Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-15
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851.

LIN SENAl F
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
The Senate then took up the following joint resolution
Joint Resolution authorizing the President confer the title
p suenant general BY brsvet, for eminent services
.adisiOnal s.nsrsi Be
by created in The army and that when n the opinion Of the
President and Senate shall be deemed proper acknow-
ledge eminent services Of officers Of the army in the mode al
ready provided for in subordinate grades the grade oeue
nan may be conferred by breve and BY brevet only
motion TO lay the resolution the table having been
negatived-23 to 2s-
Mr.. HAMLIN voted lay the resolution on the table,
and did SO for the simple that Congress- various
occasions, when engaged in foreign war refused
the Office proposed to create it by brevet, and
necessary consequence, the Office will follow think
highly, and speak openly and publicly every where. Of the
distinguished General upon whom this rank to be confer
red any Senator here But for the that the Office
is unnecessary and yet that will be created if this reso
ton should be passed, voted lay the table, and will
vote against it when the vote shall be taken.
Mr.. RHETT. shall for the resolution, the sim
pie ground that Gen. Scott merits it. Any testimonial Of our
of his high and distinguished services should he cheer
fully paid. He has shed glory the United States, and
We representing the States, ought freely bestow upon
him all the honor we can with propriety bestow un-
derstand that this resolution intended to besow upon Gen.
Scott breve and nothing He is almost the only
officer in the Mexican army who has not been breveed for
services during that brilliant shall vote and
cheeuy to bestow this distinguished soldier the honor
the resolution proposes the simple ground that he has
fairly and gloriously won it.
Mr.. ATCHIsON will vote ganst the resolution, for
the reason that Congress has time and again, returned their
thanks to Gen. Scott and every other Officer every grade
that was engaged in the Mexican shall do it, oo be.
cause it add nothing the honor of that distinguished
officer while, has been observed, will be entering
wedge not only for the creation of the Office of euen
era Of the army Of the United States but has been
mended and we urged from year, to the creation Of
higher grades in the na-adnals, admirals Of the blue,
and admrals of the red All these things will necessarily
follow and probably in the the title Of field marshal
by brevet will be proposed know whether there
any thing substantial in it Gen. Scott the General
in chief Of the army Of the United States and dur
ing the Mexican Will the grade of lieutenant
add any thing to the power of that Office think not.
Then is an act of supererogaon, say the least Of it
and is for these shall against the
luton.
Mr. THRNEY. I regret that we shall be called upon on
any occasion to vote for tho creation OF ONCE which
for the public good. have always understood that the Of
fees for the bene6: of the country, and to pro-
mote the public interest," and preserve public rights and
carry into execution the forms of Government. 1t
seems 10 be admitted that this resolution is to be pass
ed to reward meritorous services of individual Of
cer am willing to vote for any thing the ordinary mode
such as sword, any thing Of that kind that may be
cessary TO express my entire satisfaction with his conduct
the army But called upon an office Is
there any necessity for such Office No, sir all agree
that there necessity for it. is known that during the
war with Mexico. proposition made create that Office
We were then engaged in with foreign Power but the
proposition was voted down being improper and wrong
The Office not needed it worse than supeIfuous
But now, in order to worship man-and not who
that may bethe council the nation be from
Its proper legislative business to create Office not because
the public service requires it, but merely confer honor
on an individual This is of legislation of which
disaprove, and dsapprovng Of for the
luton. thought strange that this measure having been
rejected in time OF war; when told that such Of
ce was necessary should be taken merely hecause
necessary confer honor individual think it is
bad mode Of legislalion-t is wholly uDcaled form fact
Il dangerous create such Office for the purpose of
ferring honors individual II this Office add
the power Of him who holds it, and if there is danger from
such power, think this mode Of legislation is the proper
to increase that Danger For these reasons shall
vote against the resolution
Mr. BUTLER. concur with my colleague in saying
that shall for this resolution most cheeruly as
tribute, personal tribute General Scott He has won for
himself and for his country historical reputation, and am
willing, as far as cam to bear testimony my official capa
city to his merits. Until be his reputation in Mexico
would not have awarded to him any more than the Ro-
would have bestowed triumph upon man who had
not gone to war and won the laures which he eni
tied from grateful country But General Scott has won the
righ, and will award it to him.
Mr.. HALE. shall vote against the resolution. The
honorable Senator from South Carolina says he wants 10
write the page Of General SCOTS history
M. BUTLER. (In his seat) Who said that
Mr.. HALE. That is the amount of what the Senator
said. do not pretend to give the precise words but can
tell the Senator that fame worth little or nothing
which s conferred by this Senate. We all know how the
votes OF the two Houses of Congress obtained They
are commanded in most BY the drill of party maor-
~ and that man who holds bis fame by such feeble tenure
IS that will find to be evanecent than the poets have
ever represented it to be.
On what basis does the fame Of the eminent men of an
quiy rest Does rest upon sny resolution passed by the
Roman Senate by the meetings Of the democracy of Athens
Wna pray you, the title attached to iltiades or
TO recies Were they called major general or lieutenant
general How ridiculous would any man that has come
down % US rom antiquity appear bedzened out with these
ewgaw such as Is proposed to attach to General Scott
too much respect for General Scott TO do it, If his
fame worth having, worth much to rest on any title
can give him. WHAT'S the meaning Of this title Iconfess
that do not understand what means iieutenant in
military phrase, is grade lower than major or cans;n
General Scott is major general and am not sure that
the unsophisicated multitude this will not seem stem
down, and of degradation Of General Scott because
all the people with all the etiquette of mill
tary titles Besides, If such humble individual A. am
might advisehe sage heads around me- would say 10 the
friends of General Sco look out am certain but that r.
these days Of compromises consideration of his being made
lieutenant general compromise intended that he shall
give up all claims and pretensons to being made commander
in-chief This Is day Of compromises and il il should
happen that he should not carry out in good faith, his fame
would be bad that Of the sgiaors who do not hold
the compromise Of the last session would advise them
to put their foot into such trap that because
tsn and perhaps improbable that that is what in view
Besides look upon il as dangerous Gentlemen seem
to sme but look the report Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
and that he has recommended the appointment Of
admr and there another grade to be created between
Iieutenants and commanders l not certsin-I have
looked over that report and certain whether there