The New York herald., 1862-01-07

THE PAY OF ARMY OFF1C Eis.
Mr.. WILSON introduced bill define and fix the pay
and emouments of certain officers Of the army Referred
After an executive session the Senate adjourned.
House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 1862.
PROPOSED STEAM FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On motion of Mr. DUErL, Grep) of N. ". resolution
was adopted nsructng the Committee the District Of
Coumb to inquire into the expedency OF establishing
a steam Fire Department, similar to that of Phila-
deph.a.
THE RATTLE OF BALLS mUF-IMpoRIANT DISCUSSION THE
WAR
Mr. RoscoY L. CoNKING, rep) ofN. Y. rising ques-
ton Of privilege called attention the fact that the
cond day Of the session resolution adopted with
ference the battle of Bals' Bluff The resolution pro
posed investigation any future transactions what
it simply requested the Secretary Of War to inform
the House whether any steps have been
tain who responsible for the disastrous affair at
Has Bluff The resolution handed to the Adjutant
The Commanders hic, am willing to believe. did not
read the resolution, because did mpute any
concerned any intention to trihe with the House
turn evasive answer. II he did read il he entirely
misunderstood It's point ard purport for he expressed
opinion to the Adutant Genera!an opinion which that
officer repeated 10 the Secretary Of War, and the
Secretary Of War in accordance with 10
doubt, simply transmitted it to us, and refers
10 Il. Now, that is in responsive, in The
remotest degree TO the resolution OF the House In
answer 10 resolution asking simply whether an inves-
tigaton had been had upon particular point, the
Adjuant General reports that the Commander Chief
of the army of opinion that inquiry into the subject
of the resolution woud net in the future be compatible
with the public interest If ihe had been that
would be injurious 10 tho public service TO inform the
House whether any steps or proceedings had been taken
ascertain who to blame for the great disaster
Balls Bul, that answer would be preposterous enough,
and almost incredible or SO appear to US. But yet it
would be answer in terms and would be RESPONSIVE.
which Lcither interrogatory in
forms the House Of the opinion OF anybody that it woud
be injurious 10 the public interest to GO 80 This
answer, however Inadvertently raises very
high question OF privilege, which the House ought to
because organism this is the only place which
the people appeal and whose voice be heard ard
among the most undcniabc and sacred Of their rights is
the privilege Of inqnring into ther affairs and when
they do Inquire they are entitled not TO answer NJ
least to have the servant o whom the inquiry made
say that in his opinion, iltimei injurious.
And unless intend 10 be accompces here In trampng
upon personal rights Submit that an instance Of this
sort ought not TO be passed over II such practice as
this be tolerated. the most bossted of privileges will
aaguish and the most vital elements Of the
will decay and in ordinary cases so in important
matters, we ought 10 watch with jealousy the right
Of inquiry. But this Ia ordinary matter. This
luton relates to great national calamity It relates TO
event which is believed TO have been the most afro
eious military murder committed in history
people It relates to lost field, to disastrous battle
humating triumph OF rebellion. II relates to
thing thar these 1t relates to blunder gross
ceny defend it, blunder which besides position,
besides me besides defeat besides the loss of and
munitions of cost the lives OF nine hundred and
thirty brave and the very pride and flower Of
the states from whence they This resolution pro-
p.see, out Of respect for the memory OF the lost,
out Of sympathy To the multitude Of mourners who
lament them cut Of difference to public propriety and
seiesfect that tho nation should be informed whether
the chief military authorities had taken any notice what
that shameless and wholesale slaughter Of the
brave Of New York. Massachusetts and Pennsylva
proposed that the nation should be informed that
some proceedings had taken piace--something open
secret formal informal IL not ali that military usage
requires something to show that this terrible event had
beennqured into Now sir 4 for no other object than
last mad been passed over mere ripple the current
of events in the OF my people demand that those
whose business il Is To answer shall stand up and
answer. We have a committee to investi-
gate the conduct Of the war, and IL il be known
that the disaster OF Balls Bu is 70 be the subject Of
resolution OF this House. good VIII come out OF it, and
witnesses will come forward TO testify to all they know
in the matter The House must he that the battle
of Bals Bluff like many otbers. has been made tho SUBJ
ct Of an Issue between the regua army and the voun
eers Brigadier General Stone who the time the
commander II the division from which the detachmens
who fought the bate or attempted to fight IL Is
officer Of tho regular army. Colonel Baker, TO whom
portion Of the command after certain hour was assign
ed was volunteer. The FRIENDS " these two officers
have INDUCED in much angry controversy as to who
should bear the blame, and on the one side the
case has been espoased rs If its appropriate
Office was 70 fasten stigma on the
volunteer service and to determine questions
and merit between West Point and the regu
lar army II stated that the friends Of Colonel Baker
would move for an investigation, and that, having
nouncsd their intention. they told IL would be bet
ter not they did that the friends o General Stone
would retaste and make IL recoil upon Baker da.
mage his memory. have no sympathy wiki this con.
troversy; have patience with those who engaged
II. 30 far as has been made an obstacle 10 the nvtst
CATION have liberation with IL far IL has been
used retard this inquiry which is sought by the friends
those officers Tho effect Of the knowledge the
truth Of the affair upon either o. te Officers ought not
tho revelation which may come " light should dim tho
glory which hallows the memory of the deceased
yhy this investigation should b. slshed Up. and in this
respect slsify the truth d history. Suppose, the
other hand that this Brisnder Of the regular army,
acting in rank OF Mayor General. commanding ciyi.
thousands Of your brave men, charged with their
safety their honor and their vessuppoe say, that
smh General Is q martinez, ana not q soldier, and
that he is deficient in soldic-slip and loyalty. IS
that a reason why we should allow this inyestigs-
ton TO bs throttles1 Shall we proclaim indulgence
and immunity though the revelations that may he
made should soil the glitfcring purnaso or the
highest officer in the rcpubc2 No. Whoever is
for the disasters OF that bloody fatal field
and for Tho murder there committed uss that person
the blame should rest. the anened Baker is guity,
IL generous faut and grievs1ey has he answered
IT, " Stone did II, he bears weight of guilt greater
far than any man hitherto attained amongst us
What is the personal ate personal fame Of dozen
Generals in compsfison with tho preservation and safety
Of great army now standing In the held2 With six
hundred thousand men, more than any have
amongst them knows what 10 do with; with sixty three
thousand cavalry although told in July last that
we wanted none. and than generals can find
place for--wth this vast force have been for six
months hemmed here The Capitol Of the country iu
a beeagured state. With this force aud again
make advance but AZ often az we do met and
outpmbered by superior forces and each time met with
ignomnious defeat. This state OF things is owing to
barbarous negligence ignorance, and II bebooves 20
investigate the OF all this and TO hold the parties
responsible for II up TO public odm II cannot have
indemnify for the past. IN the name OF humanity LET
have security for the future IL we are 20 preserve
military prestige and 10 hold intact military principles
Let us investigate this matter; but II not let intro
duce into the army the principles Of democratic election
and LET IL be left TO the vote " the army what officers
they will obey. let MS look ri the battle Of
Balls Bun, In order TO asceltain whether those
who managed H. exercised that and caution which
is required from the captain OF ship the engineer who
runs an engine the railroad I've master OF steam
e the 2st Of October last leesburg in tho State Of
Virginia. occupied by the insurgents with force OF
some sir housand men, At the same time poolesve, in
Maryland was occupied by Union force This latter
post the headquarters OF rigader General Stone
between the two posts hcro flowed swift and swollen
river with island IN the channel nearer 70 the Mary
land side on the Leosburg side Of the river and
within n DAYS m1rch OF that place. lay General Mccall,
n nmand of lltcou regiments end who could az any
moment march with eleven thousand men. Now tho
wonder Is when LoosDurg was 70 be attacked that the