Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-12-08


by the Indians The settlers ON the frontier
have suffered much FROM the incursions ofpre-
daiory hands, and large parties OF cmigranis
In uut Pacific possessions have been massa-
cred with impunily The recurrence Of sach
scene, canonly be- prevented by teaching the e
Wild tribe, the power Of, and their response.
bility IN. ,be United States. From the gar.
risons or onr frontier posts. il is only possible
IN driach troops IN small bodies, and though
these have on an occasions displayed raIlan.
try and a stern devotion 10 duty. which ou
larger field would have commanded universal
admiration. il,cy lave usually suffered severe.
~ in these conflicts With superior numbers,
and have sometimes been entirely sacrificed.
All the dsposihle iurce ol the army is alrca-
ly smplnyrd on this service, and j. known Ia
he wholly inadequate tn the protection which
should be- afforded Tho public mind Of the
country has been recently shocked hy savage
atrocities committed upon dolenccless o.ni.
grants and border settlements. aud hardly less
by the unneccrsary destruction Of valuable
lives. where inadequate detachment oftroops
have undertaken IN furnish the necdiuli aid.
Without increase Of the military force. these
scenes will he respected. II is 10 be feared, on
4 larger scale. and with more disastrous CON
sequences. Congress. am sure, will pcr-
ociyc that the PLANES, duiIcs and rcsponslbil-
lilies of government are involved IN this ques-
ton and | doubt not that prompt lctiun may
hr confidently anticipated when delay must
be- attended ly such fearful hazlm'
Tie mll II the last session, providing lor
nm increase Of the pay Of lhc rank and flc If
m, army. has had beneficial results, not only
10 facilitating cnlIslmcn's, bot 10 obvious i'm
rruvCmcnt in the class 81 men who enter The
service. regret that corresponding consId-
arai.sn was not bestowed on the officers, who,
In view u their character aud services. and
the expenses 10 which they arc necessarily
subject. receive 1t present what is, ia ms
JUDGMENT. inadequate compensation.
Tie valuable services constantly rendered
hy lhe army. and iis ines'Imablc importance,
~ the nucleus around which tie volunteer
forces uf the uation can promptly gather IN
The hour of danger. su1irIrUtly attest The
wisdom of maintaining a military peace es.
iah'shmrri but The theory " our system
and ne Wise practice under H., require that
ary proposed aucmcnhiIun, in time oi
peace. hc only commensurate with our tx.
tended limits and frontier relations While
scupu'uusly alhcrnr ~ this principle, !
ful. in existing circumstance, q necessity
ior increase ~ our military force, and u Is
believed ih1t four new regiments, two Of iu-
inirv 7ni two NJ mounted mon, will be-
Sufficient % meet the present cNigsr"v. II
10 we're u,r,sslry carefully 10 weigh ihr cust
ir q r7ar ol such urgency, % would ho
shown iIa, the additional expense would be-
comparatively light
With thc increase of the numerical froc
Cd. Doc army should, I think, be- combined
r.rrn measures ol reform boo .'s organic
arrangement 1nd administration. The prt,-
cri organization is ihc result NJ partial leg
r.'s'.oa often directed IN special objects mi
interests 1rd lhr laws regulating rank and
command. having been adopted many wear,
400 from ilc British cole. ar- not always
applicable iu our service. Ii o. not surpris-
irr. therefore. ,l3t the system should De De-.
fr.cr, loo the symmetry ard simplicity c'.
sanull Oh lhr 'aumnr.0us working of Its sew
c1l parts, 1ul require % careful revision.
The rrs'rn, organization, hv maintaining
LARGE .nT cUrrs ur departments. separates
many officer, from thl' close connection with
irours. aat those -ci.yc duties DO lhr field.
which arc jarmrl requisite 10 qualify ,hsm
EriHr varied responsibilities ofhtrh cnmm1,d
WrrlU duuc5 ct lhr army raH malury lIs-
charged ly officers detached from ihrIT fcri.
mrn's. 10 is believed illi he special service
would o. rrl'Iy well performed lnt 'hu d..
... ....N o.. t....F.... 4. & ala. a.4.,.. o. ..
y-i while due regard 90 lhs security nftho
right. of0firrrs. ard iu ihou.cr sense nj bon.
ur which should h0 cultivated among tLrrn.
would ,c.m io exact compliance With me a..
iIllshsd rule Of promotion m ordinary cases.
ufll 10 can hardly be- doubted that ihs range
of promotion hy selection, which 10 now prac.
tc..'y confined On ihr grade ui general officer,
might hr sHmrU hat extended vIrI hcrrf, IN
the public service. O1srrylncrs Ut ih- ruN
90 seniority sometimes leads. especially m
time OF pearr, 60 the promotion 1i officers
vito, lI,f uuun'.uH' gnI even distinguished
,orrrr. may have h~rn rendered hv see
% ufm.iy nrsran'rui performing active %.
iy. IUd whose liDrrgmc1l. therefore, would
irni 10 impair ihr efficiency II the army
Suitable provision fur tins class Of o1iccrs.by
The creation ~ y retired l.st. would remedy
thr evil. without n0unl.rg lhr Just priIe NJ
men who, Dos pet services, have established
. claim iu high cuas.!,uuun IN lglIncom.
mnud.n. ihi, measure IN the favorable cunsl.
Grafton VI Congress. ! would suggest that the
ruwCr II placing uiIigur 90 the retired list ho
limited &, ono year The practical operation
OF ihC measurc would thus be- tested, and N,
after the lapse of years, there should be occa.
zion 90 renew The provision, II can be repro
duccd with any Improvement, which expert
cree may indicate The present organ.zll.un
uI ,ic artillery W.T. regiments is liable t0 uj.
WON, objections, The service uf artillery is
that NJ batteries into s corps ofarllIery would
DO more consistent with the nature oi their
duties. \ large pant Of the troops noN cali
Cd artillery lrr, aad have been, un duiy as 90.
Guty the distinction between the two arms
being merely nominal This nominal arille.
~ in our service is entirely dlsproporiionais
tD the whole force and greater than the wants
the country demand. therefore conmguJ
the dsconlnuaucc of distinction, which has
20 foundation In either the arms used o. tho
charaaor Of tho service expected TO be per
formed.
In connection with the proposition fur the
increase of the army, have presented these
suggestions with regard to certain measures
OF reform ~ the complement Of system
which would produce the haPplrsi results
from a giycn expenditure, and which hope
may liirlc, the early attention and be deemed
worthy Of the approval Of Congress.
Tho Recommendation Of the Secretary Of
tho NAVY, having reference 10 more ample
provisions frr the discipline and general i'm.
proy,mori In tie character " seamon and Tor
the reorganization anu graJull Increase " the
navy. deem cmncntly worthy ol your con.
,idcralion. Thr principles which have con.
irollol on: policy IN relation 10 the permanent