New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-12-09

thedisclosure that four ports, viz: 0swego, Toll |
edo, Sandusky and Milwaukee. the Treasury |
had, by false entries, been defrauded, within |
the four years next preceding March, 1868, Of
the sum Of S19S 900. The great difficulty with |
which the detection Of these frauds has been |
attended, in consequence Of the abstraction OF
books and papers by the retiring officers, ana
the facility with which similar frauds in the
public service may be perpetrated, render the
necessity of new legal enactmentss IN the re-
spects above referred to, quite obvious
For other material notifications OF the reye-
nue. laws, which seem to be desirable, refer
you to the report of the Secretary Of the Urea
sury. ~ sl
That 1epart, and the tables which accompany
it, furnish ample proofs OF the solid foundation
on which the financial security OF the country
rests, and of the salutary influence OF the indie.
pendent treasury system upon commerce anu all
monetary operations. ...-5..5..
The experience of the lasi year furnishes ad-
ditional reasons, regret to say, of o painful
character, for the recommendation heretofore
made, to provide for increasing the military
force employed in the territory inhabited BY
the Indians. The settlers on the frontier have
suffered much from the idcursions of predatory
bands, and large parties Of enlgrants 70 our
Pacific possessions have been massacred with
only be prevented, by teaching these wild tribes
the power Of, and their responsibility to the Uni
ted States From the garrisons of our frontier
posts, it is only possible to detach troops in
small bodies and though these have an all &C.
customs, displayed galantry and o stern devo-
ton to duty, which on a larger field would have
commanded universal admiration, they have
usually suffered severely in these conflicts with
superior numbers, and have sometimes been en-
trely sacrificed. All the disposableiforce Of
| the army is already employed on this service,
| and is known to be wholly inadequate to the
protection which should be afforded.
The public mind of the country has been re-
Gently shocked by savage atrocities committed
| upon defenceless emlgrants and border settle
ments, and hardly less by the unnecessary de-
struction of valuable lives, where inadequate
detachments of troops have undertaken to fur
nish the needed aid Without increase of the
military force. these scenes will be repeated, it
is to be feared, on a larger scale, and with more
Industrious consequences. Congress, am sure,
will perceive that the plainest duties and res
possibilities of Government are involved in this
question, and doubt not that prompt ASTON
may be confidently anticipated 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 been beneficial results, not only in
faciliting enlistments, but in obvious improve
| ment in the class of men who enter the service.
regret that corresponding consideration was
not bestowed on the officers who, in view of their
character and services, add the expense to which
they are necessarily subject, receive at present
what is in my judgment, inadequate compen-
sation.
| The valuable services constantly rendered by
| the Army, and its inestimable Importance, as
| the nucleus around which the volunteer inforces
| of the nation can promptly gather in the hour
| Of danger, sufficiently attest the wisdom Of
maintaining military peace establishment
| but the theory of our system and the wise prac-
tice under it require that any proposed augmen-
tation, in time Of peace, be only commensurate
| with our extended limits and frontier relations
| While scrupulously adheripg to this principle,
| find in existing circumstances, a necessity fol
increase of our military force, and it is believed
| that four new regiments, two of infanty and twt
Of mounted men, will be sufficient to meet ths
present exigency. If were necessary carefully
| to weigh the cost in q case of such urgency, i
4 would be shown that the additional expens.
| would be comparatively light.
1 With the increase Of the numerical force O.
the army should, think, be combined certain
measures of reform in its organic arrangemen
4 and administration. The present organization
is tho resulto partial legislation, often directed
to special objects and interests, and the law.
regulating rank and command, have beer
adopted many years ago, from the British code
are not always applicable to our service. 1t i
not surprising, therefore, that the system should
be deficient in the symmetry and simplicity es
sential to the harmonious working of its severa
parts, and require q careful revision
The present organization, by rnaintainin,
large staff corps or departments separated man,
officers from that close connection with troop
and those active duties in the field which ar
n requisite to qualify them for the varied respon
1 sibilities of high command Were the duties O
the army staff mainly discharged BY officers de
/ taohed from their regiments, it is believed tina
the special service would be equally well per
formed, and the discipline and instruction Q
the army be improved.
While due regard to the security Of the right
of officers, and to the nice sense of honor whic
should be cultivated among them would seer
to exact compliance with the established rule c
promotion in ordinary cases, still it can hardl
be doubted that the range OF promotion by Sc
lection which is practically confined to til
grade of general officers, might be somewha
extended with benefit to the public service, Oh
servance Of the rule of seniority sometimes lead
to especially In time of peace, to the promotio
of officers who, after meritorious and even dis
tinguished service may have been rendered b
age or infrmity incapable of performing activ
4
tend to impair the efficiency of the army. Suit
able provision for this class of officers by tn
|, creation Of a retired list would remedy the evil
without wounding the just pride Of men who b
4 past services have established claim to hig
consideration In again commencing this mea
D snre to the favorable consideration of Congress
. would suggest that the power Of placing off
GERS on the retied list of be limited to one veal
. The drectrial operation of the measure woul
!, thus be tested, and if, after the lapse of year
: there should be occasion to renew the provision
: itcan be reproduced with any improvement
e which experience may indicate. The preser
4 organization of the artillery into regiments,
: liable to obvious objections. The service
0 artillery is that Of batteries, and an organize
: tion Of batteries into corps of artillery woul
d be more consistent with the nature Of the
d duties A large part of the troops now Gale
IS artillery, are, and have been on duty as infal
IS try; hedistinction between the two arms beir
9 merely nominal. The nominal artillery in o,
!, service is entirely disproportonate to the who
: force, and greater than the wants Of the coui
+ try demand. |, therefore, recommend the di
le continuance of 20 distinction which has no foul
1t dation either the arms used, or the character
y the service expected to be performed
z In connection with the proposition for the il
" crease of the army, have presented these su
" gestions with regard to certain measures
u reform as the complement of q system, viii,
9. would produce the happiest results from Civ,
= expenditure, and which | hope may attra
le the early attention, and be deemed worthy
o. the approval, Of Congress-
Tbnp f1ot nf+ a