Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-09


lection which should be afforded The public mind of
country has been recently shocked by savage aroc-
ties committed upon defenceless emigrans and border
settlements and hardly less by the desruc-
ton of valuable lives where inadequate detachmens of
troops have undertaken furnish the needed aid With
out increase Of the military force these viii be
peated it is to be feared larger SCALE and with
disastrous consequences Congress, am sure, will per-
ceve that the paines duties and responsibilities Of Gov
ernment involved in this question: and doubt not
prompt action may be confidently anticipated when
delay must be attended by such fearful hazards.
The bill Of the last session providing for increase
of the pay Of the rank and file of the army has had bene
fetal results not only in facilitating enstmens, but in
obvious improvement in the class Of who enter the
not bestowed the officers who in view of their cha
and services and the expenses to which they
necessarily subject receive at present what is, in my
| judgment, inadequate compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by the army
and its inestmable Importance the nucleus around
which the volunteer forces Of the nation promptly
gather In the hour OF danger sufficiently attest the wis.,
dom of maintaining military peace establishment but
the theory Of system and the wise practice under it
require that any proposed augmentation in time Of peace
be only commensurate with extended limits and FROM
tier relations While scrupuousy adhering to this prn
cple find, in existing circumstances necessity for
increase of military force and it is believed that four
new regiments two Of infantry and two of mounted men,
Will be sufficient to meet the present exgency IF 1t
were necessary carefully to weigh the cost in Of
such urgency it would be shown that the additional
pense would be comparatively light
With the increase Of the numerical force Of the army
should Think be combined certain measures Of reform
in its organic arrangement and administration The pre-
organization is the result of partial legislation often
directed to special objects and interests and the laws
regulating rank and command having been adopted many
years ago from the British code, always appca
BILE to service is not surprising therefore, that
the system should be deficient in the symmetry and sim
pcity essential to the harmonious working of its several
| parts, and require careful revision.
The present organization, by maintaining large staff
nffe that
close connexion with troops and those active duties in the
field which deemed requisite qualify them for the
varied responsibilities Of high command Were the du-
ties of the army staff mainly discharged by officers de-
tached from their regiments 1t is believed that the spe-
cal service would be equally well performed and the
discipline and instruction Of the army be improved.
While due regard to the security Of the rights Of officers
and to the nice of honor which should be cultivated
among them, would seem to exact compliance with the
established rule of promotion in ordinary cases. still it
hardly be doubted that the range of promotion by
lection which practically confined to the grade
general officers might be somewhat extended With benefit
to the public service Observance of the rule of seniority
sometimes leads especially time of peace the pro-
motion Of officers who, after mertorous and disn
gushed seryice may have been rendered by age in
trinity incapable of performing active duty, and whose
advancement therefore, would tend impair the efficiency
of the army Suitable provision for this class Of officers
by the creation Of retired list would remedy the evil
without woundng the just pride Of who, by past
services have established claim to high consideration
In again commencing this to the favorable
sderation of Congress would suggest that the of
placing officers the retired list be limited to year.
The practical operation of the measure would thus be
tested and if after the lapse of years. there should be
occasion to renew the provision, be reproduced
with any improvements which experience may Indicate
The present organization of the artillery into regiments
is liable to obvious objections The service of artillery
is that of batteries, and organization of batteries into
corps of artillery would be consistent with the
nature Of their duties large part of the troops now
called artillery are and have been on duty as infantry,
the distinction between the two being merely nom
nal This nominal artillery in service is entirely dis
proportonate to the whole force and greater than the
wants of the country demand. therefore commend the
discontinuance of distinction which has no foundation
in either the arms used the character Of the service
expected to be performed.
In connexion with the proposition for the increase of
the army have presented these suggestions with regard
to certain measures Of reform, the complement of
system which would produce the happest results from
given expenditure and which hope may attract the
early attention and be deemed worthy of the approval of
Congress
TIE recommendation OF the Secretary Of the Navy
having reference to ample provisions for the sci
pline and general improvement in character of seamen
and for the Reorganization and gradual increase Of the
navy deem emnenty worthy of your favorable conside
ration The principles which have controlled policy
in relation to the permanent military force by and
land sound consistent with the theory Of our system
and should by means be disregarded. But limiting
the force to the objects particularly set forth in the pre-
cedng part ef this message should not overlook the
present magnitude and prospective extension Of
that besides the thousand miles Atlantic seaboard
we have now Pacific coast stretching from Mexico to
the British possessions in the NORTH teeming with wealth
and enterprise and demanding the presence of
shps-ofwar The augmentation of the navy has kept
pace with the duties properly and protaby assigned
it in time peace and it is inadequate for the large field
Of its operations merely in the present. but still more
in the progressively increasing exgences Of the wealth
and commerce of the United States cordially approve
of the proposed apprentice system for national
sells recommended by the Secretary of the Navy.
The occurrence during the last few months of marine
disasters Of the most tragic nature involving great loss
Of human life, has produced intense emotions Of sympa
thy and sorrow throughout the country. It may well be
doubted whether all these calamtous events are wholly
attributable to the necessary and inevitable dangers of
the The merchants Mariners and shipbuiders Of
the United States are it is true, unsurpassed in far
reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence and courage by
any others in the world. But, with the increasing
of commercial tonnage in the aggregate and
the larger size and improved equipment of the ships
constructed, deficiency in the supply of reliable
begins to be very seriously felt The inconvenience may
perhaps be met in part by due regulation for the ntre
dnoon into merchant ships of ndented apprentices
which, while it would afford useful and eligible occupa
ton to young men, would have tendency to
raise the character of class And it is de-
serving of serious reflection whether it may be de-
sabe to revise the existing laws for the maintenance of
discipline OF sea- upon which the security Of life and pro-
perty the must to so great extent depend
Although much attention has already been given by Con-
gress to the proper construction and arrangement Of
steam vessels and all passenger ships, still it is believed
that the achievements Of science and mechanical skill in
this direction have not been exhausted No good reason
exists for the marked distinction which appears upon
statutes between the laws for protecting life and
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