The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-24
Mr.. RUSK | will agree 10 take UP this bill.
Mr. PRATT Lei MS pass il

nm ,.., - -
Mr. STUART. We viii take il up
Mr. SHIELDS, 1t has been very carefully prepared
by the honorable Secretary OF War, and examined BY The
committee hope there will be no objection 10 II what
soever.
OF the Senate upon the subject oil this BILL but j evi.
IDENTIFY bill OF that character that generally, and almost
necessarily, leads 10 debate
Mr.. SHIELDS think il cannot
Mr.. MASON | hardly conceive how II can be
passed without consuming considerable time
NJ pR RAIN Let US see. LII. ,.,., In !,
senator from Illinois allow me TO 10 lay il on the
Ia. lie or postpone il
Mr.. SHIELDS am as DESTROYS as The honorable
senator from Virginia himself that the Senate should pro-
coed 10 the consideration Of executive business to-day
and nothing but oil duty induces 10 bring this
matter before the Senate this morning. have been up
braided in some quarters for not bringing il forward be-
Mr.. MASON. ] appreciate the senator's feelings and
purpose, but II the bill leads 10 any debate, shall consd
myself bound to It's postponemen
The bill was then taken up, and considered in
mittee oil the whole.
Mr.. SHIELDS offered the following amendment to the
first section: Insert the words or diseases contracted
so that will read That the existing allowances shall
De confined to officers when duty, who shall have
LEFT their posts by reason OF wounds received OF diseases
contracted in the line OF their duty"
The amendment was agreed to-
MI. CASS MT President, this is an important bill
one which introduces great many changes. some Of
which do not understand distinctly, and Others that
not prepared TO vote for. There IL one observe in
respect 10 the appointment OF cadets by senator's in
gard 10 which have very great doubts whether it is
needed thDk the cadets OF the Military Academy now
supply officers enough for the army. And in the
bill provision that non-commissoned officers may be
appointed supernumerary or second eutenants. That
may create a greater number than is wanted.
doubt exceedingly whether any more cadets
cessary would like TO know the number Of cadets
sent Out Tor lew years past, whether they all
many supernumerary or second eutenants already.
These are rather important points, upon which ought
TO have some Information repeat, very much doubt
whether there already many cadets in the army
Mr.. SHIELDS This provision has been recon-
mended by the department for several years. well
BY olcers who have examined the cadets at West Point
Academy, and have inserted n the bill in consequence
OF this recommendation. My opinion is that il is OF
the best provisions in the bill The number OF officers
does not even equal the necessity ii, is contemplated
by the bill that has passed the Senate for the retirement
OF disabled officers OF The army these disabled and super
animated officers are removed In that this provs
ion Will not do any injury but on The conay will be pro-
ducuve OF great benefit The provision is that each SEN
ator shall have the privilege OF recommending cadet,
as well as each OF the representatives in the lower House
II has been recommended by wing and by democratic
administrations, and by the board OF vsiters at West
Point, for as many years past have been in the pub
lie service
Mr.. CASS The question with me is, not who is 10
recommend cadet, but what does the public service
quire may be true that after the passage OF the bill
for the retired list OF officers there will be. for short
time until The vacancies occasoned by their retirement
are filled deficiency of officers but | strongly i'm
pressed with the idea that the cadets already furnish
sufficient number OF officers of the army They must
furnish, ] think, sixty or seventy annually
MIR. SHIELDS. Sixty.
Mr.. CASS. Well, sixty | think. must certainly be
enough to fill the vacancies AT any rate before such
provision is adopted, think the fact should be ascertain
ed to The precise humber the Military Academy sup
plies from year 10 year. and whether there any need of
such provision as this do no, want TO add great
number Of supernumerary officers. unless they are re-
quired The from Illinois right ia saying that
this proposition has been recommended from year to
but that does supesede the necessity for examn
ing it, II is very important addition, and before vote
for il | wish TO examine it.
Mr.. SHIELDS. | cannot give the honorable senator
from Michigan the detailed information which he asks
this morning did not prepare myself for that All
am able to state is, that upon inquiry the department
ascertaned that these cadets would be needed to make
up for the officers that superaDnuaed and who will
OF necessity be compelled 10 leave the II the
honorable senator thinks the information is necessary,
will get it, or be can move TO strike out The provision.
Mr. CASS did no, want to 10 strike il out,
because have not the facts before me- and am not
able 10 say tba, il is unnecessary But without the in
formation, cannot vote for IL
Mr. SHIELDS Rather than that this bill-whch
regard essentially necessary--shoud fail, am
willing even TO have this provision stricken out ! am
not prepared TO give the information but am anx
ous 10 have the bill passed, that would prefer have
the provision stricken out 10 losing the bill.
Mr. PETIT. will move to strike out the last
clause OF the bull containing this provision.
Mr.. BUTLER. cannot agree 10 the striking out OF
that provision. concur with the senator from Illinois,
that il is OF The best provisions in the bill, because
by The present MODE oil appointment the senator's OF the
United States have no voice at all in nominating one OF
these young gentlemen Tor this Academy BY inserting
this provision in the BILL reduces i, TO something like
symmetry and system am surprised that my friend from
Michigan should oppose anything locking 10 war; and
depend upon II, we may have for these young men,
and possibly great many more than provided in this
bill think The provision ought TO be retained. am
very much inclined TO support the bill a whole.
Mr.. DODGE, oil Iowa hope the motion OF my friend
from Indiana will prevail think the law respecting
the appointment OF cadets right now stands, aBd
that senators ought 10 have nothing do with their NOM
nation. Senators vote to their advice and
TO the appointment Of cadets, and when they become
leutensnts, "a soon as they graded they part
OF the appointing power 10 have the advice and
OF the Senate Now, for one, none OF the patron
age OF these cadets thank God have had nothing TO
shall vote with great pleasure therefore, for The amend
ment OF the senator from Indiana strike out this pro-
vision.
Mr. CASS | have single word 10 add and then |
will say more. THIS is not question OF patronage,
though. far am concerned, want nothing 10 do
with the nomination Of cadets. The question is whether
the public service requires this addition, and that s all
want to ascertain, With respect 10 the remark OF the
honorable senator from South Carolina will observe
that il is because am friend 10 the Military Academy
and want TO perpelua'e II that have my doubts about
this provision. | believe the Academy at West Point
turns out officers equal 10 any in the world and IL IL be-
cause want IL perpeused that raise these questions
Mr.. PETIT. moved 10 strike out this provision,
first, because ! agree with the senator from Michigan
that we did not want this increases and, secondly, be
cause ! agree with the senator from Iowa that this
patronage ought not be placed with us For one, do
ao want 10 exercise IL and glad that IL is not 10
my hands Some dozen, fifteen, twenty, or forty appi
cants, for augbt know, would come 10 for one OF
these appointments, and the difficulty would devolve