The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-15

THE ARMY Bu.L--A bill has been brought
into Congress hy Mr.. Faulkner, Of Virginia, for
the better organization of the army The second,
third, fourth and fifth sections provide respec-
lively for q small increase OF the pay OF the army
officers boon which is we'll meriied and will be
gratefully received Under the present system of
training, which we owe to the existence Of our
Military Academy the officers Of the United
States army have no superiors IN the world either
ii education, practical skill. or bravery To
pinch such men is unworthy 0. the republc.
They should be at least a. well paid a. the great
mass of officials Who for a few hours work day
in our numerous custom houses. and in the vari-
Gus bureaus Of Washington, receive more at pre-
sent than the most gallant and faithful men in
the army
The bill also provides for an accountant in the
Office Of the Secretary OF War, who il is con
sidered, is not the proper person to settle army
accounts, however skiifal be may Be in Che per-
Torrance of his general duties. II gives the en-
listed men Of the ordnance the increase Of pay
provided for other enlisted men by the act o.
Congress August 4, 1854, and also secures the
pay Of military storekeepers 10 these proyi.
sions there can be no reasonable objection aud
they should be adopted.
The first section OF the bill T. not ~ accep. ole
II declares that brevet commissions shall not
take effect either for command q raak or pay
nor engineers or ordnance o. stan departments
shall have command out Of these department..
except by special assignment ~ the President
This divests those officers who have received rank
for gallant and merito1 A,ryiccs OF al tn
advantages OF such rank, unless they fad per-
sonal fava in the eyes OF the President Th. i
step forward towards Increasing ihe one man
power" which cannot safely b. taken The Pre-.
sident has already quite enough authority under
The constitution and laws W. cannot consent
that the army shall become his sycophsnts o.
tools, or that bis fav0rites shall have commands.
70 the exclusion OF high minded worthy aad 10.
dependent men. The effect will b. msehieyous
IN other respects. Brevet rank being rendered
nugatory by this section. il may happen that
captain by brevet may b. placed ID command
over lieutenant colonel by brcvet ii The Prssi.
dent 80 Chooses state oi things which will
lead 10 The destruction Of all discipline. Rank
would. in fact be the creature OF bis will and
not the honorable provision or the army code
The President il wisely placed by the Coastitu.
ton under the control Of Congress which alone
has thu power TO raise aud support armies, and
TO make rules for the government of the land
ard naval forces" The irs, section o. this bin
virtually ncutralizes this power Il allows the
President TO take II into bis own hands. by the
most subtle Of contrivances, and 10 make every
officer in the army look TO him a. The fountain OF
honor. The army would become the President
army and the officers sink 10 the condition u
fatterers aud parasites.
Experience shows that Executive discretion AZ
least where civilians have been commanders.
in-chicf was not very enlightened The army
would much rather trust to the regulations Of
Congress than the caprice Of q Presidential in
trigIer. We have seen in the case If Breyet
Lieutenant General Scott how The Intentions Of
Congress may he intcrfered with by projudiccd
and hostile officials.
u j. 10 be hoped that this bill will be pruned Of
its defective parts, and that the atmy ball not
Ivy any Of its provisions he thrown from IL pre.
sent honorable condition into one q mean sub
servieney 10 political Presidents