The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-09

to the discharges he begged say that gentlemen greatly
Of these troops had died Of disease About live hundred
had died In any view, then, in looking to the efficiency
Oh me seryIcehe did not mean yalor the field, but
win regard to the expense and the garrsonng of the
fosthe bill preferable In reference to the report
OF the Military Committee against lieutenant general
ne trusted IT was not necessary for him to discaim any
dlsrespect TO the President the War Department
Surely man, however infatuated as partisan, could
entertain such opinion The President had asked for
prompt action and speedy consideration OF the suggestions
In the message. The committee had their minds made
up, and they reported their decision promptly That
ommendation was for the appointment of officer
sua in their service European services, and extraor
binary and momenous considerations alone should have
justified the recommendation. What were the reasons
assigned Why, that such officer was INDISPENSABLE
to command an army OF regulars and volunteers. That
was, he (Mr undertook to say the only reason
signed He (Mr. b. knew of no Others and must be
padoned if he did not adopt the reasons assigned by the
gentleman from Illinois, (lr FIcKLIN,l taken from the
eman from Mississippi, MR. J. THOMPSON. taken per-
haps from baser source, common rumor He referred
to the late war No such officer was appointed. No
necessity was then felt for such officer But in 1885,
during the unsettled relations between France and the
United States there was authority given for the APP
poInment OF a Lieutenant general. Let them look
for moment at the circumstances of the coun-
try at that time. When the military establishment
was then formed, there but four regiments of
infantry and two corps Of artillery and engineers.
MAJOR EeHeTa dulnOTZcu, ana DrlgaQler general
Very after the enactment OF that statute, law
passed dIschargng the major general and leaving the
highest officer in the service of the United States brga
der general Those who familiar with the history
of that time he presumed all gentlemen on that floor
must be, would remember that, in 179S, on their
coasts inevitable, in consequence OF their relations
y directed to Washington, the proper leader in that
crisis. There at that time powerful French party
in the United States, advocating the OF France 1t
was in such crisis and to enable the country to avail
pf the wisdom yalOr of WaShnptOn that the
law passed authorizing the appointment OF ieuten
ant general He referred to the correspondence between
Washington and Alexander Hamilton the subject, and
described the services which Washington rendered the
country in directing the organization OF the forces at that
time The office was thus created for Washington, and
for Washington alone He contended that there was no
analogy whatever between the circumstances OF that
time and the present They had now twenty five thou
sand men in the field and they had Taylor and Scott
Yes-a Scott Who were the officers that it was intend
ed 10 supersede' Why. one had every battle in
which he had ever engaged. He was officer whose
would so down. with that of Jackson, to the
upon that gallant officer They had voted him gold
medal. The executive had created him major general
under the law OF Congress authorizing the creation of
other officer of that grade In obedience to the views OF
Congress the President nominated him for that high
mand.
Here the hand pointed to . o'clock and the hammer of
the Chairman fell.
The hour Of two having arrived, the chairman pro-
ceeded 10 put the question upon the LIST amendment in Or
der, being the following, moved by Mr. HARRISON viz
nserr in after the words under the drec-
ton of the President the words 10 for and during
the with Mexico
Which amendment agreed to.
Mr. HARRISON moved that the word 'bugler' be
inserted in the first section, after the word musicians;
which amendment was agreed TO.
Mr.. HARALSON also moved to amend the st section
BY inserting after the word allowance" the words sac
cordng to their respective grades" which motion was
MFR. ASHNIUN submitted the following amendment I;
which agreed TO on divison-yeas 81, nays 70 ::
Add at end of LIST section the words
Aad prorided further That it shall not be lawful TO APP
member OF the present Congress OF the United States"
Mr. WHITE submitted the following amendment, viz
Add to the LIST section:
Sand that the said officers, musicians and privates here
by to be raised or employed Tor the erSce OF ad G
service upon cessation of hostes with the republic OF
BY sd 81 "He w a ss 20 ~
Mr. THURMAN suggested that all after the word
sMexico" be stricken out
Mr. WHITE accepted the modification
The question upon the adoption Of the amendment as
modified being taken Lby teers the yeas were g. nays
So if was agreed to.
MIR. HARRISON moved to amend the second section,
by striking out all after the word "act, and inserting
the words, 'shal be during the with Mexico, I'M
less sooner discharged -
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, moved to amend the 3D. sec
ton, by adding thereto the following, viz:
Ant that all officers who incompetent disqualif
ell the discharge Oi their De
charged from the public service
Mr.. HARRISON made remark showing the evil
which would, in his opinion, result from the adoption OF
this amendment
The question being put upon the amendment, il was
rejected.
Mr. HARALSON said that he had been directed by the
Committee on Military Affairs to move that the fifth sec
ton of the bill be stricken out, there being use for it
since the passage of the "Senate bill to encourage en-
listments in the regular army"
Mr. TIBBATTS submitted the following amendment:
"Strke the 9th section of the BILL and insert the fol-
lowing additional sections;
"SEc BE further enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of tie United States of Acrica Congress
assembled, That each volunteer non-conmissoned officer
musician, and private who has volunteered may volun
for period less Than during the and who shall
have gone 60 into the service and have received
additional pay, and warrant for one hundred and sixty
OF land 10 be located any land belonging 10 the
United States subject 10 entry at the date OF said
Rc. g. lind be 40 further enared, That there shall be al
lowed and paid each non-commissioned officer, nus
ciau and private who SHALL after the passage of This act
enlist volunteer in the service of the United States for
bounty of fifteen dollars but the payment of dollars of
said bounty shall be deferred until the soldier enlisting shall
Join the regiment corps in which he il serve, and until
soldier volunteering shall be mustered into the service of
ssrc T. 4nd be further enacted That each
stoned officer, musician, private in the army Of the Uni
ted States who has enlisted volunteered who shnl en-
list in the army volunteer in the service of the United
States of period OF five years. during the war with
Mexico, shall each be entitled, his receiving honora
bic discharge from the army, Tor three hundred
and twenty of land be located any land belong
ing the United States and which subject entry at
the date of said warrant.
''SEc g. lind be further enacted That the widow u
there be one il there be widow hcn the child chill
dren, there be any, and the be no child then the father
nioef OF any nop-commissoncd officer musician, or
private OF the amy of the United States militia vol
81. Id hal MAJ 1,t l.f m hnf