Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-25
TUESDAY, DECEMBER q, 1852.
IN SENATE.

In SENATE.
Mr. BROOKE introduced bill to repeal all laws now
in force imposing duty railroad iron which was refer
red to the Committee on Finance
BREvET LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
The Senate then resumed the joint resolution autho-
rzng the President of the United States to confer the
title Of lieutenant general by brevet for eminent services
which read
Mr. SHIELDS felt it his duty to state that this was no
new proposition. Two years ago it before the Sc
nate, and he, as chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs had made report which fayorably received
and joint resolution similar to that before them
had passed with very little opposition but was lost in the
House for want of time. AT the preceding session Mr.
CLEMENS from the Military Committee had reported the
resolution now before them The committee had deemed
was true the resolution in question did not confer the
breyet because not the province Of the Senate
do So but 1t the power to the President to confer
that mark Of distinction, matter Of justice to Gen.
Scott who was the only officer in the army on whom
neither additional rank additional pay had been
given while subordnates who had served under him had
in some instances received two three brevets
whom had the pay to which their breyet rank entitled
them He who had guided the army to the achievement
of all those glorious victories connected with the cam
pagn had received nothing from the hands OF the Co.
vernment 1t struck him that such brilliant achieve
ments deserved additional rank and he presumed such
would be the opinion Of the Senate He thought that the
present was favorable occasion on the part Of the
ority to confer the rank The powerful should always
be generous; nay 1t was duty for them to be SO, and
more generous victor than Gen. Scott But he Mr. 81
did not place this subject the ground of generosity
but Of strict justice to the distinguished chefan whose
position was such that he could not obtain additional
rank without legislation 1t might be said that brevet
vas of little value il was however beyond price TO the
soldier because it the stamp Of his country put upon
his gallant services and breyet the proof that his
services had been recognised and that was the reason
why 1t was SO highly priced by every soldier 'a
Mr. s. paid well merited tribute to the army lie said
there was not an army Of the same number in the wide
world that performed harder service and had
cherries and drear time than that Of the United States
1t was stationed for the part beyond the bounds Of
civilization, scattered along vast frontier enduring pri
yaons and all the dangers Of war without its incentives
to glory compliment therefore paid to the chief OF the
army would be regarded as an honor to the whole Be-
sides, the army deserved well of the country 1t had
brought through three glorious wars and from Lexing
ton to Mexico it had ever been victorious and perhaps
in that whole path of glory there single por
ton of it more brilliant than that guided by the sistn
guished general whom they intended to honor by the
adoption Of this resolution.
View the whole campaign from Vera Cruz to Mexico,
to which history yet written had done justice
the cheftain who guided and directed It, and he might
challenge history produce parallel to It. Vera Cruz
one Of the strongest posts in the world and well garr
soned, fell before the American army with loss of only
sixty men, And was not that generalshp? Go to Cerro
Gordo natural fortress nothing like perhaps this
continent) which handful Of might have defended
against whole army look to the plan Of attack, the
execution of it and the final result and where could be
the city of Mexico where with IN army comprising not
than six thousand men, he Of war; Of
battle, and disease in city of two hundred thou
sand inhabitants, defended by army Of twenty
thousand aswell disciplined, well organized,
own the Americans wounded SICK and dying all around
in the midst Of nation Of millions that little
nan Of the army captured the city, and forced the enemy
to peace. What, in his opinion however, was
glorious TO the army and its gallant commander was that
life and property in that city since
the fall OF the Montezumas during possession Of IT,
He intended when he to have said only few words
but he felt II his duty from their past relations say
this much. sQ. cNf l41 e.ts .5el
Mr.. DAVIS And you have said it very we'll
Mr.. BADGER Very well.
Mr.. CASS next addressed the Senate When (said he
this subject was before months since had in
superable objections, and expressed myself to the
form in which it was presented The bill as originally
introduced created the brevet grade Of lieutenant gene
rail- and rendered 1t permanent part Of our military
Adjustment. utterly opposed to such arrange
men and desired the Office to be temporary one to be
limited To the occasion which seemed to render It proper
proposed an amendment which Ind In view this object
and xvowed the determination TO support the measure IL
were adopted and to vote against It'll 1t we're rejected
The bill now before US introduced by the honorable Sc
natter from Alabama (Mr CLEsrSs embraces the prin
jcpe o. my amendment providing that the law shall ter
inmate when the Office has been once flied and become
vacant and shall therefore cheerflly give IL my sup
port The object Of this proposition is well understood