The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-24

solemny given by the Congress of the United States.
He says that he stands ready to vote him sword A
sword "a not the appropriate complimentary tribae 10 be
given to ose Of his rank He says that he is willing to
vote him increase ot pay. but he is not willing to give
the President an opportunity to confer upon him euen,
antshp by breyet Why not Is anything IN The world
but distinction without dlherencel He is willing to
honor General Scott, and the "breyer will honor him
He is willing to Increase his pay and the brever will
increase it, He is struck with this difficulty that II We
establish the principle that every officer who does his
duty is TO receive breve, shall find ourselves in
situated because shall want ranks in
the army to supply the demands made on US Tor this
complimentary distinction. would say, Mr. President.
tha, have idea that brevet is ever bestowed upon
officer for discharge OF his duty II that were
would be that every officer who served in the Mexican
war. and who did mol receive bfevet, would be sigma
zed by the omission with the neglect o duy The breye
s conferred for extraordinary ard successful services
Permit me 10 say that we may safely leave the dlmcuty
that my friend from Illinois has suggested TO take care OF
itself in the time that will come hereafter; Tor he may
assured that if brevets upon the commanders OF
armies conferred except on those who sha
achieve them by such brilliant campaign as celebrated
he advance Of General Scott from Vera Cruz TO The GUY
Of Mexico, centuries will probably pass before we shall
be made poor in titles not 10 be al liberty to &C
knowledge them. Do not let us look SO lar ahead We
have the before The compliment s deserved
Tchy and emiDenily deserved We have the means OF
paying IT, Do not tell that the generosity OF the ma
ton may in time become bankrupt, and therefore We
shall refuse to honor the just claims upon il now.
Mr. President, have been tempted into these remarks.
in respec the lieutenant generashp conferred on Gen.
George Washington My impression ls that gentlemen
are mistaken. The tile was not conferred on General
Wash for The purpose OF preventing hni IRON be-
ing oui-ranked At the time OF difficulties with
Ffancelhe quasi war, az II was caed-upon the recon-
mrndatlon OF Mr Adams then Prrsitenl OF the United
Stales bill was passed which authorized the President
appoint officer be as Lieutenant gen
era, and who should command all The armies OF the
United States He made lieutenant and as
lieutenant general made commander chief, or
thprl he 1, hp President
bv the constitution, technically, commanderin- chief. IL
discovered, though, that by oversight, IN making
Washington lieutenant they had really put hm
in lower grade than that which he had filed during the
revolutionary war, when he was tull general. My
friend from Illinois will put right il am mistaken in
saying that he vas full general and commander OF all
the forces and at the very next session OF Congress, II
my memory me rightly, an ACT OF Congress was
passed correcting the mistake and giving to Washington
Mr. CLAYTON. Will the gentleman allow me 10
state that is act OF the 81 OF March, l799' have
" Mr. Nj BADGER. win my friend be good enough to
Mr. CLAYTON | will read The ninth section OF the
act. which is in these words
"sEc. .. Aadben farther enacted, That commanded
by style OF genera! of OF the
United States, and present office and title OF Lieutenant
general snail there after be abolished"
Mr.. BADGER. Allow me, Mr.. President, TO say ons
word more and will not weary the Senate As has
been said by my noble friend from Illinois. who sits
me. Nj SHIELps General Scott is an old man. The
sands OF hs life are fast running away. AT no distant day
in thg ordinary course OF human events, he will be nc
longer among Now, sir, If feel, all my friends
both sides OF the chamber have said. this ready
quescence in his merts admiration OF his services, and
willingness do him honor let do him this honor
Ii may be that il is a bauble 1t may be that il is bu
a feather. Why, Sir, know that when We measure
the value of things by The highest standard, all The dis
ncons OF earth dwindle into nslgnlhcance and vanish
into wodhlessness Be il a bsuble or feather, TO a
soldiers heart 1t is dearer than untold millions And
though have exchanged word with that gallan
oce upon the subject OF this brevet, yet have reason
10 know that he woaId value more and feel il
deeply lhan any and every tssiaony oil appreciation
which his country has bestowed upon hlm dearly
he values them all Let US now, while he is here
while be is among u.s. while Providence spares him to
gild his declining years with this testimony which he
values When can do II without wrong or injury "a
hin, without interference with our institutions, without
constituting any precedent, bad or mischev vous let us
honor him gracefully IN The manner that VIII be most &C
cep,able 10 him.
Mr.. DOUGLAS One word, sir, as 10 the reason or
conierring this rank upon General Washington 1t will
seen from The reading OF that law that the object 10
confeniHg The oce OF lieutenant general was, TO enable
Washington TO take command OF The army by virtue OF
position 10 ourank all existing officers. That being The
reason, that law passed with reference to inlure
servIces and with reference 10 past services IL be-
ing Afterwards discovered that the rank OF Lieutenant,
general was below that which Washington had held
while commanding the armies OF the revolution, subse
quent passed 10 pu bim upon the same fooiing
when he was commander 10 chief OF The armies OF
bring him into the army with his old rank, IN which be
had acquired all his glory. They did not increase his
rank above that OF general. There were many ranks
known to military tsctcs much higher Than that oil gen
era and If the object OF Congress then bad been TO com
plment General Washington by promoting him to high
er rank, they would have conferred upon ham title
higher than that OF general instead oi beng eontented
with giving him the same old rank IN which be had
serveJ through the revolutionary war make this er-
PLANTATION only show that this country did not deem n
proper TO increase the rank OF General Washington IN
consequence of the services that he had rendered He
having been at the head OF the army, that The high
est rank he could hold, aud they conened themselves
then with gratitude and thanks instead OF new titles not
required by the public interest
Nr. CASS | have no idea, Mr.. President, of entering
into the discussion OF this matter, because have al
ready heretofore taken opportunity TO explain 10 the
Senate my sentiments upon the subject. But rise 10
ask the honorable senator from Illinois whether this ~
The came bl-i was not in my seat when II was read
the same bill which passed at the las, session
Mr. SHIELDS. Precisely; word for word
Mr. CASS. Then, Mr. President, shall vote for IT.
But want to say two words upon Il, IN eonse-
quence OF the remarks which have fallen IRON senators
upon the other sids This government has adopted the
principle OF conferring the appointment of bFevei rank
upon military officers We all know that that has been
done s,nc. the foundation OF the government admit
tnat this has been too tar extended. Every man ac-
quainted with our military system knows IT. Bot that
principle fuii force now and to oppose the reson
ton upon that account merely would be TO make most
iavdous distinction Senator's do not seem 10 have very
oh hlosopbcaI views about human nature. They may
talk about the desire OF honor of gewgsws baubes, dis
tincons. and all tha, sort Of thing but all in
search OF distinction. We do not come here Tor The
FILTHY Iurre" alone the senator from Indiana Mr.
Psrrrl said; but we all desire distinction, IRON the era
die to the grave Without distinction, what ~ your mil
iary establ shment worth Not one cent Our army
could not be kept up without It, What is II that sends
tler cr the nth