The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-24

the administration OF Mr. Jefferson, General Wilkinson,
with the rank OF brigadier general was at me head on
your army. Now, suppose that General Wilkinson had
been sent Mexico, and had carried on such opera
tions General Scott did should we make The oblec.
oh to giving bin the title OF thai we had
no such olhce and that therefore 10 give him that ds
ncton would be c0nferrng upon him title OF nobility
The case will not admit OF argument for single moment
There s nothing q the title Of ieuenant-geneai' ncr ~
the duties OF enenantg general TO take u out OF the
usual class OF military officers and military duties Ibee
ndlng scale, necessarily in all naval and mil,
aIy establishments second lieutenant upon the held
OF battle may become the highest officer in command oil
regiment or brigade, or army; but that ls no fea
son, trust, why we should have no grade higher
than a second lieutenant---no why we should
not have all the grades which give our Of
ncer proper influence, proper power proper means
OF command that his authority, conferred upon BIN
for the good OF his country may be properly exer-
cised That is the object. There is nothing, ! re-
peat in the Office OF eutenant-general which taxes
It out OF this state OF things--nolhng at AL And
| l say the honorable senator from North Carolina
Mr. BADGERl has said much better than cond, that
trust this country will never be 80 bankrupt o The pow
er OF rewardng not TO be capable Of ewarang such
high and gallant deeds those OF the ohceIs VINO nave
led your armies to conquest and TO victory When those
times come, think il we search Tor II, we shall hhd IN
the national exchequerDot the exchequer OF cash, but
the exchtquer OF true gratitude and feelinghe means
of giving rewards.
This i, not common case. It is rot the case Of a
man who goes into battle and kills the enemy and be-
haves valantly bat il il the OF noble command
who led your armies from Vera Cruz TO the city OF
Mexico who carried the standard of the country IN TT
umph and honor amid iltbcnes aud dangers and oppo-
son almost unprecedented since the battles OF the early
ages. Why, sir, his name rs written with mpsrishable
characters upon The military history Of his country tie
has placed himself among the great wonders Of the age
Hts name will go down to postery among those OF men
whose names need not repeat but who have stood
prominent in the military history OF the world Tor the
last century. He needs no enogum OF nine. HIS best
euogy his deeds and the affection OF the Amer
can people. shall vote ior the resolution.
i Mr.. WALKER. The senator from Michigan lMr
CAssl says that he has heard nothing which appears
him like The shadow OF an argument showing the uncon
sulionalily OF the proposition now before the Senate
! Mr CASS, (n,erposing) WIN 2e senator pardon
a military lle was title of nobility. That was all
which said
Mr. WALKER, Tha, is all that the senator says
now and what he meant, doubtless Well. sir, lis-
tened to the argument Of the senator from Illinois. Mr.
DOUGLAS and thought there was something in II that
appeared not only like shadow, but like most material
substance. The honorable senator from Michigan is
complimentary in .sayfus l4af he sees nothing which
equals the shadow a argument. Why. sir. if had
made that remark IN gard TO the speeches OF honorable
Senator's II might have been attributed either 10 the real
weakness Of the arguments which had been submitted,
to my ob,useness in perceivng the force OF the argu-
meIts.
Il Mr.. CASS, (interposng) submit 10 the Senate that
il is not fair TO Iepresen, saying that dd not see
The shadow OF an Argument, when, in what said ad-
verted only 10 one ponthe question whether mill
tary title title OF nobility That was the question
with reference TO which made the remark then. and do
now without intending to say anything lnvdious to any
gentleman. That Is not my habit.
i Mir WALKER. had, in my humble place, answe cred
that very point, in my reply 10 the honorable senator
from Illinois. who introduced this proposition, Nr,
SHIELDS He had asked me il there could not be dis.
lncton between title OF nobility and title which
al presen, did not exist in army. | admitted thai
wherever there were duties, there must be some term to
designate the person charged with those duties; and
askrd him, and think perlnenty II there were any Pc
cuar duties associated with this title proposed 10 be
bestowed. But have not yet heard alleged that there
be any duties associated connected with the title
proposed TO be conferred by this resolution aleo SAID
ana did the from illinois, who last addressed
the Senate, lMr DouoLAsl- that II was my power
10 de ermne what syle Of TILE would be bestowed apon
the no should hereafter even outsp Cen Scott
or Grn Washington. The senator from Michigan says
that when the occasion shall arise the countrys ex-
chequer OF credit may be safely drawn upon for the
ward which is to be bestowed The reward which is
TO be bestowed" Wha, implied in thai ,erm' think
D implies thIs That we will 90 on, step by STEP from
one TO another until finally we shall have 10 adopt what
not only, IN spirit and seemingly an iniraction OF the
constitution, bu, manesy violation OF II, and bssiow
directly what is known to be a distinction or title oil no.
billy What there IN the spirit OF this title but a
TUE OF nobility? Ii is sppellaion a style of
title, which is merely complimentary, merely nulsr,
which merely sets the individual apart as one TO
be distinguished from bis fellow for something
which he has done Now, will the senator venture
from person TO person, iom degree 10 degree Of
services, until be reaches that points II he IS not wi
ling do that, lei cay 10 him that be IS now taking
the FIRST step, in my opinion, IRON the constitution,
whether he perceiyes the force OF my argument not
He is taking the fret step by this coBferring title
of preemineuce upon an individual unassocaied with
any demand upon him for services.
NOW, may De inferred lnat tDOse VINO oppose tnis
resolution would disparsge the claim OF General Scott
Tor military services Why, SIR, so far from soch thing
must say tina, the who does not acknowledge IN
General Scott the highest degree OF emoence militia
~ must have either read the history and The
very modern history Of his country and studied II, or II
he has done So have been unable 10 appreciate it,
II think there were circumstances associated with the
Mexican that, IN some respects, place Gen Scott
preemnently above all other military men But must
we Tor that confer mere title without duty, without au
tborily. upon hm' think not.
But referring 10 some OF the circumstances
necled with that Take, for instance the OF
the attacks upon The city OF Mexico In the frs, attack
small army of iess than Q 900 men, II mistake
not attacking city with population OF rising 1000
persons, defended, believe, by armed force OF but
little less than $4,000 We them defeating and
ton and safety within the walls Of the city. !, would
them perhaps, have been easy for army, IN the first
glow OF ls excitement and soccess impeed by the feel
log Of ambton excited by the passions of the moment,
to rush IN and take the city the discounted enemy
could have recovered itself II that had been done
might have been attributed 10 the exharaon OF spirit in
those gallant men. But that not done There was
Cessation OF hosllttes-an armsce that existed Tor
days. ln the mean time the enemy were within the
walls OF the city, amng the citizens and preparing for
the attack which was expected soon TO take place. In
deed, it is reasonably be ieved that that armsce was
sought upon the part OF Santa Anna and bis forces solely
for the purpose OF enabling them to render Themselves
stronger and capable OF resistance, II by any means
they could do Our army sat quietly down, and re-
they again and successfully attacked that great city
There is moral associated with the uprising OF that lii
tie army which think is unprecedented in the annals OF
modern warfare They resolved 10 attack that city, with
population OF 90 900 persons and defended by army
Of 900 men, and without excitement and by the mere