Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL.


Mr.. BADGER then rose and said that the best return he
believed he could make the Senate for its kindness in ad
ournng yesterday in order him opportunity to
what he had to-day would be proceed at to the
Of those which seemed to him present
nsupeabe objection to the granting Of that which the Pres
dent Of the United States asked of them and which the bill
upon the table proposed TO grant
The proposal (said Mr.. b. is to appoint commenting
general wno when commissioned lieutenant general shall
command all the armies of the United States II this bill
Mr. President, shall into law the proposed high olce
TO be created by be filled either by the present general
commanding the army, by junior officer OF the army
by citizen to he taken from the walks OF private life
In the first case, sir, think it must be manifest, on very
little reflection, that the must prove entirely useless
The major general commanding the army commands all
the forces about him his command extends the whole
district department which the President Of the United
States has assigned may assign to him and lieutenant
general, though his title may be loier do The
President of the United States TO the present COM
mandng major general of the army the whole entire and alb
solue control under him of all the military operations of ht
and he assign, though he is not bound asgn
lieutenant general, this officer with the title Of Lieutenant
general, the large and extensive authority The Pes
dent of the United States conne the present senior
or general of the army TO particular district to narrow
command, small body of troops he confne the
officer elevated to the grade of lieutenant general for
by the express provision Of the constitutions by the inevitable
necessity of the case by whatever title he be called
or general lieutenant general he at last under the abso
lutte control direction of the President himself who Is tn
sole constitutional commandenchef BY changing, there
FORE the designation OF general to lieutenant general
the whole army incident general whatever his grade
may b unless when that army collected together and act
ing body and when collected and acting together,
the chief command is incident to the senior officer whether
called lieutenant major general Nor is the capacity of til
officer to discharge with effect carry into successful result
the duties assigned him. in the smallest degree increased
by change of title elevation to higher grade The
authority from the President of the United States
The capacity carry into execution the duties assigned
him depend upon the forces belonging his comman
upon the force opposed TO him. and his personal qua
caonshs genius contrve, his skill to combine, aud his
energy to execute whatever enterprise the crisis OF aaus
require II me- then, that nothing be founded
upon sgher grounds than the opinion, it prevail at all
that the officer who is the senior major general will be IN
any respect better enabled discharge with honor hmse
and advantage to the county, the duties assigned him, by the
simple operation of striking out major general from his com
mission, and inserting lieutenant general But sir, if the
officer who is to fill this high place not to be the present
commanding general of tho army but junior officer ec
waited his head admit that this
be useless becomes mischevous; loses its character
harmessness is true but of gross injustice
1t is them made the occasion for offering open insult to
gallant officer whose life has been devoted TO the service OF hs
country whose blood has been shed her batteolls
whose deeds of during what has not napy been called
the second Of independence, elected euogy from Pres
dent Madison thanks from Congress- and enthusiastic ADM
ration from the whole peope-a whose humanl-
ty high military qualities aud brilliant courage have earned
for him, Mt only IN this country, but throughout Europe an
honorable reputation and who has contributed TO elevate the
American And instead Of junior officer from among
that band of noble spirits who lead one is to be
their chief find all those gallant officers who fought at Pao
Alto Resaca, at Fort Brown, and at Monterey-ohcer
whose ntrepty is the theme of every tongue the pride Of
every hcarofcers who have shown themselves deserving
Of the highest honor and who have been, of them al
least elevated by your bevesocers Of whom is not too
much to tina, they all the high qualities which
have enobed either officers soldiers any service in tho
world Sir, such unjust returns for noble services must m
hict pang Of shame noble and gallant and patriotic
hearts, return which necessity justify, and which,
in Judgment would stand foul blot upon escuchcon
of this great Republic. Sir would this insult stop here
No, sir. II would nfct pang upon the that yibraes
in every noble heart and my word for il, If such law as
this be pasedf civilian be advanced the heads Of all
those gallant spirits in army to the chief command, not
only would the brave officers and soldiers OF but
the suffers and followers of the camp, feel their
cheeks Jingle with and shame the aront offered
that body and its head, of which they the humble
reanes Sir there is not instance in the history OF this
country which precedent there not an IN
which justify such thing II is true, sir, that
in 79S when the country possessing far inferior powers and
inferior capacities for military deiences was threatened with
inevitable with the poudes and braves and most
powerful nation of that dayt true that that occasion
the office Of lieutenant general established and Wash
ngon called under that designation to take command OF
all the armies Of the country. But sir was Washington who
called to take that command it was for Washington that
that rank established Washington then in retire
ment which he oved-enjoyng the and solacc OF do
mestc life, which he had earned for himself by long and go
rous toll. Washington called TO that command by the
people, by the army tse-caed to take the charge and dl
rection Of those great military officers And, he returned
the stage OF active Lille II he left the spot III which he
hope1 pass without interruption the few remaining days
of his life surely il due 10 him il due to that
singular position of eminence and glory which he had
occupied in this country. Yes, sir it due to him,
who, he had been first in war, also first in
peace il due to his character his prc-cminence
throughout the whole breadth of this land due to the
proud position which he occupied in the civilized world
yes due TO bin, when, at The call of his country, he
surrendered and comfort to appear upon the
field OF arms that he should do with title corresponding In
degree with his vast aud superior merits.
Sir, the state of things is changed. We have no
Washington. We cannot, il look throughout the whole
country, find in retirement whose head nation
blessings have with entire unanny, been showecd as on
him. We cannot look abroad aud find some man whose
name gratefully cherished having been once the saviour
Of his country aud whom all look again 10 discharge this
benevolent office Of patriotism second time for them We
have eminent and good have them in public and IN
private life have them in the military and in the civil
vice of the coun'ry have them belonging to all parties
into which the people divided but, among them all,
there not whose without PROCLAMATION, be spo-
ken in comparison with the OF Washington. Sir, the
crca ion OF that office in 1893 personal tribute Of Crate
fol admiration and the part Of this country to Wash
ingon II was founded motives personal to him. No
man supposed at that day. suppose at this,
that Washington at the bead Of the armies Of his country,
with the title OF major general could have been eff
Gent as II he bore hundred titesas if he all the titles
which European device could heap upon him. The idea that
Washington could derive advantage any mental force