Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-12-14

01Na 80
hour Of danger, sufficiently attest The wisdom
oil maintaining a military peace establishment
bnt the theory Of our system and the wise
practice un0cr il, require that any ploposed
augmentation, in time OF peace, be only com.
mensufate with our extended limits aud from.
ter relations. While scrupulously ajhering
to this principle, l find, in existing circum,
stances, a necessity for increase Of our mill.
taTy force, and it is believed, that four new
regiments, two Of infantry, and two Of mount
ed men, will be sufficient 10 meet the presen;
e~xlgency. II 1t were necessary carefully Il
weign the cost IN o case Of such urgency, it
would be shown that the q lditional expenses
would be comparatively light.
With The increase ofthe numerical force Of
the army should, ! think, be combined certain
measures of reform in its organic arrange
ment and administration. The present organ.
lzatlon is the result Of partial legislation often
directed TO special objects and interests; and
the laws regulating rank and command, hav-
ing been adopted many years ago from lihe
British code, are not always applicable 10 our
service. 1t is not surprising, therefore, that
The system should be deficient in the syme-
try and simplicity essential to the harmonious
working OF It's several parts, and require a care
ful revision.
The present organization, by maintaining
large staff corps or departments, seperate
many officers from that close connection with
troops, and thost active duties in the field,
which are deemed requisite 10 qualify them
for the varied responsibilities of high command.
Were the duties Of the army staff mainly dis
charged by officers detached from their regi-
ments, it is believed that special service
would be equally well performed, and The dis
cipline and inSlruc ton Of The army he i'm
proved. While due regard TO The security Of
the rights Of officers, and to the nice sense OF
honor which should be cultivated among them
would seem to exact compliance with the es.
tabl:Shed rule Of promotion in ordinary cases,
still it can hardly be doubted that The range
Of promotion by selection, which is now
practically confined 10 the grade of general Of
ficers, might be somewhat extended with ben
eft TO the public service. Observance Of the
rule OF seniority sometimes leads, especially
in time Of peace, 10 the promotion of officers
who, after meritrious and even distinguished
service, may have been rendered by age or in
frmnity incapable Of performing active duty,
and whose advancement, there fore, would
lend TO impair the efficiency Of the army
DulIuUIC plONlohONo IOI tNlb Cldoo Vi OIUCeIS,
by the creation of q retired list, would remedy
the evil, without woundlng the just pride OF
men who, by past services have established O
claim 10 high consideration. In again COM
m~ending this measure TO the favorable con-
sideratlon Of Congress, | would suggest tina!
the power Of placing Officers on the retired
lists TO be limited 10 one year. The practical
operationO OF The measure would thls be tested,
and if after the lapse Of years there should be
occasion 10 renew the provision, it can be re.
produced with any improvements which ex-
p~erience may Indicate. The present organi-
cation of the artillery into regiments is liable
TO obvious objections. The service of artillery
is that OF batteries, and an organization OF
batteries into a corps of artillery would be
more consistent with The nature Of their du-
ties. A large part of The troops now called
artillery fare and have been, OH duty as infan-
try; the distinction between the two arms be-
ing merely nominal. This nominal artillery
in our service is entirely disproportionate to
the whole force, and greater that the wants of
the country demand. | therefore commend
the discontinuance Of O distinction, which
has no foundation in either the arms used or
The character of the services expected 10 be
performed.
III connection with the proposition for The
increase Of the army, | have presented these
suggestions with regard 10 certain measures OF
reform, as the complement Of a system, which
would produce the happiest results from a
given expenditure, and which | hope may al.
tract the early attention, and be deemed wor.
thy Of The approval Of Congress.
The recommendation Of the Secretary of the
Navy, having reference 10 more ample provis.
ions fIr the discipline and general improve
ment in the character Of seamen, and for the
reorganization and gradual increase of the
navy, | deem eminently worthy Of your ia
vOrable consideration. The PRINCIPLES, which
have controlled our policy in relation 10 The
permanent military force by sea and land, are
sound, conslSten. with the theory of our system,
aud should by no means be disregarded. But
limiting the force TO the objects particularly
set forth in the preceding part of this message,
we should not overlook the present magnitude
and prospective extension OF our commercial
marine; nor fail 10 give due weight 10 the fact
that, besides the two thousand miles o italian
tic seaboard, we have now a Pacific coast,
stretching from Mexico 10 the British posses.
sions in the North, teeming with wealth and
enterprise, and demanding the constant pres.
ance Of ships-of-war The augmentation of
tie navy has not kept pace with the duties
properly and probably assigned to it in time
of peace, and 1t is inadequate for the large
field Of its operations, not merely in the pres.
ent but still more in the progressively lncleas.
ing exigencies of the wealth and commerce OF
the United States. l cordially approve of The
proposed apprentice system for our national
vessels, recommended by the Secretary OF the
Navy.
The occurrence, during The last few months,
OF marine disasters OF the most tragic nature,
involving great loss of human life, has produ-
ced intense emotions of sympathy and sorrow
throughout the county. 1t may we'll be
doubted whether all those calamitous events
are wholly attributable 10 the necessary and
inevitable dangers OF the sea. The merchants
mariners, and ship-builders Of the United
States, are, it is true, unsurpassed in far.
reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence and
courage, by any other in the world. But with
the increasing amount of our commercial ton |
mage in the aggregate, and the larger size and
improved equipment of The ships now con-
Structed, a deficiency in the supply of reliable
seamen begins to be very seriously felt. The
inconvenience may, perhaps, be met, in part;
by due regulation for the introduction, into our
merchant ships, of indented apprentices;
which, while it would afford useful and eligi.
Bile occupation to numerous young men, would
have o tendency to raise the character of sea-
men as class. And it is deserving of serious
reflection, whether it may not be desirable to
revise the existing laws for the maintenance of
discipline at sea; upon which the sechjty OF