The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-15

: -A~lt TTtTNS IN % ~E-.sA ,'.E 0I#N ..t FL b
causes should remain vacant until war should occur.
and then should be filled during the war, and again
become vacant al the conclusion Of the war, and con
unne throughout our whole history,
| This would have accomplished the two objects. II
wout have done justice TO General Scott and the com
pllmeHt % hun would have been greater than i will be
under this provision, because when you provide that it
may be filled once in time OF peace, and filled only by
man, forever thereafter to be unless exists
the compliment you pay him is much greater than il
would be to pass resolution in general terms providing
that the President OF the United States shall be at liberty
to select from the whole army, and those who may have
retired from the army, or who have distinguished them
selves in the volunteer SERVICE an individual TO NIL the
Office.
make these suggestions with great ditidencc ! am
not member OF the Military Committee | am not mill
tary man; make no preensions to any knowledge OF
the service in detail thai would authorize me 10 bring
forward anypropostion But these vewshave. occurred
TO being proper and if the proposition should be
put in the shape have suggested. perhaps II would be
less Objectionable precedent, while the compliment
pASs TSSa b asa .as s he
in which the debate this resolution has been con-
Quoted has diverted the attention OF the Senate from The
The senator from Illinois, however, has spoken some
what 10 the merits OF the resolution and the two main
arguments which be has presented constitute, | think
two objections TO it, He first argues that the resolution
is a proposition to pay compliment, to an individual
Have come to ths Are Offices to be created IS re-
wa,ds TO individuals to crafty their just pride, i you
ters given by monarchs His argument was, that grade
should be created above the ordinary Offices Of the army
10 be filled IN time OF war by The selection OF the Presi
dent from the whole country at large that is, that the
President when breaks out, may hunt through The
land for favorte whom TO confer the chief com
mand and thus bring shame on the brow OF every war
worn soldier of his country That is the proposition OF
the SENATOR and the probable effect Of the resolution
Il is proposed to create an additional grade IN the army
and TO authorize the President TO fl by breve only
conferred for meriorious services When war breaks
out the President will appoint, by regular commission
to the grade created but left vacant whomsoever he may
prefer These are some OF the objections that stand y
the foreground and expected them to be noticed as such
For myself, should have preferred TO say nothing on
the resoluton bat could not hear in silence this policy
brought forward as an argument in favor ot the resolu-
ton. .,
Mr. President, among other considerations which have
been adduced this matter has been treated as personal
compliment The resolution certainly points to no one
We have heard the argument that there shond be indem
nifty for wrong done by our late distinguished President
Mr.. Polk. We have had q parallel run which would
place this general above all other generals the Fahe. Of
his Country included The senator from New York Mr.
SEwARDl points to the services OF Gensla Scott as un
the history Of but the history Of all other times
1t is enough for me that his Language includes Washing
ton The senator from Kentucky lMr CLAyl calls @ h.
questionable for whomsoeyer claimed and these com
parsons which had hoped would never have been made
in the Senate This is not the place Tor military cntl-
cism, and do not intend to attempt it; But cannot
forbear this occasion to ask whether he who beat The
gular armies OF Mexico and dsorganZed their military
power has more or less claim On be page Of history 10
met the fragment Of beaten army, united to newly
levied poems. and led by chief who had been stripped Of
ms ami E .s;Ee 5y isSs1' to mv.e
and entire Willingness TO do honor TO the very dist,n-
guished soldier whose name has been drawn INTO This
bate, choose 10 notice the resolution as distinct thing
as matter Of legislation. We have, throughout our
whole military history had system OF offices the reverse
OF that OF Great Britain We have had system OF pro-
aIo In
the grade OF colonel strictly by seniority. and above that
by selection, but always ny regular commission The
brevet system has grown upon our service until mas
produced such confusion in the army that many oil It's
bes soldiers wish il could be obli!eraied This res
oluon is exactly adverse TO the whole system we have
heretofore observed II creates an ONCE TO be gained y
promotion to brevet only. II is the British system iof
their generals In the army OF the United States there rs
class, by small one. tha, have contended Tor
the British system, and desired to commissions IN The
line limited 10 the grade OF colonel, and ali generals to
hold by breye This resolution is in strct keeping with
the opinions Of that section OF the army
You. Mr.. President, recoeci the conflict which arose
in the army about the Of the death OF Major General
Brown and which il is believed drove the then President
pass the next in rank IN the line Of the army ana
TO select another officer as Chiei From
that day 10 this, this bevet conflict has continued IN The
army Now we are about to change our system, G
are about 10 establish Office to be held by brevet only,
and thus far 70 abandon the rule Of comms.oas u ae
additional grade wanted IN our army ioI any purpose.
create grade give the commission according TO the es
Abshed law anu usage ana iet oihCcfs ue
that other grades the army OF the United States
Bu, il this system OF promoting BY breve only De aiop'
ed then the idea OF the senator from illinois Mr. Dops
s obtains Thus, suppose SEINE one 10 be appointed 10
the grade OF Lieutenant general BY original commission
and the question of brevet rank against JUNIOR linear
commission raised between two Lieutenant generals
one holding by trevei only the reward for service
and the other by appointment without service here
there would be conhic between the Two highest olcets
commanding the troops the question would be presented
which has been debated Tor thirty years and who would
have the power then and there to decide fom day TO
day determine whether the cdsus existed IN wh'ch
brevet rank takes effect
This Office of lieutenant general not new to our hs-
tory In i79s view OF hos,Iites with France, II was
conferred on General Washington by Congress But as
away, the commission returned TO Congress, and
The OF the next year Q799) abolished Il in these
words s#f N@ raI IE.E I#H NtT
"The commander of tho army OF the United Ststes
shall be styled the general OF The armies Of the United
Saes and the pcseot office enutcd The office oil leusn-
general shall thereafter be abolished Iss 94Us
1t was abolished by law 1892 but the rank Of gen.
general deconnued and from thenceforward we have
had nothing higher than major general do not agree
entirely with those who say that because our army has
achieve glorious deeds under present organizaton II
would never be proper TO create additional AIDES can
not deny army those grades which shoud give our
officers when the exchange OF Official courteses they
officers OF foreign services, equal rank sympa-
thze with the feelings OF soldier in the value ne al.
tachee title under such circumstances but mold
that our system would he better adhered to- and the OBJ
general than by that OF lieutenant gene ana that II
n entirely subverted when authorize promotion to
that grade by only instead Of by linear commss'on
If the object to confer honor modes are
hanks OF Congress-. swords by Congress msda. py Son
ress These are The honors which havs beretoore been
rra ,,oon unercan aOdieya, and convex unma-