Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07
DEFERRED DEBATE In SENATE.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER u, 1853.


anon authorizing the President Of the United States to
the title of Lieutenant General by breyet for emf
nent services
Mr. SHIELDS said: deem it my duty to state that !
TINS Is not new proposition brought up at this time 1t
Is rather an old one About two years ago it
sidered and acted upon by the Committee Military
ahairs and was instructed to make report at that
hme and did The report was bly, received by
the senate and resolution similar to this passed this
BODY with very little opposition, but it lost in the
House OF Representatives for want of time.
AT the last session the Military Committee again INT ~
e upon the consideration Of the subject and
the senator from Alabama (Nr. CLEMESs) to make re-
Por ana ne IN substance reported the resolution which
Is now before the Senate. The Committee on Military
anrs aeein TINS matter OF justice, military i astce 10
Gen. scott. The intention is to confer bre wet unon
oeherai scout ana this resolution proposes give such
power 20 the PRESIDENT OF the United States whom we
nave no doubt will be EXERCISED in accordar ce with
expectations 1t is not proposed to confer ~ brevet Inv
the resolution upon General Scott That Il not IN our
power But it gives the President power 20 confer the
prevet IN such way as to embrace Gener al Scott The
Atary Committee are of opinion that 1 IS matter of
justice to that distinguished individual " II, the officers
VINO served IN the Mexican belev general Scott is
the only one IN the regular army that as ained
additional pay additional in Of that
service. His subordinates-al who .ryed with anv dis
JUNCTION under hm-received one tw @ or three brevets
ana hey nave the rank, and most off them the nav Ia
which those brevets entitled theI Rnt be Who com
manded the army, who was at the head Of it. and who
guided IT to the achievement of hose glorious victories
t;ana rans :, az honal pay add
every one in that lightthati it matter Of military ms
. ' ne shouiu derive son additional rank from his
glorious and gallant services that war and No man IN
the country will deny that tb e services Of the most
glorious character "Sio = '-' 10o'
BESIDES SIR II seems to me that this is favorable oc-
perform this act particularly on the part Of the
majority, with whom have tha honor !. he s tod
Potcay Inc power full should always be generous
Is ausy Tor tnem 70 And permit me to say-and
generous victor than General Scot, b;msslf ,here v
"aa hiuie humane generous cheftan. But
- nv ny me Jon the ground of generosity We base
apon -; pm iple of military justice to this disn-
~ ~. $3.50. .i His position such that he could
oo.h iOnal rank without legislation His sub
w ~ btanit They received their brevets and
ne '1o = emu ded to one, and should receive it.
o" VI At it may be said that brevet is of very little
~ 1t is of great value to soldier; it is of in
oacuao s value to him--and why2 Because it is the
snp - his nation it is seal put upon him by his
for gallant services; he feels proud that his
~ te gnses these services and brevet is proof of
that re cognion. That is the why the soldier
xalues it, and in that respect it is invaluable to him.
Every man who knows any thing of the army knows that
- that the honorable Senator from Massachusetts
Mr.. SUMNRR) has this morning presented memorial
from the Peace Society by which that society believe,
pro- ,oses plan that will prevent any future
hol that may be the case but judging of the future by
he past doubt whether that society will produce any
eat influence upon the world At all events this
great deal more to its army than to peace soce-
.es And permit me to say that this moment there
not army Of the number in the world that per-
forms hard dreary and cherries service than the
bounds of civilization scattered along your frontier
They endure all the hardships all the fatigue all the
prvaons, and may say, all the dangers Of war, and
the chief Of the army is honor to the whole army
Every man in the army feels it.
Besides sir your army deserves well of the country
: There never little army earth that deserved
from country than the army of the United States
1t brought you through three glorious wars and from
Lexington TO Mexico it has always been Victorious and
perhaps there is not in that whole path of glory from
| % of m
liant than that guided by this distinguished chiean whom
intend by this resolution honor. Look the
paign from Vera Cruz TO the City of Mexico Sir, there
is true history of that campaign read all
which have been published and of them do
justice TO the campaign to the cheftain who guided
and directed the army through it. going into
e now; but would ask any to point out TO me
parallel in military HISTORIAN achievement superior to
the eige and capture of Vera Cruz One of the strong
est places in the worldtrongy fortified strongly garri
soned-e before the American army, with only the loss
in killed and wounded of about sixty Was that
d generalshp? Where can you find parallel for it
Go TO Cerro Gordo, natural fortress nothing like il
perhaps on this continent handful of might have
defended il against army Then look the plan of
attack, look at the execution of that plan look at its
Is suits; and where will you find glorious military
IS achievement.
d Sir go the City of Mexico Look at our army be-
fore that city There it was comprising only about six
thousand men, the remnant of war; Of battle, of
disease Before them lay city of hundred thousand
inhabitants defended by army of twenty thou
sand men, well disciplined, well organized they
their wounded, their SICK their dying There they
were, in the midst Of nation of millions Of enc
mics. There they stood, off isolated from their own
country, comprising only six thousand men, the heart
of nation before of the most magnificent cities on
\ this continent, with army Of twenty thousand
defend it. Yet your army entered that city, they cap
uted it, and forced the country peace And will
add what glorious both to the army and its
mander, that life and property in
that city since the fall Of the Montezumas while
army occupied it for will say this and say it
fearessly that humane and generous commander
led army than the whom it is intended to
honor by this resolution
v Sir, intended when got up say but few words
felt it my duty from past relations say this
much and having done so, take my seat hoping that
e the resolution will be adopted.
Mr.. CASS Mr.. President when this subject was be-
fore months since had insuperable objections
e and expressed myself to the form in which it
presented The BILL originally introduced created the
breyet grade Of lieutenant general and rendered it
permanent part Of our military establishment.
was utterly opposed to such arrangement and de-
sired the Office to be temporary one, to be limited to
the occasion which seemed to render proper pro-
posed amendment which had in view this object and
avowed the determination to support the if
adopted and to against il if it rejected
The bill before introduced by the honorable Sena
re tor from Alabama MR. CLEMENS embraces the princi
~ pie Of my amendment providing that the law shall ter
" inmate when the Office has been filed and become
e vacant and shall therefore cheerfuy give my sup
port The object of this proposition is well understood
by the Senate and by the country, and shall cnne N.Y.
self rather to the explanation Of general views in re-
aton to it than to any specific objections made here or
lnfnz