Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-12
BHED EVERY THURSDAY AT TOWANDA GOODRICH


active service but believing that his distin-
guished services should receive some mark of
acknowledgement from the Government, re-
commend that authority be asked to retire him
upon his full pay and emoluments.
The health of an army is consideration OF
the highest consequences. Good men and wo.
men in different States, impelIed by the high.
est motives of beneVolance andlpatriotism, have
come in aid to the constituted sanitary arrang-
ments of the Government, and been greatly in-
strumenta in diminishing diseases in the camps
giving increased comfort and happiness to
the life of the soldier, and irOparting to our
hospital service a more humane and generous
character. Salubrty OF situation and pleas
antness of surroundings have dictated the
choice of the hospital sites, and establishments
for our sick and wounded, of which we have
every reason to be proud, have been opened in
St. Louis, Washington, Georgetown Balt-
more and Annapolis, and will be attached to
every division of the army in the field. To the
close of the war, vigant care shall be given
TO the health of the we'll soldier, and to the
comfort and recovery of the sick.
recommend that the system of promotions
which prevails in the regular service be appli-
ed to the volunteer forces in the respective
States restricting, however, the promotions
to men actually in the field At present each
Governor selects and appoints the officers for
the troops furnished by his State, and COM
plant is not unfrequenty made that when va
cances occur in the field men of inferior quail.
fcatiOns are placed in command over those in
the ranks who are their superors in military
experience and capacity. The advancement
of merit should be the leading principle in all
promotions, and the volunteer soldier should
be given to understand that preferneut win
be the sure reward of intelligence, fidelity, and
distingui she'd service.
The course above recommended has been
pursued by this Department and it is my in,
tention, so far as is in my power, to continue
system which cannot fail to have q most
beneficial effect upon the entire service.
By existing laws and regulations, an officer
Of the regular army ranks an officer Of voun-
teers of the same grade, Notwithstanding the
commission of the latter may be of antecedent
date In my Judgment, this practice has a
tendency to repress the ardOr and to limit the
opportunity for distinction of volunteer officers,
and change should be made by which SEMI
ority of commission should confer the right of
command
| submit for reflection the question, wheth-
er the distinction between Regulars and Vol
unteers which now exists, should be permitted
TO continue. The efficiency of the army, it ap-
pears to me, might be greatly increased by
consolidation of the two during the continu. |
ance of the war, which, combining both forces
would constitute them one grand army of the |
Union.
Recruiting for the Regular army has not
been attended with the success which was an.
tcipated, although q large number of men
have entered this branch of the service While |
it is admitted that soldiers in the Regular ar.
my, under the control of officers of military ed
ucation and experience are generally better |
cared for than those in the Volunteer service,
it is certain that the popular preference is
largely given to the latter. Young men evil |
IDENTIFY prefer to enter corps Differed by their
friends and acquaintance, and, besides the |
bounty granted to Volunteers in the most of
the States, inducements are often directly Of |
fered to them by those whose commissions de- !
pend upon their success in obtaining recruits !
In addition the volunteer is allowed to draw
his whole pay of $l3 per month, whHe by law |
81 per month are deducted from the paw of |
the Regular to be returned to him at the end |
OF his term of service. In my judgment this |
law should be repealed, aud the Regular sol. |
dier be allowed to receive his full pay when
due. He should also receive either O reason
able bounty upon enlisting, or an advance of |
$50 of the 500 which a law of the last ses- |
sion of Congress grants to regulars and voun-
teers on the experation Of their periods of SER
vice. This would doubtless stimulate enlist
ments, as it would enable the soldier to make
some provision for those dependent upon him
for support until be receives his pay.
BY the act approved August 5, 1861, the
President is authorized to appoint as many
aids to Major Generals of the regular army,
acting in the field, as he may deem proper
The number of aids, in my opinion, should be
limited, aud no more should be allowed to each
Major General than can be advantageousIy
employed upon his own proper staff Much
expense would thus be saved, and the Execu.
tive and this Department would be relieved by
applications very embarrassing from their ma.
ture and extent.
The fifth section of the act approved Sep.
tember 28th, 1850, makes the discharge of mi
nors obligatory upon this Department, upon
proof that their enlistment was without the
consent of their parents or guardians. In view
of the injurious operation of this law, and Of
the facilities which it opens to frauds, | re.
spectfully urge its early repeal Applications
for discharges of minors can then be determin.
ed either by this department, in accordance
with such regulations as experience may have
shown to be necessary, or by the civil tribunals
of he country.
The employment of regimentel bands should
be limited the proportion of musicians now
allowed by law being too great, and their use
fitness not at all commensurate with their
heavy expense.
Corporations, like individuals, are liable tc
be governed bv selfish motives in the absence
1f cOmnattion An instance of this kind oc |