Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-23

paceu al MS command he Title lnat case
just deserved by him, but by other Am
wrong in saying that this appontmcnt sprung from motives
personal to Washington Why, look at the subsequent
transactions Of this Government Nearly half century has
passed away since this oce OF lieutenant general existed
among We have during that period been engaged in
with the then powerful nation of Europe-pehapsl might
without exaggeIaiion, Of the world At one time hny
memory me- had the field not less than eight
or gencrals-perhaps mistaken, however; If So some
Senator can me ghyet believe thought
Of appointing general Chief whom should be be-
slowed the high sounding imposing title Of lieutenant general
What does the President assign IN his message
wherefore this office should be established Why, sir, for
one, that carrying with Mexico with led
troops, regulars and volunteers Was that the
the Of 1912 For another that the force which
employ large. Was it not large i'll 1912 Was England
less formidable foe than weak and crippled Mexico How
stands the between US Why, sir, Shore the
soil, with England almost entirely defensive
She, from her great maritime power, enabled TO
throw her troops INTO country and were occupied
repelng them, which did successfully thanks to the gall
liant spirit Of the officers and composing army But
how is now We almost in the heart OF Mexico the
loot Of no foreign soldier pollues soil agricultural
abors disturbed We suffering evils inflicted
upon by foreign foe within the limits of land. How
does happen, them that what thought to be
III 1872 against great Power, should be considered
necessary against the neghbong Republic of Mexico,
though exactly the contemplate enemy which she
supposed to be- because have the best authority for
thinking that the idea Of weeks contest has passed
away from the minds of those who most apt TO in
it announced that now though warning against
despcable foe only at the beginning of this But STILL
although that Mexico not the contemplate foe
which she has been represented bahough she showing
that nation reused for the purpose of protecting themselves
from invading enemy may be strong II united-ye still
every must know her power is not to be compared with
and that enemy she not worthy be compared
with the great nation to which were opposed in 1872
But in reference to the which induced the Senator
rom Kentucky and myself, members of the Military Com
Senate obepposcd,o the BILL the objections
whch then entertained still remain in full force. listened
envey yesterday to what fell from The honorable Senatorom
New York, for the purpose of seeing whether in reality there
just for the passage of this measure which,
concealed from observation might be brought forward
and explained before by the ingenuity of the honorable
Senator but sir after the most attentive consideration
what had fallen from the Senator, only failed have
objection entertained removed but suggestions
the honorable Senator have brought forward mind
md ovepowering and nsuperabe objections TO what is
proposed to be done TIE honorable Senator has mentioned
of the why this should be adopted, that
the number of roopas another have ALREADY
ohsarved-tha the number service in the late with
England greater than the number service but
sufficient existed why that nuntor of troops
should require commander Of the rank proposed far
as that reason concerned, it existed much higher de-
at that day And, sir, if there any magic in the
OF lieutenant general virtue Of which the spirits Of
aur troops would be nvgorated and those of
my be diminished il required such magical assistance
t ALL not required during the dark period Of the
mencement Of the with Great Britain How then did i
happen That this remedy evil thought of by Mai
and by the parties OF that day How did happen that
when the danger greater, and when patriotism
great II now fthcrc be virtue the remedy proposed
that was not thought OF then But the gentleman speaks
this being required accordance with the regular
military organization Of an army that the proper command
of major general from 3, 500 to 1000 and that
something due to the arrangements which had formerly
prevailed among other natonsthat something due Ia
the customs Of the world But, sir these arguments If they
prove any thing, il have eye TO conforming
military arrangements the established customs o. foreign
hnya naptp uUhsp
have several permit TO say there will exist precisely
The necessity for n,entng and establishing other
superior in rank service under whom the lieutenant
general may render efficient service TO the country For
believe it will be found when you have three four officer
Of that gade that the ccat attending that rank will pas
away and another and higher grade win be looked for
i eagerly as the fist.
But another why such an officer required accord
ing the honorable SENATOR Of the diffusion Of
troops hence the necessity of having eye Of su
cent elevation 10 command the whole Sir, far this is
concerned the lieutenant general will by force of his mere
e greater power of vision, greater skill
go of execution than he would possess under another title
That must depend his personal qualities and the power
committed to him. If he have the qualities, the title is use
ess-and, he have them not, the title will be than
useless for it will only make mbccty and defeat
empihe uniting with higsoundng, promising title
The third reason, if recoeci correctly the views expressed
by the honorable Senator, is that this office is necessary IN
order 10 prevent jealousy reluctance - subornaou
for the Senator seemed suppose while he did full credit
the gallant spirit of the officers Of the United States that they
might feel reluctance 10 in subord nation 10 Off
holding higher rank than themselves Is it T. be be-
evcd that noble Taylor, that gallant Worhis TO
be believed that he who is apty called the hero OF the two
battles Of the Rio Grande, and he who may with business be
called the hero of Monteey-s it TO be believed that these
two will yield less willing obedience cordial opera
ton the hero Lundys Lane because he hears the simple
| designation of major general Sir what does this imply
implies that these occrs deficient that elevated spirit
of intelligence, that patriotic devotion their country which
should belong them, and which would induce them gladly
to follow gallant leading under what the leader
might be called Butt suppose that there exists such
feeling of jealousy the minds Of these distinguished officers,
their other associates to exnguish that feeling by
taking from civil life and putting him their heads,
and enustng to inexperienced hands the duties Of skiu
military commander Sir think you there is of that
brave corps of officers who would feel himself dshonored by
obedience known and skfu officer, aud who would yet
willingly submit and cordially cooperate with citizen, taken
from private life and with long step placed the heads
Of those who for hall century have been engaged in the
country service Sir my word for it, you could adopt
calculated break the spirit of your troops,
calculated to destroy the high and nob the gallant and
daring spirit which ushes mo danger to banquet than
10 teach by practice the doctrine that the honor of
officer is secure from degradation Sir soldiers will yield
to vaor and intelligence display c in former service their
fdencs is unlimited in him who to them
der covered with glorious and covered by decorations
by brilliant services from the gratitude Of his country.
Sir they little for the he bears is the imrcson
of hero that they regard in the person Of the gallant
and soldier who capable Of leading them into any dan
ger and demanding Of them any sacrifices. What Teach