The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-29

of ihai institution are the best educated men in the eoua-
uy and that whether engaged in military civil life
ney heeane ornaments 10 The county. and useful in
every sphere am. therefore, altogether in favor OF in.
creasng The number OF cadets 10 the utmost capacity OF
The institution as IL exists. Bu, il is 10 ,he exercise
Of ibis patronage on the part oil the Senate that object
agIee with my friend from Iowa Mr.. DoDGEl that,
codB 10 my view, II Is not eltrey compatible with the
theory OF our government that lhe Senate should
have The appointing power, As unders and the theory
nt our government appointments are to be made by me
President, and his nominations 10 be confirmed by
The Senate Here you introduce an entirely dfefen,
principle, and you make II compulsory the President
to nominate the person whnm sou recommend that you
have The appointment and The confirmation IN yonr own
hands The result. spprehend, will hereafter he this
There will be eel OF officers growing up in the army
appointed by usby each individual senators each will
have bis particular potege 10 the army, 10 whose course
in life be I'LL necessarily look with degree OF pride
aud 10 whom be might perhaps, be unwilling 10 see JUS
lice meed out as II should be.
think, in every point of view, il would be injndicous
TO give 10 senators this appointment am IN favor OF
increasing the lumber OF cadets, but wish give the
70 some other PARTIES than senators OF the
MI HAMLIN Mr.. President. think some senators
favor OF retaining this clause in the bill because it
conefs upon them the appointment OF cadet; and other
opposed to the section Tor the that, if
il becomes law beY will incur tie responsibility OF
having TO make appointment Now, sir, am in ia
yof oil the section Tor such reason am opposed
TO il Tor any such reason. seek responsibilities
would avoid Ii IT is advisable, II il s necessary.
il il is desirable that additional number OF cadets
snoulu De appointed, might De appIo-
pnaiey designated BY senators, with quite much pro-
prety rs they are now designated by members of the
House OF Representatives.
But, sir, | am opposed 10 this section, and | am op-
posed 10 il Tor reason which think has been very well
stated by the senator from Michigan am opposed TO it
because | sincere friend OF the Academy at West
Point believe that that school turns out annually a
number amply sufficient, and more than sufficient TO
swer all the demands Of the government. would vote
most cheerfuy, and believe should be acting 10 the line
OF my duty doing restrict rather than increase,
I'M L
but would let II remain r. think the evidences
furnished during The last with Mexico have
moved portion of the prejudice which existed in The
minds Of some OF community against that school 1t
has furnished with the best officers, think that the
world has | doubt not t,at the generan
chief, if he could tell us, would say that better ap
pointed corps OF engineers went with any army
in The world that which we senl 10 Mexico; and II Is
10 such an efficient corps Of engineers that much OF The
success of our arms is TO be attributed.
Now, sir, | trust-indeed, | know-that no senator
would do anything which would create prejudice in
the minds OF our community against the institution by
increasing the number o! scholars there amount
greater than The of tha couay absolutely require
Believing that such may be the effect of this section
and believing clearly that there are as many cadet,
al the Academy the exgencies OF ba country requires
shall vote TO strkeou the section. The senator from
Maryland has moved 10 amend The amendment so as 10
strike only the last part of The sec,on-thus ncreas
ing the number. and only removing the responsibility OF
making the appointments from senators / shall S,e
against that amendment, and in favor o striking out the
section, for The reasons which have stated.
Mr.. BAUTER. Alf. PRESIDENT, decidedly IN Ia
Of retaining this section, for The which have
been given by my friend from Illinois, Mr. SHIELDS
and also by my friend from Delaware. Mr.. CLAYTON
and for the emphaeaiy given by the dsin-
gushed gentleman who at ,he head OF the military de-
panmeni OF the government believe tha, what has
been said true that the country derives IN every
IscaIculsbe advantages from the maintenance OF the
military school al West Point; and think it enables us,
in he language OF The Secretary, 10 derive in eec all
be benefts 10 The country OF large standing army with
out either the danger The expense of maintaining one,
through
edge and skill which may be at any moment called nio
reqapon when The necessities OF The country require
il, and be made efeclua Tor The national defence.
am opposed Mr.. presiden the amendment pro.
posed by my friend from Maryland. Mr.. PRATT, 10
strike oul mat portion OF the ninth section which de-
wolves the nomination Of these officers sepaors.
There is mistake on this subject 1t has been said that
exercise influence the appointment, OF cadets,
in virtue OF our advising authority upon nominations In
point Of ac we have no real influence or control, d-
indirect, the appointment of any officer in
the army. The cadets are, IN ioim, appointed by The
head OF the War Departments IN effect and substance by
the respective members OF lbe House OF Representatives
The cadelsip never comes here for Confirmation. As
cadets lave gone through u Ell course al The
Academy. aud dschaged from that institution, they
pass into The army under regulations having The force o
law aud when they nominated 10 us by the Pfesi
dent, the President has discretion IN making The
nomination than have advising and consenting 10
it, II s regular nomination under The authority OF law,
and the domination by the President, and the conhrma
lion BY the Senate, mere matters OF form so that,
with regard to The scy regular army. u - undoubtedly
True, as our law sanurt lnat tue are pbC-
csy appointed by the House OF Representatives. They
appointed by that House House, bat hey
,everally appointed by The respective members the
House
do not sop 10 inquire whether this system fappoint.
ment is right oE not have heretofore stated in my place,
on another occasion, that thought II was wrong, and
think think the system is wrong and lbough
do not believe that IL formally violates the constitution,
think IL tends in direction which is njlfious, ADD
which the constitution probably intended to prevent by
its arrangements IN regard 10 appointments But slr,
that system il fastened upon u.s. and the question is
whether 10 he existing state OF things, the members of
This body, well the members of the other House,
,houd not have Influence W these selections His a
strange lhipg ioeay that the President who s the orgi
nal appointing power, shoni have right 10 appoint
certain number o cadets that the members OF the House
OF r. representatives shaI have power 70 appoint GER
tain nun bfr oi cadets, and that all the officers in ihe
amy shall be aiken IRON the cadets so appointed; and
then say thst the sena'ors shall have no influence ~
The actuG constitution OF the army because, " .ad
have a formal vote when commission ~ tendefed ~
an officer whether not we will advise and consent 10
his appointment SIR, we know that have rIght--
we cannot instly and hOnoraby refuse 10 appoint hin
He is ehtlted; and II were 70 refuse our assent TO
such no inaon, 1t would be plain violation OF duty,
ard an injury done 10 The party ~ refusing him nSht
which he had atqufed by law,
Now sir wrsh 10 say a word upon The idea suggested
by my trend from MARY land. who hst spoke on this sub
ject. No PskRcrJ j and which he did not exactly carry
out, 10 The ptopuey OF these appointments lbe Sc
lecliops made by the members at the House oi Repre-
senstves are necessarily made from Their districts They
intended 10 be made and believe they are required
by law to b. made from their districts Then The persons
10 The respective Districts who, for whatever reason have
appointments Then The Presiden has certain number
think n rpiets "A The obs