The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE ON THE BILL TO INCREASE THE PAY OF
THE OFFICERS OF TIE ARMY.
lis SENATE, February II, 1857 Concluded.

lion before the Senate was SO simple that every senator
mind wasprepared for action the subject without
eng into general debate. Contrary to my expectation,
however the discussion has taken rather discursive
range regret extremely to be compelled to dissent from
gentlemen whose experience in legislation and military af
fairs entities them TO my respect The immediate point
before the Senate b In regard to double ratlos and In
creased pay As TO that my mind is concluded am de-
dedy in favor Of the increase Of pay and retaining the
double ration Ii We government receive the services
OF individuals il 10 right that they should be treated as
gentlemen that they should receive competency In
quita for their services and at they should be placed
above The pressing necessities Of want We require OF these
officers duties that ought to be performed by gentlemen
and thSr recomrense should be equivalent to their
vices For this reason am unhesa,ingy in favor Of the
increased pay and the double ration when the officer is in
command of separate post 1t is true abuse of the
power may take place but the Secretary of War has all
mes the corrective in his hand and if he be proper
ecutiye officer he will prevent any abuse from arising in
the administration of the affairs of his department. When
ever anything depends on the will and action of nd
vdual must the risk of abuse but the fact that
the power may be nudieousy applied does not initiate
against the principle.
I think our military sy stem Is all wrong differ with
the venerable from Michigan for whom entertain
the most profound resec both for his wisdom and his
patriotism and his cage experience to the point of dan
ger TO our government from standing army AN sure
be would discaim the general principle Of standing
army but the application of that principle to peculiar
condition Is the point upon which claim the rvi!sge OF
dissenting from him. expect convuson revolu-
on usupaton directly by military power against the
constitutional authorities Of this government against
the liberties Of the people That is not the way in which
the army will be dangerous to liberties The danger
lies in insidous progressive marches in encroachment
after encroachmen accreon after accretion, to the mill
tay power Inc danger = not from combination Or con-
sodaon of military force mbodied to assa the liberties
of the country attack and put down the constitution
al authorities of the nation No sir; Tut in the halls
of legislation that the danger exists.
Go to the Military Academy, in the first instance There
you favores selected by members of Congress from
influential families placed at the Military Academy at the
public charge set apart to be educated at public expense
exclusive privileged order They concentrate
tain degree OF influence in behalf of that institution which
felt throughout the whole country and is erempfed in
the halls Of legislation Families who have potta infu-
at home control to certain extent the election of
to the Congress of the United States and
the election Of members Of the State eg atare sud they
go the legislatures and lobby for the election OF senators
OF the United States and send here ndocnated
with certain notions in favor OF the army which be
or the navy and YOU will find that il has advocates and
sympathixers n the halls OF egisat NJ not alone upon
political grounds but upon individual feelings and the
preferences that gentlemen here entertain for memers Of
the corps 1t is evident that personal consideration
pathy for friends or desire to concate political nu
ence at home do 10 certain extent control legislation in
these halls for the army. is the continuance of this
course which to make the influential eventu
ally to be dangerous.
We are told that there must be goal to which the OIL
Ger to march that the suberns be contented
without rank that an officer is not fit for the service of his
country who has not the spirit OF ambition stimulating
him to the acquisition of higher rank. admit that this is
noble and generous impulse to certain extent; and it
what the soldier should always feel His ambition should
be shown by his solderly department. his becoming gen
himself to the confidence OF his government and the ami
ration Of his comrades that he may attain high and
distinguished place in military renown. concde all
this but let remind senators that this feeling OF amb
ton has been recently exempbfed most sousy
OF service Look the condition of the navy
There the desire for promotion rife Rank said
to be necessary to promote The junior officers 1t said
the officers OF the navy must be multiplied to give positions
to Individuals and prematurey to give them rank 1t was
done The nobest spirits OF our service have been ruth
lessy stricken down and that of the counrys defence
palsed That one eIemplcation of the principle of
honorable ambition in inferior rank you have done
IN the navy suppose you will have to do in the army You
must increase the army accommodate all the asprants
who wish these high distinctions They have been
ed not for any eprH du not for robust and athletic
constitutions but from principle of avoritism and nu
II this influence which obtained them place
at the Military Academy After undergoing probation
there they selected for the purpose of leading
miles, and constituting the nucleus which liberties
and the glory of our country to depend As they
forward maured tor cce suppose you increase the
army according TO the requirements Of the supcrabundance
of aspranis You only subordinate, but
higher ranks TO crafty those who have passed this proba
onary course t in the Academy and then in the army,
that they may attain that goal which is suggested by the
honorable senator from Michigan.
Sir to this system | object Genius is slumberng in
obscurity all around There few inherilors of
MUS is the common property OF mankind, but is
ly exhibited. Washington, Napoleon, Jackson, may
now be in obscurty in private life having no official
friends TO obtain him situation at the Military Academy,
or in the army of the United States You make officers for
the army you would make ancal Instruments but
sir, God must stamp the soldier aud the general the
lnPreSs III were 10 SelecI upon WHICH
were compelled 10 depend to save this republic would
take for my officers active energetic who dis
tingushed in the common avocaons OF life. would
take the STRIPPING Of eighteen twenty from his plough
handle and invest him with the insignia of officer and
he would feel all the funts, OF manhood in his limbs and
in his heart. would not take who mechanically
formed by artifce; but would take the whose in
stncs noble whose thews and muscles perfect
who could take hardy exercise without discipline aud
drill who had had to act and rely on his own resources
for position in life. would take whose position
was the result of accident mechanism. protest
against the present system BY which exclusive priv
legged order created and the result of which is that you
may increase the army but you decrease it. You
may tell me that decreased after the Mexican
when the volunteers dsbanded and returned their
homes
Sir these volunteers the who to forth
from the forest in the hour Of peril and and rescue
your country 1t is not taccian, bat it is genius
formed by nature that to lead your armies to victory
The awaJ produces the The call Of patriot
ism will bring them forth from their dels, from their
mountain tops from their gorges They will come forth
mighty torrent overwhcm the adversary when one
shall come to soil and when the mighty work OF bat
lie is done and the redemption of the country complete
they will the quiet walks Of private life carrying
back the delightful recollection of having honoraby and
efficiently served their country and they will receive the
warm embraces of family and of frends and the tear OF
affection will fall from the soldiers rugged brow. This is
the ecompense that citizens have when called from
their homes when occasion demands adventure peril
sacrifice of life in defence of the country. These men
who pure from the hand of Divinity stamped with
the impress of eemen, and willing peril everything for
love OF country and who not mpeed by desire
to shine their profession Sir the citizen soldier
TO do the mighty deeds of batteo banner of bis
country aloft He Is the upon whom you must rely
There Is danger of increasing the gray the