Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1854-12-08


itasing enlistment hut Il obvious mps 0. e.Dsas
in the class Of men VIII enter the service. |
regret that corresponding conside ratiDn was not
bestowed on the o1cesb. who. 10 viep Of their
character and services. and the expenses 10
which they are necessarily subjected, receive at
present what is. in my judgement. inadequate
compensa tion. The valuable services cons tant
ly rendered by the army. and its inestm Bile i'm
porsance. ~ the nucleus around which the vol
unseer forces Of the nation can promtly gather
in tho hour Of danger. sufficiently attest the
wisdom Of maintaining . military peace estab.
lishment; but the theory Of our system and wise
practice undsr it. require that any proposed
augmentation. in time Of peace. be only COM
mensurste with our extended limits and frontier
relations. While serupously adhereing to this
principle. find, in existing circumstances, a
necessity for increase Of our military force. and
it is believed that four new regiments. two Of
infantry. and two Of mounted men will be suf
hcient 10 meet the present exigency. lit were
necessary carefully to weigh the costs in the
case Of such urgency. il 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 meas
ures OF reform in its organic arrangement and
administration. The present organization is the
result Of partial legislation often directed to special
rank and command, having been adopted many
years ago from the British code, are not always
applicable to service. 1t is not surprising
therefore, that the system should be deficient in
tie symmetry and simplicity essential 10 the lar
monious working Of It's several paris, and require
careful revision.
The present organization. by sintaining large
staff corps or depar' separates many officers
from that close connection with troops. and those
active duties in the field which are deemed re
qusite to qualify them for the varied response
bities of ligh command. Were The duties Of
the army staff maini- t'sclarced by officers de-
tached from their REGIMENTS, j. is believed that
the special service would be equally we'll perform
ed. ard IRE discipline and instruction of tie army
be mprov ed. While due regard TO tie security
of the rights of officers, and 20 the nice sense of
honor which sEoaid be cultivated among them,
would seem to exact cor rliarce with the es!ab-
hsEed rule Of prGmo'iun n ordinary cases. still
it can hardly be doubted that the range of pro-
motion by election, which is now practically
fined to the grade Of general officers. might be
somewhat extended with benefit TO the public ser
vice. Observance of the rule of seniority some
times leads. especially in time of peace, to the
promotion Of officers who. after meritorou. and
even distinguished service, may have been rem
dered by age or infirmity incapable Of perform
ing active duty, and whose advancement, there
fore, would tend to impair the efficiency Of the
army. Suitable provision for this class Of officers
by the creation of retired list, would remedy the
evil, without wounding tie just pride of men,
who by past services, have established claim
to high consideration. In again commencing
this measure TO the favorable consideration Of
Congress, would suggest that the power of pla-
cling officers on the retired list be limited to
year. The practical operation Of the measure
would thus be tested, and If, after the lapse of
years, there should be occasion to renew the
provision. it can be reproduced with any impro-
vements which experience may indicate. The
present organization Of the artillery into regiments
's.l;shls-to- -chyicus objections. The service Of
more consistent with ffe NATURE Or tfe'f uee'e
A large part Of the troops row called artillery
are. and have been, on duty as infantry; the DIS
tinction between the two armies beng merely
nominal This nominal artillery in 1HrT e. forcs
is entirely disproportoRss,Sais Of the country de-
anHdf therefore commend the discontinuance
of distinction, which has no foundation in either
the arms used or the character Of the service ex-
pected to be performed
In connection with the proposition for the in
crease Of the army, have presented these sug-
Cestions with regard 10 certain measures OF re-
form as the complement Of system, which
would produce the happiest results from given
expenditure, and which4 hope may attract the
early attention. and be deemed worthy of the
approval Of Congress.
The recommendation OF the Secretary of TIE
Navy, having reference TO more ample provisions
for the discipline and general improvement in The
character of scam.n e.d for tie re organization
and gradual increase oil lie navy, deem emn
entity worthy Of your favorable eons!deiatlo
TIE principles. which lave controlled our Iolic!
IN relation to he permanent military :orce. BY
sea and land. are sound, consistentwi.t lie tic
ory of our system. and should by no means be
dis,esarded But, limiting tie force 10 tie OBJ
iects particularly Sc! forth in the preceding FAR
of this message we should not overlook tie pre-
sent magnitude and protective extension OF oUl
commercial marine, nor all 10 give due weigh
to the fact that. besices = 'wo thousand mile:
of Allan ic seaboari. " lave new Il tactic coast
stre.chiug from Mexico 20 he British possession
in the nc Eth, :eeming with wealth and enter
prise ard demanding lie constant presence o
ships ol-war. The augmentation OF tie navy
has not kept pace wiz he duties properly anc
profitably assigned 'c II II re of peace, and i
is inadequate for he lars, field of is operations
not merely in tie presen, tut still more in til,
progressively increasing exisences o; the wealth
and commerce Of the United States. Icordially
approve Of the proposed apprentice system fol
our national vessels, recommended by the Score
tary Of the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months. o
marine disasters Of the most tragic nature, IN
volving great loss Of human life. las produced
intense emotions ofsympathy and sorrow through
out the country. Itmay well be doubted whethe
all these calami,ous events are wholly a;;ributa
bic TO the necessary and inevitable dangers Of ih
sea- The merchants mariners. and ship builder
Of the United States, are, it is true. unsurpassed