Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-15

The Sensscs Kentucky (Mr. CIAr) calls him ssthe
conqueror % Thissa title than questionable,
Tor wnomsoev Named, and these comparisons wnich
had hoped have been made in the Senate This
Is not the pN9 military criticism, and do not intend 10
attempt ~ cannot forbear on this occasion 10 ask
whether - the regular armies Of Mexico and disor-
gained thef ey power, has more less claim the
page OF hlaoA the title of "the conqueror of Mexico"
than ne wno M me fragment Of beaten army united to
newly levied and led by chief who had been stripped
of hfs military tesigs by recent defeat.
Aiter neDpfks, and claiming to myself proper and
entire g % honor to the very distinguished SOL
der whose has been drawn into this debae choose
to notice she IQiutim as distinct thing, matter Of
iegis'auon. thsw, throughout whole military his
tory, had pm OF offices the Of that of Great
Britain ~ ye had system Of promotion by seniority,
promoa9 0fey gade up TO the grade Of colonel. strict
y BY seQim ~ above that by selection; but always by
regular MnR. The breyet system has grown upon
our servu8 bas Nodnced such confusion in the army
shst naeny ~ bex soldiers wish ->eh now be oberaied.
This sesou Is exactly adverse 70 the whole system we
have heretofore ebssrved II Office to be gained by
promotion bevet only. 10 the British system for their
generals In the army of the United States there Glass;
BY no means small that have contendd for the British
system, and desired commissions in the line limited to
the grade Of colonel and all generals hold by beve This
resolution in strict keeping with the opinions Of that
ton Of the army.
You Mr. President recolect the conflict which arose in
the army about the time Of the death of Major Gen. Brown
and which is believed drove the then President pass over
the next in rank in the line Of the amy and select another
officer commander u-chef From that day this this
breve conflict has continued in the army Now about
to change system We about establish office to
be held BY breve ony and thus far to andon the rule of
commissions in the line. This hold to radical objection
toit an additional grade is wanted in army for any
purpose grade give the commission according to the
law and usage and let the Offices be brevetted to
that as 10 other grades In the army Of the Ued States But
this system OF promoting by bevet only bedopte then the
idea Of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. DoGLAs) obtains
Thus suppose some to be appointed to h grade Of lieu
tenant general by original commission and the question Of
bevet rank again junior linear commission is raised be-
tween two Lieutenant generals holding only
the reward for servce and the other by appointment without
service. Here there would be conflict between the two
highest officers commanding the troops, the question would
be presented which has been debated for thirty years. and who
would have the power then and there to decide from day
day to determine whether the existed in which bevet
| rank takes effect.
This Office Of lieutenant general is our history.
In 1898, in view of hostes with France, was conferred
| on Gen. Washington by Congress. But soon the
cloud which threatened had passed away commits
sion returned to Congress- and the of the year
| (799) abolishedit in these words sf
fThe commander Of the army OF the United States shall be
styled the general Of the armies Of the United Saes the
present Office entitled the Office of lieutenant general shall
| thereafter be abolished"
1t abolished by Law in l799 but the rank of general
remained But by the present organization the grade of
general Discontinued and from henceorward have
had nothing higher than major general lido agree
ey with those who that because army has achieved
glorious deeds under its present organization would
be proper create additional grades. cannot deny to our
army those grades which should give our officers when in
exchange Of official coueses they meet Of foreign
services equal ank / sympathize with the feelings of
soldier in the value be attaches TO title under such ccum
stances Bot hold that system would be better adhered
and the object perfectly attained If create the
grade of full general than by that OF lieutenant general and
that II is entirely sverted when authorize promotion to
that grade by bevt only instead Of by linear commission
II the object is confer honor modes many-the
thanks of Congress swords by Congress- medals by Congress
I'M
upon Americansoders, aud convey unmistakabls comp
ment. think pride should be satisfied with these, and if
vanity Graves n,re it should not be granted.
The Senator from South Carolina (Mr RHErT) says,
naming partiAar officer that he has received breve
Why Becate he had the highest commission in the army
How could he breveted after having reached the highest
grade known Il our service Did brevet Gen. Patter
son, Gen. Butler Gen. Twiggs for service in the
southern column Did we bevet Gen. Worth, who landed
Vera Cruz h the landing Of army and fought thence
the city Of Mexico and who from the field OF Nono
del Rey the o6ect of wonder because he unscared
Did he receive brevet for all his achievements upon the
southern line No, because by previous brevets he had
reached the highest grade. Did Qutman our own gallant
Quman, w carried the first gate of the city of Mexico
ceve for thatA brevet No. because he major general
There oter instances.
am pleased that the resolution does not restrict the honor
to officer this debate has Indicated And if the power
be given tie President confer this grade by brevet would
he not confer upon every major general similarly situated
and alike Distinguished for his gaany, until brevets OF lieu
tenant gene would become cheap brevets OF major
general now When you create this grade and provide for
filling by Hevet is to bs understood from the present
practice hatevery msj general who distinguishes himself
in battle entitled the brevet Of the next higher grade
These are he main considerations which determined in
the beginning TO vote against this resolution willing
If mode could be adopted ccnsonant to military SYSTEM
an additional grade in the army But cannot aban
don what been practice of many years. and what
believe to be the wise practice Of the United Staes-I
that Of adbering commissions and positive promotion of
generals as in the case of other officers in the line of the
army.
Mr. DOUGLAS. only wish to make word Of expla-
nation The proposition which suggested was that ad-
dtona grade should be created in the line of the amyhat
of lieutenant geneal-o he filled once and then remain
vacant in time Of peace but TO be filled in time of This
brevet system is no favoe with Ny remarks favor
of additional grade the line OF the army to remain vacant
in time Of peace be filed in time of ws the gene
raj policy Of the country But stated am no military
man. and therefore will not bring forward any authority
upon the subject.
Mr. FOOTE. am not willing to be misunderstood about
this matter is well known that this proposition did
originate with am military man. do not profess
to be acquainted particularly with military concerns
not SO specially acquainted with all the achievements perform
ed by our officers in the late with Mexico be able
to institute comparison either favorable or unavorsbe be-
tween any these personages least that could be inn
plicity relied Were compelled discriminate though,
it probable might be constrained recognise Gen. Scott
as upon the whole, preemnenty superior any who
did command in Mexico. Certainly my mind without
some impression Of this kind That the civilized world does
now recognise him the couquero of Mexico hold to be
as true as that the shines in the armament and feel
toeraby certain that a posteriy will award him the chief
glory Of that To be sure, this judgment Of mine is af
ALL but poor one; but still it is my judgment il may
thus ene IT. and having been quite adopt
ed, and not at ell under the influence of political paaty,