Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-05

cessarily subject receive at present what is, in my
judgment, inadequate compensation
The valuable services constantly rendered by the
army, and lie inesiimAble importance, as the nu-
ceus around which the volunteer forces OF the ma
ton can promptly gathersin the hour Of danger,
sufficiently attest the wisdom Of maintaining mil
itary peace establishment; but the theory OF our
system and the wise practice under IT, require that
any proposed augmentation, in time OF peace, be
only commensurate with our extended limits and
frontier relations, While scrupulousy adhering to
this principle, find in existing circumstance, a
necessity for increase of military force and it
is believed that four new regiments, two of infant
ry and two Of mounted men, win be sufficient to
meet the present exigency. II II were necessary
carefully to weigh the cost in case OF such urgen
cy, it would be shown that the additional expense
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 admins
tration. The present organization is the result of
partial legislation often directed to special bects
and interests and the laws regulating rank and
command, having been adopted many years ago
from the British code, are not always applicable to
our service. II is not surprising therefore, that
the system should be deficient In the symmetry and
simplicity essential to the harmonious working Of
its several parts, and require careful revision.
The present organization by maintaining large
staff corps OF departments, separates many officers
from that close connexion with troops and those
active duties in the field which deemed requisite
to qualify them for the varied responsibilities Of
high command Were the duties Of the army staff
mainly discharged by officers detached from their
regiments, it Is believed that the special 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 tho nice sense of honor which should be
cultivated among them, would seem to exact com.
pliance with the established rule of promotion in
ordinary cases, still il can hardly be doubted that
the range of promotion by selection, which Is now
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 In time of peace, to tho promo
ton of officers Who after nleritorous and even dis
tinguished service, may have been rendered by
age or infrmity incapable Of performing active
tend to impair the efficiency Of the army. Suita-
bio provision for this class Of officers, by the
ton Of retired list, would remedy the evil, with
out woundng the just pride of men who, by past
services, have established a claim to high consid-
Grafton. In again commencing this measure to the
favorable consideration of Congress- Iwould suggest
atthepowcr placing officers the retired list be
mmtou W}ouc year. lut prhCLCdi OpeTutOH VI tne
measure would thus be tested, and If afterthe lapse
Of years. there should be occasion to renew the pro-
vision II can be reproduced with any improvements
which experience may indicate. The present or
ganizaton Of the artillery into regiments is liable
to obvious objections. The service of artillery
is that of batteries and an organization of batteries
into corps of artillery would be more consistent
with the nature of their duties. A large part of
the troops now called artillery are, and have been,
on duty as infantry; the distinction between the
| two arms being merely nominal. This nominal
tiery in service is entirely dsproportionate to
the whole force and greater than the wants Of the
country demand. Therefore commend the discon-
tinuance ola distinction, which has no foundation
in either the arms used the character Of the
vice expected to be performed.
/ In connection with the proposition for the in
crease Of the army / have presented these sug-
gestions with regard to certain measures of reform
as the complement of a system which would pro-
duce the happiest results from given expenditure,
| and which hope may attract the carly attention,
and be deemed worthy the approval, of Congress.
The recommendation Of the Secretary Of the
| Navy, having reference to more ample provisions
for the discipline and general improvement in char
acter of seamen, and for the reorganization and
gradual increase of the navy, deem eminently
worthy of your favorable consideration. The prin-
ciples, which have controlled policy in relation
| to the permanent military force by sea and land
are sound, consistent with the theory of our sys-
tenn, and should by no means be disregarded. But,
| limiting the force to the objects particularly set
forth in the preceding part of this message, we
| should not overlook the present magnitude and
prospective extension of our commercial marine,
fail to give due weight to the fact that, besides
| the two thousand miles of 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
| constant presence of ships-of-war. The augmenta-
ton of the navy has not kept pace with the duties
properly and probably assigned to ii in time of
peace and 1t is inadequate for the large field of its
operations, not merely in the present but still
in the progressively increasing exigencies of the
wealth and commerce of the United States. cor
daily approve Of the proposed apprentice system
for our national vessels recommended by the Sec
rotary of the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months, of
marine disasters of the most tragic nature, involv
ing great loss Of human lifc has produced intense
emotions Of sympathy and sorrow throughout
the country. II may well be doubted whether all
these calamitous events are wholly attributable to
the necessary and inevitable dangers of the sea.
The merchants, mariners, and ship-builders Of the
United States are, it Is true unsurpassed in far
reaching enterprise, skill intelligence, and cour-
age by any others in the world. But with the
increasing amount Of our commercial tonnage in
the aggregate, and the larger size and improved
equipment of the ships now constructed, a def
cheney in the supply of reliable begins to be
very seriously felt. The inconvenience may, per-
haps be met in part by due regulation for the In
PRODUCTION into our merchant ships, Of indented APP
prentices; which, while IL would afford useful and
eligible occupation TO numerous young men, would
have a tendency to raise the character of seamen
as class And Il ~ deserving Of serious reflection,
whether Il may not be desirable to revise the ex-
sting laws for the maintenance Of discipline mt sea-
upon which the security of life and property on the
| ocean must to 30 great an extent depend.
Although much attention has already been given
| by Congress to the proper construction and ar
rangement Of steam vessels and all passenger ships,
believed thatthe achievements of science and
mechanical skll in this direction have not been
hausted. No good -reason exists for the marked
distinction, which appears upon our statutes, be-
tween the laws for protecting life and property at
sen, and those for protecting them on land. In
most of the States severe penalties provided to
punish conductors Of trains, engineers and others
employed in the transportation Of persons by rail.
way, or by steamboats, on rivers Why should NOT