National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-08

govern our land forces that is, do all that
is needful TO make an army an armed force
and not mob.
| How has Congress done this? By cstab-
! fishing at the scat of government an exocu-
| tive department., to be known as the De-
partmont Of War, and Secretary of War,
who shall be the head thereof and who
shall perform such duties as
| shall be cuioined ON or intrIistcd to him by tho
| President relative to military commissions, the
military forces, the warliko stores OF the United
states, or TO other matters respecting military
Affairs (sco act August :, 17o0)
by making rules and articles of war; by
authorizing or approving regulations for
the army; by organizing military eslab-
| lislment for the nation, of which the army
forms only part; and by making laws
from time TO time giving special authority
and duties to the Secretary of War i'll re-
gard to matters pertaining to the military
establishment
Now whether Congress in its wisdom
copied from the experience OF other coun-
tries and copied badly or went in its own
republican way TO organize and govern tho
military establishment in manner best
suited TO the requirements of Our country
and the genius Of our people, is not the
point in issue. 1t is not what Congress
should have done but Whm Congress has done
We are dealing with facts spread on our
statute books aud not with theories
tflawn from the armies Of dcspotc gov
ernments or evolved from individual
idiosyncrasics. What are these facts
in the shape of laws? Why that
Congress, through the long stretch and cx-
pericncc Of q century, and through the
travail of three wars, not including the
many Indian disturbances, has perfected an
organization ofline and staff that has proved
its success in the greatest war of modern
times, has received the encomiuns of the
best military minds of this and other coun-
tries, and has in large degree contributed
to making the reputation of the distin-
guishcd generals who now advocate its de-
strlction. In this perfected organization
Congress has placed the power of the Secre-
tary of War over and above that of any and
all generals--has placed the civil over the
militury-and has been studiously careful
not TO define the powers and duties of gem
erol officers but prudently left them TO the
control of the civil authority.
What says General SCHofEELD's letter?
The fact is that no one in the army ever
thinks of questioning the supreme authority
of the Secretary of War. lie is the immediate
. head of the military establishment, the impor-
sonation of the authority of the constitutional
Il -ita-( Al Of
only above, but beyond the army rarely in
contact with it, and never heard from except
through the Secretary of War. The latter is
regarded by all as the real head-the chief. II
the Secretary truly represents the President
| and enjoys his confidence, no officer OF the
, army, however high, can for moment disre'
gard his wishes or cncroach upon his authority
The proposition to guard the Sccrctnrys au'
thority is like that to guard giant against the
power of a pigmy. He can dccapitate in q
moment any commander, from the gcnera-in'
chief down, who presumed to disregard MS m
structions. They all hold not their commits
e sions, indeed, but their commands, during his
+ pleasure; for it is impossible to draw any dis
tinctlon in these things between the Secretary
and the President.
Then. in the name of common sense why
: all this proposed legislation? If the Sec
retary can control the General, even whcl
: these extraordinary powers are givei
IS ,o lbo Iottor ,yhy ,ori.l,tc ot all? Wb,
IS cumber our statute books with this admit
r, ted unnecessary legislation? If these see
s. tions of the bill take nothing from the Sec
L ,o,,,,,, aud odd uoil,in,, IN thr General. VIII,
"" .....,., -
y all TINS po'her ABOUT reorganization "'''
&C why does this letter labor so hard TO prov
IS tbot tI,orc Is nothino in if?
IA ~ - 80 ,,,,., ;.o,o,o1 :, ~,
we u'Saehl rom "l"t - S'"'e" !" VI
= above quotation and from the conclusion
II ihot naturally follow. and to prove that w
II ,,,,,,, -, am. ,.i,,,. ogl, oitortio, IN III
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is H. IN giVen ci,Se' t% ,y"u Vi rI,,nin
h The President TO designate or not as and {
/. whom he will [coniide the execution of tl'
i, lawsI but II ne Improve iaw W,u os "es'5 III
o immcdioic n, AGENT Of administration, then HI