The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-22
lCoMAuSicArED
THE ARMY-THE SENATOR'S IND THE BRIG4-
DfERS.


10 lie Editors Of he Union
The attacks upon the army upon It's officers and men
have been persistent and unrcentng the part OF
certain members of Congress- to elicit general remark
and attention Ii is impossible not to think that there
betrayed in this movement something amounting almost
to personal malignity This is strange considering the
amount and nature of the service performed for the
whole country by the army of the United States 1t
should be remembered moreover, that all history shows
that Legislators, well rs private Individuals, who have
confined their attacks to particular class order Of
men, not absolutely proved TO he un,leser,ng allowing
consideration whatever 10 alite their rigor neither m
triotsm generosity neither love country men,
have risen 81 The highest order OF satcsnalshpor
of manhood that 10 do 40 is very crnpng to the mind
aud to the heart, and very detrimental to honest fame
In the debate the 18th instant senator remarked
that he thought that the pay of the army officers Too
high il was higher than the compensation Of the
order of talent in any other profession lgadier
eral now receives than Unc States senator and
he thought that it required higher degree of talent to
govern this great country than it did govern brigade
especially in time of peace BE, &c la the inst pac,
it is to be observed, viii, all Difference that the
order of talent could not be applied other profession
1t wouldn't work at all II is not disputed that il requires
higher degree of talent 10 govern this great country than
it does to governa brigade. Yet while brigaier governs
his brigade IL is suggested that senator quite gov
this great country Therefore, LAWYERS aud lo
cal have a. non se71 seems to follow this point 1t
Is possible that half dozen, dozen even
of senators, might absent themselves from their chamber
and this great country not be very badly goycnedst
least not go to ruin Particularly might this be II
they not very regular in giving their votes, or If
they did not exercise that high privilege the best IN
terests Of the republic plainly required And these gen
tlemen should absolutely refuse to return they mightbe
take themselves to other lucrative calling they
frequently do when their term expires and they prefer
not TO go back to the Senate Not so with the bga-
ders though, and the other officers of the army. They
attain their position with great difficulty and after much
hardship and privaton BY the time they reach the rank
of brigadiers II the bullet death in any other form
spares them long, they untitled for and shut
out from all other professions Should thcy be Obliged
to hang up their swords 10 be Eel from the hand Of char
ity or starvation would be their lot
And then there many fewer brgpdies than SEN
ators, and their services different II is thing
to sit on nicely cushioned chair TO stand softly
carpeted floor and then even make great speech which
electri6es the great country not forgetting tho consti
uents. II is another thing to sit saddle dozen
hours day, under the broiling the biting
cold foot it the bleak and sterile plains and
the vast wiIerncsses OF the West as some of the bgG
ders and other officers OF the army and few Of the nk
and fo have done III ola times and Of late years. aud
tEen too fighting and talking different things never
mind how well you talk
Another senator remarked that he was in favor Of re-
trencnent and to show that he was in earnest dbout
the matter and was willing to begin ~ Home il th
amendment Cutting ddtn The pay) shodii pieval, W
should follow Up fle movement ~ 4 proposition % n
duce the pay q members Of Congress IIudcT al thss
circumstances Of the case Il is respectfully submitted th
It would have been in much bster taste TO have ma's