New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-09
ABUSES IN FIRST DIVISION or MILF
TN-CTTY or NETWORK.

IIA-CIIf OE We " O4sa'
n ne E4isc~ 4 NJ Y Tr~esa~
SIR. There are frequen. sp,icst,ops inside, asd
some hsve been granted for the org nizsion OF new
Companies and Regiments. and even B'igsdes, n
the Fist Division. apparently for no other oejeos
than create additional nameer Of officers, or 70
bring together, into separate organisation. the na-
tives OF particular country, when is well kuovn
that uos of the existing corps DO possess the 70
cuisite numbers Of men required by Law, which de-
clare, tbs, no uniformed company shall consist Of
..less than 50 non -commissoned officer, and pri-
d. YATES nor more than 100 This would admit in
escb rey;nsrt / 900 men exclusive Of commissioned
oscers the NON. commissioned staff aud musie<na
I, /, notorious AZ lesst to the respective corps thak
no nj in the City hss ever psraded over 800 nea
and the largest rsrey 400 while st east s~o thirds
{ The regiments do not parade over 200 men, There
- not . COMPANY in the City that has 100 effective
men on its roll and II is deemed remarkably pros
perous one that has 80, while the most OF them
parsde from 20 to 30 men each Way, then, organize
lew resimeLts and companies when the existing
ones are deficient 10 numbers and especially why or
sarize bodies of Irish Germans. French, Ssiss &c.
sepsrsfev II the paives OF those countries, oeinE
ado pied citizens, desire to enroll themselves ~ goo"
faifh az American citizen soldiers th-y could ma
plenty of vac zuciee in the already organized conpa-
Ties of the several Regiments OF the DIVISION IL
they are aliens they hsve DO right ~ De aemoess aud
all such Low attached should A. once Do required 70
fesva ,ha corpsuies in which they enrolled. II
rsy no, be yeueralv known. but such is'he fact that
the officers in most Of the foreign orgsuz st"n' issue
heir military orders in foreign Language ~ veil -
are compelled to explain the military e1trcses IN
foregn tongue The hy laws OF most of these CON
psnles now r, cognized by Law, are pra,et Ia for
eien language and American officer who
has 10 sdiudcste upon their provisions, II oe noe
familiar with tho language hts 10 rcqs,re raslites
L. Shonld n ha
CO, sary to the members themselves II they are
American citizens and desire TO be good ones NJ 10
De enrolled " kor the security of tree Stfe, tney
should a, least acquire nowledge OF the language
of the country Of their adoption II they we're an
rolled in copsnies not exclusively composed OF their
own coupiryrner they would more readiy Acquire
this knowledge, so important Tor tstntul oNcaargo
of their duty Ii is known that in'e,igent ON
who have been in command Of corps composed chiefly
of adopted citizens have expressed great doubt OF tne
proprity of placing these corps In promne nj POSITIONS
in csse vi riot or popular tumult Nsuve Ame1esn
citizens while they would be inclined To submit 10 the
arms OF their own cOuntrymen, would not wilngy
WELD to force composed almost exclusively oil Jcr-
S,gR,rs even though adopted cilzens, espsciaiy u
they should hear orders given 10 such 'ofco IN
Language to them unknown. This Is another reason
xby these separate foreign organizations should
not be permitted especially when on the ban
rers Of some is borne the device OF their az
tionslity and who clothe themselves Ia tne
uniform Of smother country IN preference 10 al hner
s,a,sd In these organic atoms there are many, aye
hundreds VINO are not citizens even by Adoption,
that is they have not been IN this country long
enough 10 become citizens. Should TINS Nioi"hv"
of law exist What relisnce have We upon tue
hcsst,d hulgark of American freedoul-ls ctttse1
eoloery-wl,n it is organized OF those VINO are nov
ctti-tns1 These aliens themselves hose'er are NOT
responsible for thePe ganizsons Ihey nave tneu
ORIGIN in some political demsg que who'wisnts the
ssocatop for some other than the ostensbe ooject
The General or superior officers too, are ANXIOUS 70
have Logger tail TO their show, regardless Oh ths
quality ii they have quantity. AS an evidence W
this Il Is scarcely more than 40 years since Nnen
hooy of Itsbuen (shtther citizers or not Is uncer-
tsin but 1t is believed the most of them are Aliens
desired TO be organized into regiment ana suacheo
tn one Of the bugades of the FIRST DIVISION,
and applied To eeveral of the commanding oiicers OF
brieedes for their appreciation. Most oil thsm 90
cned. Ore Of them, bogever, was about 10 yieid
when the several Colorels OF this oihcors brigade
under their proper signatures, romonstrsted asaas
its Omission urging some of the reasons herein eig
getted The remonstrance had its effect, and tns
consent WAS withheld. The commanding oficer OF
this brigade retired, and one of the demonstrating
Colonies became his successor; ana soon mere
himself became applicant for the admission Oh tnif
very body Of Irshmen he was 30 strenuous IN oppos
pe when the tai would not bs Of any particular adj
ysotage to the reg ment he then commander; Ana
str anee 10 say the Msjor-General himself, who ~
.sfyi.ion Board, composed Of officers representing
several brieades and regments Of the City, sanctioned
by his own vote certain principles lad down Dy the
unanimous vote of the Board against the admission OF
any rev corps 10 the division until the existing ONES
should be filed according TO Law, joined 10 the aPpi-
cation this regiment Is nov attached 10 ths sec
end Brigade in this City, Ii Is right therefore, TO at
tribute the evil complained Of to the anxiety OF some
Of the General officers TO make great show wtnont
reg ard 10 law or proprety In regard to the admis-
zion of these corps into the service OF the state,
is evident bot little pains u taken 70 ascer-
tain whether the persons making the apphcs-
tons under the lava are eligible to be msmbers.
BY the laws of Federal a. well IS the State Gov
srr uept the persons subect 10 military duty are all
bodied white male citizens, between the ages
" of 3 and As years" The Commander in-chief may
organize a company whenever nifty persons sst)ece
10 ntiary duty shall assocate together Tor the pnr-
"pose." What evidence dOes the Commsnier1n In
chief require that the fifty persons thus applying are
sulJect TO military duty O., ars ct,sensf After the
companies are org.nized Whist restraint Is there on
Captains ard Colonies to prevent the admission OF
aens in their corps1 IL becomes matter of serious
ibouiry when ii is believed that more than pethirds
If tAs MANNERS Of the First D,Uis'on are o. J"e'gn
5rth and large proportion Of that number are not
even cizens Ii 10 known, too, that many OF our ma
tive citizeps are deferred from joining uniform COM
paDies While the privileges are thus abused. Inns
subject needs the careful confederation OF tne Legs
laure and an inquiry into AL tue iacts thas remsay
NAV be supplied This could BE- accomplished by
the arr ointment OF Commission or say three cin'
zeps. with power TO conduct such sn investigation a.
would lead to full and faithful report -
Your obecient servant, ACiTiIhN'
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