The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-29
CONGRESS >IONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22. 1854.
SENATE.
PAY oY THE ARMY.


the consideration oi the bill " 10 regulate the pay and
increase the efficiency Of the amy OF the United States
and tor oibef purposesnine pena'ng question beng on
the amendment OF Mr. PETIT, TO strike out the ninth
section which provides Tor The appointment of two at
donai cadets from each Stale on the recommendation
of the respective senators
Mr., SHIELDS. Mr. President, before the honorable
senator from Delaware proceeds, permit call The
attention OF The Senate TO recommendation OF the hoard
Of visiers 10 the West Point Academy, which find
in their report Tor the last year:
We are OF The opinion that the number of the cadets
should be increased to correspond with the mum Der
Of OF the United States, by adding each
State, and that the recommendation Of senators n each
should have great weight in selecting the cadets from
respective states 10 make this increased number
have also letter addressed by Colonel Totien, Of
the engineer department, 10 the Secretary OF War, IN
1884, ia which he says that the cadet barracks. as they
now stand, viii accommodate sixy.wo cadets in addi
lion TO the present legal number, and that such an in
crease the number Of cadets would not involve any
necessary enlargement OF The reiectoy, any increase
in the number OF recitation | will read one
more extract; will read because 1t is better ex-
pressed than yhing that can say in commendation
upon this point is from report OF another board OF
vsers TO the Military Academy. communicated wi h the
annual report Of the Secretary OF War:
sWhen idered IN ils iesuts that obtain from this
expenditure body ouicefs no viii compare scientif,
asnments, military skill ip poble bearing, with the
officers OF IN The woIiG--nen OF enlarged patriot
ism and ieeiiogs-men who dfuse military know
edge through The who have executed OF the
great works. military aud CIVIL OF the conny-men who,
scattered lhtoneh me lana IA ntY ana cisii iiie are
capable oicering and nstfucDg in good soiieshp
lheif county giving the Union the adVan ages, with
out the danges and rxpene, OF large sanding army
when eonsdefed thus the sinks hto hcance.
have read these reports, and made these statements,
10 show hat am fortified, IN pressing this bill by the
Department OF War, and by Secretaries OF War, both
Vbig and democrat
purpose OF calling The attention Of the Senate The i'm
poraD which has just been brought before il by my
honorable friend from Illinois that rose yesterday and
for that purpose will occupy moment to day. The
distinguished gentleman who is a, the head OF The War
Department, and whose experience entities every recon.
nendaon OF his 10 reference 10 the army 10 serious
consideration and favorable regard has most earnestly
recommended The provision which is conlained in the
ninth section Of this bill do earnestly hope, therefore,
for the vey assigned by him in his report, that
the ninth section may tot be stricken from The bill. IL
commends itself to me particularly. because il contains
the electoral principle II proposes to recognise the
aors al the United States enilsd to weight
in the Recommendations oil the officers under this govern
ment do not hesitate 10 say ha, The recommendations
oil senator's who are placed here by permanent appoint
ment Tor years, entitled to quite much consie
raon the recommendations o gentlemen The other
House bui yet. heretofore, every cadet who has been
appointed upon the recommendation of member OF Con
gess has been piointed solely upon The recommendation
OF Dative in the other house SIR, of The TWO
classes which would be least APT be sed in the
event OF an exciting election approachngbe senator or
the Representatives. submit that, IN my judgment, The
Who beyond The reach OF election aad IFS ex-
elements will be apt TO make proper recommended
tion, IT, indeed there is 10 be any distinction made be-
tween ibe Two, II we to Say that make
omnendaon OF the senator IL IS iIue that this will
throw upon senators increased responsibility II will
doubtless give gentlemen trouble bul have they The rgt
avoid that responsibility under the circumstances II
for the interest o The country, The duty OF a
ator TO encounter The responsibility
MIR. PEARCE. Mr.. President, IL this were a mere
question oi patronage, hink should vote for striking
out the secton. All power certainly apt plague the
possessor; and among The smaller anRoyances do not
know loTe troublesome one than that whi h besets
those who have the besiowment of patronage Of this
H., lnPfetOFP, u
age, should vote Tor striking cut the section but un-
dersland that Increase OF cadets Desirable aud
hcuary under The provisions OF this bill, which may
make It necessary Heretofore believe, cate, has
been appointed from each congressional district 10 nrn
the course OF four years which gives two hundred and
hrythEce cadets Tor bs terra and, besides these, there
ATE some ten appointments at large annually which are
authorized 10 be made By the President. For one,
should be very much INCLINED 10 bestow this patronage
OF The proposed increase 10 he number OF cadets the
President Instead Of giving 10 senators, but for The fact
mat must confess myself sppenensiye that the manner
IN which IBIS presidential patronage has been exeroiseh
wood be extended or ie-s the increased number
be Influenced by other considerations not at all salts
factory 10 me.
have noticed the last appointments TO the Military
Academy made by The President; and though he has
only exercised hls undoubed risht in the selection Of
those whom hs has named yet must regret the appoint
mep' OF so mans sons and relatives oil military men,
gives 10 some minds the idea Of sort OF hereditary
esssion ~ military offices believe that nine OF the
ten yeona gentlemen just appointed sons, adopted
sons OF omess, and the tenth the descendant Of a
o'ulionary ofhcer appointed for thai reason How many
sons oi odeers have bean otherwise appointed do nu
know.
II seems 10 that, for ohyrnus reaAyns the exercise
on this patronage by the President is likely TO run too
much 10 the direction 10 which have alluded or 10 BE-
nnuenoed IN very great degree by mere political con.
tldeFaons, do not think II will be liable 10 the same
oolectlon " the Senate exercise II.
Besides, sir the representatives in the oher honse rnn
nne ihsIr appointments To their own districts Of cout.e
Tor fbey are Obliged by law do so and they are ysty
often so much pressed BY popular and naeniia persons
20 heT districts that the appointment ia made rather
from considerations OF thai so than because n tef.
II and promise OF the youth who appointed II is in many
cases me con5hIon and political activity Of the pare n
tahe han The character OF tbs boy which nsurps his
appointment DO MOI know that claim TOO much for
hls hody when say that think the Senate not being
nnner Inc pressure OF the same influences would BE- able
70 make appointments perhaps promising and welding
more ehclenoy to he service At all events il wund h.
Wihn our competency 10 do | may add that The in.
creased nnmber OF appointments could moi well be ds
Wou'ed among the members OF the Honse of Representa-.
Fssi as these new appointments are 10 be added and
i 90 not KNOW OF any better depository OF the appoint.
Ihg power IMAM the Senate, shall vote against striking
out The section, 's
Mt PRATT. Mr. President, | move 10 amend The
amendment OF The senator from Indiana BY striking out
Wv Wofds upon the recommendation OF he respective
e"s'o's instead OF striking out the whole section as
proposes TO do The secon would then IN sibsfapcs
80, 'uat 'hefe shall be increase OF the number nj
a, .eaN 70 The number of senators, without dssg.
- h nf ue MODE 81 appointment Thus the Senate wuud
- .su ~ tom the disagrecabs necessity al indicating
vail ,t3n ~ appointed II this amendment should pre.
-, 'uinh mat the rfeat object The Great harsa,
"blcn y s supposed will result Iroro ,bi. oditi
ger OF osuss, VIII be attained ami rs sIall b vi
' ~ w Consequences OF having Ia .Yptcse thts
patronage, as II is termed ''"S " 'Ae'S'se mls
sn,h,po. ilai Is the same AZ giving IN tbs