Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-31
DEBATE In SENATE.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL OF THE ARMY.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER %, 1858.

The Senate, as in Committee OF the Mhole' resumed
The consideration of the joint resolution 10 CONFER the
tta of lieutenant General by brevet for eminent
vices Ii proposes TO revive the grace OF Lieutenant
General by in the army IN order that the fres
dent and Senate may acknowledge eminent services IN
the last war with Mexico by the conferring Oh that ute
nv breyet with proyiso that when it shall have been
filled and become vacant it shall not again be conferred
Mr. ADAMS. A similar proposition was before the
Senate the last session of Congress- having reference
by name distinguished general who has rendered ser
vice to his country Gen Scott opposed IT then upon
principle. was then, as am now, OF opinion that that
distinguished individual having received ayote OF thanks
from the representatives of the people In both branches
of Congress- had conferred upon him the highest COM
pliment that could be lesitimatey bestowed upon hm
concurred fully in the proprey OF that vote oil THANKS
but 10 create title in this republican Government si-
py for the purpose of distinction is in my humble opn
ion wrong and is setting bad precedent II we want
to give him title let give him an old aud familiar
one duke or lord If you wish TO ape foreign Powers
ape them follow them in language ana In terms see
no necessity for creating additional rank because think
that as much honor as any military civilian ought
to desire be received in the positions already provd
ed for by law. If there be necessity for this ONCE pro-
vide for it by law but mere title TO be created by the
American Congress to be conferred upon an individual,
in my humble Judgment bestows no honor upon him. nor
does it benefit the institutions of the country These,
sir my objections TO the jontresouton shall ask
for the yeas and nays upon its passage.
Mr.. WALKER Mr.. President, l feel very much rs
the Senator from Mississippi does ! have some aver
sion making any opposition to the passage of this
solution and particularly upon the ground that do feel
opposition to it; for know that the ground OF objection
it, my own mind that does not obtain in the
estimation of the honorable Senator who introduced It,
lMr SHIELDs) l know that one is prompted by
patriotic feeling by stronger devotion to the con-
sttution than that honorable Senator
Ny objection, sir to the proposition now before the
Senate is that it is violation of the spirit OF the Con-
sttuton Suppose that at the time the Constitution was
adopted the title proposed to be conferred IN this case
had been only known exist under monarchica Govern
m uoull hesitate for amoment to
say that this proposition would embrace case which was
intended be prohibited by the Constitution The titles
of nobility Europe at the tina OF the adoption OF the
Constitution known to those who framed that
We now recognise certain titles existing there as known
titles Of nobility. This is not among them But what
was the meaning of the Constitution! take IL 10 DE
simply this: prohibition to confer any style OF ute
which should be unconnected with the performance OF
duty-any style title which might be deemed mere
honorary complimentary mark of distinction IL we
would substitute in this instance OF the known styles
titles of nobility, no could for moment doubt
that it would be Infringement of the Constitution
If you confer this title of distinction, pray let me
ask you why you not substitute some other name for
that of lieutenant general? Suppose that in the case
of the distinguished individual to whom, than any
other this resolution is designed refer should in
stead of saying lieutenant general propose to confer the
title of Duke OF New Jersey would any one then doubt
for instant that it infringement not only of the
spirit but of the very letter of the Constitution IL
seems to me that one could doubt it.
Now, sir this title of distinction, of preemnence, or,
you please having reference the spirit of the Con-
stitution this title of nobility is not designed to be con-
nected with the performance Of any duty. Ours was de-
signed to be plain Government. When individual
was called upon TO perform public service to designate
his character official name permitted by the Con-
stuton to be given to the character Of his employment
But rs view il, the Constitution intended TO pro-
hibt the bestowal of any STYLE name or mark OF dis
tncton unconnected with the absolute performance OF
duty to the public may be wrong, or may be right
but, while it is the Constitution, am unwilling to go
the hush of
for know not what en- about to do.
Mr.. SHIELDS. Mr. President, | do not think it ne
cessary to waste much time in attempting to reply TO the
honorable Senator from Wisconsin. lie paid me COM
piment for which must return him my thanks should
certainly regret very much knowingly to bring in any
resolution which would violate the Constitution, either in
letter in spirit Bot sir il this resolution violates the
Constitution IL has been violated since its formation by
every title that has been conferred upon officer of the
army-by the comforting of the title Of captain as much
the title of general What is the difference inprnc
pie between comforting breyet for lieutenant generally
and brevet for captancy major generalcy, or any
other rank in the army?
The title of general the highest title, which in some
countries is called generalssmo conferred Gen.
Washington. He commanded the army in the revou-
tionary by that title IL is the hi CHEST title in mill
tary that be conferred upon Napoleon,
1t is true, created the title Of marshal but 1t was very
much the Afterwards the title Of lieutenant gene
raj conferred upon Washington, by mistake at time
when ii was believed were about TO get into war
with France lie then recalled from his retracy,
ana was ABOUT 10 De placeu the nead OF
the title OF lieutenant general but it found that in
stead Of giving higher title than he had possessed in the
revolutionary war, they had made mistake. They
degrading him. and the title Of lieutenant general
actually conferred upon him. but he received his
old title general But this title created at that time
by Congress- and the object Of this resolution is merely
revive il in brevet shape in the of captain,
colonel, brigadier general, major general.
have before stated and il Is scarcely worth while to
repeat IT, that Of oil the officers who served in the Mexi
can war the only who derives no benefit no pro-
fit no technical honor from his services is Gen Scott
why sir humble am, had the honor Of receiving
breve and others had thehonor Of receiving two, and
some even three brevets; lieutenants captains, and
colonies received breyes for almost every act Of gallant
service and yet sir the Who at the head Of that
army conducted IL only with success, but with such
will be hard 10 repeat again. from Vera Cruz
to the city Of Mexico has received neither additional pay
additional honor except such the country voun-
tary bestowed upon him for his glorious service What
is the Oh ec Of this resolution Merely to do him that
Justice which has been done to the whole army that serv
ed under him. And how long will this last Gen. Scott
is old lie is far advanced in life and sorry
to say that there will be very few Of these upon
whom you can confer brevets any thing else They
are falling around you every day Men younger than he
who participated IN that war, have fallen but few OF
them left. You will not be troubled with them long
Those who did fall by the sword brought home disease
which sweeping them of almost by myriads every
regretted TO the opposition which similar
luton met with at the last session. not in this body am
happy say but in the other House. If there is to be
any opposition 10 arise to IT, should prefer that il would
from Of friends this 1.-THE Whg side of
the chamber think the successful should always be
generous and magnanimous. IL there is any principle
that value most highly in democracy il is that believe
il is generous and liberal towards its opponents for
liberty without lberality is sometimes rather harsh
shall not the time Of the Senate by saying any
more upon this subject think the honorable Senator
from Wisconsin, for whose opinion have high respect,