The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEYEa0ED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1851.
IIEuTEkANI GENERAL ny BREVET.

LIEUTENANT GENERAL BY BREvET.
The Senate proceeded, as 10 COMMITTEES OF The whole,
n ,be consideration OF The JOINT resolution (S AID 10 au-
Hazs the President OF The United Sates 10 confer the
,,,ts oi lieutenant general by brevet.
mol;oa having been made tas heretofore published)
- lav hs resolution on the labe which was not agreed
oiur HAMIlN said voted to lay this resolution ON
n ,ablr and did it for the eaeOn that Congress- on
yarous occasions, when We were engaged ia foreKn
var have refused 10 create that Office You now pro-
,se 10 create il uy bevet and, as matter OF necessary
possnnence The Office substantially will follow think
- highly and | speak openly and publicly every
where, Of that distinguished gentleman upon whom this
rank be conferred as any senator mere does put
,o y ,hs .s rssst vsii1 d nv spsshv trsli
vote against the resolution
Mr. RHETT. | shall vote for the resolution on the
mole ground that General Scott merits il. ADy testi.
mona OF our sense OF his high and distinguished ser
vices should be cheeruly paid. lie has shed glory on
The United Staes and we, representing The Sales ought
freely 10 besiow upon him all The honor with pro-
Irey bestow understand that this resolution is in
tended to besow upon General Scott breve and noth
jnr more lie is almost the only officer in the Mexican
army who has been beveed for services during that
brilliant war shall vote. and vote most cheeIfuly 10
beslow this distinguished General the honor the reso-
luton proposes the simple ground tina. he has fairly
MI. ATCHlSON. shall vote against the resolution
for the that Congress have time and again returned
their thanks General Scott and every other officer of
every grade engaged in the Mexican war and do i
officer As the senator from Maine Mr. HAALLNl has
observed this only entering wedge. not merely the
grade of lieutenant general in the army Of the United
recommended 10 create high grades in tie navy Of the
United Satesadmals- admras OF the red, admrals OF
the blue, the navy All these things will follow neces
sarly The next war perhaps will hiring US field mar.
SHALL the title of field marshal by hrevet Now,
want 10 know whether there 10 anything substantial IN
all this. General Scott 10 Commander-n Chief oi
hs army OF the United States Can the grade OF euien-
kx,k
oficsr think not Then il act Of supererogati0a,
10 say the least OF II and Tor these reasons shall vote
against the resolution.
Mr. TURNEY regret that we should be called upon
any occasion to vote TO create office which Is moi
Tor the public good for have always understood that
Offices created for ihe benefit OF the public TO pro-
mote the public interest," to preserve the public rights
and carry into execution the purposes OF the government
Now sir, the argument seems TO be-and, in fact the
merits of this bill discussed upon the merits OF in
vidual oce-tbst General Scott ought to have promo
in consequence Of his gallant and meretorous
vices in the army. am willing. then, TO vote any vote
Of ,hankssword, or anything ese-n the ordinary mode
Of expressing my entire satisfaction with his course OF
Office. not because there 10 necessity Tor Ior there
such necessity ai this time IT least. And il has
been well remarked that 1t the time OF the war with
Mexico proposition made TO create that office,
when engaged in war with foreign power, and il was
,hen voted down thing unnecessary, and, in fact,
improper and wrong. The Office was not needed then,
and il will be than supernumerary nowit will be
highly impoli,c Now, ia order 10 worship man--and
care not what his services may be-n order to worship
man. the councils Of the nation to be disturbed from
the ordinary legislation Of the country for the purpose OF
creating ocenOt because the public service requires
the creation OF such office, but merely that may
confer upon individual Now, this is course Of
legislation that disapprove Of and, dsapproving OF IT,
cannot give my vote Tor this resolution shall there.
fore cast my vote against il.
think ii strange that this measure, having been re-
,eced in time OF war, when told that such
cce was necessary been then voted down. should
h> tnke nudn hO nch n
Congress merely because II desirable to confer some
honor upon individual II is. in my Judgment, bad
mode Of egisatonuncsed for, and in fact dangerous
take il that this Office cannot add 10 his popularity
cannot add TO the good opinion expressed OF his merito-
services by the community II il is desired to give
hun greater power, why, il there be zEy such thing
danger in military ebief,ans take il ihss would be a
proper mode OF egslang make that danger efectual
For these reasons shall vote against this resolution.
Mr.. BUTLER. concur with my colleague IN saying
that shall vote for this resolution most cheerfully AS
tribute justly due both TO the personal character and
public services of General Scott He has won Tor HIM
sell place in history He has added another proud
chapter to thai OF his country The Senate s this day
called upon TO write that chapter in some imposing and
enduring form, and for one, willing to do IT, Until
ne had won hs reputation by h's brilliant achievements
IN Mexico, would not have awarded the honor implied
IN ihs resolution, no more Than the Romans would have
bestowed triumph to person who had not gone to war
ana won the aures to which successful general - en-
uted iron grateful country BY his good conduct
1eneral Scot has won the honor OF triumph, and sm
willing to award il to him.
Mr.. HALE shall vote against this resolution. The
senator from South Carolina Mr. BUrLxR] says that he
wants TO wne the page Of General Scotts history, 40
hs a. shall speak his fame TO postsrty.
M BUTLER, in his scat) Who said that
MI HALE. II Is in amount what the honorable sen-
'of SAID cannot give the very words OF the senator,
out s'n amount the same can tell the honorable ssns
o. ha military fame is worth but little or nothing, II It
Sepebds upon a vote of the Senate-noiing at all
mai Will lame be worth when Il comes 10 be measured
sy The votes Of the two houses Of Congress We all
ho~ now these votes are commanded now, IN most
ases, BY the control Of party majority When man
oos lame by such feeble that IL will be more
yanescen, than poets have represented it to be
VOW, upon what foundation rests the fame OF the emi
=" men ofpostaty-snt'quity. mesas lLaughterl
mink that the Senate should have laughed at the
niaake before corrected myself, and not aftctwsrds
~y. upon what basis rests the fame OF the eminent
men OF antiquity Does il rest upon any resolution that
passed BY The Roman Senate, or q meeting OF the
a.mosracy Of Athensi What, pray. was the htls a.
aehed 10 Miltiades and 10 Perices! Were they major
sneais or lieutenant generalsl How ridiculous would
we'll names soand had they down TO us from an
qi'y ~ @ osa'zened og' with these gswsaws with which
nov proposed to decorate the name and fame
renera Scott Sir. have too much respect tor Cen
1a Scott 10 offer him such gewgaw this. II his
'Ame worth anything, IL should upon bis achieve
sn"' ana not upon any idle resolutions that we can
'-H ~ OF any htle that we can bes,ow spon him
~ "na, |" ms lieutenant generali What V the meaning
AN cone" that am 10 inexper in military matters
"., o,a 90 not know what really s Nov, leotensnt
mo mo captain Well. General Scoss il major gem
and am not certain that the unsophisticatsd multi
@ VII not deem il stab At his reputation 10 degrade
rom i, mslor general down 20 catsMans gsnsf.s
~ Inc people are MOI versed IN the epqnste o.
"eec military ttles. Besides II 60 hunble an individual
am may advise Of The sage heads OF the Scsae,
~ oud eli the friends OF General Scott 70 look out
IN Mm NOV CERTAIN that. this il the day Of compromises,
~ no. intended compromeethat IN consideration
,,a oeing made leutenan, general he shall bo under
uo..a fsssnng all claims and Iretensons to ne pro-