The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS-,
Second session.
THURSDAY, JANUARY IL, lSi7.
(M continuation.
SENATE.

THURSDAY. JANUARY II, 1917.
Ia continuatfonl
SENATE
Mr. DIX rose and said
Mr. PREsrDEsr: The bill under consideration was IN
troduced in accordance with the recommendation con-
tanned in the Presidents special message Of the 4th inst
The reasons for asking the appointment OF general to
command all our military forces in Mexico were briefly IN
explained in that message Having introduced the bill
member OF the Committee on Military Affairs, deem
due the Senate and TO the subject to state the consd
erations by which have been governed IN giving the
measure my support Our military operations in Mexico
have heretofore been carried in detached commands,
on very extended lines, and in the execution OF enter
prises not only totally distinct from each other but at
geographical distances remote to preclude anything
like combination between the forces respectively employed
them These h. have h.s Ssen a0
pied BY the military forces under General kearny the
CALIFORNIA; by Colonel Fremont and our naval forces in
he ce na New Lson and part Of Wno
Worth. The whole of northern and central Mexico as
far south the mouth of the Rio Gande and the goth
parallel of latitude, is virtually in possession The
Mexican authority may by this occupation be considered
extinct in this extensive district constituting. if we in
cude Sonora and Sinooa the eastern shore OF the
forces are withdrawn about wo-thrs OF the entire ter
ritory of the Mexican republic and about tenth OF
its population. The land forces. BY which these aequ
stons have been made rapidly concentrating upon
the southern line of the subngaed territory Their OPP
eratons are be, in degree, combined, instead OF
being carried on in separate divisions. General officers,
who have heretofore operated independently, to
together and 10 act with each other in the accomplish
ment Of common objects. AT least four of these
the highest rank in the service; and precedence
among them in their respective is therefore, to be
determined by date OF commission. In subordinate CON-
mands this mode of settling questions OF precedence Is
inevitable and ordinarily leads to little practical ncon-
yenence But to permit the right to the chief command
such numerous forces are now to be combined
and in such extensive operations to be carried on
TO be determined by mere priority OF commission and
by superiority OF grade is to say the least exceed
ngy undesirable not only in Difference TO military prn
cpes, but because this very circumstance has often
proved unfriendy to united and jealous action and
times has led to the Illustration OF plans OF campaign. and
even to defeat when success would have been certain
with proper cooperation on the part OF the commander
and his subordinates might appeal, for the truth OF
this remark to our own military history as well as to
settled opinion in respect to military command, and espe-
cialy in extensive operations, that the chief commander
should possible be superior in grade to the other gen.
era officers serving under him. The considerations, by
which the correctness of this principle supported
perfectly compatible with the highest patriotism and
honor in the persons holding subordinate commands 1t
is strictly question of military organization We may
concede TO all the purest devotion and disnteresteness
and yet in the organization OF military bodies and IN the
preparation of plans OF campaign, we should be wanting
in ordinary prudence II we were not guided by those
general principles, which calculated to render
engagements proof, far human arrangements can be-
against all hazard Of failure in their execution If there
is particular form OF organization better suited than
any other to give efficiency to the movements of military
forces it is the part OF wisdom to adopt 1t nor should
be content with less efficient form, though we
have the fullest confidence in the patriotism and zeal OF
those who to take part in the contemplated enter.
prises. Sir have entire faith in the devOtedness and
gaany OF the officers of our army and OF the volunteers
and shall supass here in attributing to them
the praise and awarding to them the justice to which
they entitled. consider the proposed measure
trely consistent with the interests of both OF the
service, which deeply concerned though not deep
y the interests of the country giving to the militia
ry body, of which they part the most udcious and
efficient organization Looking to the numerical forces
to be moved in combination, they will far exceed any
in nd hall
may say in any other, except from accident or some tenn
poary necessty-by major general the highest grade In
rank is division A major general and general of d.
vision convertible terms division consists OF two
brgades brigade consists OF two regiments in the regu
lar service, and three in the volunteers The command
of major general therefore, is from four to six thou
sand men The force to be employed in Mexico, our
operations are to be carried on with proper vgor should
not fall short of twenty-five thirty thousand fighting
men in the field 1t exceeds twenty thousand II is
sufficient for four full divisions To permit it be
nanded BY major general having 70 over
inconsistent with military principles as would be to
organize regiment with three or four majors and with
out colonel; or. in other words, without head Ii is
far too large force to be commanded either by major
general general having higher rank than others
serving under him. Such arrangement is totally in
consistent with military principles and usages, looking to
organization in it's narrowest sense When Napoleon
command of the army OF Italy after his first sue
cesses the Executive Directory determined to associate
with him General keeTnan, one OF the best command
ers Of that day Napoleon demonstrated against il in
letter written in his usual terse and vigorous style; and
he concluded BY saying, that bad general was better
than two good Sir, there great force and truth
in the proposition. He intended to intimate that every
military body should have distinct head /; and certainly
the observation is emnenty applicable tolcases in which
The numerical forces greatly dsproporiioned TO the
rank of the officer commanding them For these reasons,
if there others, should be in favor of the Pres
idents recommendation to appoint an officer OF higher
rank TO command our armies in Mexico Thus lar
have spoken of the proposed measure connected with
sound principles of military organization and command
desire TO present considerations OF different
nature. Our military commanders in Mexico operating
in enemy country of vast extent They
provinces, reducing cities and towns and providing for
of International law, and according the usages of civ
iized States These high prerogatives the incidents
of war, having their authority in conventional rules be-
You'd the civil constitution and municipal laws OF our
country. Ii il very desirable that the depository of
these high and extraordinary powers should not only
carry with him the requisite military talents, but that he
should also possess the experience and the civil qua-
cations indispensable TO enable him 10 meet his RESPONSE
bilites nteligenty and discreety. Not only his
The maintenance of rules designed TO mitigate the asper
Ties of warfare by applying 10 the conduct of the
principles of humanity and justice Errorn the appca
ton OF these rules may involve his government in
embarrassment and reproach. These considerations,
am aware apply rather the qualifications of the man
than to the rank he may happen to hold advert to
them only for the purpose of indicating the Importance OF
the position occupied by the commander of armies in
Mexico and the proprety of extending to the President
President it recommended that authority be given to
appoint commanding general for military forces in
Mexico, without specifying any prank The committee,
in repOrtnr the bill propose confer him the rank OF