Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-31

and as lieutenant general made in chief
rather the generan-chief the President himself be-
ing by the constitution technically commandments chief
1t discovered though, that by oversight in max
ing Washington lieutenant general they had really put
him in lower grade than that which he had Allied dur
ing the revolutionary war, when he full general
My friend from Illinois will put right If mista-
ken in saying that he was full general and commander
Of all the forces and at the very next session of Con-
gress if my memory me rightly, an act of Con-
gress passed correcting the mistake, and giving to
Washington the title of general
Mr.. CLAYTON. Will the gentleman allow me to state
that it is the act Of the Sd Of March, 1893? have it
before me.
Mr.. BADGER. Will my friend be good enough to
read at?
Mr. CLAYTON will read the ninth section of the
act, which is in these words:
Sec 2. And be further enacted, That commander of
the army of the United States shall be appointed and
mssoned by the style of general of the armies Of ee Unit
cd States and the present office and title of lieutenant ge
neral shall thereafter be abolished"
Mr.. BADGER. Allow me, Mr. President to say one
word more; and will not weary the Senate. AS has
been said by my noble friend from Illinois, who sits near
me, lMr SHIELDs) Gen Scott is old man The sands
OF his life are fast running away At distant day. in
the ordinary course OF human events he will be long
er among Now sir if feel all my friends on both
sides of the chamber have said this ready acauescence
in his merits, admiration of his services and willingness
to do Ajm honor let do him this honor. 1t may be
that is baube. 1t may be that it is but feather
Why, sir we know that when the value of
things by the highest standard all the distinctions Of
earth dwndle into nsgncance and vanish into worth
lessness. BE it bauble feather soldier heart
it is dearer than untold millions. And though | have
never exchanged word with that gallant officer upon
the of this breye yet have to know that
he would value 1t more and feel it more deeply than any
and every testimony of appreciation which his country
has ever bestowed uponhim dearly as he values them all
Let now while he is here, while he is among while
Providence spares him to u.s. gd his declining years with
this testimony which he values When do it with
out wrong injury to Others without interference with
institutions, without constituting any precedent bad
mischievous, let honor him gracefully in the
ner that will be most acceptable to his feelings.
Mr.. DOUGLAS l desire to say word in reply to the
Senator from North Carolina 1t will be perceived by
the reading of the act to bestow the Office of lieutenant
general upon George Washington, that that Office
ated to enable Washington to enter the army in rank
above others. That the for the passage Of
the law Hence it passed with reference to future
services 1t then being discovered that the rank of lieu
tenant general below that which Gen. Washington
held while in command Of the army of the Revolution
the subsequent act passed to put him the
footing which he occupied when he commanded the armies
of the Revolution thus showing that the object to
bring him into the army with the rank in which he
had acquired all his glory. They did increase his
rank above that of general There were many ranks
known to military history much higher than that of gene
rail- and if the object of Congress had been compliment
Gen Washington by promoting him to ahgher rank than
he formerly occupied, they would have made higher
than that of general instead of being contented with
ferring upon him the same old rank in which he had
served through the Revolution.
make only TO snow that TINS country
did not deem proper to increase the rank of Gen Wash
ngton in consequence Of the services which he had
dered He having been the head of the army, that
the highest rank which he could hold and they contented
themselves with comforting upon him the rank in
stead of creating new title in the army.
Mr. CASS. had no idea of entering into the discus
sion of this matter because have already heretofore
given my views upon it to the Senate desre, however,
to ask the Senator from Illinois mr. SHIELDs) whether
this the same bill that passed the Senate at the last
session?
Mr.. SHIELDS. 1t is precisely, word for word
Mr.. CASS. Then shall vote for it, Mr.. President.
But want to say one or two words in reply to
marks which have been made here. This Government
has adopted the practice of extending the reward of bre
vet rank to military officers We all know that it has
been done since the foundation of the Government
Every acquainted with the military system knows it.
1t is in full force and to refuse it in this simply
the grounds which have been urged to-day would be
a most invidous distinction. We have had fine
views expressed about human natureabout the despca
BILE nature of gaws, distinctions and all that Well
sir We have had presented human of which
knew nothing We all in search Of distinction. We
do not come here for the compensation attached to
Offices solely. We all seek such distinction, from the
cradle to the grave and ask what your military estab
lishment without it would be worth Not cent 1t
would be an armed mob. What sends the officer and
soldier to the lannon's mouth and leads them to perform
the duties and actions which become part Of your his
tory? Their life is life searching for distinction re-
peat, your military establishment would not be worth
straw; your officers would be worth having if they
were not animated by that noble sentiment 1t animates
us ALL more less and it should do But beyond
that it this feeling this desire for distinction which
upholds the military code and military establishment of
every nation, and has done since the first army
forth TO battle.
My honorable friend from Illinois Mr. DouGLAs says that
cannot give to Gen. Scott this breve without
ating rank would create rank As all that
has been said about military Offices being titles of nobility
have not word TO say except that have not heard the
shadow Of an argument to establish the position There
time when you had not full major general in your army
From the first of the accession of Jefferson
thing like the year 1908 1902 when the army was in
creased, Gen. Wilkinson, with the rank of brgader gem
era was at the head Of the army. Suppose Gen. Wkin
had been placed at the head of the army and had
been sent TO Mexico and had carried such campaign
as Gen. Scott did should be with the objection
that we have no office Of ma general and therefore
confer the distinction upon him would be to create rank
of nobility? The argument would be received for
moment There Is nothing in the rank of lieutenant gen
era in the duties of lieutenant general that takes it
out Of the usual class of military officers and duties.
Ranks are ascending s,ae and necessarily in naval
and military establishments. Your second lieutenant on
the field of battle, if he is the highest officer able to
mand, would command the regiment brigade army;
but that is no reason why you should trust such
mand to second lieutenant You establish series Of
grades to give man proper influence and proper
of command that his authority for the sake of the
try should be properly exercised That is the object Of
the regulation
Now, them there is nothing in the Office Of lieutenant
general that takes it out Of this state Of things Isay
as the honorable Senator from North Carolina mr. BAD
GER has said better than able TO do, honora
BILE friend from Illinois, r DouGLAs) trust this coun-
try never will be so bankrupt in its power to reward
not to be capable rewarpg high and gallant eats
as those which we're performed by army in Mexico
When such case presents ITSELF shall find in the ma
tonal exchequerI do mean the excheouer of cash.
but the exchequer Of true gratitude and feeng-tbe