The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13


Much said the propriety Of separating the
ability, from the officers proper OF the army.
This system has been adopted in France, but s object
ed TO giving 70 the civil officers thus employed m i'm
muny from military CONTROL injurious, not fatal TO the
interests Of the service This objection would be fully
met by providing that this class Of ofcers without
ceving military rank, or being entitled TO command,
should be amenabe 10 military tribunals and thus act
under the same responsibility that the disbursng officer
now does.
1t is certain that an officer locking forward To military
advancement and fame tempted to incur risks the
field of battle the fatal issue of which might ruin his ia
mily, and Of his friends, and his reputation,
through the disorder which his sudden death might bring
into his pccunary affairs.
These proposed changes would restore military sys
tenn to that simplicity which would render such amend
ments as experience might recommend easy and well
adapted TO existing circumstances.
concur with my predecessor in other proposed ame-
abled officers competent and tranquil retreat and for
the unworthy substantial dismissal from the service;
thus securing that efficiency of the army which will emit
tie IL TO fun respect from the country, and which the
country have a right 10 demand.
This should be applied in two ways First on the app
cation Of the officer and second the direction of the
President if accusation board Of FIVE officers Of
high rank to be detailed for each case, and the examna
tsn to be conducted though charges before court
martial the President TO decide the report Of the court
The disposal OF the officers to be OF three kinds First
honorable release from duty, and from any corps
which ne may be attached remaining as asupernamerary
leave Of absence Second, to be retired from the army,
without disgrace his pay proper unless he
foreits by misconduct Third TO BIO retired from the
army, without pay compensation except gratuy Of
years, six three months pay, to him
from the evil consequences of absolute want.
REPORT THE GENBRAL-IN CHIEF
call special attention TO the report of the General in
Chief, and ask for his recommendations favorable
sideraton. II certainly true that TO call peace
establishment Is abuse Of terms. II is well known
that the casualties of the battle field bear very small
proportion to the loss of life from exposure and hardship
encountered in long and perous marches and from pro-
tracted campaigns. In every particular with the excep-
ton only of the battle field hardshs encountered by
any army prosecuting any war greater than those to
which very large proportion of our troops are constant
y exposed And the dangers OF battle far from being
insignificant the reports of these constantly recurring
conflicts will abundantly show.
The plan of regmental depots for recruiting am conf
dent will be very advantageous to the service will
produce spirit Of generous rivalry, conducive in the
highest degree good discipline and military bearing.
The tone Of the rank and file needs elevation extremely
and every should be resorted tending to effect it,
If our troops were massed sufficiently TO insure perfect
drill and discipline; If they made soldiers instead of
day aborers; feeling of pride instead of degradation
resulted from their connection with the service the
rd Of the army would take that elevation which is
most desirable in all armies and which certainly ought to
be pre- eminent in that Of great republic. The habit of
employing soldiers as aborers is extremely detrimental
the service They feel degraded because they de-
prvea OF both the emouments and the sturdy ndepend
Of the aborng man who feels that his vocation is
honorable because II is independent and free. The
soldier who enters the service with some degree of
military aspiration but resent wrong the order
which changes him from his legitimate vocation to
that of a mere operative deprived of his fair wages
think would conduce greatly TO the elevation Of the
rank and file if promotion to commission was made readily
and certainly atanable by the really mertorious in
the ranks our army was put upon the proper footing,
the anomalous spectacle of having thirds Of rank
and file composed OF foreigners would certainly not be
witnessed
The expenses Of the army have been and constantly
much augmented by the necessity OF moving large bodies
OF troops, at the shortest possible notice from remote
points. to suppress Indian outbreaks. The
temper and spirit of the Indians entirely unknown to
he War ncpar fuppf uph pirafo
from the Department Of the Interior, which, of course,
would never be made, except when forces are deemed
for the public safety The system of defence
proposed through the double line of posts herein
mended, would, think, in very great measure,
neutraze this evil
RAILROAD TO TIDE PACIFIC.
The surveys heretofore ordered by Congress TO
tain the best for the construction railroad
the boundary Of States lying west OF the Mis-
sissppi TO the Pacific have been carefully made and the
results deliberately set forth in eight large volumes In
the opinion OF competent judges there contro
versey TO the most eligible route for the railroad
Stunning that all the material facts in the have been
fully asccrained. The route from Fl Paso TO the Colo
sesses very decided advantages over others in several
important particulars. The grades lower, the
climate mldcr and the distance the desert region
common TO all the routes less upon this. Water too,
sufficiently abur dani upon the tract Of this survey
that in selecting railroad route between the Pacific and
the valley Of the Mississippi far our present nfor
nation goes that by Fl Paso would be chosen; but the
contamination OF this project, freed from all other diff
cutes, would require immense sums OF money and
great length OF time Meanwhile other military roads
very urgently require special and prompt opening and
occupation n the railroad to-day completed from
II PasO to the line Of California strong and urgent
cessity would stii remain for maintaining and keeping
open at least two O the other routes for the passage Of
emgrans and the transportation Of military stores 10
regions OF our country accessible only by these routes
Then, these routes 10 be opened any event
policy and economy would seem to Indicate that should
be done AT once.
not require very large force maintain them, and II
placed at proper dstaL rs apart would furnish certain
means =" sae anu fao transportation OF tne mails ana
perfect protection TO eeeraphc line from one ocean to
the other, which latter object would in ITSELF be worth
far more TO the country than the cost Of the posts and the
expense Of maintaining them
EXPLORATIONS SURVEYS.
There no appropriation Of equal amount in charge of
this department that Is productive more real and sub
stanta benefit to the public service than that for military
explorations and surveys. AT this time are actually
ignorant Of the geography and general character Of large
tracts Of country lying between the valley Of the Mss
sippi and the Pacific ocean Every day adding and
important facts 10 present stores Of knowledge upon
this subject And, much a. has been accomplished within
the last few years is hazardng but little TO say that
have only begun 10 acquire what IL 40 useful for US to
understand thoroughly.
Two expeditions have been fitted GU, expressly 10
explore tracts Of country hitherto wholly unknown.
The first sent 10 the northwest, beyond the
waters Of the Upper Missouri, towards the " Black
Hills and will doubt, bring valuable Information.
The other is engaged in exploring the Colorado of the
West Of which to this time nothing has been accurately
known am not without strong hope that this expora
ton will result In discovering the best means by which
the transportation Of army stores can be effected 10 the
interior Of New Mexico and Utah
But for the assistance rendered these explorations by
the troops detailed for the purpose the appropriations
would prove wholly inadequate for any material results
transmit herewith the report u the Bureau Of Explora
tons and Surveys for detailed information q the
petitions fitted out for these purposes aud Of tie progress
made In the experiment q srtesian wells.
ROADS
The military roads heretofore IN charge Of this depart
ment progressing satisfactorily, under the supern-
t,ndence Of thesohcers having them In charge
Amongst them IL from Fort Defiance " the mouth
Of the Mojaye river, which deserves special notice from
the plan adopted for IL construction TIL appropriate
for this work only fifty Thousand dollars while the
length OF the road about $50 miles. directed I'd
ward " Beae, Eco TO whom entrusted the construction
81 this road TO pass and survey the route throughout
the entire length 10 lay out the road and make passabc
for wagons at all difficult places.
With this party sent thirty Eve camels Of those
Gently imported under the direction of predecessor
This Intended experiment tcs the efficiency
o. those animals beasts ~ burden and
through the barren and difficult contry of the great
mountain range separating the Mississippi valley from the
Pacific Prom the recent reports received from Mr.
Bcale would appear that the oames are likely 70 an
fully the high expectations euterta ned of them for
military purposes by the honorable Secretary who
duccd them into the country