Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-12-18

Tl0r NUMBERS, ana nave SOIneLlfnes Deeu cii-
tirely sacrificed. All the disposable force
of the army is already employed on this
service, and is known to be wholly made
quate to the protection which should be
afforded. The public mind of the country
has been Recently shocked by savage afro
cities committed upon defenceless emigrants
and border settlements, and hardly less by
the unnecessary destruction of valuable
lives, where inadequate detachments Of
troops have undertaken to furnish the need
ed aid Without increase of the military
force, these scenes will be repeated, it is to
be feared, on larger scale, and with more
disastrous consequences. Congress, | am
sure, will perceive that the plainest duties
and responsibilities of government are invol-
we'd in this question, and doubt not that
prompt action may be confidently antici-
pated when delay must be attended by such
fearful hazards.
The bill of the last session, providing
for an increase Of the pay of the rank and
file of the army has had beneficial results,
not only in facilitating enlistments, but in
obvious improvement in the class OF men
who enter the service. | regret that cor
responding consideration was not bestowed
on the officers, who, in view of their char
acter and services, and the expenses to
which they are necessarily subject, receive
at present what is in my Judgment, mad
equate compensation.
The valuable services constantly render
ed by the Army, and its inestimable inn
portance as the nucleus around which the
volunteer forces of the nation can prompt
ly gather in the hour of danger, sufficiently
attest the wisdom of maintaining militia
~ peace establishment; but the theory of
our system and the wise practice under it,
require that any proposed augmentation,
in time of peace, be only commensurate
with our extended limits and frontier rela-
tons. While scrupulously adhering to
this principle, find, in existing crcun-
stances, n necessity for increase of our mill
tarv force, and it is believed that four new
regiments, two Of infantry of mounted men,
will be sufficient to meet the present ext
cency. If it were necessary carefully to
weigh the cost in a case of such urgency,
it would be shown that the additional ex-
pensc would be comparatively light.
With the increase Of the numerical force of
the army should, l think, be combined with
certain measures of reform in its organic ar
engagements and administration. The pre-
sent organization is the result of partial
legislation often directed to special objects
and interests; and the laws regulating
rank and command, having been adopted
many years ago from the British code, are
not always applicable to our service. 1t
is not surprising, therefore, that the sys-
tenn should be deficient in the symmetry
and simplicity essential to the harmonious
working of its several parts, and require a
careful revision.
The present organization, by maintain
ing large staff corps of departments, separ-
ates many officers from that close connection
with troops, and those active duties in the
field, which are deemed requisite to quail
fl them for the varied !: sl gI 5He
army staff mainly discharged by officers
detached from their regiments, it is belle
we'd that the special service would be equal
ly well performed, and the discipline and
instruction of the army be improved
While due regard to the security of the
rights Of officers, and to the nice sense of
honor which should be cultivated among
them, would seem to exact compliance
with the established rule of promotion in
ordinary cases, still it can hardly be doub-
ted that the range of promotion by selec-
ton, which is now practically confined to
the grade of general officers, might be
somewhat extended with benefit to the
public service. Observance of the rule of
seniority sometimes leads, especially in time
OF peace to the promotion of officers who,
aft lneritorious and even distinguished
service, may have been rendered by age or
infirmaty incapable of performing active
duty, and whose advancement, therefore,
would tend to impair the efficiency of the
army. Suitable provision for this class of
officers, Ivy the creation of a retired list,
would remedy the civil, without wounding
the just pride of men who, by past service,
have established claim to high consider
alton. In again commencing this measure
to the favorable consideration of Congress, |
would suggest that the power ofplaclng Off
GERS on the retired list be limited to one
year. The practical operation to the measure
would thus be tested, and if, after the lapse
of years, there should be occasion to remove
the provisions, it can be reproduced with
any improvements which experience may
indicate. The present organization of the
artillery into regiments is liable to abvious
objections. The service of artillery is that
of batteries into corpse of artillery would
be more consistent with the nature of their
duties. a large part of the troops now
called artillery are, and, have been, on du-
ty as infantry; the distinction between the
two arms being merely nominal. This
nominal artillery in our service is entirely
dlsproportlonate to the whole force, and
greater than the wants of the country de-
mand. l therefore commend the discon.
unuanee OF a distinction, which has no
foundation in either the arms used or the
character OF the service expected to he per.
formed.
In connectioa with the proposition fol
the increase OF the army, have presented
these suggestions with regard to certain
measures of reform, as the complement Of
system, which would produce the hap.
pest results from a given expenditure, and
NH ] IL