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

grade between eu,enans and commanders have looked
over the report OF the board OF officers though not with
great care and am not certain whether there bo
any higher grades IN the army not But the
aim and effort is TO increase The number and the rank of
our omceIs There is no necessity Tor the Office 1t is
acknowledged and admitted that there is necessity for
y Al all y is mere attempt 10 confer upon Gen. Scott
reward Tor his military services These services are
before The country and before the world believe my
sell, that 30 tar military skill and prowess are con,
cerned, General Scott has reputation compared with
which no man in the world stands before him. have il
skill greater science, and more Of the charactestics OF
SOLDIER IN eyerylng that goes 10 make up the character
q soldier have never been displayed by mortal
be landed at Vera Cruz 10 the time Of the taking Of The
city Of Mexico Itis because have such high regard
Tor his military reputation that am unwilling TO bete
by decking out with any OF these compliments OF the
Senate What is fame like that worth Less than the
paper II ID written upon. One party may write il TO- day,
aud another party bio, il out tomorrow. An attempt
was supposed TO be made time snce increase
.s s gss sss sses passed ss1'ss
resolution which was supposed by some TO detrac! from
Andrew Jackson, and that resolution entered upon
the Journal OF the Senate By yandby change
the spirit Of the times and another Senate botted out,
and drew black lines around it. Did the fame Of Andrew
Jack son stand one 0ta worse for the resolution being
there! Or did it stand ota better when black lines
had been drawn around it, Not in the least He stands
world knows; and in very little while it 10 entirely for
gotten that any such resolution had been passed
plunged. SO il will be with General Scott. If he has
done anything to win an enduring fame from poserity,
that fame is beyond our reach We affect it, If
he has such claim, this title will give him fame
from pos!ery II is ideit is useless, and worse than
uscess-for US to undertake, by anything we can do 10
build il up.
Now. SIT. if were the warmest and most ardent friend
that General Scott has on earth. would vote against
this resolution. In saying this, enemy to him.
esteem him, perhaps, as highly as any man here
have no feelings towards him but those Of the kindest
and the most profound refpec He has my entire re-
spect but must utterly refuse pass any such resolu
ton as this, setting aside the evil influence believe such
precedents are calculated TO exert in the country.
Mr. CLAY. should be entirely willing 10 have 81.
lent vote taken upon this resolution but discus
sion is elected by il, | beg leave 10 say few words.
The resolution has not been treated | think exactly
right 1t does not any individual and though every
may have particular officer Of the army in
view, there is nothing in the resolution TO authorize it.
The resolution proposes to invest the President OF the
United States with the power to grant, with the advice
and consen, of the Senate If understood it rightly
the rank OF brevet iieu,enant-of lieutenant general
for services actually performed. Now, sir it has been
argued in the progress of this short discussion that
time when war was raging with all It's violence, a
proposition was made to create the office of lieutenant
general, and was rejected. Allow to make few OBJ
servaons upon that subject II it rejected, it
not believe until aeri had met the concurrence OF
the other branch OF Congressand then, think, it
was rejected by small majority But, sir, what is the
understood that particular individual designed to
be placed in the Office of euensn nj general and the Com
mander in Chief in the field of armies, il the bill
passed.
Now, sir do not mean to say anything for or against
the merits OF the particular individual in contemplation
At h; tune % q 1u, This am compelled to
Gus service ~ would have called upon the country to
besow upon him the rank even by brevet Of the ofce
the resolution proposes 10 grant that rank only for
actual and brilliant ser vices performed by the individual
who is to receive it, The difference, therefore, between
the proposition during me war and The present one Is
performance OF service but merely in the anticipation OF
the performance Very possibly The service may have been
performed The proposition now before the Senate is to
grant this rank only where brilliant noble and patriotic
have been made by the person who is TO be-
the recipient Of the Office Sir The difference too
At ali between the two cases HonoIs to military men are
often more highly appreciated than pay and, when grant
ed without any injury TO our country, think that II is one
OF the cheapest modes in which reward them. But
is sad you grant the rank OF lieutenant general
You will be called upon hereafter TO grant the rank Of
marshal, All sir, no in the country would be more
ready to grant it than would be under proper crcum-
stances in consequence Of glorious achievements and
sures by OF our breve officers, emitting him 10
receive the grant And OF naval oicersof admrals
Sir, expect to be, we hope to be- we now the great
competitor for the supremacy OF the ocean and do
expect to acquire actual supremacy TO beat down
great commercial and naval rivals, without granting
these rewards-without bestowing these high hoDors OF
admras and so on down through all other grades. which
bestowed in every other county, and nowhere more
freely than by that power whose naval supremacy We
would suppant' ..rt..
Mr. President, 1 do not mean TO dwell upon the sub
ec OF ths merits OF the supposed Individual who is To
ceve the honor intended be awarded here The whole
country--the whole woTld-nngs with his praises in
military point of view-mary services upon the occa-
sion to which reference had and there were ever
an instance- we to advert to-day TO an individual
case in which nation from sentiments oil grattude and
with view to stimulate future military exerton, should
bestow such an honor-empty ii YOU please, costing
nothing. without money, but grateful beyond descrp
lion appreciation, doubt, to the individual who may
receive i there such this OF the con-
aueror oi Mexico presents which IT should be be-
slowed. s r. nN 1.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts. This proposition Is
brought forward abstract proposition, simply con-
ferrng upon The government a. understand II. powell
whenever they should 6 to grant the rank OF euten
general by brevet to person deserving 1T Tor ner
torious sorvices. voed Or one, to lay upon the Ia
BILE, because il was abstract pop0s'hon saw noun
nx, and knew OF nothing connected with IT, which seemed
my judgment, TO call Tor step OF that sort n ins mo-
nent. And / hsd also on my mind The TACT that the
Senate had under quite different circumstances. had an
Other question OF this description under their consdera
oa al no remote period. But. sir II II 10 10 be made
question: a. the Senate, whether we are to award
this honor To the individual indicated in the remarks o
gentsmen, and am thsreby 10 express an opinion upon
hs sexvces OF that genemAa, Why sr. shoud be CON-
RELIED To vote for this resolution appreciate those ser
vces ~ highly any gentlemen who have spoken upon
,ha subject prepared TO award 10 thst gentieman
II hs name were before this body that need of merit
which he 10 richly dsteves and nasmuch as gentlemen
have thought proper TO connect the name Q! nsi
nal with this resolution. and 10 suppose that - designed
and aasnAed confer this appontnsat upon him. sha
very cheerfally vote for the resolution. .a !
Mr. HALE Mr. President, II had had any doubts At
nj. sr about this matter they would have been entireiy
removed by listening the eloquent speech made ey te