The daily union., 1846-06-26

the States but troops enlisted in the service Of The
| United States. Whenever the executives Of the
States were authorized TO receive volunteers instead
OF militia they appointed the volunteers They were
then Stale volunteers But in every solitary instance
he had shown, except the act 9th February, 1872
volunteers who were engaged in the service Of the
United States ofceTed by the authority Of the
government OF the United States; and that act Of
! 1912, as he had before shown, on the recommended
lion of Mr.. Madison was Immediately changed
Mr.. u. should not undertake to define whether
the volunteers are militia men, or whether they are
regular troops of the United States; but he thought
1t was apparent that the legislation of the United
States has considered them not the militia Of the
States, for he had shown that when so engaged they
have been by acts Of Congress exempt from the
performance Of militia dutyi and the authority Of
the militia laws them has been entirely with.
drawn. He did not perceive that there was any lust
ground of constitutional difficulty here II Il was
mere doubtful question, he thought this concur
renee of the acoR of our own Congress ought to be
entitled TO grave consideration, When, then, they
considered that the efficiency of these troops was
so dependent upon the mode of offering; when
they remembered there has been an unbroken
series of legislation in favor Of this BILL he trusted
this House not about to adopt another prnci-
pie, and refuse to suthOrze the President officer
the volunteer troops called into the service OF the
| United States.
Mr.. THoMASSON said what had fallen from
/
him Of the improperly Of hasty action upon this
question. lie was not now prepared 70 say even
what Als opinions were upon this matter But this
much he could say he was unwilling TO vest in the
President Of the United States the power to take
from the citizens Of any other State general officer
and put him in command of the militia Of his (Mr.
| T.'s) State. He did not IRE whether you called
them volunteers, what name you gave them.
! he OBJECTED TO the citizens Of one State being
| othcered by officers from another State, with
whom they have no acquaintance, and in whom they
have no confidence. As to the precedents referred
| TO by the gentleman from South Carolina, If there
had been this looseness in legislation, he thought II
| high time for them 10 make some proper regu-
latlons. His colleague Mr.. BoYDl said the laws Of
Kentucky do not provide how the militia Of Ken
lucky shall be oficered. He did not remember the
precise regulations for the militia there If there were
any, for really they had become laughing stock
for the last 10 or ID years. since the fever had
gone off; but he would do this, if he could do no
more, he would vest the authority in, or leave the
authority with, those States which have legislaed
on the subject; and If there were some which have
not legislated, and provided for such case, he
would say to the executives of the States that hey
must exercise that authority; he would not
He sdverted TO the advantages the State auth ORR
ties have over the federal in the selection of these
officers, specifying especially the greater certainty
that they would choose officers Of better general
qualifications, and enjoying in greater degree the
| confidence OF the troops.
But another and more serious reason was, that he
did not want 10 see any more power in the hands OF
one man in this government than is now IN the
han ds Of the President He understood ifthe field
officers came in under the laws Of the several States
they still responsible all the rules and regula-
tons of the army; they under the control of su-
perlOr officers commissioned by the President of the
| United States with the advice and consent of the
Senate. What injury then could follow fthe
line had never been drawn heretofore let them fix
| II now, and make the regulation that whenever any
other force than the regular army Of the United
States shall be brought into service, they shall be
otfcered by the States. Some definite rule Of action
should be fixed He was for taking the stand; let
the Military Committee of the House, if necessary,
draft bill and let them pass 1t, giving the States
the appointment of the officers for their forces
| The go oiernor Of Kentucky had refused his COM
mission TO any general officers, 1t said, because
he was OF the opinion that there was no law author
| lzlng it. But no difficulty could possibly arise
under this state Of things. A lieutenant, commits
stoned officer Of any grade could take all these troops
| now at camp Washington, camp Owsley, or any
other camp, and bring them TO the field, where they
would be placed under officers Of the general gov
ernment.
He wanted to ask the gentleman from South Car
olIna, Mr.. BLAcK,] where are the colonies or lieu
tenant colonies belonging to our regular army Had
we an army, and that army perhaps now numbering
hve-siXths the whole forces of the United States
and but colonel, as said, and FIVE or six
Lieutenant colonies IL, on the other hand, VIC had
these officers there was no necessity for urging the
appointment of these officers under this bill; let the
officers we have take the command.
He should oppose this bill. He thought it was
time for us now to draw line between those in the
regular army Of the United States and those which
he called the militia of the United States, whether
drafted militia or volunteers
Mr.. BOYD said if it be conceded, as he thought
it ought to be, that they had the power to pass the
bill under consideration under the general authority
given to Congress to raise and support armies, sus.
tanned as they were by the various precedents cited
by the gentleman from South Carolina, he though,
It would appear clear to every gentleman on this
floor that they ought to pass it, and to pass now;
and that the complaint which gentlemen make on all
sides, that they should not act hastily was not well
taken
As was remarked by the gentleman from Georgia,
Mr. HARALsoN, the chairman of the Committee
on Military Affairs, Mr.. B. would again say, in JUS
tice to the Committee on Military Affairs of this
House, and in justice to the action of this
House upon the ject of raising army
against Mexico, that if the bill reported by that
committee and sent TO the Senate, had been passed
by that body that gentlemen would not have had
it in their power to rise and inquire why it was
that they had many supplemental bills. A gen.
tleman interposed in the Senate-one of the gentle
mans friends-a particular leading friend [Mr
CRITTENDENl of those who oppose this bill-and
on his motion this provision stricken out of the
bill originally reported from the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs of this House, and passed by this
House. Thus the opposition commenced; and it
has been continued by gentlemen who agree with
that gentleman in opinion, both there and in this
body.
Now, what the state of facts in reference to
this bill Twenty-four regiments filed, or
about being mustered Of these regiments there were
eight brigades, there being three regiments to brig
ade. And we have no general officers Who can
appoint them' Could the governors Of the Statesi
Where was the law Why would not the officers
Of the States act, and make the appointments Be
cause there no law, State or national that au
thorized the governors to make these appointments.
Could the President make them' No; they were
now asking the power for the President to appoint
them. According to the true construction Of any
and all the laws the subject, he cannot do more
than select those now in commission in the several
States, to take command of the brgades mustered
into the field
And what did his colleague Mr. THoMAssoN]
say in regard to the competency of these officers to
take command, He tells YOU that the militia sys-