Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
FR1pAy, JuLy IA, lS4s.

THE pIsBANDED OFFICERS AND TROOPS.
M, BorTs moved to take up the military bill which he
b.d several days attempted to get before the House.
M BOTTS said he desired state that in the opinion OF
the Military Committee, the public interests demanded the
passage Of this BILL and that should be passed promptly oo
because was necessary that should TO the Senate where
had to be acted uponand il possible that might be
again returned this Housebetween this day and Thurs
day If not disposed OF IN that Time some iory
or y of the most valuable officers in the army would neces
sary go out Of office The object OF this bill was not only
to retain them in the public service but to provide three
months pay the soldiers who are to be dsbanded and
who are their way home and some OF whom are be-
ing dismissed every day. He could not imagine greater
injury The public service than the defeat OF this bill
gentlemen are opposed the bill let them take and vote
against it, and get rid Of in this side manner For the
purpose showing where the responsibility rests be would
take this occasion that having made an effort every day
for last week get up this BILL the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs feel that they have discharged their duty and
the House shall again refuse TO take up the committee will
make no further effort in the matter If objection should be
now made he would call for the yeas and nays thereon
The House then consented TO take up the bill, and II was
taken up accordingly.
The first question was on three new sections reported by
the Committee on Military Affairs, amendment OF the
amendments of the Senate.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, said he opposed TO this
amendment He also opposed TO the repeal OF the law,
or 10 the suspension Of the law. According his recoec
ton of the Of feeling III the House at the time that law
passed. authorizing increase OF the Generals oil the
army it would not have passed the House. except with the
condition that they should out OF the service and mat the
number should be reduced the former peace
at the conclusion of the Mexican war;
Mr.. BOTfS would letan the House but a very short time
In making brief explanation OF the objects OF this amend
men Il was his purpose 10 given brief explanation
OF all the provisions the BILL well the amendment that
the House might be fully possession OF the facts oil the case
different course seemed however remarked out for him.
Mr. yENABLE suggested TO the gentleman rom Virginia
the propriety of making his explanation at length.
Mr. BOTrS iii was the pleasure OF the House ne would
make brief explanation of the provisions OF the bull would
be recoced that proyo OF the first section OF an act ap
proved the sh day June 1886 which increased the num-
Der Of general officers provides :" that when the with
Mexico shall be terminated by tenitive treaty OF peace du-
" concluded and ratified the number of Major Generals In
the army shall be reduced TO ard the number OF Bga
e Generals shall reduced and the President OF
United States is authorized and directed to select from tue
whole number which may then be in SERVICE without regard TO
the of their commissions the number 10 be retained and
cause the remainder be discharged from the service Of the
United States" Under that Gen. Taylor appointed
the office of major general and Gems kearny and Iwlggs
appointed brigadier generals Some four or hye, per-
baps six weeks ago. bill introduced from the Commit
tee on Military Affairs into the House of Representatives TO
repeal much of that law made it incumbent the Pre-
sdent dismiss Of those major generals and two OF The
brigader generals for if the bill should remain unrepeaed,
whom should he select of those distinguished soldiers iwggs
or Kearny Wool or Gaines
When that bill from the Senate, instead OF agreeing
the repeal of the law that body proposed suspend ITS ope
ration the 4th day of March, lS49 The bill, as thus
amended by the Senate was referred the Committee
Military Affairs, and the cmmee believing that it was not
the purpose of the House OF the other branch OF Congress
that these distinguished men, who have selected arms as their
profession, and have rendered gallant services to their coun
try, should the end of the war; in their old be dismiss
ed from the seIyce insist the repeal OF the act OF ls46
So much for The first amendment.
In regard the second point would be found that the
committee propose add a section. He would explain its
provisions By the act OF the lh Of February S47 which
authorized the raising of additional military force consisting
of ten regiments provided that the President OF the
k and thaS
nate should appoint additional each of the reg
of dragons, artillery, nanry, and raemen in the
my of the United States be taken from the captains ot the
old army Under that law majors were appointed who were
necessarily taken from the captains Of the old of the
United States embracing OF the most valuable officers
the service Mr. b. say that II the object OF
the committee retain these majors in the service but ii
the neither suspended repealed they must all be
egislaied Of Office Il incredible that 1t The
enon o Congress egslate these merorious men DOT Of
their commissions Some of them had received commissions
their advanced rank without knowledge Of their appoint
nen Of the existence Of the law by which they had
become majors Their first knowledge Of II was the actual
reception Of their commissions. When these
ceived they had honorable no other alternative but to
accept submit 10 be commanded by their Juniors The
honorable feeling which animated all brave IN command
forbade this and certainly there could be gevous op
preston than for the House by law direct the President TO
certain number Of maors in the new corps from the
old captains Of the army and when he had done and these
had accepted their position then to legisaie them
out Of the service The object Of the bill was 10 prevent this
Mr.. Il. here read list OF those sixteen majors who
thus danger Of being turned OF the service He stated
that he had had with the Adjuan General,
with the Secretary Of War, and with Gen Scott all Of whom
assured him that they among the valuable officers
IN the service.
Mr. b. then proceeded state that the COMMITTEES
red with the amendments Of the Senate regard the third
Of the BILL They opposed the discharge Of
the and other subaen there mentioned be.
evng their services could not be dispensed with
peace establishment They would be required in
auence the Gordon of posts that must be established pro-
tec our enlarged frontier These persons all belonged the
old army and had performed valuable service in the
As TO the fourth section Mr.. b. had had perplexy
-Four or five officers Of the old army had been put
regiments and had receivednew rank and amoumens After
good deal Of doubt and difficulty he had at length TO
the conclusion that they ought be restored to their original
position.
The last section allowed three months extra pay to those
soldiers who had honoraby served out their term The Mill
tay Committee in favor Of this, with proviso viz
that those should be excepted who absent leave at the
declaration Of peace
In reply 10 inquiry from Mr. Cons, Of Georgia, Mr. b.
made further explanations the ground of this proviso
Mr.. J. r. INGERsOLL explained that the purpose wa'
TO retain the promoted majors permanently, and not merely
til the 4th Of March.
Mr. B0TT5 said he willing and anxious himself to re-
tain every officer Of the old army but the Military Commit
tee preferred confuing il to these majors
Mr.. BOYD opposed the whole hill with the exception o
the last clause granting exirapay.
Mr. b. here into detailed exhibit Of The presen
force OF the army the result Of the whole that should