The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-17

bills IN connection with this and altogether they form
serlesof measures intended by the committee to improve
the condition of the army / may as well give a brief
explanation OF the character and object OF the
not because have any hope OF their passage this
sion fof lear u VIII be impossible TO call attention 10
subject OF this kind this stage OF the sesson-but
to call attention TO their provisions and facilitate their
passage, II possible, hereafter These measures very
simple IN their character, only attempting TO remedy de-
iecls aud correct abuses which experience proves to ex
isl IN present military system and which have been
developed by time, and aggravated what by neg ec
They contemplate no radical change in any portion OF the
system. They merely aim to effect some practical re-
form by removing mpedmenis and this being done then
trust to The activity, ZEAL and intelligence OF the army TO
work out It's Improvement. The first step in any
reform of this kind is to make provision for the support
of very merltorious class OF officers who have become
unable to discharge their duties account OF wounds,
sckne and old age. While these continue n the
vice there be efficiency, and government could
be nhuman 10 turn them adr after having ueezed
all health and strength aad energy out OF them, without
making some moderate provision for their support in
their dreary declining years This is why they remain
in The army, burden TO themselves and clog upon the
service and you might well expect great complex
machine with rapidly, regularity, and efficiency,
with many OF the principal wheels broken, and with
those broken wheels cloggin and impedlsg the machine,
as TO expect the army efficient while it's ranks
filled with disabled and superannuaed officers.
A bill providing for the retirement OF these officers
from the SERVICE and making moderate, but, think,
competent provision Tor their subsistence, has already
passed the Senate this session, and sincerely hope 1t
will also pass the House. 1t is recommended by consider
ations of policy and humanity. The bill TO which first
invite attention, and to which propose an amendment,
relates the staff department of the army For the size
OF our army, military staff is excessive No other
army has staff large in proportion. This bill, as
amended gives the President the power to diminish H. If
the service will admit of such dmnuton 1t leaves this,
however, TO his discretion. The efficiency OF an army
depends very much upon the efficiency OF It's staff 1t
would not be just 10 say that the staff OF army s in
efficient; but is right 10 say thai of the gallant
officers who fill places in these departments are better
fitted to lead companies against flaming batteries than TO
make udcious contracts for forage wagons.
and horses and that Others who once led the charge,
and braved death in the front of battle, are, at thismo
men,. from the infrmy OF old ageand old age is an
enemy that oyertakes the hero well the coward-
for nothing but be placed upon retired list for the
OF their lives AS the law stands, these only
be removed by dismissal from the service. This bill gives
the President the discretion and enables him send those
who good soldiers, but bad contractors and bad man
ayers OF the public property back TO the line OF those
companies and regiments and the retired list will dispose
OF the old and disabled
The next bill is of reform and retrencbment 1t
proposes 10 abolish brevet pay and double aons and is
likely to be very unpopular with those whom it will
affect 1t is very unpleasant duty to bring forward
measure 10 strip OF best officers OF large por-
lion of their present emouments. They will consider
this as personal wrong. Every man who is deprived
OF any portion OF his accustomed receipts feels himself
aggrieved. The who introduces measure for the
reduction OF salaries, the withdrawal of perqusites
may calculate upon very active and interested opposition
This why we have great deal OF speculative but very
little practical reform IN Congress This is essentially
measure OF practical reform. Ii of extra allow
ances Here the Terenchment can be calculated but
fully accompshes It's purpose the reenchment in other
respects will be ncacuabe One of the greatest evils
OF the present system OF military service is the multi
plicy OF petty military posts The army Is broken into
myriad OF posts scattered the continent from the
Atlantic TO The Pacific
The first vicious effect of this is military disorg
Transforming the rank and file from soldiers policemen
The second pethorc military staff As increase the
number OF posts must increase the number OF surgeons,
quaflermasters, paymasers and commssares; and the
last and greatest evil s that increases the necessary
and incidental expenses--or posts are expensive IN
thousand ways IL renders the expenses OF traDspora-
ton exoIbant beyond all calculations IT augmens the
wear and tear OF the army, and renders less efficient for
the protection OF the frontier few weseecied CON-
manding positions, which would overawe the Indian
tribes. and from which they could be reached and chas
Used when necessary, would make our present military
force more efficient TO protect the frontier than five times
the number broken into multitude OF petty posts, and
scattered over the continent The object OF this bill is to
cut up this evil by the roots 10 take away all incentive
and nducenent for the establishment OF these numerous
posts. Every oieer who commands post now receives
double raons add brevet pay This temptation - Hre-
slstbe. II is premium upon the multiplication OF posts
This bill will check the evil by removing the motive,
and the wisdom and energy OF the President must do the
rest hope TO bring forward a measure hereafter TO
regulate and equaize pay and thus make up, to some
extent, IN general and equitable way for this deduc
ton. There are other provisions in this bill Tor the i'm
proVemeni OF the prospects OF the common soldier, and
Tor afordlng him some opportunities for instruction and
promotion, which will meet hope, with universal APP
prova As our army is al present. soldier in the ranks
has lever chances OF promotion than IN any other army
in Chrisendom.
The next measure relates TO the artillery This re-
gard as very important measure. NomiDay we have
four regiments OF artillery, but in reality cannot be
said TO have one Most OF them serving on the
frontier as infantry. have introduced bill 10 raise
regiment OF cavalry OF the principal objects OF which
is 10 enable us TO withdraw a nearly equal number OF ar
tlery and place them under able aud experienced
chef Tor the purpose OF instruction and improvement
There are four regiments now, with four colonies that
49, with four independent heads The first essential in
military service is unity There is no unity Of purpose,
action, command in our artillery. II never be
rendered efficient without head. The object OF this
bill is TO give that head whose duty will be to devote
his ime talents energy and experience TO the perfection
of the artillery. We easily improvse army OF IN
iantry Our people generally excellent hofsemen
and easily converted into cavalry but artillery the
work OF time its efficiency depends upon instruction
and practices and lis perfection only be attained by
the most careful instruction, the most interchangeable per-
severance and the most continued practice. The use OF
artillery, Ia all It's FORMS the preparation oil all the diher
en species OF muniops the repair and construction oil
carriages the construction OF held works, and all kinds
OF temporary defences duties that may devove upon
a corps OF artillery in lime OF war. and in which II
ought to be perfectly instructed IN time OF peace.
III we ever have another war, so lar as II may be de-
fenslve, IT will be war OF artillery Indeed the appl-
cation OF science TO the Improvement of this formidable
arm may give character TO future modes OF war
fare Our officers OF arleryas spirited body OF men
as any in America-call upon with voice to save
that branch OF the military service from falling into abso-
Lutte neglect Once down, will require years TO restore
II 10 state OF serviceable efficiency and II Is falling
astand this, too, at time when the nations OF Europe
are bending their eneges to the Improvement OF their
ulery In England you hear no vaporng Parliament,
speeches about war, but you hear the note OF military
preparation throughout the island. The energies OF the
English mind turned at this moment to the perfection
OF their artillery the construction OF defeDces and the
augmentation OF the navy The following extract from