Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-08


The justice Of an advance in the salaries OF
public officers corresponding with The Increased
cost OF the means of living, has been recognized
by the government in the recent laws for incfeas-
ing the compensation Of most Of the those en-
ployed in the civil departments Of the public ser
vice. These considerations apply with greater
force TO the case of officers Of the army, many of
whom are compelled, by the nature OF their du-
ties 10 reside in paris OF the country where even
scanty supplies can be obtained only al exorbtant
prices.
If it was deemed necessary to offer other con-
sderations than those of justice and equality,
many would present themselves appealing alike
to the pride, the liberality, and the gratitude of
the American people, 10 sustain q proposition
which only seeks TO relieve the military officers
of discrimination alike onerous and wounding
Il can require but little reflection 10 convince
any one that policy which confines so large
body ofintelgent and instructed men TO rate Of
compensation below that given in the ordinary
avocalons OF life, must tend 10 drive from the
military service its more active and efficient off,
GERS. If as doubt not, there will be many hon
orable exceptions 10 this general proposition
resulting from strong professional attachment TO
the army, they are exactly such exceptions as
would claim increased consideration from every
one who can estimate the patriotism and elcva-
ton which should characterize the officer TO whom
the honor and flag Of his country is entrusted.
In the law ofthe last session Of Congress TO in
crease the pay Of the rank and file OF the army,
men are construed to exclude those Of the Ord
nance Department. As this exclusion is supposed
10 be accidental and unintentiona Il is suggested
that an explanatory act should be passed 10 ex-
tend the increase OF pay TO all enlisted men Of the
army. The pay of ordnance laborers and me-
chanics would still be much below the ordinary
wages Of such employments-
would again call attention TO the propriety of
additional Legislation which shall place the widows
and orphans of the officers and soldiers of the
lssxxx al z<<fs
sailors Of the navy. The subject has been re-
peatedly recommended by the Commanding Gen
eral of the army, and il is again brought 10 notice
in his report of this year.
In some important particulars, our military le-
gislation, in regard 10 rank and command, as well
as 10 organization, needs revision. In armies il
is essential that il should be known, under all
possible circumstances, who is the officer entitled
10 command. Doubt as to the source from which
orders TO emanate, is destructive of dsplicine
and subordination, and might, on many occasions,
compromise the safety of troops. On this impor-
tant point our military law is exceedingly vague
and defective. Much of the mischief that other
wise would have resulted, has been prevented by
the care Of the Department in keeping asunder
officers whose claims would come in conflict, and
by the patriotic selfdenial of the officers them
selves who, in many instances, have waived
claims to command which they believed TO be well
founded, and served under those whom they con-
sdered as the juniors. Nevertheless, MANY I'M
jealousy, rancor, and INSTRUMENTATION; and the
decisions in such cases, so far from putting at
rest the questions involved, present a mass of
conflicting arguments, from which no general
principle can be educed, and which serve only to
furnish to every disputant the means of maintain
ing his own course. So numerous and contradictory
have been the decisions OF the highest authority
on questions of rank, that no executive regula-
ton or judgment OF court martial could now
establish any certain rule, or fix the interpreta-
LIZ IF he nf
by as high authority for contrary doctrine, and
would probably be, in turn, overruled. Congress
only can apply the remedy, and whatever rule
they may, in their wisdom, adopt, should be sim
pie in its terms, and universal in its existence.
One fruitful source OF difficulty arises from
double rank. In our service, as in the English,
an officer may have one grade by brevef in the
army, or nj large and another in particular regi-
ment or corps. The law has attempted TO define
the cases In which one or the other Of these com
missions shall take effect and il to the efective
and insufficient manner in which this is done that
much of the confusion above alluded 10 is due
The statutory provision on the subject 10 copied
| from the English. Even in their service il has
proved a source of much trouble, and, as in ours
there is a class Of commissions not known to
| theirs-commssions in the army at large, not by
| brevet- The interpretation Of the law Is further
| embarrassed by the necessity OF applying il to
class of cases for which il was not intended.
To remove this cause of dificufy some have
| proposed TO abolish brevet rank altogether, but
there are many stronger reasons against this
| course. Brevet rank affords an honorable incen.
| tive and reward TO distinguished conduct, and en-
ables the government TO avail itself OF the services
and abilities OF mertorious officers in higher com
mands than they would be entitled 20 exercise by
their ordinary rank. II is time indeed that these
| arguments lose much of their force and applica-
tion II the system of brevet promotion is not dis
creetly and justly administered and that the sys-
| TEN itself produces a shifting Of rank dangerous
10 discipline and military authority. The main
benefit Of the system is in affording selections for
command, but the present law gives brevet rank
| effect in all detachments composed Of different
corps, and selection is as much restrained by this
rule in favor OF brevet rank as by the rule In IA.
| vor Of ordinary Commissions. To avoid the evils
without FORGETTING the benefits Of the system II h,
proposed 10 give effect 10 brevet rank only when
the President may 81 10 authorize H. As these
commissions are designed only TO take occasional
effect, there seems 70 be propriety in requiring
his sanction either direct OF delegated, az const.
| tutional commander-in-chief OF the army 10 rive
them effect. A further Imitation however, should
| be put on them As they are not intended, and
| ought not 10 be allowed TO advance an oHicer n
his own corps, over his proper seniors, the cxer-
else Of them ought TO be forbidden, az now H. In
the regiment, troop or company, where the officer
belongs and is mustered.
| A difficulty Of still greater magnitude In found
in the enactments intended TO regulate rank and
command when different regiments snd corps do
duty together. The general provision Is, that the
command shall devolve upon the officer hiabest
in rank sin the line OF the army" but these words
were new in that connection, and Of underlined
Specification, and Il cannot be determined whether
they were intended 10 include officers holding
commissions by brsvet, In the staff or in certain
special corps. The Interpretation that has pre.
vailed in our service TO- that they do not embrace
any officers Of the general STAFF except the Major
General and the two Brigsdicr Generals but this
ir not scquiesced In BY many, and the question IL
still productive Of frequent controversy attended
with all the evils which have been above enune-
rated. n. ff7I-T-t
find much difficulty 10 proposing any general
rule 10 govern in this particular such military
organization ours. II IL clearly improper 10
exclude from command, according TO their rank
the officers Of the military staff, whose duties are
as important 20 the service AZ sny other class of
military duties below the chief command, and
require equal general capacity, professional skill
and experience. This would In effect, convert
the military staff 20 essential 10 an army, into
quasi civil corps On the other hand officers
whose duties, being confined TO a special CORPS
remove them from the ordinary service Of troops.
ought not 10 take, by seniority, the military
command for which their special service has not
qualified them.
This remark does not, indeed, now apply to all