Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-01-29
RRoReANExATIoN oF Tna ARsIY.

REORGANIZATION or FAE ARMY.
RozE GA. JaausFy q, 1861.
EDITORS AFFEkLi The reo-ssni zsiIoa OF the army
is theme which eemRels the sOIi,I,uae OF every
patriotic heart In shs Oonfedersey. In addition to its
constituents as purely military queziioa, it includes
rloraI elements which srs Instinct with energy TO
shape ths results of the present struggle. Imbued
with deep sense Of its importance, tAs writer ven
ares to address this to the APPEAL whose thought
fll leaders Lave labored suecesaly to mirror to
ourselves ths festgresof our sesuAI e,ndition.
Tls VITAL aud the only vexsa proposition in tho
matter o. reorganization Is hsshsr the soldiers shall
be allowed to re elect their eesrs That she desire
to rselssi is deeply rooted in the srmys heart is OBJ
vioas suOngh gsnsraI principles, bat is put be-
youd discussion by rs daily talk, and the deliberate
Eitsraaess conventions. With diroz; degrees Of
modesty the universal thought itself with
more or less energy, IN every fosoaiOn to rssniis
They pledge their lives the cause, but claim the
light which ihsy solicit as privilege choose tAeir
Immediate commGnders. The arguments with which
they Justify the exeron Of this right familiar, end
nsed OF be repeated here. Whether they ara true
or false is imma;sFial lis safHeient that they are
honestly entertained and Il question for Congress to
dstermins IS ths policy OF their rejection or adnis
sion
The oblsOions 10 the Of reelection, 50 Ear as
san learn may be stated under three he ads
l. The Decentralization Of the Ben
The right 10 eeei including the rigbt 70 discuss the
argument ID that license os speech and eonsuet would
be- sagendsrrd fatal to subordinailon.
2. The Generalization q the ehleers.
Hh urged that when an ohissr lakes ,ls stump, he
necessarily surrsnders the trauehsoa and he com
mandor being sunk in the candidate the policy Of the
dolnsgogus substituted Tor the articles OF discipline
8 The election Of Incompetent officers.
With regard 10 the drst two oblsctionF it may be re-
marked without pausing to diseuzs their soundnesa
that they temporary in their nature, e1Pirng, as
they must on the day Of election. There being fu
urs election, the which sustain the objectloRs
cease 70 operRs e. and Of course the objections them
selves must do natural death The third objection
is much more forndabe involving as it does the per
uaneut welfare Of tho army Were it, indeed the
sessay consequence of reelection, the policy Of such
q step would be norialy thrsEisnsd But may not
The set Of re election be eondidonally framed TO
avoid this oonseqgeuosi am sincerely convinced that
it may be.
Granting, hoWever that an slectlsn Of military Off
sers under a. qusiincations s In Itself an evil
We therefore to reject iti Arc re always liberty
choose what iE Internationally geodf On ths contra
~ is not our ent In many instances restricted to
I = choice Of svilsi The ssEs under review is one
which nay be fairly claimed to Involve this choice
/ Tbs evils Of reelection. serious they may be- sre
confronted a. their only alternative by svils OF yet
/ more imposing magnitude. The whole army Of the
Congedsrsey as If Ender The dominion Of a single i'm.
pulse petition Tor solemn privilege, on the enjoyment
/ Of which they have saked their hesrtz Within two
months from to-day. this army will be called upon to
meet tho most vndistlys. savage, and perfectly equip
ped foe shat set up ssturnalla Of death upon the
ssrih. Arrogant IN strength bloody in heart and con-
suusd by false zeal Tor country and AZ unhalowod
fever FOR conquest enemy glands with foot
threshold, waiting for tbs chosen to strike
home. In view Of nsEr and so psrious lunciure
is "a wise 10 aei army IA battle with purposes
crossed ard iheir cherished hopes deeasedi Il is not
donlsd that msn under thorough discipline ald aetu-
aed By patriotic purpose, even thsugh depressed ia
spirit Will agh azd ssht we'll Bat the question
is would they not with wishes consulted aud cheerful
hearts asbs slnanitsy better. Does a man in danger
discard his pistsl because be has sword And shall
ue. with sacred all staksd upon tie hazard Of a
doubtful 1ght wIlfuy fail employ every agency Of
( aofou1e at cur commando PeIhaps the fundamental
vice Of cur Administration has been the failure to di
vine. or at azy rAte' to ntslgenty enlilt all Of cur
moral means To auceess
Y IA dealing with large Iasssss Of men, sbsurdy soars
70 q criminal level when Il essays 10 mobilize them.
without reference to racs or education. There ia
cry nationality End sven IN every Organization Of men,
| a'popUisr element, through whose employment, and
only through whose employment lher highest cspsbiL
itssmsy be evoked. The most exalted function Of
stAtesnanshp Is to discern this element and 1t
der sueh subsection discipline may impsit TO it ID
greatest practical utility This element fnds poeu lar
and ndiyldus expression in different natIonRliies.
England It ia devotion duty; In Franeo, love Of glory
In a nereslsry soldierY, passion for spolls In ou
country what ~ 80 Clearly, think, the rghs OF sci
governments or Al least that qualified form Of self gov
srnmsut which rsslzss tzeh IN the choice OF rulers
Received At the hands Of our ancestors a. revolu
tonsry patrimory It has engsafted itself firmly in
political and social growth. is It we'll to do violence
this rshti The present OF all ether periods in A
tory It seems TO me- woa be ,hs lnsuspicious 70
the ezerce Of such violence All the wallis the It'd
Of current events Indicate revival OF that enthusiasm
hah In 1861 it, beacon lights upon every hil To-
Of the C0aiedeFaey. The army applied tbs sign;
torch and passionate outbreak Of patriotic fsrvo
il has cesbrated the obsequIsE Of that moral eeps
, which for 20 many months has shed night upon on
laud One Of the cardinal II not the central purpos
Of our ststesmsnrhp in the present juneurs Is 10 uI
every legitimate gpphanse, to stimulate shat fegvor n
fruitful activity. Instead Of conrOvorng rs ehsrishe
designs, let Congress identity Itself ui.h those design
a ana thus euAble Itself % mould direct aud nHizs
!, energies 10 their highest capacity Tor good.
The problem Tor the Government then Is, Eheth
y the sxEsncies Of the seTviee may Get be recoRei
J. with tho employment Of our popular element Co
e sider however for q moment, that they arc irTeeo
II eilabls Adzit it to be insEorsble, eiAer tLAt dis
pne zpuss saccsmb to shs popular with, that 1t Ins
r eraclfy a. What remains A very doubtful queshc
10 truly FOR Il is matter Of fair sebste If mob Of
u thuslass bs mol the military equivalent o. dsSeet
la army Fortuna ely we are not tho subjects Of 81
u, desperate alternatives 1t lies within the power Of
> legislators to harnoDizs the claims Of the army vi
ths claims Of discipline
Dc Let Congress oer every organization that viii
e, enlist within a glyen tme the privilege Of elect
" their officers Then, as 8 Measure Of selfprotect
oS LET she issue sf commissions 70 tie successful can
= dates be conditioned upon the oiss Of eKaHiin
board appointed to their qualifications. Sho
candidate fall In his ez animation, let him be refer
70 the ranks, aad Ills place Eupplisa by aPPointme
3 Such propos io1 obviously fair In s terms wo
lil address itself to the approval OF every enlisted m
for and propoundsd 81 sRce would maIlhAl for our
Gov dsnpdon ia the coming spring, an army Of sold
peerless Ia the Horas OF its rank aud ale. sud uni
passed In the efheieney sf Its officers.
In oonClusioa, the writer would remark, that his q
he position in the army such could be affected
er- Ire fate Of the seAes heFsia proposed vhs at le
allows him to claim in defszse Of bis views, that
are unbiased By personal considerations. P
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