Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-15
RANK OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL,
In SENATE, Wednesday, Feb. -

would make speech himself and il Others desired 10
other day.
Mr.. TuRNEY said that he was not prenared to vote
on the resolution, and would desire that the Committee
on MILITARY fairs should explain the necessity for
| 1eri!og this rank at this time.
Mr SHIELDS said that if the resolution were taken
up, ano oenate should take place. he would move to
| make 1t the special order for some early day The
mo'ion 10 take up prevalled-ayes e. noes not coun.
Mr. ATcHrsoN, by way Of obtaining Il test vote. mo.
yea mat the resolution lie the table; which motion
was disagreed to-yeas %, nays 2s-as follows:
cb aEAsMessrs' Atehson, Boraud, Bradbury Cass
Enase, DAYS OF MASSACHUSETTS Davis Of Mississiop
Downs, Fech, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Houston, Jones
hhImg' Norris, Rusk, Spruauce, Sturgeon Tuney
wales, Walker, and Yulee-23.
NAYS Messrs. Badger, Baldwin. Bell Re,ton po-
rem Butler, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Dawson. Dayton
podge OF Wisconsin,, Dodge Of Iowa, Ewinn. Greene
Hunter Mason, Miller, Pearce Phelps, Pratt Rha,
seward, Shields, Smith, soule, Underwood and In.
The JOINT resolution was then read as follows.
JOINT resolution authorizing the President to confa,
services " 'ii'iieh III
Resolved by the Senate and House of Represents.
tNes OF the United States OF America IN Congrass "a
sembled That the additional grade of I.euensnt Ca
neral De, and the same is hereby crea ted in the army
ana ina when, in the opinion Of the President and Sc
nent services of officers of the army in the mode al
ready provided for in subordinate grades the grade o
brevet only. ~ 'io'e' anu
MT HAMLIN had voted to Law the resolution on thu
lape, ana would vote against the resolution because
Congress had repeatedly voted downa pfoposition tn
clea. I lnis grade IN time OF war; and because there
could be no necessity for it in time OF peace.
Mr. RHETT would vote tor the resolution on The
ground OF the personal merits of General Scott upon
"n9m ne supposed the rank would be conferred
W.T. ATcHisoN would vote against the resolution -
congress had expressed its high respect and sense of
General SCOTS services in every shape and form
en scott was now the highest officer in rank in the
army. This additional grade could not increase he
iame or the merits othis services Moreover he ra.
saoeo ms as but an entering wedge to the creation of
other grades, both in the amy and navy; already il
m oeen suggested TO make admirals in the navy and
ne expected the next would be to make the grade of
held marshal in the army. VI
MR. IuRNEy opposed the resolution, as copferrino a
rank wholly unnecessary.
MI BUTLER said that he would vote for this raeo In,
uon, because otthe gallant achievements and disto-
gashed merits OF Gen. Scott Gen. Scott had won fha
compliment from his country by his services in Mex-
co; he would not have voted to give hlm this rank
DeiIe .ne war; lie considered this rank as but page
In, ane historical reputation Gen. Scott had won for
h'i Me- ~ ~ ms brilliant achievements
Hr. HALE was opposed to the resolution He eoo
a ~ y, IS RANK wholly ecessary to complete the
honor IS al Seoul at best but empty
oiliohal rank could maxi higher Moreover he
was now major general and he always uoJerson ns
liat major was above lieutenant; and the unso
pnlstIcated might suppose that by making the major
stsod ~ hi general MS rank was reduced in-
seau OF oelng increased. These were DAYS Of comnro
ano ne would say to the friends of General Scott
TO LOOK out and if this were not copnromise bu
m1,cn, IN consideration OF his receiving the rank aud
honofs OIL Lieutenant general he was to decline all pre-
tensions to the post of commander-in- chief r
Ee thought that there was danger in this nreceaant
auo lnat recommendations for increase Of grades in
the navy would follow. He passed high ecomiums IN
on the military deeds and services Of General Sott
any conended that no legislation by Congress- would
d daa 10 te great reputation he possessed The
ueeos oltne heroes OF antiquity ve but the empty hon.
ors paid them forgotten The fame of Cieneral
ncotts achievements could not be increased by placing
s resolution on the records Of the Senate Some wears
so iesolonen was placed on the Senate records con.
uenh'aiofy OF the conduct Of another distinguished
Eehetal ana statesman. subsequent Senate ordered
!hat plack lines be drawn around that resolution And
arou 1olr ,lne that resolution and the black lines
around on the record of the Senate will be forgotten in
they related "a N'''' ~ "ii'lll
Mr., Clay would have been content to have given
set vo'e on this reso luton but the name of distn
gulshed officer had been drawn unnecessarily ha
tRGught, INTO the debate There was nothing in the re-
soluloh 70 authorize Senators indicate any particular
inaVldual upon whom this rank was to be conferred -
ne resolution simply authorized the President 70 con-
ief he rank, by bevet, for eminent services 1t was
oplected 10 because Congress, former occasion.
nu Ieuseu 10 create this office, while war was astv-
ally existing. The proposition was reiecteJ hv ths G.
ate put not i 1t had been approved by the Other ouse
ano IL was only rejected in the Senate by few votes
AL that time another individual WINS named as tho
son 10 be appointed to this office He ha no,h;rg tn
gay as to the merits OF that individual or ofhis quail
ncauohs Tor the post of lieutenant general but he had
noa uone awning IN the field toenne him to be ap-
pu u t,e once, according TO the terms of this re-
solution, which provides that the rank shall be confer
eu ouy lor eminent services, for great brilliant patrio
VIC millafy deeds upon the field OF battle. He consd-
efea there was no comparison between the two ca
ses f. ~ alluded to the intmatons that an increase
ol grades N the navy would be likely to follow this pre-
.h anu sa'a mat ne saw nothing wrong in ncreas
s Tue grades OF our gallant army and navy to an eoual
lly WIN the grades established in other nations.
l. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, said that as The passa ge
~, . Lre9olutlon was placed ON the ground OF the
tion. ~ " e ioeoio-
mr.. HALE followed in reply to the Senator from Ken.
lucky ana IN opposition to the resolution
Mr SEWARD advocated the passage of the Joint reso-
luton. congress had always rewarded the army and
naval forces tor their gallant deeds He 1hongb, the
1l'ne mad come when national acknowledgment should
oe MADE to General Scott for his eminent services,
Henelai Scott mad achieved distinction hitherto un-
hhowh Ill inc story OF the country. He carried the
war successfully to the gates OF the city of Mexico he
CONQUERED me country, and restored peace. After hay-
.hg Done inns he was suspended from his command and
the army was placed under the command of another
eminent. '3 WV
Mr. FoorE thought the course of remark pursued Nv
cial to the bill. W PJ"ui-
Mr.: SEWARD continued, that the distinguished seryi
ces OF General Scott and the circumstances attending
them, he thought, called for some extraordinary
al acknowledgment. To the obe cton that if ths Of
nee be created now it will become permanent and lead
to others hereafter he replied by saying that he thought
them. ~ '''''e "''ef
, MIR; FooTE was understood to say that, satisfied |
mat there was to be appropriation for an increase of
compensation and emouments, he would vote for the |
resolution. he was about replying to a supposed in.
uendo by the Senator from New York against the
course pursued by the admipistl alton of Mr. PeIk 10.
wards Gen. Scott, when VI" "
Mr.. SEWARD disclamed all intention of the kind.
MI FooTE said that he thought the Senator was an.
peallng TO their sympathies in behalf of Gen. Scott
on account of the treatment received by him from Mr.
Folks administration. '' AVA
lie alluded as precedent for this resolution TO the
act mat the rank OF lieutenant general had been con-
Ieried on W ashlngton in anticipation OF war with
France. He said he would rather create the grade at
tins time than during He wa. one Of those un-
fortunate Democrats who did not approve of the mo-