Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-06-06

'nat ueneui ayior would command General Worth IL not
all that Congress had to do to rule respecting
brevet rank which had prevailed during the last war
Mr.. HARRISON said he should not occupy the time of
the committee In further discussing this principle Of beve
rank II had distracted the army for the twenty years
and had pr we'd fruitful of collision and discomfort
He for settling the question practically respect 10 Cen
erai Taylor by giving that officer full commission as major
general and was with that view especially that Mr. H. had
been Wiling to report this BILL
But there other in its favor. He had already
touched upon he great disparity between the army in 1912
and at present. lnpoint Of officers The service might
qure major generals of militia and bgader generals Also
When there We're two regiments from the State they
would form brigade, and be commanded by brga-
dier if there four fss they would form division,
and would require major genef But might happen that
one State would send one regiment and another State would
also send regiment and these regiments might
ganized into brigade from which Stan was the bgadier
be taken who should command them The laws of the
States In regard to the appointment Of officers might conflict
with each other.
substitute had been proposed this morning. by way Of
amendment which intended to limit the term OF service
of these officers the continuance of the with Mexico
Now Mr. IL. was as willing any gentleman that when
had need for the services OF these officers, e
support should be longer continued burden the Go
venmcnt but he thought would be very improper in
troduce any such provision this BILL The officers who
held permanent commissions would be very 10th 10 re
qush their existing rank even for higher rank, if thereby
their employment to become temporary only Let gem
tenen consider how such provision must operate Gen.
Taylor himself Did gentlemen expect that he would be will
ing give up his present rank for higher rank, he knew
that the end Of the he would lose his commission And
yet did they desire that he should be outanked in the field
Mr. H. thought would be time enough to make all these ar
rangemens when the should be This what we
had heretofore done and be presumed could be done again
TO adopt the amendment would only produce discomfort and
might operate keep Of the service many valuable men
who would otherwise be willing and glad to enter it. The
premature, and might involve the country In
difficulties which could not be oreseen lie hoped the
amendment would not be pressed Should the present war
prove short one, he hoped would, might be the lot
but if not, il could be done by their successors
Mr. H. said he had designed give the reasons OF the
committee at length upon the several sections OF the o
in Order but he would not detan the committee ny dong
Meanwhile he prayed gentlemen OF the committee TO be
well assured that the bill had such object the supere
ding Of Gen. Taylor. It's object just the was
enable the President do for him that which be desires to
doput him the head of the army and keep him there
till he should have completed what he had well begun
Mr. MCDOWELL, of Ohio, here asked Mr.. II. ques-
ton, distinctly heard by the Reporter but which led to
further explanation the necessity of these officers
whether in battle in conducting the campaign.
Mr. HARRISON utterly disclamed the advocacy of this
bill the ground that would increase Executive patronage
He supported solely with view to the public service The
provision In the third for the employment OF second
eutenans certain companies had been introduced because
the organization Of the militia by the States it had been
usual in States to appoint second lieutenant IN Others
This clause would enable the President to accept the
services of these corps organized in conformity to the laws
of their respective States.
In conclusions Mr.. H. said that his only desire had
country could be attained If any gentleman could show
how that object could be better accomplished than by the pro-
visions this BILL could be ready than he should
be TO adopt a better PLAN
Mr.. MCDOWELL, of Ohio, here obtained the hoor, but
yielded it for a moment to-
Mr.. A. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, who expressed his
wish amendment providing that after the war the
Employment these officers should not continue more than
six months.
Mr.. MCDOWELL proceeded to address the commit
tee, and said with great and unaffected difdence that
he found himself constrained to express opinions differing
from those of the Military Committee He was aware that
this bill from able committee in the Senate, and had
been reported the House by able committee here Yet
seemed him that gentlemen making greater prePa-
ration conduct this than the of the Tequ
ed. It ought be remembered that in the of 1912 the
country had been attacked from various points, armies had to
operate in different quarters the Union and OF course there
necessity for officers than would be needed now,
when the comparatively concentrated and confined TO
points only. None could be willing than he
the requisite NUMBER but were at present un-
der heavy expenditures owing the great distance at which
obliged 10 operate and beloved Congress TO be
careful not unnecessarily the public expenses.
Mr. Med. felt great anxiety that the individual now al the
head Of the army should retain his position His acts had
convinced Mr. Med that he possessed both the head and the
heart both the courage and the experience which fitted HIM
for his place and it would be burning shame to the whole
country should Congress suffer him be superseded in that
command by any He understood there now one
or two generals in the army no would outrank him. Mr.
Med. willing, therefore, modify the first section Of the
bill to restrict ii 10 the appointment OF major gene
rail- with the understanding that he should be Gen. Taylor
Unfortunately for us had in the beginning Of this Govern
ment started with the idea that the appointment OF military
officers ought be for life He considered this great
mistake under republican Government. In days past the
officers of army had covered themselves and their country
with glory but portion of the major generals, and also OF
the bgader generals who had then served their country had
lived out their day. and had lost that vigor Of constu
ton which fitted them endure the fagues Of actual service
However much he might respect their talents and bravery
he ndsposed 10 Trust the interest," aud honor and the
glory Of the country in their hands, II might perhaps be ne
TO appoint two bgader generals but he fat
tered himself that the existing its end and that
the of two three months at fahes should wit
change in the Mexican Government that PROPOSE
tons Of would be made and Minister sent TO settle all
difference between the two nations If would be found
that had made ample preparations than were neces-
sary Mr. Med might be willing to go far to autho-
rze two bngader generals perhaps three, but more
The second section Of the bill he did not like To him 1t
seemed strike power of the States and the rights
Of officers appointed under State authority
Mr.. HARRISON presented to him the he had be-
fore mentioned, where regiment each furnished by
several States, how could State brgadier have right
command those troops part of which drawn from other
States besides his own
Mr.. MCDOWELL said that when regiments
from the State brgader from the State might
mand them
Mr.. HARRISON said that this could not he done under
the law, ii had been altered by the present Congress
Mr. MCDOWELL insisted that when any State sent two
regiments of militia had right to send with them State
bgadie When several States sent only regiment apiece
and the President chose organize them into bgade he
would have right to place them officer OF the United
States But the bill did not restrict his power this