The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-27

drew unwonted praise and culogium even from the
stern lips of the Iron Duke. These Juniors are in
niors STILL and subsequent to the war the entity
honors of a few brevcts did not add dollar I'm ther
pay or a comfort to their homes.
1t is curious fact. and an argument in favor OF
retired list, not sufficiently insisted upon that
many, II not the majority OF The most important
positions under General Scott were filed by officer.
below the rank OF Major. Capt lie, was his chief
engineer, Major 1urubull his chief tnporraphicaI
engineer, Capt. Hu-t his chief Of ordnance Can't
scott his AdJutant General, Nc. The city of Pue-
hla during the siege, was commanded nv Major
Childs Fort Brown during the bombard,napt the
necessity tor ITS relief causing the battle of Palo
Alto and Resaca lie la Palma was defended by Ma
J"r Brown and at Buena Vista Gen Taylor looked
his victory
Since the war who among Us have enoved the
Deheht OF the best stations and the easy duty2 Not
those who spent years in the enemt's country
they are now to be found face to face with savage
foe, while OF the others some hold responsible posi-
tons without the mental vigor and phy steal ENERGY
! to Keep even with the wants and improvements of
the army the progress of the country, and the won
drOus spirit of the age. We do not arraipr the Of
fcers; we blame the laws that demand duty from
/ those who are incapable of performing it. Howev-
| er unfit they may be, there Is no alternative and
| we know OF many who would willingly take advan-
tage of retired list While in the service self
respect, and nice OF a soldiers duty would
prevent them from refusing the work they are to-
tally unequal to: and we remember, with pride the
brave old veteran who lived long life of honor to
his country and left a glorious memory that will
never die, urging his claim to head his gallant repi-
ment in Mexico. Age and exposure had shattered
and broken constitution of iron but had failed 70
quench the lire of the noble spirit that had calmly
looked upon death the battlc-Gelds Of two CONT
| nents.
The organization of the French army is the best
in the world Of this fact close study of the Cri-
mean campaign will satisfy the most incredulous.
A French army takes the field not a medley of UNI
! ay,1a a
valetudinarian Generals of Brigade and Division,
but a perfect whole, with talent, vigor, energy,
healths and power permeatng the entire body,
from the Field Marshal to the humbeSt private in
the ranks; not as our army when mustered for the
field, dlsointed mass of detachments without q
single battalion with its full complement of officers
and men. This is regulated by the laws govern
ing the French service that retire those who are
unht Tor active duty. For instance, BIigader Gen
erals retire at the age of sixtr-three and Generals
OF Division at slXty-hve, and individuals can only
be excepted from this rule and then only to the
age of siXty-eight by the highest authority known
to the Empire. And here we may note the benef-
cal influence of one-third of the promotion in the
lower grades being through merit, two-thirds by
seniority.
This is only possible. however, under an absolute
Government, where the head Of the army is also the
dispenser OF all honOrs, and whose fame, position
sceptre itself and ets upon the devotion of this grea
arm OF a countrys strength. Nothing but promo
ton by seniority obtain in a Republican Govern
ment, political intuence-that bane of every Repub
lie that ever existed, sweeping off every reward
however justly due to merit. and browning with
laurel the brazen front OF pet familiar and sycophan
tic medocrity. We pray for a retired list for thu
army, just and liberal inits provisions, which, Will
dispensing with the services Of the inefficient will
not leave them to spend their old age in penury anC
want. The most vital interest of the service de
mands it, and the country, in the plenitude of he
power, demands it. Her small army, scarcely a
large as French division, should compensate TO
its littleness by thorough efficiency in all the grea
elements of its strength, mental physical andmoral
and when so perfected no toll, however protracted
no prlvation, however severe; no enemy, howeve
nce its, can stay its march onward, and the bril-
eiticerr oagpast achievements will pale before tn
offmte bliancy its future