Washington telegraph., 1854-12-27

PrlVa1e p,oPb # The government Conduct of this
character, brought in several instances 10 'ne ~
- ~ the nresent Secretary of the Treasury, nat
urav awakened his suspicion. and resulted III u TUE
disclosure that at four ports namely: os"ego' ~
Iedo Sandusky, and Milwaukee, the treasury nau'
bv false entries, been detrauded WITHIN the ioui
Years next preceding March. 1888, OF the sum Oh
bnndred and pinety-eight thousand dollars.
The great difficulty with which the detection
- these frauds has been attended, in consequence
of the abstraction of books and papers by the re-
sing officers and the facility with which similar
tr,nds in the public service may be perpetratedr
-onder the necessity of new legal enactments In
+bo respects above referred to. quite obvious FOR
cher material notifications OF the revenue laws,
,rbcb seem to me desirable, refer you to the re-
cot Of the Secretary of the Treasury. That re-
Po-t and the tables which accompany 1T, furnish
PIE nroofs of the solid foundation on which the
sanc;sl security of the country rests. and OF the
nalutsrv Influence OF the Independent treasury
s,yston unon commerce and all monetary opera
tions. J,:
The exnerience of the last year furnishes addl-
+;onal reasons, regret to say OF painful char-
ter for the recommendation heretofore made.
. a. n-oy,ide for increasing the military force en-
Janed in the territory inhabited by the Indians
IT, settlers on the frontier have suffered much
g., the incursons of predatory pands, and large
ort;ss ilO. Of eoigrants to our Pacific possessions
paya been massacred with impunlty. The recur-
-ance Of such scenes can only be prevented oy
teaching these wild tribes the power OF, ana thelr
.osoonsibilitv to. the United States. From the
.snn Of o1r frontier posts it is only possible to
5stacb troops in small bodies; and though these
bavs on all occasions displayed gallantry and
starn devotion to duty, which on larger held
wonh have commanded universal admiration,
.bev have usually suffered severely in these con-
ais with superior numbers and have sometimes
boan entirely sacrificed All the disposable force
Of tbe army is already employed on this service,
and is known to be wholly inadequate to the pro-
tection which should be afforded. The public
mind of the country has been recently shocked by
savage atrocities committed upon defenceless en-
iorants and border settlements and hardly less by
tRa unnecessary destruction OF valuable lives,
,vbere Inadequate detachments OF troops have un-
dertaken to furnish the needed aid. Without IN
cTease of the military force, these will be
repeated it is to be feared, on larger scale, and
with more disastrous consequences. congress,
am sure will perceive that the palnest duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES of government are involved In this
question. and doubt not that prompt action may
be confidently anticipated when delay must be at
tended by such fearful hazards.
The bill of the last session, providing for an In
crease of paw OF the rank and file of the army, has
had beneficial results not only in facilitating en-
Istments, but In obvious improvement IN the class
of men who euter the service. | regret that cor
responding consideration not bestowed on the
officers who, in view of their character and serv-
ices and the expenses to which they neces-
sarlv subject, receive at present what Is, in my
Judgment inadequate compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered by
the Arrny and its inestimabe Importance as a
nucleus around which the volunteer forces of the
nation can promptly gather in the hour of danger,
sufficiently attest the wisdom of maintaining a
military peace establishment; but the theory OF
our system ard the wise practice under it, require
that any proposed augmentation, in time of peace,
be only commensurate with extended limits
and frontier relations. While scrupulously adher-
ing to this principle, find i'll existing crcumstan-
ces, a necessity for an increase of our military
force and it is believed that four new regiments,
two of infantry aud two of mounted men, will be
sufficient TO meet the present eXigency. If it
were necessary carefully to weigh the cost in a
case OF such urgency, it would be shown that the
additional expense would be comparatively light.
With the increase of the numerical forces of
the army, should | think, be combined certain
measures OF reform, in its organic arrangement
and administration. The present organization is
the result OF partial legislation often directed to
special objects and Interests; anG the laws reguat-
ing rank and command, having been adopted
many years ago from the British code, are not al
ways applicable to our service. 1t is not surpris-
ing, therefore, that the system should be deficient
In the symmetry and simplicity essential to the
harmonious working of its several parts, and re-
quiTes careful revision
The present organization, by maintaining large
satt corps or departments separates many officers
from that close connexon with troops and those
active duties In the field, which are deemed re-
quIsIte to quality them for the varied responsible
ltles OF high command. Were the duties OF the
army staff mainly discharged by officers detached
from their regiments it is believed that the special
service would be equally W ell performed. and the
discipline and instruction ofthe army be improved
While due regard to the security of the rights OF
oinceTs, and to the nice sense of honor which
should be cultivated among them. would seem to
exact compliance with the established rule of pro-
motion In ordinary cases, still it can hardly be
douoted that the range of promotion by selection
"nich Is now practically confined to the grade OF
general ofllcers, might be somewhat extended
with benelt to the public service Observance ot
the rule OF seniority sometimes leads especially in
'lne OF peace, TO the promotion of officers W ho
utter merltorlous and even distinguished service
may have been rendered by age or infirmity in
capable OF performing active duty and whose ad.
vancement, therefore would tend to impair the
e,lelency OF the army Suitable provision for this
ciaSS OF offlcers, by the creation of retired list
would remedy the evil, without woundng the ils
Prde OF men, who by past services have estab
hshed claim to high consideration. In agar
cohmendlng this measure to the favorable con.
Aderatlon OF Congress, | would suggest that the
power OF placing officers on the retired list TO bf
limited to one year. The practical operation o
Ine measure would thus be tested and if, after the
lapse OF years, there should be occrsion to renew
.ne provision, it can be reproduced with any i'm
pLovements which experience may Indicate. The
pieseht organization OF the artillery into regiments
is naole to obvious objections. The service of the
afIllery is that of batteries, and an organization
Oh batteries into corps of artillery would be more
consistent with the nature of their duties A large
pa,s Gl the troops now called artillery are. anc
ase zen on duty as infantry; the distinction be-
zen the two armies being merely nominal
ms nominal artillery in our service is entire,x
tspioPoruonate to the whole force and CREATE
fnsa @an .ne wants of the country demand. there.
VII ohnehu h the dlscontinuance o. distinction
Nnich has no foundation in either the arms usef
formed. Af'eo'eo " pe per
IN connection with the proposition for the in.