there had been
great unwillngness manifested on the part Of Con-
sress to increase the number Of general officers.
| Mr. COOKE interposed, and desired 10 modify
his amendment by striking out three regiments and
| inserting two regiments, so that two regiments shall
constitute brigade in conformity (he said with tho
practice OF the government heretofore.
| Mr. HARALSON declining to yield the floor for
this purpose, proceeded To say that the act of the
18th May provided that the volunteers shall be re-
ceiyed by the President in companies, battalions,
| and regiments. The question was asked by his
colleague from Georgia, il they to be considered
regulars, why should not the government appoint
all the officers under the command Of colonies in.
cluding the colonies alsol In repy MIR H. said
the constitution authorizing the raising of armies,
does not prescribe the mode in which Il should b.
done; and by law authorize the States them
selves TO organize as far as they have done, and
| adopt that organization, which we do under this
| law.
| In reply to a word Of further inquiry by Mr..
STEPHENS, Mr.. III. said, certainly; by the constitu.
ton you can call for volunteers militia militia for
| the specified purposes Of suppressing instructions
Tepelllng inyasOns; and volunteers may be called
| for under the power Of Congress to raise and
organize armies and they may be received by
regiments under the act Of 18th Of last month. Six
or seven weeks have already elapsed since the 18th
Of May, when this act was passed. and the
/ gentleman from Alabama, by his amend
/ ment, would actually work delay Of some ak
| weeks more before the brigades and divisions
could be organized, and would be enabled to CON-
mence effective operations against Mexico. MIR. II.
did not object to the principles OF that amendment
out to its practcability, without producing delay
which would be entirely incompatible with the
wants Of the country at present. There would have
been delay; officers would already have been
in the field, AID the organization complete, II the
bill had passed the Senate It originally went frym
the House Of Representatives.
| The honorable gentleman from South Carolina
Mr. BURrl hid quoted many preeedents; but there
| was much to the point, that Mr.. II. hoped
10 be excused in making further reference to II. Ii
was the act Of July g. l8l2 authorizing volunteer
force and il bore directly the present question,
that he begged leave to read it, TO show that it
not thought by those Of that day that il a viola
ton of the constitution for the President, by and
with the advice and Of the Senate, to appoint
these officers. The act provides as follows:
SIC That the President be and he hereby, author
Led to form the corps Of volunteers into haalons squad
rons, regiments, bTgsdes and divisions and to appoint
thereto BY and with the advice and consent Of the SENATE
general 6eld and Staf officers conformsbly with the mill
Il kali
entlrd the pay and emoluments officers OF
similar grade and corps in the army OF the United
States"
We heard nothing Of the violation Of the constitu.
| ton (said Mr.. H. when this act passed. IL
passed in accordance with the recommendation Of
She President, and for the same kind Of necessity
| which now presses upon the country.
| Mr. ATKINSON interposed, and requested Mr.
H. to allow to be read the message Of Mr. Madison
to the Congress Of the United States which was the
occasion Of the passage of this law.
| Mr.. HARALS0N replied that he would very
cheerfully yield for its reading, and had he had It
before him, he should himself have asked it TO be
,ad.
rhe message was read by the clerk
- To the Senate and House Of Rsprs' ntatpe,
| Of the United States.
with a view the better to adapt to the public
service the volunteer force contemplated 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 bting commissioned by the authority Of the United
| States
| considering 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 expedlency of pro-
| viding for the appointment Of additional number
Of general officers and of deputies in the adutants,
quartermasters, inspectors and paymssters depart
mens of the army, and for the employment, in
/ 6 nf aIf NAL
| JAMES MADISON.
"June 80, 1912"
| Mr. HARRISON (resuming) referred to other dif-
fcutes in carrying out the I'd section of the supple
mental bill. In the first place it was not known
| how long the commissions of the State officers
would connue-how long they had been in exis-
| tence. The President could not commission them
under that supplemental bill. They would 60 out
| with different dates of commissions, and as they
| expired, infinite confusion in regard to the relative
rank ofthe officers from the several States, would
grow up to the destruction, and perhaps to the
destroying the efficiency Of the army.
Although he should be willing to trust many OF
the militia officers yet he desirous that the gov
| eminent should have all the means necessary to
efficient prosecution Of the war; and then if they do
not do it in manner becoming the interest and hon.
| or of the country, we would hold them to a strict
accountability. But it was Indisputable to accom-
plish this that all necessary means and facilities
|
action would be had by the House on the subject,
| without further delay.
Mr.. McCLERNAND said that he apprehended
that the bill had been sufficiently debated to enable
the House to arrive at proper understanding of its
merits. 1t appeared to be drafted in exact conform
lty with tn law of 1879, for similar purpose. That
law had resulted from the suggestions of experience
this has also So far as the constitution may be
involved, we have the sanction of approving pre-
cedent. The President is charged with the prosecu
ton of the war, and should place in his posses
sion the means of prosecuting it vigorously and
cessfuly; and he would be responsible for the event.
The exgency Of the occasion requires action rather
than words. Mr.. McC. heretofore moved the pre-
vlous question.
The question being taken, the vote stood-ayes
80, noes So.
So there was q second.
And the main question ordered to be now
taken.
Which main question was first on the amendment
of Mr.. CocKE, and then on ordering the bill to a
third reading.
Mr.. COOKE asked the yeas and nays thereon,