Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-12-21

adhering to this principle, / find, in
existing cireumstaDc es,3 a necessity
for increasezof #our military force,
and il is believed that four new reg
iments, two Of Infantry and two Of
moulded nren, will be- Sufficient TO
meet the present exiseney. Ii 1t
were necessary carefully to weigh
the cost in acase Of such urgency
il would be shown that Tire addition
al expense would be comparatively
light.
With the increase of the numer-
ical force Of the Army should, |
think, be combined certain meas
,ures' of reform in IFS organic ar
rangement and administration
The present organization is the re.
suit of partial legislation often di-
rected to special objects and inte-
rests; and the laws regulating rank
ard command, having been adopted
many years ago from The British
code, are not always applicable to
our service. II is bot surprising,
therefore, that The system should be
deficient in the symmetry and sim
plicity essential to the harmonious
working Of its several parts, and re-
qnire careful revision.
The present organization} BY
maintaining large staff corps or de-
partmens, separates many officers
from that close connection with
troops. and those active duties in
the field, which are deemed reqai-
site TO qualify them for the varied
responsibilities of high command.
Were the duties of The Army staff
mainly discharged by officers de-
tached from their regiments, II is
believed that the special service
would be equally vel! performed,
and the discipline and instruction
of the Army be improved. while
due regard to The secHrity of the
rights OF officers, and to the nice
sense of honor which should be cai-
tiyated among them, would seem to
exact compliance with the esiab-
lished rule of promotion IN ordina-
ry cases, still it can hardly be doubt
ed that the range Of promotion by
selection, which is now practically
confined to the grade Of general Of
ficers, might be somewhat extended
with benefit to the public service.
Observance Of the rule Of seniors
lty sometimes leads, especially in
I time OF peace, to the promotion Of
officers who, after meritoriOus and
evendistinguished Sci vice, may have
been rendered by age or intirmity
incapable OF performing active dur
ty, and whose advancement, there
lore, would tend 10 impair the eff
cheney Of the Army. Suitable pro-
vision for this class Of officers. by
!. the creation Of retired list, would
remedy the evil, withou, woundiug
the just pride of men who, by past
services, have established claim to
high consideration. In again CON-
intending this measure 10 the lavora-
ble consideration Of Congress,
would suggest that the power Of
placing officers OH the retired list
be limited to one year. The prac-
tlcaI operation Of the measure would
thus be tested, aud il, after the
lapse of years, there should be &C.
caslon TO renew the provision, it
can be reproduced with any Inn
proyements which experience may
indicate. The present organiza-
ton Of the artillery into regiments
is liable TO obvious objections. The
service OF artillery is tina. OF batter
les. aud an organization Of batteries
into a corps of artillery would be
more consistent with the nature Of
their duties. A large part OF the
troops now called artillery are, and
have been, on duty as infantly; the
distinction between the two arms
being merely nominal. This nom
inal artillery in our service is DIS
TO the whcle force,
and greater than the wants IF The
country demand. therefore COM
mend the discontinuance of dis
linction which has 40 foundation
in either the arms used, or the char.
acter Of the service expected to be-
performed.
Ia connection with the PROPOSE
lion Tor the increase of the Army,
have presented these suggestions
wlthregard 10 certain measures of
refor N, as the complement of a |
system, which would produce the |