The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-09
oreanlkalion ]. the resnit r,rt,ni -l,.rls.n.

IN the symmetry AMI simplicity essential to5
tie harmonious workings Of its seyeralparts,
ndrrquirc a careful revision. ~
The present organization, by maintaining
large staff corps OF departments, separates
many officers from hat close CONNECTION with
troops and those active duties Uf the field,
which are deemed requisite to qualify thcmt
Tor the varied responsibilities Of high COM
manl. Were the duties Of the army staff
mnnly discharged by otii,cs detached from
their regiments, it is believed that the spe-
cial service would tie equally well performed
and the discipline and instruction of the
army be improved. While due rcgarj to
the security Of the rights Of officers, and TO
the nice sense of honor which should be cul.
tiyated among them, would seem to cxact
compliance with the established rule of pro-
motion in ordinary cases, still 1t can hardly
be doubted that the range Of promotion by
selection, which is now practically confined
To- the grade Of general officers, might Toe
somewhat extended with benefit to the pub
lie service. Observance Of the rule of senior
ity, sometimes leads, especially in the time
of peace, to the promotion Of officers who,
after meritorious and even distinguished ser,
ycc, may have been rendered 10y aye or in
firmly, incapable Of performing active duty,
and whose advancement therefore, would
tend to impair the efficiency of the army.
Suitable provision for this class Of officers,
/ by the creation Of Il retired list, would rem
/ ely tie evil, without woundng the Ust
pride Of men who, by past services, have
established caim to high consideration.
/ In again commenting this measure to the
! favorable consideration Of Congress would
suggest that the power of placing officers on
the retired list, be limited 10 one year. The
practical operation of the measure would be
thus tested, and il, after the lapse Of years,
! there should be occasion TO renew the pro.
vision, it can be reproduced with any I'M
proycmen's which experience may indicate.
. The resent organization 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 4 large part Of
the troops now called anti l,ry, arr, an
/ have been, on duty as infantry; the diStinc-
uoh p',"e'" Wv t"o "'"'' "'i"S h'''e',
/ nominal
This nominal artillery in our service is on.
tircly d,prop rtionate 70 the whole force"
and orcutrr than the wants Of the country
Ia,,7,.I I,Lcr.f,,. ,a,,,n,,.,,I tL. l,.,,,,.
- ii-,;,.,;.., ,Li,l, L,. D., Com,
,'".'".
d"'lou III 'N''' ''' "'''' ",'' " '''o vi "'
ter OF Inc service eNp'c'eo 70 oe perform
ed.
In connection with the proposition for lh'
increase of the army. have pfc,sntc,
H., e,,,,.sti,p. with REGARD :, ,.l,,i,
,,,..,-,.,,.' 'f ,cc,rr 10 ,l. co,,,J,,ncr, &C
Ill II. -.
'lAF"' WIZ" WAN POM "'' "'I! ~,
results from u gwen 'Np'",""''' "U' "I"''
| hope may attract the earl! attention, An.
be deemed worthy the approval Of Con
,rr..S.
w.. recommendation of tLo Secretary ,
u X. l...;.,, ,,f.,,,... ;, ,,,,.r., ann
VIZ -'.'!' 49,, ,.'...,I
PTo'"''H' .'' INC "'"' '''' ",'' -'''"' '''
V"N'm'ht III 'hc c""'"',c' " sra'"'"' "''
, iur the reorganization AMI general increase q
the Navy, | deem clninenuy worthy OF yoI
favorable consideration. Tie priUclyln
"a llrl have controlled pilr builth ~ fNii'lH
, g.. ,,,. ,,,,,,.r,rt military f,r.. Ly 500, ,,
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'"'''' "'' '''''' |.',I
81 our ''."l' anu S"'nl' y! Nv '"'''''7 -
d'srogaided. but' iIiilthE thr i'icc 1" Us
objects particularly set forth III the pr"ce'in
e. pat Of this lnts'a"r We should nor o'"'''n
the present magnitude anl prospective IS
: tension Of oar commercial marine, nor "a
: % give due weight 10 tie fact that, beside
. the two thousand mile, Of Atlantic .r,b,arI
I,-, ,,.n. poc,f, cons, ,,,..cI,;,,,, f,,,,
II; 80, =. IL .,i
NeN'.o 70 'nr D''''''' '>7'1'''"', III '''' '''''
tccm'ng WIN "eaI'h ana enterprise, an
, demanding the constant presence Of ships q
war. The augmentation Of the Navy ha
not kept pace with the duties properly an
nr,ftably ASSIGNED TO il in time of ne,r.