The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-28
Lieutenant G general Bill.
Where are We going !


/ Where are We going
The Senate Of The United States have passed bin in.
tended 10 confer upon Gen Scott The is Of ass.snss,.
general" That body passed. resolution TO The sane
effect las. session, but the House failed 10 give lis sane
ton TO the Gen. Scott has already received
resolution OF thanks from Congress and gold medal
Tor his services IN the Mexican war, ,cus net an officer
soho sUsd under him in that campaign has spe been no.
tced
For his services in the Of 1884, he received reso.
luton OF thanks and sword, and the commission Of
/ brigadier general.
i tie has already received oa OF the treasury OF the
United States over loo husdrsd MousaJ Dollar, and hold.
his present high command and lucrative Office for life
These national Acknowledgements of his services are as
high Aaimeais have ever been conferred upon any
American citizen by the gousrnme OF the United States
and they high can be conferred consistently
with the spirit Of constitution and the usagss OF re-.
publican governments They shoald satisfy the ambi.
lion Of any patriot. The constitution prohibits rue, Of
nobility"
What. then the title OF lieutenant and WHARF
is it to be found
II 10 no, the title Of any Office. military rank OF com.
mand known 10 the constitution; laws or usages OF the
United States Where. then, and in what sort OF govern
ment. do we find it, We find il alone in those govern.
mens where for distinguished ciuc services the titles OF
earl, marquis. duke, Sc, and for similar military ser.
vices the titles Of field marshal, captain general euten.
ant general, &C., conferred and fnd il nowhere
else--that u.s. among the monarchies of Europe.
II does not belong to the republican vocabulary II
mad its origin 10, and has been confined in it's use TO- i'm
perial armies
Recently the government OF Mexico has passed from
its republican form TO that OF acknowledged monarchy
and among its first acts, while in state of transition q
il were il has conferred upon Santa Anna dictatora
powers for life, with that OF appointing his successor All
the same time il has conferred upon its absolute ruler the
as gene' az and his" serene In lhs,
government and people this is consistent Having made
up their minds surrender their republican form Of gov.
ernmen it is proper enough give up those titles Of re-
publican usage such general president &C., and assume
those peculiar to monarchy,hats, captain-genera as in
dicating bis military rank. and "h ssns highnss" ind
eating his position and title civil chief ruler The two
titles are equivalent to the title of emperor and concede
the power exercised alone by monarch. This conduct
10, say. consistent in Mexico; and il the people Of
this nation had determined upon following this recent
example OF their sister republic the proposition for the
government confer upon General Scott the "i,le Of
wa should first abolish the constitution
II being title nowhere be found among the usages
of nations, except in monarchies. and enanatng as
always must do. in such governments from the monarch
tits much "Mis IF ~obiIay as is tina, Of field mar
shall. those OF earl, marquis. duke, or count-,ss
conferred usually for civic services by monarch and
constituting the very Of aetihy These latter IT,
ties are sometimes conferred for distinguished military
services but in such they ene the rseiy1Ni 70
the sab'iantial honors OF ord-such as sea, in ID.
House of LoFds, and the privileges due alone 10 pe,rsg.
| and noble birth
The title OF lieutenant general carries with il no such
civil privileges or honors but OF strict military
bity and command. Hence, when that title 10 conferred
in monarchies--beng emanahon Of royalty-n conen
military nobility, and entities its recipient 10 high mill
tary command. do those Of earl, marquis. or duke
enuie those peerases 10 the general tile OF "iord and
a seat in the House OF Peers.
Such being the origin. history. and purposes OF confer
ring this and similar TILES of nobility and such The hon
and substantial benefits arising from and ncden, to
those titles OF nobility whether civic or military we
would ask whether General SCOTS friends, by confer
ring the title OF lieuenanixenera expect 10 give him
actual command over the constitutional eommandsr-in
ehJ OF armies The President Of The Uuiled States
rs styled in The constitution the commander n-chisl
Gen. Scott !. next in military rank and command to
| The President.
II they do not Intend give him actual command. a.
the tile imports he must have do they expect create
within his veins noble blood 7-entitling him TO 10
The Senate House OF Lords, and to other privileges
peeraxe-such exemption from attander for high
treason. fa
II OF these substantial benefits are 10 follow this
mili,arytii OF Nobility then they ask the government
not only depart from its republican usages and violate
The spirit OF the constitution, but 10 DO a very foolish
hiag-hat is, 10 ape royalty And for what but TO graft
iy his vanity,
But II Is said that this title conferred npon Gan
Washington, and. therefore, should be conferred upon
Gen. Scott
answer ihs, first. by saying that such taI' was
conferred upon Washington Secondly tina, II the facy
were that way il would be no precedent for comforting
upon General Scott. unless he can be showa 10 be sh
as Washington
10 1925, when we in expec alton OF war with
France and other European powers Congress, in order
10 place Washington a, the head OF army, Che bcng
then private ciiizen,) passed law making Washing
ton acknowledgement, and gave him command OF The
army This was neither creating comforting "hk"
u was creating an efics--a new rank-a higher
mand in the army and il done to Place prspa, CIT.