The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-26
The Army OF the United States.
REPORT or GENERAL SHIELDS, CHAIRMAN OF 1Al
MILITARY COMMITTEE or THE sKNATK.

Will you permit to subscriber tho use Of your
columns, for a few remarks on the report Of the
Military Committee to tho Senate.
The officers Of tho line of the army are 80 widely
scattered extensive country, rs to prevonS
their being heard on any subject before Congress
affecting their nterests-they having no represents
tive Mt Washington; and hence they are generally
the victims Of any and every proposed reform.
This is alphabetically the case in the recent repert
Of General Shields
The old officer Of the line who, in many bloody
field, ind ut the expense Of u worn out and broker
down constitution, has won brcvet; or no whs,
having grown gray in his country's service, and
w.o, after battling it for years nero pittanos
barely enough to support him, has ut longth at
tanned sufficient rank to receive the emoluments
of his brovct, Of his double ratons, must be de-
rrived OF them; while the staff officer who, ct
Washington, moves in tho courtly circles Of the
metropolis, is passed by untouched, although his
pay ard enolumcDts almost double that of the
officer Of the line who is serving i'll the field. /
shy distinctly, that ] do not think these get too
much pay, or TINT it should be cut down; and do
say that, if IA reform DO necessary IL should begin
here; and it will DO tmo enough to cut down tho
pttance of the limo officer when it shall approach
some degrees nearer to equality with that of the
staff.
As figures do not lie, | give here the pay and
tmoluments Of captan of the line, fighting his
country's battles in the field, exposed to all the
dangers and privations OF campaign, and OF staff
officer of the same rank Longing around tho offices,
and counting members Of Congress at Washington
the pay and emolumcnts Of officers Of other grades
bearing about the same relative difference
LsIoLuMENTs or A CAPTAIN
Fay. per month $40 %
Eaohs. ~ w
Id %
Commanding Company proposed to be taken
from Inn ....''... ~ W
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80 80
STAFF,
WASHINGTON.
Pay $50 O0
s.rNhnts 10 "
Forage w
C,mmu,aiion Of Fuel On summer less. and in
January, February and March more) ......... "a 90
Total sl41 so
Making the staff officer at Washington to receive
StS month more pay than the officer of artillery
or Of .fantry in the field. Is this just right!
And if there must be rctrcnchment and reform,
should no; the Military Committee have looked
littlo nearer home before they SO hoartlessly at
tackled tho old officers of the line?
But, under no circumstances is it right or just
TO take from the old officer the emolumonts Of
double IatioDs or brcyct pay. lie has richly
earned both. His country has already received
more, far more, than Qu,d pro guo She has as-
CURED by his sword and his blood, a tho usand
tiG,s more than all the double rations and all tho
b1oyet pay lie ever has, will receive, amounts
to; so that, if IL be decided by dollars and cents,
the country is largely his debtor.
Let it DO ever remembered that this pay, and
this emolument, have been received from time inn
memorial 1t is, therefore, an act of gross Injus-
tice, well as Of ingrattude, for tho country
TO take them away.
But the reasons given in tho report are not only
fsllacous and insufficient but the statement Of the
case is not just-the double ration is given to the
officer commanding separate post, not as an omofu-
ment, but as compensation Tor necessarily increased
expenditure, in supporting the dignity of his posi-
ton and in dispensing hospitality to strangers and
officers visiting his post, and in many instances this
compensation quite insufficient it is exclusive,
but every officer in turn enjoys it, us he advances in
age and rank
The giving brevet officers pay in accordance with
his actual soTvices-his actual comm lnd-is only an
Of common justice they actually render service
for it the same service, precisely chat the officer Of
full rank does But because the brevet officer has
earned his increased rank not by seniority, but by
gallant aud distinguished serviccs-services that
covered the country with glory, and acquired almost
unbounded wealth and extent of territory-aad BY
pouring out his /" blood like water" he must be do
Jrived oft. And whyl Not because he is not
titled to it-has not earned it-but, forsooth, be-
many officers have distinguished themselves,
50 many breyets have been gwen that these expen-
diturcs have become burdcnsome to the Treasury.
If the country will give to these, and the other Of
fccrs and soldiers. California aud her gold mines,
New Mexico and the territories appended to Texas,
which they won for their country, then these nu-
mcrous brevct officers will no longer humbly beg
Congress to permit them, when actually performing
n duty, when actually exercising command, to re-
cciye the pey of it, Surely "the laborer IS worthy
OF his hire !; and the lists OF Killed ana woundeu OF
the officers and soldiers Of the old army in Mexico,
tell tumpet-tongued, who were the laborers in that
field But we have to say, (and roverently would
/ say it's "We have labored, and others have en-
tered into eur labors."
nm free TO acknowledge that there have been.
and are great abuses both Of brevets and Of double
ratons but is this sufficient for abolishing
both because superiors have suffered abuses to
exist, we who innocent, to pay the penaltyf
The old brcvet officers will be the very first to- cry
amen to efficient correction of these abuses They
ore the sufferers from them.
II abuses are to be considered n good reason for
an emoument, would most respectfully
ask how long members OF Congress weuld receve
: travelling allowances Whom abuses equal to
these, can 90 found against the officers OF the arny.
hey will submissyely bow to any reduction that IL
may please Congress 10 iniiict on them.
AS OtD SOLDIER.
RgIrGIovs ASSIyER3ARiEs n BosToN.-Ine 70.
Iuious anniversaries commence in Boston to-day and
49, ~ I'm