Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14
DEBATE IN SENATE
EFFICIENCY OF THE ARMY AND NAVY.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 5, 1858.

On motion of Mr. SHIELDS, the Senate, as IN Commit
tee Of the Whole proceeded to consider tne p - -.
crease the efficiency of the army Dy reeu S' i0i u
abled officers"
Mr. SHIELDS Mr. President, it was considered by
those who originated this bill had not that honor
that it Of very great m ~ ,ae aa
and failed in the House for want OF time My desire now
is that it should be passed as early as possible III the
hope that it will pass the House ths session oher the
following amendment substitute Tor the whole bill:
Strike ont all after the enacting clause and insert
That any commissioned officer Of the army navy or Of
b marine CORPS shall have incapable Of performing
The duties Of his Office by of age wounds disease
the service of the United States he shall be placed
upon retired list and retired from the service with the pay
proper his rank End with the service ration to which he
entitled the time but without any other allowance to which
he might be entitled he continued in the service, either in
line staff and the officer next in the line Of promotion,
who is physically efficient shall be promoted to the place Of
the retired officer with the rations and emouments apper
tanning thereto but shall continue receive the pay proper
Of the grade from which he promoted until an actual va
cancy shall happen which he may succeed according to
the heretofore established laws of the services and the
rule Of promotion pay and allowances shall be applied sue
cesvey the vacancies and promotions consequent upon
the retirement Of an officer as herein provided.
Ssc @ And be further enacted That carry out the pro-
visions Of this act any officer the army navy marine
corps who may have been ncapacaed herein ecited and
who shall voluntarily apply be retired from active service
or being ordered perform the duties appropriate to his
commission shall report himself unable to comply with such
order or when any officer in the Judgment the President
shall have become in way incapacaed for the perform
Of the duties of his Office the President OF the United
States at his discretion shall direct the Secretary Of War; in
the army and the Secretary of the Navy in of
the navy marine corps to refer the Of such officer
officer Of the army army board and if an officer Of
the navy board to be composed OF not less than
three than commissioned officers to be detail
ed from those superior rank him whose is under
sderaton grade and the interest of the service
will permit and the said bord shall determine upon the
referred them and their opinion thereon, with the record
War Secretary Of the Navy the may be- to be laid
before the President Of the United States for his approval
dapproya and if in the judgment Of the board the officer
be considered ncapacaed for active service and the Pres-
dent approve such judgment said officer shall hereupon be
placed upon the list of retired officers according to the previous
section of this act.
Sec. 8. And further enacted That the President, in his
discretion may direct any officer who shall have served forty
years the military Of the United States
be placed on the list OF retired officers aforesaid
The amendment agreed to- and the bill was report
ed to the Senate as amended.
Mr.. HALE hope this bill will not be forcedupon its
passage to-day My recollection does not agree with that
of the honorable Senator from Illinois do not think
have passed such bill since have been member
of the Senate will not say that we have not but my
recollection is that we have not have watched the
gress of this BILL and will state the which has par
tculary led to direct my attention to it. There is
friend Of mine in the navy who think viii be seriously
affected by it.
Mr.. SHIELDS. In the army?
Mr.. HALE. No. sir; in the navy. He is young man
who lost his sight entirely by gallant and meritorous
conduct think the Island Of Cuba in relieving
British sailors. His conduct mertorious that
have been informed-though have not the state
ent OF it in the report of the proceedings Of the House
of Commons-twas alluded to in the House of Commons
entte him to mark Of appreciation from the Gov
ernment of Great Britain but suggested that such
mark would more properly come from his own Govern
ment, anu the thing was postponed. He was young
man. think, about twenty twenty five when he per-
formed that act but from that day this he has been
incurably blind and he is now think, less than forty
years OF age should be unwilling, exceedingly unw-
ling, in furnishing retired one Of
the members Of the Committee Naval Affairs thinks
am always opposed TO the navy, but believe am the
only consistent friend ii hos on this hoorto see Young
ealan ity
as that in rendering highly mertorous service packed
away like sick and lame horse that could not be used
any longer | should be sorry to see that.
There is another case in the army which is familiar
think, TO every member of the Senate. refer the
of Major Searle, which think has been before
You sir know what his situation was lie was rendered
entirely helpless by ball received in his spine in the
Florida campaign; and think occasion an at
tempt made by the administration Of the War Depart
nent to overaugh him on that account which did not
meet the appreciation Of the Senate In making any
tired list for the army the navy with which DO not
want to interfere, for is my vocation do hope
and pray that cases like those to which have referred
may receive the consideration Of the committee and
not be subjected to what it me, upon hearing
the bill read they will be subjected if it should pass
Now, if some such cases these could be taken Of
and have no Objection II pass the BILL to retire the
whole Of them-I would not find fault. But do pray
that cases Of this sort may not be thus summarly dis
posed Of by hastily acting this amendment If the bill
as amended in Committee of the Whole should now be
postponed and ordered to be printed and taken up
future day, and such have spoken of
be taken of, shall nterpose objection to il but
do pray that those who suffering the seyercst evils
that act humanity-evs which they have suffered
In consequence Of their gallantry and noble bearing
may not be subjected to the danger Of being placed in
situation than those that have avoided like diff
cutes by avoiding like pers That is oil have to say.
Mr.. T0UCEY. / wish to say single word upon the
general subject Il look upon o Of this kind
really measure Of reform, because think that leaving
disabled men, who have become by reason Of age
nhrmty, IN the army the navy, upon full pay, is an
evil which in some mode should be remedied. know Of
no better remedy according to the system which
lists, and according to existing laws than to allow that
class Of officers to withdraw from active service upon
half-pay That understand to be the proposition of the
Senator from Illinois look upon it. therefore, sub
stantaly measure Of reform 1t may be msrepresent-
ed il may be perverted but II is essentially in itself
system of reform by which you will allow those who
have spent their best days in the service Of the country
instead Of being cast off, maintain their rank and po
sition, and to dispense with oneha their pay II is in
that view that shall give my cordial support to this
measure The particular details of the bill have not come
under my observation but desired TO say SO much upon
the general subject.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. rise to make an inquiry Of the
Chairman Of the Committee Military Aeirs with re-
gard to the operation Of this bill There some officers
who have lost a leg arm; some may be laboring
under one disability and some under another and some
officers thus situated in the army performing
active duty they able do it, want to
tain from the chairman whether this bill will have the effect
to exclude officers thus situated from the service against
their own wh and to put others their heads - For
instance, will give you the Of Colonel Lorng who
mas lost an arm With arm he can be an efficient
ned oncer and perhaps perform all the duties which
Woua devoye upon him if promoted the rank Of gene
a ai.pough disabled in one should consider il