Washington sentinel., 1854-04-05
sIILITARY MEN AND CIVIL BUSINESS.

practice has been gradually growing up in
our government, and has attained such proper.
tons that itAmay be rightfully characterized as
an oppressive and grieyous abuse. 1t has in.
creased, and is increasing, and it ought to be
diminished bya summary process which would
put an end to it at once and forever. We al
lnde TO the practice of giving military men
the supervision and control of public works.
and authority over citizens employed as labor.
ers on such works. The whole system is
wrong radically wrong, mischievously wrong
1t ought to be discarded at once and without a
moments hesitation. The people pay military
officers in consideration of military services.
The people pay naval officers in consideration
Of naval services, to be rendered to the people
and to the nation. Let them do what they are
oflife they have selected, and to the duties they
are competent to perform satisfactorily.
lfthey would pursue this course there would
not be SO many complaints, and the army and
the navy could be placed on better footing.
But when we are told that officers Of the army
Or navy must be given the superintendent of
civil business as matter of economy, because
they have no other work to do, with what reason
can we be asked to increase the army or add to
the navy? This question may be susceptible
Of satisfactory answer; but we do not think
il is. ...
We believe that it is false economy to employ
military officers TO control works beyond the
line of their profession. Educated for pro-
fesson, and practising that profession, as gen.
eral rule, they know nothing ofother matters
nothing more, we mean, than gentlemen oflike
intelligence A lawyer might as well under
take to adjust compound fracture, or a sur,
geon to prepare case of ejectment, as an army
or navy officer to manage civil business. We
have known a lawyer who could adjust broken
bone; we have known surgeon--nay, even
we know preacher, fully versed in the most
abstruse provisions and technicalites of the law
yet exceptions do not constitute the proper
foundation for rules although some one, for
reason we could never clearly understand,
declared that exceptions prove the truth OF
rules. ......
However this may be, we are fully convinced
that the army and navy were not intended to
superintend civil business, and that the officers
Of the army and navy were not educated with
view TO qualify them to build capitols, or
construct water-works, or erect custom-houses
If the officers Of the army and navy have been
specially instructed in this particular, then the
schools at West Point and Annapolis have
been perverted to wrongful uses, and ought to
be suppressed as mischievous in their tendency,
and mischievous in ther practical effects.
Neither the army nor the navy has right to
interfere with civilians in civil EMPLOYMENT
Even if an army or navy officer be thoroughly
qualified for the performance Of civil duties, he
should be denied the privilege of proving his
qualifications, except in cases Of extreme ne
cessity. He should be kept to his proper and
legitimate work. He has no more right TO seek
the control Of civil business than an ambition,
hod-carrier has TO seek the command of til,
army of the United States. E..
1t is said that the government has to pa
the officers OF the army and navy, and it il
economy to employ them in civil affairs Thi.
is mere nonsense, not worth moments con
sderation, for there is no truth in it. There i.
plenty Of employment, and most surely is there
plenty of employment for officers processing
the character and requirements necessary fo
the supervision Of important government
works.
But, Independent Of all these things, it is al
-
country to give the military the control Of an.
portion Of the people working for living
An army and navy must be essentially des
potic Without practical despotism, neither
an army nor navy could exist. In both
command must be followed, not only by ole
dience, but BY prompt mquestionng and IN
compidiaiay obedience. To question or com
plain is insur5oroinatio1,, and will be punished
as it ought TO be punished. Men reared and