The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-22
The Army Bill.


dergoing extensive manipulation in the House.
The everlasting negro comes up on this as on
every other subject, and there Is great deal
Of twaddle and affectation of sentiment both
about the heroic darkeys and the MANNED
veterans of the war. All this is out of place,
much of it untrue as to facts of history, as it Is
false in sentiment, and the greater part is mere
buncombe for political effect We almost
despair Of getting body Of legislators to-
gether again who will have sense and capacity
enough to comprehend and adhere TO the
simple merits Of q measure. The only ques-
ton, really, should be how to make the most
efficient army with the smallest amount of ma
terials and at the least expense. This is
proposition so selfevident that we might sup
pose the c0mmonest understanding would COM
prehend it. Charity has nothing to do with
it The negro ought not to enter into
subordinate to the main question of efficiency.
If Congress would keep this idea before them
constantly we might expect such reorganiza-
ton Of the army as would make that branch Of
the service the admiration of the world. But,
unfortunately, efficiency is made subordinate
to political and partisan considerations, to ia
voritism and to false sentiment
Let us look, for instance, at the proposition
to make negro regiments in the regular army.
Does any one suppose the negroes are equal to
white men as soldiers? We are not disposed
TO undervalue the services of some of these
people during the war, and it might have been
very well to employ them when we needed all
the available resources of the country to SUBJ
due the rebellion. Without making breast
works of them as was the case at Fort Hudson
and some other places, they were made useful
by doverailing their regiments in with the white
regiments and by employing them as supernu-
meraries Of the army. But everybody knows,
and our great generals particularly know, that
the radical negro worshippers have let off a
great deal of nonsense about the heroism and
services Of the negroes. Such radicals as Ben
Butler, Saxton and Carl Schurz may attempt to
humbug the country about negro efficiency,
but these men will certainly not be regarded
as authorities in military matters. The facts of
the war are against the statements and assump-
tons of the negro worshippers. That, how
ever, is all over. The question now is, do we
want negro troops as part of the regular
army Is it necessary or expedient to have
them3 We can get plenty Of white men.
There is no excuse for employing negroes on
that ground. In times of peace our army is
chiefly employed on the plains and remote
posts to keep the Indians in order. Now, it is
well known that the negro has FAN instructive
and unconquerable dread of the Indian. The
Indian, too, has much less fear Of the negro
than Of the white man. How, then, would
negro troops answer for this service on the
score of efficiency compared with white troops!
The answer Is plain. Then, to use negro SOL
diers against our own race in times OF civil
disturbances, either in the South or North,
unless, indeed, it be in general
war, such as we have passed through, would
be revolving, and would inflame mems passions
rather than subdue them. No statesman or
philanthropist would wish to employ colored
troops against white people in such an event,
for the tendency would be to create war OF
races, in which the weakest must 60 TO the
wall. On what ground, then, is 1t proposed 10
make the negroes part Of our permanent
army! II looks very much like vindictiveness
or hatred on the part Of the radicals toward
portion of the people OF their own race and
color. That is the sort of legislation with
which this country is unhappily afflicted a,
present
Nor should the army be regarded as a great
charitable institution, in which to put either
blacks or whites who cannot help themselves
If men have performed meritorious services
and they are still efficient, their past services
ought to give them the preference TO others
But the efficiency of the army ought not to be
impaired, even by rewarding those with ap.
pointments who can no longer be as serviceabe
as others. II, for example, there are men in
the Veteran Reserve corps fully as capable as
others of less merit let them by all means
BIO employed. But this preference should
not override the Question of efficiency. Let us
reward those who deserve il or who have be-
come disabled by the war by pensions or in
some other way, but in the reorganization OF
the army let the paramount question be that OF
efficiency This, In the end, will be the least
cost, and we shall have the proud satisfaction
Of knowing that our army, in proportion to it,
numbers, will be equal, il not superior, to any
in the world. While on this subject let us hope
Congress will not fail to appreciate the supe-
rior services and capabilities Of those who have
been educated to the profession at West Point
We do not think II necessary to 90 into all the
details Of the bill before Congress, and have
simply laid down the principles which ought 10
govern that body in its action.
INEFrICrEScY or THE PAID FIRE DEPART
MESr.-There appears to be something radi-