The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-28

Mr. Housror-Tt 10 an extraordinary answer. In the
nrst place, Is no answer at all. lHa! hal In the
secopd place the gentleman to In view the
enacers and not the men don't know how he arrived
at this
bs retained r. No, they would be glad enough to come
Mr.. Housror-And presume the officers will not
want to be retained Do officers desire t. be retained
to get their pay without anything to do? II men are
retained for pay they would rather be retained for
In the peace establishment 1t is aspsrsion that
either class desire to be retained dronss upon the
country.
Mr. BuRr-I beg to say to the gentleman that there
never WAS an army In civiixed country. defy any
militsry civilian, to point civilized coun
try the face Of earth, where the number Of Off
OF tie United States Throughout the battles fought in
the valley Of Mexico, oolones commanded brigsdss,
captains commanded regiments, second lieutsnsnts
comm. tended companies, aud 20 on AT Q time when
had but msjor general the military establishment
consisted OF eight thousand troops Your regular Is
II 600 men. II territory In Mexico be acquired
(which suppose will BEL uud rtane TO say that the
secretary of War, q have had NO conversation wi
him. but undertake TO say that the President the Sc
crstsry OF War aud every body else who knows any
thing Of the subj sct Of army, will tell you that
army OF less than thirty thousand will be suncent
to understand that tho gentleman from Alabama is total
ly ken when hs complains Of tho dsproportion Of
tho officers to the troops
Mr.. HousroS-Ths gentleman from South Caroline
does not present issue. He SPEAKS Of disparity. II
had asked him whether he would have been willing
increase the number Of officers the had taken
place. he would not have been willing increase the
number of ocsrs of the peace establishment but leave
things - they are. As disparity existsit should
be permitted 10 remain The gentleman says that minor
officers commanded divisions. Does not this proceed
from the fact that there not csTs enough that
they are uco to thu discharge Of their duties?
Why not hose holding offices In their places?
Mr.. BuRr-Th~ numb.t Of msjor generals and briga-
der generals was Insufficient in Mexico. As to the
others, perhaps the gentleman knows more than do.
ME- HoUsror-Wny arc We to seleot msjor generals
and brgsdisr generals to remain In commission, and
discharge tho men! We to retain tbs general ef-
and discharge the ooones lieutenant coonels the
majors. and captains who have gone out there; ana
gsts the subjsct the less Inclined Am to draw dis
tinotion bstveen the higher and lower grads
Mr.. HOLMES. of South Caroline, obtained the floor.
MIR THonrsor Of Mississippi-Hss the morning hour
MI. HoLMrs-I have the noor.
Mr.. THoMPsoN- raise . question Of order
The SrEAKER-State 1t.
Mr.. THOMPSON The morning hour for the reception
Of reports has expired
Tho SrEAkER-When ono hour has been devoted to
reports It 10 order to proceed with the business the
Speakers table. No such mo'ion has been made
DIR. HOLMES proc eeded -Ho had hoped that this bill
would have assed without the slightest dificuty The
opposition too manifest to refer it tho committee
WAS to defeat 1t. The gentleman from Alabama said we
most put the army back t. the psaoe
it existed prior to tho and this has been peat
~ the o. her gentlemen opposed to tho Immediate pas
sage ofthe bill Nov about the time Of entering
war, the army, ipso sets, had boon reduced Circum
stances not existing then. do new exist We may have
message OF the President on the subject. There
people the YucatAnese) holding out their hands to
imploring for aid Do you believe that the American
government who took OF their ports and pro-
vented them from getting srmsdo you suppose that
Will stand by see them msssacred Lst the bill 20 60
the Committee OF the Whole and It will plsep ia the
tomb Of the CspuIets' Deny It % they may gentlm
know It Let any nsti n OF Europe, which is now In
violent struggles commerce. to insult
sailors to inpresm-Lt what would become our duty
Waited by victories In Mex 20; and tho open
Ing future will not tolerate stion Of tho army
When the whole world to be up, will you
&C once reduce NJ But spsrt from the general consider
alton, there 10 one point to which refer. am pro-
eeed friend Of the President but would not do what
his friends wish him to do--subect him to the painful
alternative of saying which Of the distinguished 20
o:rsls .Aal be dismissed. God save him from such
friends
Mr. KING, of Georgia. thipk that the debate ha,
gona far enough. We much time ON iucden-
al questions No matter how trivial or in it,
character may be the subjsot before Tho House,
oessary debate taxes pla,e upon it, {" That's rus.)
therefore, feel myfeli bound to the previous
The srEAxrR-f this should DO sustained it will cut
OF the motion to commit and bring the House direct
vote.
MIR McKAr-I ask the gentleman to withdraw tn.
notion for moment | wish to ofisr an am .ndm .nt
cob !" Hold on sou')
Mr.. KIso II the gentleman will renew tho motion,
Will withdraw It. & No bsrxsine."C
Mr. McKAr-I viii. | have asked permission for
special purpose The bill from the Committee Mill
t.ry Ansirs Is partial in its objects and operation
Every body knows that tho additional oc.rs autho-
rssd to be appointed under the act Of 1876 be
ought to be pesce estsbliehment Whst now propose
s that this proviso of sas shall not be repealed but
hat It's operation shall be Suspended for reasonable
lime after the Ratification Of treaty Of peace II will
then be competent for Congress to decide what shall
lone
MIR. BORIS said something not heard amid the confu.
lion 9
Mr.; Mckay expressed the hope that the provisc
would not Do repealed
MIR. KING eminded Mr. MoKay that he had promised
% move the previous question
Mr. WOODWARD was understood to say that when the
general, the gentleman proposed to produce Vacancy
TO De nilea oy body Question, question:"
tnat the ten additional regiments officers and soders
are TO % discharged on the conclusion Of peace II Con
decide hst there must be increase what
force before the commenced then it will be time
enough to say whether there shall be only two
major generals end more than brigadier generals
Mr. McKay's amendment was read That tho opera
ton Of the provision in the Law of 1876 (uaki * II
duty of the Presd.nt to reduce the number OF msjor
generals 10 one snd the number of brgader generals
exchange Of the rat foaton Of tresty of psso, with
Mexico { Say end Of the next ression'l call for
the previous question.
Mr.. WOODWARD requested the gentleman to withdraw
he motion, but
Mr. McKAr refused to do it, being under obligation to
Mr. King
Tho demand for the previous question seconded
and on the vote being taken on Mr. McKays amend
msnt 1t was r'jsct.d-yess so, nays l0l.
The question wac now stated ON the ongrossment of
the bill, az originally introduced, when
Mr.. McLAsE ssii that he would not vote for it, and
moved to lay 1t on the table
Thi. mot on was rjscted-ysas 70, nsy, lo5
Mr.. Borrs-1 move the previous question
Inc SPEAKER--The previous question 10 not yet ex
haus;ed. CQuestion '"'quesion"J
10 reply to qustion, tbs Speaker said that bill
could not be ordered to be engrosed the hst day
ue reduction, II thsrs OH sotions Objection
made in several dirsctons aud the b passed
sUNDRIEs
Reports wers called from committees large num-
Der was made among them bill by
Mr. CAsxLL from the Committee on Naval Affairs
horsns settlement Of the expenses incurred by the
dsoedenan on her recent to Scotland and Ire
land which referred to the Committee of the Whole
on the State Of the u cion.
MIR. Cooke, from the Committss on Revolutionary
PENSIONS reported BILL aud asked this House to devote
one day to the widows and children Of those who fell 10
osts and make 1t the special order Of the day for this
day week. [" ohjsct VI
Mr. SrEPHENs- no.
MIR CocxE-Do-s the gentleman remain In his seat,
and obi soft [Who obi scts!l
Mr.. VINroN-f objected deem II 10 b, my duty to
make objection to oil special orders until tho approprs
ton bill shall have been disposed Of
Mr. CocKK-Unlessi t Is made the epeesl order 1t
will not DO reached during this session Of Congress
or. VINTor-I thisct