The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-09

felt painful sensations account OF delay than at
emit and urged by them, have expressed myself without
reserve"
ons in the Virginia line the change of commanding officers
TO the regiments and other equally distressing have
injured that corps beyond conception and have been the
reducing very respectable regiments to hand
full of and this will be the case till officers can be
fixed by something equivalent to the sacrifice they make
To otherwise, and suppose that public virtue alone
will enable them orego the and comforts of life TO
the hardshps and dangers of for bare sub
ence, when their companions and friends are amassing
large fortunes viewing human nature rather as 1t should
be than as it really is."-5 Sparks, p. sl2.
On the 2lst of April 177s Washington wrote TO John
Banster, in Congress
Be assured the OF the [halfpayl is
matter of the seriou5 moment and that ought to be
brought to conclusion speedily possible The spirit
of resgnng commissions has been long at alarming
height and increases daily. The Vgins line has sustained
violent shock in the less than ninety nave
There are two just grounds to fear that it will shake
the very existence of the army unless remedy Is soon
ua as the pointed out This trust, will satisfy the
officers and at the tme it will produce no present
ce all views of present interest," and the
vcssudes owar in the defence of their country un-
less she will be generous enough her part make de-
cent provision for their future support"
1t is indeed hard to say how extensive the evil may Dc
II the should be rejected much longer delayed
find very arduous task to keep the officers in toerable
huor and protract such combination for quitting the
The difference between service and that of the emo
my striking With us, from the peculiar unhappy
must break in upon their private fortunes present sup
port without prospect OF future relief With them
thoy have sold Of late for from fifteen to twenty hundred
pounds serling and am credbly informed that four
%Yoa Viii readily determine how this difference viii ope
| rate--what effects It must produce.
Men may speculate as they will they may talk Of patr
otism; they may draw few examples from ancient story
of great performed BY its influences but who
ever builds upon them as sufficient basis for conducting
end. @
we must take the passions of men nature has given
them and those principles guide which are generally the
The enemy beginning to play agame dangerous
the Independence of America and of to her liberties
They are endeavorng ensnare the people by specous
naturally fond of peace, and there symptoms
which authorize an opinion that the people OF America
full whether many Of friends might not incline
commodaton on the grounds held out or which may be-
the surely be the ruest policy to strengthen
the army, and place It upon substantial footing.
ly entertain the army, and which, reports are right
members labor to establish You be assured there
ousy stands upon the commonly opinion, which
under proper limitations is certainly true that standing
have only gone them in time and these
their not e the 5 ss
than what flowed from their military empoyp short from
their being mercenaries hirengs 1t policy to be
III s 1f% in aad % e
many cases property Totally uneonnected with military
/ Euf. Y
It unjust, because order Of men in the Thirteen
States paid sacred regard to the proceedings of
m Eat history
furnish instance Of army suffering such
hardshps has done, and bearing them with
the same patience and ortitude.
"To without clothes to cover their nakedneaa,
without blankets to lie on without shoes or the want Of
which their might be traced y blood from their
eet) and almost often without provisions as with them
marching through the frost and and at Christmas
taking up their winter quarters within days march of the
enemy without house hut to cover them till they could
built and submitting without murmu is proof Of
thence and obedience which, in my opinion can scarce be
| paralleled." ."--5 Sparks, p. 32l. H
On the 25th of APRIL ITS Washington wrote to Gou-
verneur Morris, in Congress:
az ~qg M T. s wish heartily but
the provision for officers concluded II the
place not only but Of officers acting east Of Hudon
i river."-b Sparks, p. 339.
On the soth of April, r77s, Washington wrote to Con
gress;
oI sincerely wish the provision for officers, SO long the
subject Of discussion established IT. certainly eguit
be and in my opinion essential Day after day and hour
bad officers or to those Of little or no character they would
be Of consequences but it painful to men who
Sountry and who are still and may be most materially
wanted leaving the the account of the dstreses
a by @ nOa e
taken in defence of common rights The provision, il
woaa y Il a
and their tolls, and be support their
/ jured constutions."-5 Sparks, p. $50.
i We have reached the first important stage in til,
progress of this great question On the 18th of May
the Congress yielded to tho arguments of Washington
far to attempt 10 settle it by compromise which was
promise annuies of hapay for years certain
/ conditions:
/ " Resolped, ,nanimously, That all military officers com
missioned by Congress- who hereafter may be-
in the service of the United States and shall continue
during the and not hold any Office of profit under these
States OF hem SHALL after the conclusion Of the
they live long, half Of the present pay of such Off
cers Provided That general officer of the cavalry
ery infantry, shall be entitled receive than
half pay of colonel OF such corps respectively And
the service of the United States unless he shall
oath OF allegiance to, and shall actually reside within
| some of the United States.
Resoivsd umanimousi, That every commissioned mil
into the service of these States for and during the war;
shall continue therein the end thereof sha entitled
receive the further reward of eighty dollars the expiration
OF the war."--Journal of Congress- vol. H., p. 564.
Washington acknowledged the receipt of the information
of the passage of the resolutions in letter. written to
Gouverneur Morris at Valley Forge the 18th of May
just the of breaking the encampmen and taking
the enemy the character of the of the opening
| campaign, de said;
"Your favor Of the 18th instant gave me singular pleas
thank for the agreeable intelligence it contains
which, though not equal wishes, exceeded antic
patons and is to be lamented only for the delay. The
evils, in consequence OF this will soon, have
told, be manifested in the moving state of the arrays
| Sparks, p. $40. ss Io
We shall see in this case what SO commonly seen in
political affairs that compromises very unsatisfactory
| and unreliable settlements of yexed questions
shall not stop my review until find Washington the