Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-12-08


Tolec Sandusky and Milwaukee the treasury had, by
fnIsr entries defraurd within the four years next
preceding March 1858 of the Of one hundred and
nney-cieht thousand dollars The great difficulty with
which the detection i ttese frauds has been attended
consequence Of the abstraction OF books and papers
by the retiring officers. and the facility with which sim
liar rauds in the public service be perpetrated
render the necessity of legal enactments. in the
respects above referred to- quite obvious. For other
material notifications of the revenue laws which seem
to desirable refer You to the report of the Secre
tary of the Treasury That report and the tables which
accompany il furnish ample proofs of the solid founda
tou which the financial security OF the country rests
and of the sautary influence of the independent
~ system upon commerce and all monetary operations.
| The experience of the last year furnishes addi-
tonal regret to say, of painful character for
the recommendation heretofore made to provide for in
creasing the military force employed in the territory in
habited by the Indians. The settlers the frontier
have suffered much from the ncurslons of predatory
bands and large parties of emgrants to our Pacific pos
sessions have been massacred with impunity. The re-
of such only be prevented by teach
ing these wild tribes the power OF, and their responsible
ty to- the United States From the garrisons of from
tier posts it is only possible to detach troops in small
bodies and though these have all occasions display
ed gallantry and stern devotion to duty, which on
larger field would have commanded universal admira
ton they have usually suffered severely in these con-
licts with superior numbers and have sometimes been
entirely sacrificed All the disposable force ofthe army
is already employed on this service and IS known to be
wholly inadequate to the protection which should be a
forded. The public mind of the country has been re-
Gently shocked by savage atrocities committed upon de-
less by the unnecessary destruction of valuable lives
where inadequate detachmens otroop have undertaken
furnish the needed aid Without increase ofthe militia
~ force these will be repeated it is to be feared
on larger scale and with disastrous consequences
Congress- sure, will perceive that the painest du
ties and responsibilities Of government involved in
this question: and doubt not that prompt action may
be confidently anticipated when delay must be attended
by such fearful hazards
i The bill of the last session. providing for increase
Of the pay of the rank and file of the army has had
beneficial results not only in facilitating enlstmentS
but in obvious improvement in the class of men who
enter the service regret that corresponding considera
ton not bestowed the officers, who, in view Of
ter character and services and the expenses to which
they necessarily subject receive at present what is
f in my judgment, inadequate compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by the Al
my and its inestmabe Importance. as the nucleus
around which the volunteer forces of the nation can
promptly gather in the hour of danger sufficiently
test the wisdom OF maintaining military peace estab
liShment but the theory of our system and the wise
practice under it, require that any proposed augmena
ton in time Of peace be only commensurate with
: extended limits and frontier relations While scrupu-
lousy adhering to this principle find in existing cir
cumsances. a necessity for increase Of military
force and it is believed that four new regiments two of
infantry and two of mounted men, will be sufficient
meet he present exigency. If it were necessary
+ fully weigh the cost in Of such urgency. it
would be shown that the additional expense would be
: comparatively light.
With the increase of the numerical force of the army
should think be combined certain measures Of reform
: in it's organic arrangement and administration The
present organization is the result of partial legislation
n directed to special objects and interests and the
aNs regulating rank and command having been adopt
ed many years ago from the British code not al
l. ways applicable to service. 1t is not surprising
therefore, that the system should be deficient in the
Symmetely and simplicity essential to the harmonious
n working of its several parts, and require careful
l. vision.
The present organization by maintaining large staff
corps departments separates many officers from that
close connection with troops and those active duties in
ID the field which deemed requisite to qualify them
d for the varied responsibilities of high command We're
pIx-
detached from their regiments, it is believed that
the special service would be equally we'll performed,
II and the discipline and instruction of the army be i'm
proved While due regard to the security of the rights
officers and to the nice of honor which should
II be cuva ted among them, would seem to exact com
iance with the established rule of promotion in ordi-
nary cases still it hardly be doubted that the
81 of promotion by selection which is practically
Il fined to the grade of general officers might be
: what extended with benet to the public service OBJ
&c servance the rule of seniority sometimes leads
peciay in time of peace to the promotion of officers
who after meritorious and distinguished service
may have been rendered by age or infrmy incapable
Oh of performing active duty and whose advancement
d therefore would tend to impair the efficiency of the
. army Suitable provision for this class of officers, by
u the creation of retired list would remedy the evil
without wounding the just pride of men who by past
H services have established claim to high consideration
VI In again commenting this to the favorable
SderatOn of Congress- would suggest that the power
J" of placing officers the retired list be limited to
u year The pra ccal operation of the measure would
~ thus be tested and it. after the lapse OF years, there
" should be occasion the provision it be
produced with any improvements which experience may
Indicate The present organization of the artillery
" regiments is liable to obvious objections The service
of artillery is that of batteries and organization
batteries into corps Of artillery would be conSs
g with the of their duties. large part
~ the troops called artillery and have been
w duty infantry; the distinction between the two arm
"V being merely nominal This nominal artillery in on
" service is entirely disproportionate to the who'll
y force, and greater than the wants Of the countr
vi demand l therefore commend the discontnuance of
distinction which has foundation in either the
used the character of the service expected to be
wv formed
In connection with the proposition for the increase
the army have presented these suggestions with
a gard to certain of reform, the compleemer
o of SYSTEM which would produce the happest result
III from gwen expenditure and which hope may attrac
the early attention and be deemed worthy of the apprc
IN VAL OF Congress.
EN- The recommendation ofthe Secretary of the Nav,
I'm having reference to ample provisions for the d
cpne and general improvement in the character of
men, and for the reorganization and gradual increase
ur the navy deem eminently worthy of your favorabl
ur consideration The principles, which have controlle
policy in relation to the permanent military fore
nts by and land sound consistent with the theor
dy of system and should by means be disregarde
ch But limiting the force to the objects particularly
forth in the preceding part of this message we shout
Ind overlook the present magnitude and prospective
ct tension of commercial marine, fail to give du
weight to the fact that besides the two thousand mile
of Atlantic scaboard have Pacific coast
ing from Mexico the British possessions in the nor
eeming with wealth and enterprise and demanding IL
constant presence of ships-owar The augmentatio
the has not kept peace with the duties proper
ali and probably gned to it in time OF peace and
unt inadequate for the large field of its operations M
of merely in the present but still in the progressive
increasing exigencies Of the wealth and commerce
FER the United States cordially approve of the propose
mt apprentice system for our national vessels
and by the Secretary of the Navy.
The during the last few months mar