The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-15

the troops and the people of the Territory except only In
he should be called by the governor for soldiers
to act posse eomitG in enforcing obedience to the
laws.
In conformity with this sentiment and to assure these
people of the real intention of the movement active,
discreet officer sent in advance of the army to Utah
for the purpose of purchasing provisions for it, and of
surng the people OF the Territory OF the peaceful inten
tions of the government This duty faithfully per-
formed the chief of the fraternity assured that
violence intended towards them any one, and
that nothing could be further from the intention OF the
government the army than to moles any Tor their
religious opinions however abhorrent they might be to
the principles of Christian morality This officer found
upon entering the Territory that these deluded people
had already in advance of his arrival, Of any nfoma
hon except to the march OF the column determined
to resist their approach and prevent If possible and by
force the entrance of the army into the valley OF salt
Lake Supplies of every sort were refused him The
day after his departure from the city, his way back,
Brigham Young issued his proclamation substantially de-
caring against the United States, and at the
time putting the Territory under martial law The facts
connected with this mission Of Captain Van Vet will
appear in detail from his reports, herewith trans
mtted.
In view of the menacng attitude of affairs in Utah,
and of the importance OF prompt and thorough suppress
sion of the spirit of rebellion reignng there must repeat
my recommendation of five regiments which, i am
persuaded is the very smallest addition to the army
which the exigencies of the service will allow.
.. .s
Attention has been repeatedly called to defects in the
to several of its parts As these evils increase with
time and practice under them, must again bring them
before you. a"a
The basis of our existing system the British army as
it served in the colonies before the revolution retaining
many of the defects since corrected in Great Britain
der the experience and necessities of long Provis
ions inconsistent with the existing system copied from
other nations and partial legislation designed for partic
ular interests have augmented these evils and we have
committed the fault of adapting fundamental organi
zation to time of peace instead of basng it the ex
gencies of war.
One of the greatest of detail is the separate in
dependent character of staff corps This removes
them from their proper position aids assistants to
the commander and constitutes them his equals 1t con-
tracts the sphere of observation and experience and thus
units the officer for change advancement and begets
accumulation of precedent and prerogativc at
with the vital principle of military organizaonthe in
violabe and undivided authority of the head. He is
bound they are, by the law and his construction of
| it should govern them, not theirs him.
Another defect is the uncertain and dened rights Of
brevet rank. We have adopted the word but not its
sgncaton from the English rule and applied it to cir
cumstances not contemplated existing when first estab
lished Repeated decisions and imperfect legislation have
only increased the evil by inviting discussions and
adopting constructions.
We have retained another fault, abandoned at least
practically in almost every service among civilized
tons, the most arsocratic and monarchica This
is promotion by seniority Age and experience should
bring excellence but the test lies in the actual
sion of the latter, and not merely in the circumstances
which it is assumed should produce it. Seniority, with
the requirements essential for position ought certainly to
give precedence but without these that dignity and
spect which belong to rank and command be
secured. te a. .a..... ....-. .,.s. Is .'s.s.
All that has been urged in favor of retaining it with
is the danger of political personal favor governing
lection There may be danger from this source but by
the rule of seniority the or officer of any must if
he lives to be of the most important and respon
sble officers under the governmenthe colonel of regi
BY selection it is possible that the very best may
not always be chosen though the chances in favor of
but he
| be- and this is surely gain on the present rule.
To correct these and other evils would to pro-
vide by law for the construction of the regiments of horse
artillery and infantry as to approach them as far our
circumstances require, to the practice of all nations long
experienced in war; and to admit their contraction
for peace and their reexpanson in without altering
| this basis
This can be done without any increase of officers
men, augmentation of expense, by merely arranging
those already in service and the companies of each
| to suit the end proposed.
To place the staff in proper relation to the rest of the
army, the law should collect all the officers doing that
branch of duty into corps to be assigned by authority
of the President to such duties each may to be
best fitted for securing to each the rank and relative
son he now holds But some staff corps confined
to duties requiring special instruction and long experience
| their separate organization might be retained.
general provision dispensing with the staff bureaus
and giving the President authority to regulate the duties
the principles above stated and transfer when
cessary officers to and from the line and staff would
store the institution to its proper effectiveness Thus. the
stan near the war Department. representing the authority
of the constitutional commander of the army and
navy, would bear the relation to him the staff
ached to corps in the field have to the colonel general
who commands it,
To avoid for the future the difficulties attending bre
vet rank, the best plan is to create permanently, the
general offices exercised under brevets making as
many generals and bgadie generals the strength
of the army requires This would afford promotion to
many brevet officers of inferior rank and thus absorb
nearly all the strength of the army requires these Off
and they have always existed under the brevet rank
increase of expense would follow their being perma
nently established The law should then provide that
brevet rank should give right under any crcumstan
ces unless by the special assignment of the President in
such case retaining that rank honorary disnc
ton except in of special assignment but at all times
recommending the bearer worthy candidate for pro-
motion.
Promotion may be made a reward of merit and an in
centve to zeal by enacting that it shall take place by
nioy in corps unless in extraordinary cases. the rank
of captain, and beyond that by selection from the
grade in the same to that to be filed far colonel
inclusive General officers be at the choice of the Pres
| ident, as they now are.
| Much has been said to the proprety of separa-
ting the purchase of and supplies and all money
ed accountability from the officers proper Of the army
This system has been adopted in France but Is object
ed to giving to the civil officers thus employed an i'm
munity from military control injurious if fatal to the
interests of the service This objection would be fully
met by providing that this class Of officers without re-
ceivng military rank, being entitled TO command
should be amenable to military tribunals and thus act
under the responsibility that the dsbursing officer
now does -#'L
1t is certain that officer looking forward to military
advancement and fame tempted to incur risks the