Butte record., 1855-01-06

British code, are not always applicable to oul
service. 1t Is not surprising. therefore, th4t
the system should BE deficient In the symme
try and simplicity essential TO the harmonion.
working Of the several parts, and requires
careful revision,
The present organization, by maintaining
large staff corps or departments, separates
many officers from that close connection with
troops, and those active duties in the field
which are deemed requisite to qualify them
for the varied responsibilities Of high COM
mand We're the duties Of the army staff main
ly discharged by officers detached from their
regiments, il is believed that the special ser
vice would be equally well performed, AMI the
discipline and Instruction Of the army be i'm
proved While due regard TO the security OF
the rights of offieers, ani 10 the nice sense oi
honor which should be cultivated among them,
would seem 10 exact compliance with II es-
tahlishel rule Of promotion in ordinary cases.
still it can hardly be doubted that the range
Of promotion by selection, which is now prac-
tically confined To the grade Of general Off
GERS, might be somewhat extended with bene-
ft to the public service Observance Of the
rule Of seniority sometimes laais, especially
in time Of peace to the promotion Of officers
who, after meritorious aad even distinguished
service, may have been rendered BY age or IL
) q
and whose advancement, therefore would tend
10 impair the efficiency Of tie army. Suitable
provisions for this class Of officers, by the crea-
ton Of retired list, would remedy tie evil.
without Bounling the just pride Of men Who.
by past services, haFe established claim to
high consideration. Ia again commenting
tl4is measure 10 the favorable consideration Of
Congress. ! would suggest that tie power Of
placing officers on the retired list be limited
to one year. Tie practical operation u the
measure would thus be tested. aud Il, after
the lapse Of years, there should be occasion -
3enew the provision, il can be reproduced with
any improvement which experience may lni-
e-.te The present organization of the artll-
lery into regiments is liable to obvious Of jsc
tions. The service Of artillery Is that Of bat
teries, AMI an organization Of batteries into
corpse Of artillery would be more consistent
With the nature OF their duties A large part
of the troops now called artillery are, ana
have been on duty IS inftutry; the dIstul-
ton between the two arms being merely nom
inal. This nominal artillery III our service is
entirely disproPori0nate 20 tie whole force,
and greater than the wants If the country de-
In1nds | therefore commend the d;scoutiuu-
Ance Of distinction waicl has no iOuai4tion
in either the arms }lse Or the character o. the
service expected to lie performed
In Connection with the proposition fr the
increase Of the army, ! b4ye presented these
suggestions with regard to certain measures
Of reform, as the complement Of system " gili.l.
woull produce the hapfiest results, from a
given expenditure, and which 7 hope may At
tract the early attention and be deemed wOr-
thy the approval Of Congress
The recommendation Of the Seerstarv Of the
Navy, having reference to m5le aapl= provis-
sons for the discipline and general -s,e7luent
10 the character Il seaMen. and for tie re-or-
ganization AMI gradual increase OF the rar+.
! deem euiuently worthy OF your favorable
consideration. The principles which have
controlled our policy in relation 10 the perIna-
ncnt military force, by sea AMI ianI. are
sound, Consistent with the theory Of car svs-
ten, aud should hy no means be disregar !td
But, limiting the iurce t. sli, obi gartinu
lar,y set nth in the preceding part Of this
message, We should not overldok the present
magnitude aud prospective e1tsnti9n Of our
commercial marine, nor fail 60 give due weight
to the fact that, besides the tvs thousand
miles Of Atlantic seab3arl sc have now
Pacific coast stretching from Mexico to the
British poss sssI0ns in The north. tceming Win
wealth and enterprise, and demanding the
constant presence Of ships II war The aug
meutatien Of the navy has uot kept uace with
the duties property and pruiitablr assigned To
1T in time Of peace, and it is inalleqnate 40 the
large field OF it. operations, not merely in the
present bu. more IN the PR rfessire inersas-
ing exgoncies of the wealth aud CONNIE ce 81
the United States. | cordially arprvvs tf the
proposed apprentice system flr our national
vessels, recommended by the Secretary q tae
Navy.
The occurrence, during the past few m eus,ts.
Of marine disasters Of the ii = tragic nature.
involving great loss IF human lHe. has pro
dueed intense emotions OF sympathy and ssr-
row throughout she country It NAV be
doubted whether al these calam.taas events
are wholly attributed 10 tie necessary ana
inevitable danger Of The sea. g5s merchauts.I
marines and ship builders of the Uaitsi,sg 4tes|
are, IT IS true, unsurpassed in far reaclIug.
enterprise, skill, intelligence and courage, hv
any others in the world. But. with tie IN
ereasing amount OF cur commercial tonnarel
IN the aggregate, and the larger size aud in
proved equipment of the ships now eonstruc-
ted, deficiency in the SUPPLY cf reliable sea-
men begins 70 be very seriously felt. The IN
convenience may, perhaps, be met, in part, ty
due regulation for the Introduction. into our
merchant ships, Of iudentel apprentices
which, while it would afford useful and eligi-
bic occupation TO numerous young men. woulI
have tendency to raise the character Of sea
men as a class. And it is deserving Of serious
reflection. whether II may not be desirable TO
revise the existing law tr the maintenance Of
discipline al sea, upon which the security Of
lie and property or the ocean must 70 50 great
an extent depend. Although much attention
has already been given ~ Congress to the
proper construction and arrang cement If steam
vessels AMI all passenger ships, still it IS be-
heyed that the achievements # science AMI
mechanical skill in this direction have not
been exhausted No good reason exists Tor
the marked distinction, which arrears upon
our statutes between the laws fer protecting
life and property ut sea. and those fos pre-
teeting them on LAID. In most Of TIE States
severe penalties are provided 10 punish con.
dnctofS Of trains, engineers and Others en-
pioyed IA the transportation Of persons by
railway, or by steam boats en- rivers. Why
should net the same principles be applied 10
acts oi insuboralaat,on, coEardIce or other
misconduct or the part II masters ami marines
producing injury or death to passengers on
the high seas, beyondthe jurisdiction of any q
fhe States, and where such delinqueneies can
Fe reached oaly by tie powers Of Congress -
fiee whole suffice, IS earnestly ccmmenlel
consideration.
report Of the Postmaster General, to
~ hich you are referred for many interesting
details IA relation 70 this important ana rapid
extending branch Oft pnbiic service, shows
that the expenditure Of the year ending June
Both, 1854. including one hundred and thirty
three Thousand four hundred and eigaty-tLFee
dollars Of balance due TO foreign Offices