The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-22
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
TUESDAY, December 81, 1852.
SENATE.

American Peace Society, praying that measures
may be adopted which will lead to the adjustment
stead of war.
Mr.. DODGE, Of Iowa, gave notice OF bill for
the relief of the workingmen on the Capitol; and
also that he would at early day move TO take Up
the Homestead bill
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. WELLER submitted resolution, hch wa s
agreed TO, calling upon the Secretary OF the Int
rior for the reasons why he had not communicated
certain papers relative to the employees oi the
Boundary Comm ssion, called for by resolution
OF the Senate OF March last.
HON, d. MERiwETHER.
Mr.. RUSK submitted a resolution directing the
payment TO the Hon. David Meriwether his mi
ieage and per diem a Senator up to the Goth De
cember, 1882. Laid over.
RAILROAD IRON.
MIR. BROOKE introduced bill TO repeal all lave
imposing duties railroad iron; which was read
twice and referred
LEUTENANT GENERAL.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
Joint resolution to authorize the President OF the
United States to confer the rank OF lieutenant gen
erai by brevet for meritorious services.
Mr. SHIELDS said this was not a new question.
Two years ago similar proposition passed the
Senate and was loet in the House. He was in
favor of it as act of Justice military justiccto
General Scott. The committee 80 considered it
and reported il. The resolution does not confer
the iank upon General Scott by name; Con gress
had no such power; but it was welt understood that
the creation of the rank was for him. or all the
officers tho were engaged in the Mexican war.
General Scott was the only one who had not re-
ceivcd additional rank, or additional pay Tor his
services His subordinates nearly all received
brevets-some many as two or three brevets.
But this rank intended to be conferred on
him as simple justice for his glorious services.
This favorable opportunity for so doing.
The ms orty could 90 Power ought to be
generous, and there never victor more
generous than Scott himself The resolutions OF
the Peace Society had been presented to- day V in
which they say there will be no more war. Tie
hoped this would be the case but saw little pros
pect Of it. The country owed more to the army
Than to peace societies. No army in the world
was more deserving than ours They were scat
tered upon bleak IrCaticr extending beyond
civilization. The American array had carried the
country successfully through three glorious wars.
from Lexington to Mexico, and IN all its history
there was nothing more glorious than the march
from Vera Cruz 10 Mexico. The history OF that
war had never yet been correctly written.
No military event had eye' taken place equal TO
the capture of Vera Cruz, the taking OF Cerro
Gorto aud the conquest oi tue city of MEXICO. An
army of six Iho lsand men in the amidst OF a nation
Of seven millions {! enemies, with an army o.
twenty thc"sa"I men III their 'front.' successfully
reduced a city n Two hundred thousand souls
And 10 the honor ot ti.s ltader OF that victorious
army be SAID, that lie and property were better
vrotccted while that army WAC there than they had
been since the downfall Of MontezuGa.
Mr.. CASS said: When this subject was before
us. some months since, l had -insuperable objec
tons and go expressed myself, to the form in
which it presented. The bill, as originally
introduced, created the breynt grade of lieutenan
general, and rendered 1t a permanent part OF oui
military establishment. ! was utterly opposed Il
such an arrangement, and desired the office to b
n Temporary one, to be limited to the occasion
which seemed TO render it proper. proposed ar
amendment, which had IN view this object, anc
avowed the determination to support the measure
if it adopted, and to vote agains it if it were
rejected. The bill now before US, introduced by th'
g. tl,h. NJ
embraces the principle Of my amend men, provid
ing that the law shall terminate when the Office
has been once filled and become vacant, and
shall therefore cheeriuiy give it my support. TIN
object of this proposition Is well understood by tn
Senate and by the country, and shall cuntne ny
self rather to the explanation Of my general VIE"
in relation to II, than to any sPecihc Objection
made here elsewhere. That Oh ect is, to pro
vide mode in which appropriate mark pub
lie appreciation may be conferred upon Genera
Scott for h's eminent military services IL Blexiro
This purpose is not indeed expressed in the bill! it
self, because, being a Legislative measure, all w
do in our legislative capacity ID to create thu
grade, leaving to the appointing power to fill j
upon it's own responsibility. We may OF course b
sure that the honor will be conferred upon Genera
Scott, and we know by the terms Of the bill. as
have already said, that it cannot afterwards b
conferred upon any other person, as the law, fps
facio, expires upon the happening Of vacancy
All nations. sir, and we among them, hav
adopted the policy, the justice indeed, OF confer
ring rewards for distinguished military services
These tokens OF the GRATITUDE OF a country are no
only precious memorials TO those receiving them
and who have gained their title to them by tn
tolls, and trials and exposures, and sutferingsoi
perilous profession, but they become an encuur
agement an incentive, to others TO follow in tn
same career, and to hope for the same distinc ton
a character of high and jealous honor 10 essentia
TO the efficiency OF any military establishment ]
is not a cold performance of duty which can rais
il to proper standard bot there must be espri
du corps, spirit Of emulation, striving with on
another, generous indeed, but active and ceaseles
wherever there duties to be fulfilled or honor
be acquired-whe Their in the fortress, in the Gang
on the battle field. And think | underst,nd tn
feelings OF the American army, and can say
with q perfect conviction of the truth, that do
believe there is another military establishment j
the world which exceeds it in the great charac ter
istics Of honor, pa triotism, discipline, and vaor.
has always done it's duty to the country, and ofte
under circumstances of the gr eatest difficulty an
danger, and hope the country will always be dis
posed 10 deal with it in spirit of justice and kind
The granting of additional brevet rank for ga
liant services on the battle field may be considere
now part OF our national policy, sanctioned b
practice and by the appreciation OF the country
AS to titles such as are granted elsewhere, than
God we have none to bestov; and trust cha
never live to zee the day when any pecunary re
wards will be conferred upon military men eSceF
pensions for inj uries actually sustained in the lin
OF their duty, agreeably to our present system
Additional brevet grade ia the true official rewar
which our service offers, and II well becomes IN
nature Of our institutions.
The campaigns in Mexico were fertile in gior
GUS results, and all who contributed to them b.
distinguished personal exertions received the &C
acknowledgement Of their good conduct by breve
promotions, and in many instances by more tina
one, where more than one chance of distinction
offered itself, and was accepted in prope
spirit. He VINO planned and conducted one Q
those perilous inroads into the heart OF enc
my's country, is the only living officer Of tt
army excluded from this distribution of reward
30 gratifying TO the just pride Of a soldier
Ana why is This, Not because his eminent ner
its were not felt and acknowledged for no sue
injustice found place in the hearts Of the people
bot because be won, almost forty years ago, il
other fields, but With equal gallantry, the highcs
grade known to our system; and though be ha
other services 10 render, we had no other reward
20 offer, 10 the line of his duty. without some ne0
Legislative prosis The gradations IN our mill
tary establishment i!se from secord or third lieu
tenants, formerly ensiana, and do not know VIII
the designat!on changed TO fret iiculenants
captains. majors, iirutruant c"!oBeIs. coloneli
brgedIer reuet ais, and m, jor genernls and ther
we have always stopped. with the exception OF th
Office of commander in-chlef during the rcroii
tioaary war, and of the arrangement for tn
return Of General Washington TO the miltar
service Of the country during our difficulties wit
France. when the position Of commander Of u
army, comnaissionsd u inutendnt general, wa
i'm but w AT Warda e IN N De