The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-26


vose io BROWN hope we shall pass this bill precisely
q; oa from the House of Representatives. IL intro
anced there after very patient and mature delberatioD,
ana meant to promote the interest Of class of officers
who have been coniesssay 700 long
The Secretary of War but almost as high authority for
saving that unless relief be given to those officers
constitute almost the very flower OF the army ny
will be literally driven into retirement TO seek some oher
employment .,,,, -,
derstood The great end will be accomplished, ana &C,
compished at once and without risk by passing the Dill
as II came from the House Of Representatives you ~
TO cucumber 1t with amendments such as tha
the senator from Virginia. you not only get Up long as
sop here but you necessarily send IL back to the house
of Representatives for almost nerminable discussion
there The result will be that the bill must inevitably De
Lost and these Young officers living almost at sarva
atoms door will get relief from the government they
will be driven seek employment elsewhere and instead
of nourishag and rearing up young gallant well educated
10 the army you will drive them out at that very time
of their life when they bid farest to be useful
In reference to the proposition OF the senator from Ca
frnia about the double ration have difficulty at all in
opuosing It, Double raons given for wise and bene
ca purposes and they ought TO be adhered TO- Take the
commander at Fortress Monroe-shall he have no higher
raions than who is commanding in the heldf
think he ought to have think the man who Is there anu
Is expected aud required by the courees Of the profession
TO which ne 70 Sans he of like
gentleman would pay him in proportion to what he Is
expected and what required of him by the courte
sies of his official position to enable him to dispense
these Inequalities which he is expected and which, in point
of fact il required by his official position to dispense
that these ratons given but they are not given BY
this bill The bill does not propose to do that but the
senator proposes this bill to change understand
an existing law To that am opposed. want to see the
junior officers provided for and IN the plain simple MODE
tain way of doing that to pass the bill as II came from
the House of Representatives shall not vote to cross
or dot an in this bill because in matter of so much i'm
portance as this to be to the army and especially
to the junior officers will risk. would not
vote for amendment that thought was right in this
connection.
Mr. PUGH wish to say word or two in explanation
of my vote.
Mt WELLER Allow to modify the amendment by
inserting the words uness specially ordered by the Pres
dent of the United States that double ratons cannot
be allowed in any unless specially ordered by the
President who is commander-in-chief of the army
Mr. PUGH With that alteration shall have no hesa-
in voting for the amendment OF the Committee on Mil
tary Affairs otherwise should vote against it. believing
the system of double raons to be good system for
making distinctions in the pay of officers of the army.
am willing the pay of captains and euenants
OF the army think it ought to be increased am willing
to include majors and shall make great opposition
to increasing the pay of observation-disclosures and colone
protest against increase OF pay to brgader gener
ais and major generals 1t is now far above the pay given
to officers the civil list You giving to major gen.
era far pay than you give to the judges of the Su
preme Court of the United States. You giving
The President Of the United Sates-more than you give to
the cabinet ocers-more than you give to the Vice Pres-
dent
II the proposition were made give these salaries in
figures could command the assent of Congress
by these complications Of ratons and forage and other
allowances which not familiar to those who have not
directed their attention TO Them that does command
their therefore tell the Senate again. that this
gives brigadier-general pay than judge OF
the supreme Cour-that gives the more
pay, believe than cabinet officer, and puts the cuten-
angenera Of the army above every other officer except the
President; and gives him Eaf the pay of the President Of
the United States think
These valuable offices; and whilst this 10 done the
weight of service in the army the hard work. is done by
captains and euenants who do not have salaries equal
of thaS
pay of the officers of the highest grade give them
Portable cushions which they repose their heads
devove the OF ther duties on the captains and
other subordinate officers. this bill be amended to
exclude the majorgenerals and brgadiergenerals shall
for it with great satisfaction but without such
Mr.. CRITTENDEN / have no experience in the prac.
ces and usages of the army in respect to the
ton OF ratons The number of rations. The system
rations has been believe, since we have had army
and since the English had army, part Of the cGmpen
sation suppose from the antiquity of this mode
pensaton tina! some advantage to the public service has
been found in it. feel little unwilling depart from il
simply because it has been long regarded useful If
essential in the conduct and government of armies
think we ought hesitate little before upon any mere
speculation Of own, (most of us being, like myself
without any experimental knowledge on the subject
depart from the usages of fathers and fathers
fathers on this subject therefore, do not feel myself
called upon to interfere with the present arrangement
listing upon that subect in relation to the army Of the Uni
ted States.
There is q fer allowing increase Of rations
officer inrusted with the command of military
ton or post 1t ID merely enable him the better
extend hospitality to brother officers others casually
visiting his post That is reason and good reason
If there other keeps up spirit of cordially
among the officers of your and attaches them togeh
or untes them binds them together by the Inequalities
and courtesies of civilized life Is not that something
the service 1t not merely qualification to the parties
to render and to receive hospitality it is useful the
public service; IL duses through the army spirit of
dalty and of union and that is essential TO the public
service But, besides that the officer nrused with the
command off post has a particular charge particular
NOR than cara nd rdfporv
vigilance and imposing than ordinary responsible
ty upon him. This increase of rations might have had
regard to both these considerations This Is my speeua-
ton upon the subject AS said know nothing by ex-
perence about it, only know that IL appears there
may be reasons and good for it. 1t is good
with me for adherng to it that it has been the
OF my country from the time it had army down to this
day.
Gentlemen object abuse which may be made OF t.
and the inequality created among officers by giving one or
another by selection and choice, the command of post
and therefore, this advantage suppose that those who
gave the additional ration did suppose IL was an adj
vantage to officer They gave it him as a liberal
sort OF equivalent for the Inequalities he had to render in
entertaining brother officers coming there other duties
passing by other duties They could not tell to what
extent might be the cost of this hospitality They simply
doubled his ratons They gave him four ratons if cap
tain each at twenty cents day. to defay all these hosp
tates. II two friends dined with him. it certainly con-
sumed the whole If one dined with him. II would prob
ably consume the whole particularly il he was an officer
OF distinction, and to whom something of extraordinary
hospitality was expected.
Shall we not be little rash if undertake to disturb
this allowance simply because here on momenary consd
Grafton and without any particular experience on the sub
lec undertake to inerpose opinions against long,
established usage when opinions hastily made mn