The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-23


Cisy-wss whig from Kentucky. and that the
greatest whiP atd the most intellectual American
that ever lived-Danie Webster was its champion
The whole arcumet. IN the u non is nothing out
cowsrdly ripmsIoe The truth j., the Pes dent has
been thr sateDo6 by the sos and being unwilling TO
be deserted by them on the issue of the Missouri
lice, he prefers IN 90 with them as far as they are
willing to go, aud no further. This Is the upsno' u
the whole, which yol viii best understand ana
handle in your an inimitsbe style. COMPROMISE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. 1854
The Military Usurping CivR Positions Under the
,nisfration- Cal for More Military Engt'
reers in Consequence Ihsreof-Stup'dity Of Mai-
tary Management at the Capitol-Great Waste
of Money and Ruin Of the Structwe-SmaA
Economy in d Small Hay, Sc.
very drtin guished Southern writer, who Is not
snly sound philosopher but wise statesman, has
bell SAID {" nation of freemen stands In need of 4
)ervadng spirit Of obedience to the laws an army
teaches, and must teach. . spirit Of prompt sbe-
dience to orders. Habits OF disobedence and Of
contempt for the citizen are produced, and view Of
government is induced which is contrary to liberty
self.reliance, self-government Command ought to
rule in army; self.developement Of law and self
sustaining order ought TO pervade q free people,
These wholesome truths seem to have been unknown
to those in power at this place, or if known have
been, much to their reproach wholly unheeded The
German prince who, to repress the liberal spirit
prevailing with his subjects, declared from the
throne that The will OF one must ultimately rule
in the government, even as it does in the camp"
had no more contempt for the subject than the
President and his Secretary d War had for the citi
zen when in violation of law in defiance of popu.
lar sentiment, and ag Ainst all previous policy
and usage Of the government, they placed the
Capitol extension and other public works Of civil
character in this district under military superiaten
dence Military officers, educated at the expense Of
the government for altogether different services have
been withdrawn from their legitimate duties in the
construction of Notifications and other Of mill
tary defence, AID are not only engaged in superin-
tending the cxleusun OF the Capitol the asylum and
water works i'll this district, but scattered over
the country IN charge II RIVER and harbor improve
ments, and even building he custom houses recently
ordered by Congress. 10 make complete this
patton of the military doubt the next step
Will be to place them III CLARE OF the cours houses
and post Offices needed tur the use the government
and perhaps The era ialiou Of the streets aud ave-
nues and the construction OF the sewers of this
metropolis
This thrusting of Off err Of the army into places
which OF right belong to that lass Of civilians Who
from their talents, integrity a9d experience, are well
happily aboupds, is not well cal 'uated to promote
that view Of government, which teaches self
reliance to the people and attachment to the
Institutions of the country. No one knows
better thar General Pierce and Secretary Davis
that there are many eminent architects in
the country OF distlu uished genius and tried
ability, who are superior III the line Of their pro
fession to any OF the engineer corps as these en-
glneers are tn the mere cadets at West poiut. The
country is full Of civil engineers equally as well if
not better suited t. the duties of superintendine the
construction of water works than any army officer
belonging u the government and We, these men
QrA ltk Tim In lIlAn and 10
that they ere not thought Forthy TO be engaged in
the service of the country to execute works Of pure
ly civic character. Gen. Jackson was not only q
better democrat, but better soldier than either the
President or his Secretary Of War and it is well
known fact that it was leading idea with him to
stimulate by employment rather than repress by
neglect the ambition OF civiisn of genius who had
qualified himself for either ms cbanlcal or scientific
pursuits. he too, bad been in the ar ny before he
becsme President, but he did not briug into civil
government; the notions he had learned in the CAMP
BE had the good sense and the patriotism not to for
get the civic character OF the people or their rights
In the government
It will strike some with amszement to
learn that the employment of these mili.
tary gentleman in their civil capacities is gravey
made the reason for demanding Of Congress an in
crease OF the engineer corps. If any will take
pains to look at the unusually voluminous papers
which tho modest Secretary Of War has sent in to
Congress with his annual report he will see that the
Colonel Of Engineers very co y asks that the corps
may be increased, and assigns as reason that
many Of these officers are employed in other than
their legitimate duties, leaving only sixteen ito son.
duct operations more than forty fertilization
upwards of thirty works OF river and hsrbor improve
ments to serve as inspectors constructors of light
'uses and members OF 40 boards OF engineers" To
mcl, an extent has military presumption been pam
pened this administration that the country need
not he ~, 'rised at any demand coming from the
War Denartr mt. II Congress es its duty to the
,eople 4 will ;. hike this impudent request, and
iri ye the engineer civil employment back to their
military duties restorip. cw
ipon all pub works whe. N'n ai'' 'ioic oushs
0 be employed.
The pretex. that N so works =, better and more
economically managed by military G>'oo''' . "'.'y
-,e ana pnfonnded. IL is sIArtful sncter,us.
nd fasehood res red to ter the po GOOSE of RETAIN
ng these works ~ the hauds of the mi to-- 49,
cry nature OF things II cannot boz ;r,- -
sserts the contrary, shows cont .e; and he also
4 the ewes OF every prac. uers himself ridiculous
All experience OF the .ica and experienced man.
ION OF public wo-' . COVE nment 10 the construc-
o show that under military supervision goes
,restQx ~ they progress more slowly, occ asion !
vtsp Apense, aud are no better executed, than
j. done by civilians Miitary men not prac-
cal mechanics, nor practical archisecs; aud any
workman with grain OF common sense can see q
thousand circumstances IN the progress OF ouild
ing where q practical superintendent would have
infinite advantage ia the management OF the work
over your man Of mere diagrams and cures
Capt Megs has already ruined the Capitol-yes,
actually ruined it For want Of practical ability,
common sense knowleoge OF plain principles which
very schoolboy learns IN hi first lessons in natural
philosophy be has ruined the structure. The altera
ions OF the plan, which were made without author.
ty Of law and at immense additional expense, are a
onstrous absuIdty. The bas, originally designed
10 be EXPOSED three sides To the Air and light,
now shut up in the centre OF the Immense wings
with neither light nor air except through the ceiling
For all legislative purposes they will be utterly use
less. The government Of Great Britain committed q
Ehe hlnnder in p@rmt,iDQ Sir Charles Barry to con-
stru,t the halls of Parliament in the same absurd
manner, and grievously has II been repsnted- No
means Of ventils,ing the halls, by mechanical con.
trivances or otherwise have yet succeeded and
the very means which Capt. Meigs proposes for
yentilating these pentup Halls Of Congress have
been emphaucaly condemned IN London by both
practical tests and the opinions Of the best scientific
men and architects in the Kingdom. According to
testimony taken before 3 special committee Of the
House Of Commons for 1852 it has cost Great Britain
f3OO 900. or one and . half millions Of dollars,
for experiments and contnvances TO produce
q proper ventilation Of the building. all OF which
Ii lx~ AL In opk, "a kas