Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-11


shown to be essential to the protection of the gov
eminent. There is express provision OF law, re-
quring the records and papers of public character
Of the several officers OF the gofernment to De lett IN
their offices for theuse of their successors, nor any
provision declaring it felony on their part 10 make
false entries in the books or return false accounts
In the absence of such express provision by law the
outgoing officers in many instances, have Claimed
and exercised the right to take into their own posses
son important books and papers, on the eround that
these their private property ana have placed
them beyond the reach OF the government. conduct
notice of the present Secretary OF the treasury nau
rally awakened his suspicion and resulted in the dis
closure that at four ports, namely, oswego, Ioledo
Sandusky and Milwaukee, the treasury had by false
entries been defraudcd, within the four years next
preceding March, 1853, of the sum OF one hundred
and ninety eight thousand dollars. The great dill
Guilty with which the detection OF these frauds has
been attended in consequence of the abstraction of
books and papers by the retiring officers, and the
facility with which similar frauds in the public
vice may be perpetrated, render the necessity of new
legal eactmchts in the respects above referred to,
quite obvious For other material notifications of
the revenue laws which seem TO me desirable refer
you the report Of the Secretary of the Treasury
That report, and the tables which accompany it, fur
nsi ample proofs of the sole foundation which tn
financial security of the country rests, and of tie s
utary influence of the independent treasury system
upon commerce and all monetary operations
The experience OF the last year fur shcs additional
reasons regret to say, of a painful character for
the recommendation hererofc.e made. to provide for
increasing the military TO- employed in the terrific
y inhabited by the indians: The settlers on the
FRONTIER nave sub' red much from theincursons of
predatory banfs AID large parties of emigrants to
our racine oss es1ons have been nassacred with m-
p'nl.y. The recurrence of such scenes can only be
pre- ent by teaching these wild tribes the power u,
and their responsibility to, the United States From
the garsons OF our frontier posts, it is only possible
to deach troops in small bodies and though these
have on all occasions displayed a gailantry and a
stern devotion to duty, which on lsrger feId would
have commanded universal admiration, they have
usually suffered severity in these conflicts with supe
rior numbers, and have sometimes been entirely sac
fiiced. All the disposabe force of the army is al
reaft employed ON this service, and is known to be
wholly inadequate to the protection which should be
afforded. The public mind of the country has been
recently shocked by savage atrocities committed upon
detenceless cmigrants and border settlements, and
hardly less by the unnecessary destruction of yalua-
bic lives, where inadequate attachments of troops
have undertaken to furnish the needed aid. Without
increase of the military force, these i'll be
peated it is to be teared on larger scale, and with
more disastrous consequences. Congress, am sure,
will perceive that the panest duties and responsible
fties OF government involved in this question: and
doubt not that prompt action may be s""tdently
anticipated when delay must be attended by such
fearful hazards. -.
The bill Of fhe last session. providing for an in
crease OF the pay of the rank and file OF the army,
has had beneficial results not only in facilitating en-
stmens, but in obvious Improvement in the class of
men who enter the Service regret that correspond
ing consideration was not bestowed on the ofhccls,
expenses to which they are necessarily subject.
ceive at present what is i'll my Judgment, inadequate
compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by the
Army, and its nestmabc Importance, as the nucleus
around which the volunteer forces Of the nation
promptly gather in the hour of danger, sufficiently
attest the wisdom Of maintaining military peace
Enlistment but the theory of system and the
wise practice under it, require that any proposed
augmentation, in time of peace, be only comuensu-
rate with our extended limits and frontiers relations
While scrnpuotsly adhcring to this principle, find,
in existing circumstances, necessity for Increase OF
our military force, and it is believed that four new
regiments, two OF infantry and two OF mounted men,
viii be sufficient to meet the present exigency. II it
were necessary carefully to weigh the cost i'll cause
of such urgency, it would be shown that the add-
tional expense would be comparatively light
With the increase of the numerical force Of the ar
my should, think, be combined certain measures of
reform in its organic arrangement and adninistra-
ton. The present organization is the result Of par
tal legislation often objected to special objects and
interests and the laws regulating rank and com
mand, having been adopted many years ago from the
British code, are not always applicable to our service
1t 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 carefnl revision.
The present organization, by maintaining Erge
staff corps departments separates many officers
from that close connection with troops, and those ac-
tive 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 Sc
cuity 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 hard
~ be doubted that the range of promotion by seec
ton, which is now practically confined to the grade
of general officers, ght be somewhat extended with
benefit to the public service Observance of the rule
of seniority sometimes leads, especially in time of
peace, to the promotion of officers who, litter meri
torious and even distinguished service, may have
been rendered by age or intirnity incapable of per-
forming active duty, and whose advancement there
fore would tend to impair the efficiency of the army.
Suitable provision for this class OF officers by the
alton OF Il retired list would remedy the evil with
out woanding the Just pride of men who by past
vices lave established Claim to high considerations
In again commencing this measure to the favorable
consideration of Congress. would suggest that the
power of placing officers out the retired list be limit
cd to one year. The practical operation of the
would thus be tested, and it, after the lapse OF
years, there should be occasion to the prov-
sion, it can be reproduced with any improvemec IS
which experience may indicate. The presen. oroani-
cation OF the artillery into regiments liable to obvi-
objections. The service Of arn.ery is that OF
batteries, and an organization OF batteries into a
corps of artillery would &c more consistent with the
nature Of their d.lies A large part of the troops
now called !ie artillery are, and have been, duty
as i'antry; the distinction between the two arms
being merely nominal This nominal artillery in our
service is entirely dsproportionae to the force,
and greater than the wants OF the country demand.
therefore commend the discontinuance Of distnc-
tion which has no foundation in either the arms used
Or the character OF the service expected to be per-
formed.
In connection it'll the proposition fer te increase
of the army, have presented these suggestions with
regard to certain measures of REFORM the compile
ment of system, which wonld produce the happiest
results from given expenditure, and which hope
may attract the early attention, and be deemed wor
thy OF tie approval OF Congress. t1fs8
The recommendation OF the Secretary Of the Navy,
having reference TO more ample provisions for the
discipline and general Improvement i'll the character
OF seauen, and Tor the Reorganization and gradual
increase OF the navy, deem 1t emincntly worthy OF
your favorable consideration. The principles, which
have controlled policy in relation to the perma-
nent military force, by land, sound, con
sistent with the theory OF system, aud should by
meGrs be dsregarded. But, limiting the force TO
the objects particularly set forth in the preceding part
OF this message, We should not overlook the present
magnitude aud prospective extension OF our CONNER
cial marine, ail to give due weight to the fact
that, besides the two thousand miles OF Atlantic sea-
board, we have now Pacific coast. stretching from
Mexico to the British possessions in the NORTH tenn
ing with wealth and enterprise, and demanding the
constant presence OF ships-0iwar. The augmenta-
ton OF the navy has not kept pace with the duties
properly and proiitaby assigned to it in time oil
peace, and it is inadequate for the large field o it's
operations, not merely in the present but still more in
the progressively increasing exigencies OF the wealth
and commerce Of the United States. cordially
approve OF the apprentice system for our national
vessels, recommended by the Secretary OF the Ma
Wy. s..
The occurrence, during the last few months of ma
rine disaster OF the most tragic nature, involving
a hlm ii. hnsp ntpns n ~.