We have already shown our willingness to open the columns of the Messenger to the discussion of matters appertaining to the general interests of the Union, among which the Army and Navy are preeminent. These are unequivocally National, protegés of no party, partisans of none. In having our Military and Naval affairs honorably, efficiently and economically administered, every citizen is deeply interested. We will, therefore, take pleasure in affording a channel of communication and discussion to the friends and advocates of the Army and Navy, with this restriction only, that the general Literary character of the Messenger shall not be impaired. Thus, whilst we invite the increased support of the Army and Navy, we mean not to do any injus tice to the mass of our readers. The size of the Messenger will enable it to give something to all.Ed. Mess, means lose its professional interest from the fact of It has ever been a matter of great surprise to all who have reasoned on the subject, and one of mortification to many, that the Military and Naval In casting an eye over the catalogue for a choice, professions in our country have not yet been able to no work seems to combine as many advantages, sustain a work devoted to their interests and open including those of locality, its position being comfor the discussion of professional topics. Within paratively central, as "The Southern Literary a few years back, experiments have been repeat- Messenger." This is by no means an original sugedly made, and as often failed. "The Military gestion of my own, it was long since made by one and Naval Magazine," in the first place, suddenly high in the councils of our country, and, upon his resprang into existence, but, as the sequel proved, commendation, was selected as the channel through without any regularly digested and settled plan which I should attempt to warn the Army and the for action or permanent support. Strong hopes country of the danger which threatens, unless the were entertained in both professions for its success, probe and knife are applied in time. The readibut it was destined to a premature end. Then fol-ness of this invaluable journal to open its columns lowed the "Army and Navy Chronicle," a cheaper to us, was made known upon the receipt of the publication, which it was hoped the two services first intimation that such a course was desired. might sustain; but that, too, soon failed. It has Purely national in its character, and devotedly patbeen once or twice revived and as often consigned riotic in its tone, our rights would be secured to the shades. All these results were the neces- by it; whilst all classes and all sides would have sary consequences of inadequate support. It was free access to its columns so long as that high tone found to be impracticable for the two services to and manly bearing which should be our characsustain such a work as the Magazine, devoted, as teristics were studiously preserved. By a concenit was, entirely to professional matter, and, there-tration upon this one journal of the many valuable fore, without a reasonable prospect of ever com- productions which originate in our services, and manding more than one thousand subscribers in are now scattered throughout the country, a mass both services. The same reasons, with the addi- of matter, literary, scientific and professional would tion of an attempt, nearly successful, at Head be added to the already fertile resources of the work, Quarters, to convert the Chronicle into a Semi-rendering it even more valuable and interesting, if official Court Journal, and thereby silence all dis- possible, than it now is. And the time would soon cussion not approved by those in power, and tend- arrive when we might, in common with the other ing to the ascendency of staff influence, served to professions in our country, boast of an organ and consign that to its resting place. But assuming a channel sustaining our interests and conveying in that the means of support in the two professions appropriate terms our devotion to the noble instiare not sufficient to sustain a work of a purely pro-tutions which we have been selected to defend. fessional character, that is no argument against Let us of the Army step forward then and assist their possessing an organ of high standing and in sustaining a work ready and willing to espouse ability, devoted to their interests and open to them our sinking cause; we cannot expect and should as a channel. One which would offer a fair induce- not hope to reap unless we sow. During a long ment of this kind and be willing to lend its columns and patient suffering, experience has taught us that to the two professions, and at the same time pre- the more patient we are the more we are imposed serve a lofty and able character as a literary work, upon. We know our rights, and to secure them might be selected by tacit consent, and would by no have only to assert and maintain them with firm ness and resolution. Forbearance and hesitation | nation and discipline follows; for, notwithstanding will never do, they have been tried and signally this" collection of armed men is obliged to obey failed; promises have been made and not perform- one man," unless this obedience is willing, in fact ed; they will still be made, again violated, and re- zealous, efficiency is wanting, and your Army benewed after every violation. Further forbearance comes an useless appendage to the body politic-a on our part will only be laughed at, and we be school for idleness and peculation, and a leach to justly ridiculed for our credulity and want of per- the treasury. That ours has yet reached that deepception. Let us openly and firmly espouse our est depth, I would by no means insinuate; but, rights, defend them with strong words and stout that it is fast verging to that brink of destruction, hearts, and no apprehension need be entertained of must be evident to any one who has been a dispasultimate success. But let us act as we have done sionate observer of its progress for the last seven for seven years past-submit without a murmur-years. To point out these evils more clearly and hoping for generosity from those towards whom we are generous, and our rights are forever gone. - NOTES ON OUR ARMY. NO. VII. "An army is a collection of armed men, obliged to obey one man."-Locke. TO THE HON. THOMAS H. BENTON: suggest some means of improvement will require an examination of the origin, progress and present condition of our system of ARMY PAY. A minute investigation of this subject would be too tedious, and would involve details unnecessary for our purpose and too minute to interest. The earliest records accessible relating to it commence with the act of the 3rd of March, 1791. By that the present system was partially adopted; that is, To secure efficiency and make an Army sub- the pay to nearly all grades of officers was comserve the objects of its creation, unity must be at- posed, or made up of what is usually called "pay tained. Unity of interest, unity of feeling, unity proper," so much per month in money,—and a of purpose, and unity of action. Dispense with commutation in lieu of other allowances, such as either of these and you at once destroy the strength subsistence, forage, &c., &c. This plan has been of the structure and endanger its permanence; be- adhered to in all particulars where greater absursides rendering it less useful and less efficient even dity was impossible; but in those where ingenuity while it lasts. To secure these objects, so neces- could discover any sense, or propriety, innovations sary to the very maintenance of an Army, should have been made, until it is now impracticable for be the first consideration of those by whom our any one to find a rule by which the compensation service has been fostered and is now sustained. of Army officers is calculated. Self interest has Experience, however, teaches us that our best induced the members of the service to investigate friends have been betrayed, by means of which I and ascertain in their own cases, not what they are will not now speak, into committing acts of the entitled to, but how much they can get; and the greatest injustice to the service at large, but which settlement of disbursing officers' accounts at the they had been induced by interested individuals to treasury, requires them to keep pace with the albelieve would tend to benefit the whole service-terations, amendments and additions made at nearly individuals whose personal aggrandizement was every session of Congress, no less than twenty their sole motive. In no part of our very absurd acts having been passed since 1791, for the regulamilitary legislation has this been more fully exem- tion of Army pay. plified than in what refers to the pay of the Army, The system, as it now exists, is, in as few words and in nothing relating to the service is reform as it can be clearly stated, as follows. Each offimore justly demanded. Inequality and injustice cer has a monthly allowance of what is called "pay of the grossest and most palpable kinds exhibit proper," or pay for himself," which, on an avethemselves daily-practices seriously injurious to rage, amounts to about one third of what he rethe reputation of the whole Army, and demorali-ceives. Then comes an allowance for servants, zing in their tendency, are winked at and counte- one or more, according to the officer's rank. This nanced-even participated in-by those high in is commuted at $7, (seven dollars,) per month, authority, who necessarily carry with them weight the pay of a private foot soldier, if for an officer and influence. And these practices have continued of artillery or Infantry; and at $8, (eight doluntil the whole profession is becoming a nicely lars,) per month, the pay of a mounted soldier, if balanced and calculated problem of dollars and for a dragoon or staff-officer. It would doubtless cents, even involving the discipline and instruction puzzle some of our law-givers to explain the reaof our soldiery. The result of all this has been, son for this small difference made between the comby fostering conflicting interests, to distract the pensation to the servants of two gentlemen living Army, destroy its harmony, create jealousies, and in the same style, and not unfrequently at the same thus eradicate most completely all unity of feeling table. If candid, I doubt not they would acknowand action. With them necessarily goes subordi-ledge the absurdity of regulating by law the price Second. An allowance of ten dollars per month to a company commander to cover his responsibility for clothing and arms. Third. An addition of twenty dollars per month, deducting one ration, or six dollars, to a Lieutenant holding the appointment and doing the duty of Assistant Commissary of subsistence. Fourth. Twenty dollars and forage for two horses per month, deducting one ration, to the Adjutant of a regiment in addition to his pay as Lieutenant. To enable an officer to draw the allowances made by law for his servants and horses, he must make the following certificate on honor: which any gentleman, even an officer of the Army, to the commander of a permanent military post should pay for the monthly services of his domes- garrisoned by troops." tics. Next to this comes commutation for servants' clothing, in amount, the same as the allowance to a private soldier. Then again is commutation for forage for the horses kept by officers in the public service; the number for which it is allowed varying according to the rank of the officer. General and field officers of the line, including company officers of dragoons, and all staff-officers being entitled to this allowance on certain conditions. Strange as it may appear, there is no difference made in the allowance of forage to the horses of staff and line-officers; the former, unlike the servants of their owners, are placed on a footing with the latter. This great oversight and serious evil-this indignity to the staff-horse will no doubt be corrected as soon as brought to the notice of our law-givers; and they will thenceforward receive their increased forage and rank. Lastly, comes what is called subsistence for an officer's self and servants,-the number of rations varying from four to fifteen, with the rank of the officer, and one for each servant to which he is entitled, and, if not a general officer, one in addition for himself for each five years he may have been in service. This subsistence, as it is absurdly called, is commuted at the rate of twenty cents for each ration. Certain other incidental allowances are made, which must be mentioned, as they will be the subject of comment. First, is that of "double rations Pay for himself, "That I actually employed and kept in service, the horses and private servants for the whole time charged; and that I did not, during the term so charged, or any part thereof, keep or employ, as waiters or servants, soldiers from the line of the Army; that the annexed is an accurate description of my servant," &c., &c. This is made to correspond as nearly as practicable with the requirements of the law, but we shall perceive that long custom has completely nullified this law, and rendered the certificate a matter of form. Now that we have seen the items which make up an officer's pay, let us examine which of them receive these allowances and in what proportion. A Colonel of the staff or dragoons receives as follows: "two servants, 66 "two servants, 7 00 each" "forage for four horses, From the above it is perceived that the actual be exposed, with a hope of making them underpay which a Colonel of dragoons or staff is ena-stood, and thereby calling attention to them in a bled to draw from the government is fifteen per quarter where they are actually unknown, and from cent greater than that allowed a Colonel of artil- which relief must come if we ever experience it. lery or infantry. This difference exists in every The system itself will then be exposed in all its grade in the Army, increasing as it descends until naked deformity, if enough of it remains to admit it eventually reaches forty per cent in the case of of further comment. a Second Lieutenant. Such distinctions are odious, unjust in the extreme, and more injurious to the harmony, discipline and efficiency of the Army than all the other abuses from which we suffer. This never would, or could have existed but for the folly and absurdity of the system by which it has been created. The abuses of this system will first The greatest evil resulting from the system, which is an abuse of it, is the inequality it produces in the pay of officers of the same grade. This absurdity could never have found its way into our service, but for the facility with which results are concealed under the system, and the means it affords of mistifying, by ingenious argument, those who do not and cannot understand it. A Colonel changing the amount of money they now receive of the staff or of dragoons receives, under existing for other perquisites nearly, if not equally, as valulaws, as we have seen, $2,396, per annum. A able to them. The greatest inequality produced Colonel of artillery or infantry can only receive in our pay, arises from one of these perquisites,— $2,096. This excludes all incidental allowances the allowance for forage, ranging from $192 to in both cases. Why, in the name of reason and $672 per annum, according to the rank of the offijustice, is it, that this distinction is made? It can- cer. The law provides: "That neither forage not be that the duties of the staff-officer are of a nor money shall be drawn by officers, but for horses superior nature; for, in nine cases out of ten, he is actually kept by them in service."* The condia mere tool placed in the hands of the officer com- tions of this law have seldom been complied with; manding troops, and is regarded as a non-com- yet it is a rare thing to discover an instance where batant-a necessary encumbrance. No one will an officer has failed to charge and draw pay for the be so rash as to compare the duties of a man who full number of horses allowed. In the first place, furnishes horses and forage for a campaign, or it is ridiculous to allow horses to an officer whose those of one who supplies pork, beef and bread to duties never require him to use them, as is the the soldiers of an Army, with the exalted and res- case with four-fifths of our staff-officers in time of ponsible duties of him who commands the troops, peace, and two-thirds in any other time. Secondly, plans the campaign and fights the battles of his it is folly to require a man to keep horses when he country. This inequality, as has been observed, has no use for them, in order that he may draw pay is felt throughout the service; and in the grade of for them from the government. This plain absurSecond Lieutenant is odious beyond conception. dity has been seized upon by forage officers, and is We will take a case which occurs annually. A used as an argument to show the allowance was class graduates at the Military Academy, and its intended as an emolument, and not to enable them members are commissioned in the Army as Second to perform their appropriate duties. And upon Lieutenants. Some of them, for peculiar qualifi- this construction of the law they have, for a series cations which fit them for the important scientific of years, drawn pay for horses never kept, and duties of superintending the artisans of an ord- which they never claimed to have kept in the sernance work-shop; or, perhaps, for surveying and vice. The unofficial sanction given to this pracplotting a piece of land and making a pretty draw- tice by accounting officers of the treasury, and the ing thereof, are commissioned in the ordnance and approval it met from those in authority, who were topographical corps respectively. Others, their directly interested in the result, caused it to become superiors possibly in any military and scientific very general, and thus grew up a custom by which point of view, are commissioned in the artillery officers charged and received allowances never conand infantry. The former are at once in receipt templated by law. No intention is here entertained of $1,083 per annum, whilst the latter only get of charging upon such officers acts of moral turpi$779, forty per cent less than those they justly re- tude. Among them are to be found some of the garded as their inferiors during the whole academic most high-toned, honorable and estimable officers of term. Deducting the incidental allowance of an our government. But it will be seen that custom additional ration for every five years service, and has converted this conditional allowance into a reguthese accomplished gentlemen of the work-shop lar part of an officer's compensation, as much so and drawing-board receive more pay than a Cap- as any other portion of his pay. Staff-officers and tain of artillery or infantry at the head of his com- field-officers of the line have been heard to contend pany, though they cannot expect to attain his rank that the allowance was always intended as an emolunder ten or fifteen years service. Will any one ument, and not to prepare and fit them for duty. now be fool-hardy enough to assert that this law Some there are whose consciences are a little more would have received the sanction of intelligent tender than this general class, and they resort to men had they understood its operation? Or will different expedients, all having for their object the any one say that unity of feeling or interest can securing, at the least expense to, or tension of, the possibly exist where such monstrous distinctions conscience, of this government bribe. Not a few are made?-distinctions which are without reason have made arrangements with keepers of livery or sense, and humiliating and degrading in their stables, in cities where they are generally stationed, effect on every officer of feeling and pride in the to allow them to call certain horses theirs, for Army. which they paid a mere nominal sum, it being disIt will probably be contended, for this system tinctly understood they were not to use them. In admits of an infinity of devices for deception, that this way, their consciences, which "make cowards this inequality is only nominal, because a strict of us all," (?) were saved and the pay drawn. compliance with the requirements of the law would Others, possessing a little more tender conscience, reduce the pay of staff-officers to much less than would purchase horses and keep them on farms of what it is in reality, though still somewhat greater their own, doing their private work, or hire them than that of line-officers. This would only be *Act approved 24th of April, 1816. 12th Section. VOL. XI-6 "every officer who shall, knowingly, make a false muster of man or horse, *** shall, upon proof thereof, by two witnesses before a General CourtMartial, be cashiered, and shall thereby be utterly disabled to have or hold any office or employment in the service of the United States." out by the year, and thereby conceive themselves | tackeys," which were mustered as "horses in the entitled to forage for horses "kept in the public ser- public service," when their owners would sooner vice." Another degree of the conscience is satis- have made their appearance in full military cosfied by purchasing animals unfit for all use and tume, as clowns to a circus, than mounted on one turning them upon the world to pick up a living for of these animals before troops. Even this was themselves. This was generally a profitable in- surpassed by those who borrowed these same anivestment, it lasting during official life and return-mals, or purchased them at a nominal rate, to be ing some 800 per cent per annum on the original returned in half an hour, and had them again musoutlay. The death of the animal in this case made tered in their names. So far has this matter been no difference, as the owner never troubled himself carried, that an officer has recently been tried and enough about the matter to ascertain that fact. convicted of "disrespect," for asking permission to Money in lieu of forage for animals thus thrown attend and witness one of these "musters," though upon the cold hospitality of the world, has been he expressly stated his object to be "for informadrawn after the death of said animals for "time tion and instruction," which was certainly reawhereof the memory of man runneth not to the con- sonable, as he may at any time be called on to trary." Some officers have no doubt complied perform the same duty. It would be bad policy, strictly with the requirements of the law; but I however, to allow too many witnesses on such doubt whether more horses have been kept ready occasions; as our articles of war declare, that, for public service than would have been had no such law existed, and no such allowance ever been made. During active service in the field, these abuses are carried so far, that officers conditionally entitled to this forage have used public horses, fed them on public forage, and still drawn this commutation money for it from the government. These things If required to make a certified description of doubtless look strange and sound badly to those not horses as well as servants on our pay accounts, a accustomed to them, yet they are but the natural naturalist of some erudition would be necessary at results of our foolish and demoralizing laws and the treasury, to investigate and report to what spelegislation; to secure a correction of which expo-cies of the quadruped certain animals belong, which sures must be made. The bribe is offered by gov are now mustered and certified on honor to be ernment, and it should not complain when it is "horses in the public service." Much the greater accepted. The very absurdity of the laws afford number of officers have resorted, under the musthe strongest arguments against the intention of the tering order, to the livery-stable plan. A few makers. They place thirty or forty officers in the have doubtless complied with the law, and had city of Washington, for instance, whose duties are horses mustered which they had kept ready and all in-doors, examining accounts and keeping rec- fit for the service. Owing to a misunderstanding ords; to each of these their laws allow money in between a mustering-officer and his pay-master, the lieu of forage for from two to seven horses, pro-livery-stable plan has been recently exploded. A vided they "keep them in the public service." court-of-inquiry, in the case, reported the facts, Nothing is more natural than for these officers to and very naturally and justly exonerated the very conclude that Congress could not have supposed they worthy and excellent officer, who was the subject had any use for these animals, and therefore must of the investigation from all intention of drawing have intended the allowance as an emolument. from the government money not his due; but at Such was the result, and such has been the action the same time they condemned the practice in most of by far the greater number of forage officers in decided terms. We are now promised that the our Army, previous to the issuing of an order on attention of the Secretary of War will be called to the 11th of July, 1844, which required all officers, an abuse, which has been known to the Commandentitled to forage by law, to have their horses ing-General for the last twenty-five years, and has mustered once a quarter, and to present the certifi- been countenanced by him for that time, when ten cate of muster before they could receive the com- minutes devoted to it would have corrected the mutation for forage in money. This produced great whole evil and saved $50,000 annually to the govexcitement for a while with those fearful of losing ernment. Let the decision be made at once, and the allowance, but all eventually settled down into hold every one responsible who presumes on prea dead calm. When muster day came a few de-senting an account for this, or any other conditional clined appearing and gave up their claim to the allowance, without having fulfilled the requirements allowance. Some brought up their worthless, of the law; and we shall never again have necesbroken-down animals and they were mustered and a certificate given, though evidence was not wanting to show they were unfit for any service, either private or public. Others, again, paraded "marsh sity for courts-of-inquiry to ascertain what is already known, and to suggest what their superiors, from a mingled feeling of self-interest and a fear of losing popularity, dare not do. |