Demoine courier., 1854-12-21

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ara,es many officers from that close con-
necsion with troops, and those active
duties in the field. which are deemed
requisite TO qualify them for the varied
responsibilities Of high command. Were
the duties of the army staff mainly dis
charged by officers detached from their
regiments, it il believed that the special
service would be equally well performed
and the discipline and instruction of the
army be improved. While due regard
to the security of the rights Of officers
and 10 the nice sense OF honor which
should be cultivated anon them, would
u seem to exact compliance with the es
tablished rule OF promotion in ordinary
cases, still it can hardly be doubted tina,
the range Of promotion by selection, which
is now practically confined to the grade
Of general officers, nigh. be somewha,
extended with benef, TO the public ser-
vice.
Observance of the rule of seniority
sometimes leads especially in time Of
peace, 10 The promotion Of officers who,
after merilorious and even distinguished
service, may have been rendered by age
or infirmity Incapsble of performing &C.
tive duty. and whose advancement. there
fore, would tend 10 impair the efficiency
of the army. Suitable provision 70. this
class Of officers, by the creation of re-.
tired list, would remedy the evil, with.
out wounding the just pride Of men who
by past services, have established claim
TO high consideration. In again com
mending this measure to the favorable
consideration of Congress, would sug.
gest that the power OF placing officers on
the retired list be limited to one year.
The practical operation OF the measure
would :hus be tested, and if, after the
lapse of years, there should be occasion
to renew the provision, it can be repro
duced with any improvements which ex
perience may indicate. The present or.
ganiza,ion Of The artillery into regiments,
is liable to obvious objections.
| The service of artillery is that of bat
ferries, and an organization of batteries
into corps of artillery would be more
consistent with the nature Of their duties.
A large part of the troops now called
artillery are, ard have been, on duty
as infantry; the distinction between the
two arms being merely nominal. This
nominal artillery in our service is entire
ly Gisproportionate to the whole force,
and greater than the wants of the coun.
try demand. therefore commend the
disconiinuance of a distinction, which has
no foundation in either the arms used
or the character of the service expected
To be performed.
/ In connection with the proposition
for the increase Of the army. have pre-.
senied these suggestions with regard 10
certain measures OF reform, as comrle-
ment Of the system which would pro-
duce the happiest results from a given
expenditure, and which ! hope may at
tract the early attention, and be deemed
worthy Of the approval, of Congress.
The recommendation of the Secretary
of the Navy, having reference to more
ample provisions for the discipline and
general improvement in the character Of
seamen, and for The re-org anizasion and
gradual increase OF the navy, deem en-
inen,ly worthy of your favorable consid
Grafton. The principles which have con.
trolIed our policy in relation to the per-
manent military force, by sea and land,
are sound, consistent with the theory OF
our system. and 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 over.
look the present magnitude and prospect.
i've extension of our commercial n arine.
nor fail to give cue weight to the fact
that, besides the two thousand miles OF
Atlantic seaboafd, we have now Pacific
coast, atre,ching from Mexico to the Brit
ish possessions in the North. teeming
with wealth and enterprise, and demand.
ing the constant presence of ships-of-
war. The augmentation of the navy
has not kept peace with the duties prop.
erly and prof.ably assigned to it in peace,
and it is inadequate for the large field Of
it's operations, not merely inshe present
but still more in the progressively in.
creasing exigencies of the wealth and
commerce of the United States. ! cor.
daily approve of the 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 hui
man life, has produced intense emotions
of sympathy and sorrow throughout the
country. II may be well doubted wheth'
or all these calamitous events are wholly
attributable to the necessary and inevisa'
BILE dangers of the sea. The merchants
mariners, ard ship.builders OF the Uni
ted States are, it 10 true, unsurpassed ia
far reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence
and courage. by any others in the world
But with the increasing amount of ouI
commercial tonnage in the aggregate. and
the larger size and improved equipment
of the ships now constructed. de6cien
cy in the supply of reliable seamen be-
gins to be very seriously felt.
i The Inconvenience may, perhaps. b.
met. in part, by due regulation for the in
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