Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1847-04-03

SOMETHING GooD.-The Senate and House Of Re-
personalities OF Missouri, upon the motion of Gen.
h. l.. Edwards, of the House, have adopted set of
JOINT resolutions instruct the Senators and request
the Representatives of Missouri in Congress- to pro-
cure such alterations Of the Federal laws for the
government OF the army, "a shall Increase the pay of
the soldiers, diminish that of the officers, provide for
the widows aud orphans of soldiers killed or other
wise dying IN the service, and otherwise reduce the
present distinctions between officers and soldiers as
much shall be consistent with iscipline time of
war. These resolutions sent, by the Legsla-
ture Of Missouri, to those of the different States; and
IN that of New York, they have been referred 10 the
military committee.
w cate for that. With all our Democracy of
institutions, have practical aristocracy in
our military service on land water than any other
nation in the world, England excepted. England is
a rampant aristocracy, III which commissions in the
army, navy and church, regarded the property
OF the nobility and gentry to be used as provl-
sion for their younger SONS; the oldest keeping the
personal property for the purpose of maintaining the
arlSocracy. Hence In England officers are highly
onorcd and literally paid, while sailors and soldiers
not hOnOred at ALL scantIly paid and treated like
beasts of burden, fit only fetch and carry, fight,
and win laurels for officers to wear. But we, who
profess the most unlimited democracy In laws and
manners, closely copy the English in the government
of our army and navy. Officers are gentlemen Of
course. Soldiers and sailors have no right to such
estimation. They are dogs, to be addressed with a
get out !" - IN - or lie close - and
occasionally kicked or cuiicd Officers in principle.
spirit and feeling, treat their men with courtesy.
but some officers, who - gentlemen by commits
sion, but not gentlemen by breeding. the privilege
of rank, according to our military constitution to
treat men with indigniiy. Is this wide social differ
ence necessary to discipline Not at all. No
armies better disciplined than the French and in
none Is found little social distinction between
officers and soldiers Hence while officers ire gen
tlemen, soldiers gentlemen also. The French
military laws exceedingly severe, while French
military manners are exceedingly gcntlemanllke,
Quakerke, Chrstianike the cooperation proving
that discipline results from law and pride of charac-
ter, and not from vul gar and brutal tyranny in the
officer and reckless degradation in the soldier. Do
our independent companies exhibit any want of dis
cplne in peace war No. Yet they are social
equals and companions the officers commanding and
the men obeymg, under a sense Of duty and self
respect. But the advocates of the present system
VIII ask, how Will you govern our killers and
other rOwdles /" We answer, by fine, Imprisonment,
hard-abor degrading from rank, hanging, shooting
when they do wrong, and by gentlenesS, courtesy,
praise. when they do right. Among sailors and
soldiers, the most degraded are always the least
amenable TO discipline and the most harshy treated
always the most degraded.
But how can we remove these degrading lneQuali-
ties, when pay soldier seuen dollars monthly
and n captain hundred! The captain Is more i'm
portant than the soldier because he must think as
well as fght, while the soldier is exempt from think
inc by blind obedience But what can the aptain do
without the soldier Nothing Hence the difference
in Importance is not wide that in pay. In
Mexico, officers fare sumptuously, while soldiers
sarve and hence Mexico has army of rapacous
officers, and mere rabble of worthless soldiers.
Our whole military system is wrong, and ought to be
reformed philadelphia Ledger