The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-07
Army Organization.

The following communication is from the pen of a
officer OF the United States engineers It'll on subject of
much interest, but one which we have no informa-
ton. and will not venture to express any opinion We
lay it, therefore, before readers for their
only-not meaning to commit any member of the gov
eminent ourselves, to It's general views specific
propositions.
For the Union.
The military Establishment OF the United states.
Our military establishment thus far, is founded solely
upon the voluntary principle There are two sources OF
drawing men, upon this principle, into military service
one, that OF individual enromen the other that OF mass
enrolment The class reached through the former source,
are more or less Indifferent TO those with whom they
may be associated, being perfectly willing to become
comrades of other adventuers actuated by similar i'm
pulses and motives with themselves The class reached
through the latter source, however, wish TO be banded
together with their neghbors and acquaintance, and
would be unwilling to be assigned indscrminately to
different regiments corps and 10 be thrown with I'M
known persons for comrades The individual enrolment
will not furnish beyond certain amount OF force, de-
pending Tor the same race OF people upon the ex-
tent OF country, and the density OF its popula
ton The statistics of the English army will exhibit
this fact very clearly The supply TO be expected from
this is not found TO ucuate WITH depend upon,
popular national excitement but may be greatly nfu
enced by the demand for labor Having discovered about
the cipher representing the average number of men TO be
obtained IN this way whenever greater force Is re-
CURED for the unavoidable military operations OF the
country, 1t becomes absolutely look the
other source to furnish the deficiency The supply to be
expected from this mass enrolment entirely contingent
upon the which give rise TO the necessity of the
call Late events have shown that under certain cir
cumsances, hundred thousand could easily be
rolled IN this manner in the United States by the regu
lar army is meant disciplined and instructed corps
regiments with inexperienced officers, from whatever
source they receive their commissions, certainly
not, with propriety, be regarded composing part
OF It, II differed by persons commissioned by the
President they are undoubtedly part Of the Uni
ted States army Our experience has established this
TACT, and this fact only about levies and raw Off
cers-tha their organization should be under uniform
common source-a uniform law, affecting appointments,
promotions, and discharges; the executive officer sign
ing their commissions TO be the the who d.
reefs their employment-that is, the President. Men
enrolling in mass, require least the privilege of nomi
mating their company officers. The constitution of the
United States exhibits great jealousy far the mi
eral Executive in military appointments AS it is
questonaby in the constitutional functions of Congress
ito raise armies" either by individual mass enrol
ment, therefore men, although enrolling in mass
no more militia than men enrolling singly; yet the
watchtulness and jealousy of the trainers OF
constitution would be only properly respected by re-
strlctng the Executive IN cOnferrlng the commits
sions of company officers to persons recommended
nominated for these Offices by the composing the
companies OF such a force Such rule would no more
infringe upon the legitimate functions of the Executive,
than any rule now existing and followed with respect to
promotions and adyancements by seniority in the old
regular service Whether the rule of seniority promo
tons Is one OF mere executive tolerance, under long pre-
scrption one which might have been legitimatey
tablished by Congress under its constitutional power to
government OF the land and naval forces" the present
propriety of rule which would allow the men 10 nomi-
nate their company officers being established for the
ganzaton of troops raised in Masses cannot be
troverted by any sound argument To allow, has
been suggested officers of the old established regiments,
without vacatng their commissions to be eligible APP
polnments in regiments batalions organized out of
companies enrolled in mass, would be most udicous
provision-and which, if wholesomeIy exercised,
would greatly tend to facilitate the dscipning and in
structng the new battalions.
The experience of the last year shows, stated by
the Secretary OF Mar in his official report-what ought
be evident from the very principle on W hch the troops
rased-tha the vacancies in the regiments corps
raised in mass (vounteers cannot be filled by ordinary
recruiting individual enrolment Therefore, addi-
tonal troops OF this force required companies
regiments must be enrolled And the asuaes of the
service diminish the number of in companies which
have served, provision should be made by law for
solldating two of such companies into in
this, paying proper regard TO the fact that the CONSOLE
daion should be OF companies of the regiment and
from the State and further, to provide Tor the dis
charge of of the calls dates, when
duced, by the casualties of service below certain frac
ton of their original number.