New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-05

hers mac squste detaehments OF troops nave uuse'
,.I on 70 furnish The needed aid Without increaseo
ar ri,sry force these scenes will be repeated II Us
10 be feared. on larger scale and with more JUS.
trous corseq uepees- Congress, an sure WI per
ceiye that the plsiDes duties and resPoosloun es "a
government al involved in this question, anu ovuV'
not that prorppt action nay be confidently antci,
pated when delay must be attended by suen iea'in
hazards. 8,
cr.sse Of the nav Of he rlnk and he ofthe army, mas
had beneficial results, 10, only in facilitating enlist
menis hut in obvious Improvement IN the Glass VI
men who enter the service regret thar corrscPonf
ing consideration not bestowed on the ohce,sI
who in view Of their character and services, an1 sue
.ynsnses 10 which they are necessarily subject re-
ceiye ct present what H. in my Judgment iniiequats
compensation:
Army and its nes'imabe Importance, as the nucleus
sr,n,d which the volunteer forces of the natioo Al
pronutly gather In the hour of danger sufficiently
stiest he wisdom of maintaining military pesce est 10
hshmeut bu, the theory OF our system au9 the "lse
prse ce under il, require that any pro )oeei augn
taiion in time of De see be only con- nensnrate with
our EXTENDED limits and frontier relations. WINE
scruIuIoUsy sdberIg to this principle, hnd, IN eA.
isng crcumstaI ces necessity Tor increase OF our
miitsry force and il is believed that four new req,
mems two of infantry and two of mounted men Will
be sufficient to meet the present engeacy Ii II we're
Necessary carefully to weigh the cost in ease oil such
urgency il would be shown that the additional ex-
pense would be con psratlvey light. 80
With the increase of the numerical force OF the
army should, think be combined certain measures
of reform Ia its organic arrangement ana admldstra-
ton. The present organization is the result OF par
tal legislation often directed 70 special objects add
interests and the laws regulating rank and command,
having been adopted many years ago from the BRIT
ish code are always applicable to our service 1t
il not surprising therefore, that the system should be
deficient in the symmetry and simplicity essential to
u harmonious working of It's several parts, and re-
quire q careful revision.
The present organization, by maintaining large
staff corps or departments, separates mi0y officers
from that close connection with troops, and those ae-
tiye duties in the field which are deemed requisite ID
qualify them for the varied responsibilities OF high
command. Were the duties OF The army staff mtaly
discharged by officers detached from their regiments,
it is BELT we'd that the special service would be equally
well performed and the discipline aid instruction OF
the army be improved. While due regard to the Sc
CURLY Of the rights of officers, and tn the Dice sense
of honor which should be cultivated among them,
would seem to exact compliance with the established
rule Of promotion in ordinary cases. still il ca1 hardly
BE- doubted that The range OF PROMOTE by selection
which is practically confined to the grade OF gen.
eTa officers might be somewhat extended with oe0eht
TO the public service Observance of the rule of
seniority sometimes leads, especially IN time OF pc zee,
TO the promotion of officers who sfer mertOrous,
and even distiI gusbed service, may have been rem
dered by age intImity incapable OF performing
active duty, and Whose advancement therefore,
would tend TO impair the efficiency OF tue army. ta-
Die provision for this class OF officers, by the creation
Of a retired list, would remedy the evil without
have established a claim TO high asiieratOn.
In again commenting this measure to the favorable
consioel attic Of Congress, would suggest tn AZ the
power of placing officers the retired list be limited
TO one year. The practical operation of the measure
would thus be tested and IT. after the lapse OF years
there should be occasion TO renew the provision, it
can be reproduced with any Improvements which tx.
perer &c may indicate. The present organization Of
The artillery into regiments is liable 10 obvious bec
tons TIE service of artillery is that of batteries aud
organization of batteries into corps of artillery
woulo be more consistent with the nature of their
duties large pert OF the troops now called arllerg
are. and have been, on duty infantry-the dis.
tinction between the tgO arms being merely nominal
ibis DomDAl artillery in our service is entirely DIS
pfOporiionafe 10 the whole force and greater than
the wants of the country demand. | therefore COM
mend the discoDiinuance OF distinction which has
DO foundation in either the used DR. the character
Of the service expected TO be performed.
In connection with the proposition for the increase
Of the army have presented these suggestions with
regard TO certain measures of reform, the compile
ntni of system which would produce the happiest
results from given expenditure, and watch | hope
may attract the early attention. and be deemed worthy
OF The approval Of Congress.
TIE recommendation of the Secretary Of the Navy,
having reference to more ample provilons for the dis
oipiue and gel ra Improvement in the character of
sebmen, ana for the reorganization and gradual In
crease of the Navy, deem emnently worthy of your
fay orable coDsiGerat The principles which nave
controlled our policy ia relation to the permanent
military force, by sea and land, are sound con-
sistent with the theory of our system, aud
should by means be dsreglrded. But, limit
ing the force 10 the objects particularly set
forth in the preceding part Of this Mess sge, we |
bould not overlook the present magnitude and pros
ptcive extension of our commercial marine. nor fail
10 give due weight to the fact that besides the 1000
miles Of Atlantic seaboord We have nova Pacific /
coast stretching from Mexico TO the British posses
sous in the north teemiDg with wealth and 1terprise
and demanding the constant presence Of ships of
The augmentation OF the Navy has not kept pace |
with the duties properly and probably assigned to it
fira IF nd Ia inQh f,r Tho
field Of it, operations not merely 10 the present, bat
still more in the progre ssively increasing exigencies
oftbe wealth and commerce Of the United States. .
cordially approve OF the prop )sed apprentice system
for our national vessels, recommended by the Secre-
tary of the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months, of
marine disasters Of Ii most tragic nature involving
great loss of human life has produced intense emo
tons OF sympathy and sorrow throughout the coun-
try. 1t may well be doubted whether all these calant
Gus events are wholly attributable 20 the necessary
and inevitable dangers of the Sc. The merchants,
mariners, and ship builders OF the United States, are,
IL is true unsurpase in far-rea ing Ell prise skill
intelligence and courage, by any c.hers 10 the world.
But with The Increasing anount Of our el in
hs ships now con'trGeted deficiency The supply Of
neonyt osy, perhaps be met part By due resua
ton for the Introduction INTO nechsn. ships Of
etned apprentices which, while Il would afford useful sud
eAgble occupation 10 numerous ytung men, would have
to itse the character Of esmsn elias. And IT'S
Sefetyng Of serious reflection wheiher be desa
be TO revise the existing laws for the maintenance Of dsc
pine 81 which the security and
erty on The must al extent, depend.
Though ueh attention hes aresey been given by Congress
10 tht proper construction and srsIgeuen stsau.yes
ano 81 PASSENGER shs still Is be ieyrd that the achievements
oseirnee ard ehsncs t In have not ,een
htuiid coEocd feaE EXITS for the ed dr con which
sppesfs Dpon cur siatss betwe the laws for protecting
orrty s see snd hoe for prltecuug them aad In
ost Of the States severe penalties parish COZ
dueto Of usns epGnesrs aud others 9oyed 10
potion II persons By railway, BY steamboats, Why
'boua Mt the same he applied nsubodnG
u eoNarciee or other seoufaet tbs past
src mariners pro5ueur injury death on the
AID |
here snch dsuqrerc Be reached only BY plwr
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