Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07

uotism, discipline and ya,,or. and bsye heard With
sa pleasure the just AMI eloquent remarks Of the Sena
sOr from Illinois Mr. HIEIDs upon this branch Of the
SUBJECT ana indeed upon the whole question The army
has always done its aty to the country and often nd
circumstances OF tbs greatest difficulty and danger and
nope tne country will always be disposed to deal with
IN q spirit Oh JUS dee and kindness.
Inc granting Of additional breyet rank for gallant SER
wees on me atte may be considered now as part Of
our nao pocy, sanctioned by practice and by the APP
Of the country As to titles such as are grant
81 eiS There, thank God we have to bestow and
s' shall never live TO the day when any pecunary
re cards viii be conferred upon military men, except pen
ions for injuries actually sustained in the line Of their
duty, agreeaby to our present system An additional
bevet grade IS the true ocal reward which service
offers, and II well becomes the nature of institutions
The campaigns in Mexico fertile in glorious re-
suits, and oil who contributed to them by distinguished
personal exerons received the acknowledgment Of their
good conduct by breyet promotions and in many in
by than one where than chance Of
distinction offered ITSELF and was seized in proper spirit
He who planned and conducted Of those perous in
roads into the heart of the enemys country is the only y
ing officer of the army excluded from this distribution ore-
wards gratifying the just pride Of soldier And why
is this? Not because his eminent merits felt and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS such injustice found place in the
hearts Of the peopebut because he won, almost forty
years ago. other fields, but with equal gallanry the
highest grade known to system And though he had
other services to render had other rewards to eer
in the line Of his duty without some legislative pro-
vision. The gradations in our military establishment
rise from second to third ieutenants formerly ensgns
land do not know why the designation changed J
to first eutenants, captains, majors lieutenant coones
colone brigadier generals, and major generals, and
there have always stopped with the exception of the
Office of chief during the revolutionary war;
and of the arrangement for the of Gen. Washing
the military service of the country during diff
cultes with France when the position Of commander the
army, commissioned eutaaant general conferred
upon him. but afterwards changed to that Of general
| Of the armies of the United States.
allude to this merely interesting incident in
military history, and not as precedent for action
hereafter for Washington stood alone in charac-
and services, and in the hearts of his counrymen
and in my opinion in the annals Of the world And
his without example, the personal dstnc-
tons attached to him should remain his own furnishing
no precedent for future application.
And it isn this spirit Of jealous for the
and the fame Of Washington that shall ask my friend
from Alabama Ar CLEMENs to to the change of
word in his amendatory resolution by substituting the
word created established for regpd that this grade
may be introduced without reference any previous
proceedings. The mantle of Washington fell on no man.
and have an nsuperable objection any one
with his honors by revving them for another. And be-
SIDES the proposition may raise question had better
avoid when avoid easily and properly. The
Office of lieutenant general directly introduced
into service The office created that of
der of the army to be commissioned lieutenant gene
raj and who authorized to command the armies of
the United States be that the naked grade
of lieutenant general is provided for but that the
designation is to be given high officer charged with
respecting the constuonaity Of this arrangement be-
it seemed interfere with the constitutional right
of the President be commander chief of the army
and navy OF the United States &c. And therefore at
subsequent session of Congress, this arrangement
repealed and provision made for the appointment
general of the armies of the United States" desire
to leave sacred and untouched office created expressly
for Washington and also avoid any constitutional ques
| ton upon this subject
To render the proposed obnoxious, the grade
of Lieutenant general has been charged with being arsto
cratic and unsuited to the nature Of institutions 1t
rather difficult treat absurd objection serious
ly What makes it arstocratic? Not the name; for
have major generals with higher sounding titles though
with less rank and have captain generals the States
and believe also lieutenant generals in Of them.
Where we shall stop in military grades is ques-
ton Of expediency, depending existing
and on the extent of our establishment.
At time, during the administration Of Mr. Jefferson
twas proposed believe by General Dearborn then Sec
rotary Of War, to have higher officer than colonel
and for many yearsfrom the death of General Wayne
indeed till the Of 1872 with the exception the
creased establishment arising of the French difficulties
to which have already referred-we had none higher
than brgader general, which the rank of General
Wilkinson, who commanded the army for many years.
There is nothing more arstocratc in military grade
than IN another Experience has shown that these gra
daons essential TO efficient service: and where thew
shall stop is have said question Of legislative
discretion We do not need the permanent position
of hetenant general in army do foresee when
we shall And this conviction the of the objee-
ton first took to this advert to the general
considerations lhave just presented all
for the creation of the grade but repe the charge
its arstocrac character well calculated to excite pre-
JUDGES against it, My for its creation is that it
will enable the proper authority render appropriate
testimonial to the services Of General Scott in the
manner it has been rendered to every officer in
the army he led to battle and to victory who entitled
to the distinction 1t is necessary review the life
of General Scott that his countrymen may be able TO
precae what he has done for their interest and their ho
nor Almost half century has elapsed since his name
and his deeds household words familiar the Amer-
people throughout the whole extent Of the Republic
But his campaign in Mexico was the browning act OF
his military fe and it will fill Of the brightest
pages Of history. desire, however do Justice to
General Scott but injustice his coaborers in that
great work by spirit OF partsanship to which
ever prone and which would leave his countrymen but
little in many glorious victories but admire
their splendor and his achievements. There is honor
enough for allor the living and the dead-and let
render il to ALL to each indeed he merits it. Nothing
is gained for the Of patriotism of truth by those
inydious encomiums which, while they elevate one, de-
press many by the contrast they exhibit General Scott
led to Mexico American army composed of volunteers
and regular troops equal to those to be found in any other
service be it where IL may, in physical power in honor
in yalor in patriotism, and in intelligence The progress
Of that army is almost without parallel in ancient or
in modern warfare, by the disparity Of force encounter
ed and overcame by the celebrity Of its movements and
by the uniform Of its operation under circum-
stances Of great trial and difficulty in the midst Of hos
tile people, and cut off from their country, sede-
| pendant and self-sustained.
Armies dispersed overthrown before our gallant
counymen, fortresses fell their approach or attack
and the capture of the capital terminated the campaign
and, in fact placed the nation at our mercy One Incl
dent which marked these splendid efforts gives them
deep interest and romantic character, which we may
seek in in the records of national contests For many
days adventurous army was lost to their countrymen