Newspaper Page Text
SOUTHERN
RECORDER.
VOL. I.
MILLEOGEVILLE. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1021.
******
So. 48.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY,
(O* TCfcSDAYH)
by s. ajLixTi^xn gf n. m. orme,
AT THRF.K DOLLARS, IX AOVANCK, OR FOUR
DOLLARS AT THE EXl'IRATION OF THE
YEAR.
IT Advertisements conspicuously inserted at
the customary rates.
PROSPECTUS
n*
The, Y\u\ft<Vc\\i\\\a JtmYnal
or
THE MEDICALfcrilYSir\L SCIENCES.
tyiicd by Jf. CIIM’MjI.V, M. D.
rHOJKSSOU OF THE 1NSTITCT1.S AN I) I'RACTICf. OF
MF.IUCINF. ANI) CMMLA1. PRACTICE, AND
ItOUEHT M. I’ATTERSO.Y, M. I).
4SROFF.SSOII OF NATT'KAI. I'HIL'ISOFIIV, Uc. iiC.
IN THE CNIVEKSITt OF I'F.NNoFl.VANIA.
To be published by M. Curyi,- Son, Philadelphia.
In the four quarters of the £lebc, who rends
ah Ainericnn hook ? or goes to un American
play? or looks at an American picture or stn-
tue ? M'hat dan the World yet owe to American
Physicians or Surgeons f
Edinburgh Review, No. LXV.
Next to the invention of the art of print
ing, periodical publications probably exercise
the most hcnoficial influence in awakening
literary curiosity, and diffusing knowledge.
Of their utility in these respects, we have
conclusive evidence, in the extent of their
multiplication, and the eagerness with which
they are sought after and encouragr.d, in
every enlightened country.
Deriving their materials from many k dif
ferent sources, they are accommodated more
readily than any other species of writing to
the varieties of taste, and the several conditi
ons of intellectual capacity, and improve
ment.
To the United States, productions of this
nature would seem to he singularly adapted.
An inquisitive and reading people, we are,
however, so widely dispersed, as to render
access, fur the must part, exceedingly diffi
cult to libraries, and other auxiliaries of luai n-
ing.
To these inconveniences, which the me
dical profession, in common with the rest of
the community, experience, others, more pe
culiarly incidental to it, m«y be added.—
Engaged in the discharge of duties incon
ceivably oppressive, and with a penurious,
and wholly inadequate reward, not a few of
our practitioners have neither the means to
collect, nor the leisure to pursue elaborate
works, or to pursue with regularity, any
course of systematic study. .Expedients,
therefore, cannot fail to prove acceptable, in
tbeir arduous nod perplexing avocations,
which are calculated, in arty measure, to les
sen expense, economise lime, or abridge la
bor.
No scheme, in relation to these purposes,
obviously combines so many advantages, as
a well conducted Journal. Being afforded
at a moderate price, it comes within the
competency of every one, and conveys, in a
condensed shape, over the widest yxpanse of
country, the. earliest intelligence of the dis
coveries and improvements in science, pene
trating into places, from which more ponde
rous tomes, and literary vehicles, are entire
ly ekcltided.
Nor in another view, is it scarcely less
suited to the existing condition of the pro
fession. Destitute of liberal leisure, and
with too little of that soi l of discipline so es
sential to the greater and more complicated
literary performances, we have the talent
Abundantly distributed, which excels in short
and miscellaneous compositions.
The preceding considerations, have had no
small share in the. promotion of the present
undertaking. But weighty as they are, we
confess the operation of other incitements,.
not less cogent and impressive.
Eversince the estahlishinentofour/n*/>«n-
dence, it has become the habit of Europe, ve
ry wantonly to traduce our national charac
ter, our institutions, and achievements.—
Calumnies from this source, have licen so
long tacitly endured, that they really sacm
now to he raised, as it were, under the sanc
tum of prescriptive privileges, and on each
repetition, to be marked by fresh acrimony
and insolence.
Even allowing that we are. ns deficient ns
is alleged, in literary and other polite attain
ments, it dues out at all militate against our
pretensions to genius, or to generous views,
and dispositions. Candidly examined, our
history will show, that in whatever course
the energies of our people have been direct
ed, there we are. eminently distinguished.
It would be alien to the occasion, and not
compatible with our limits, to prosecute, in
any detail, Nhe discussion ot this very in
teresting subject. Enough, perhaps, w ill be
contained, to answer our immediate object,
in the simple aflirmation, that the more ele
gant occupations of the mind, are the laBt to
arrest the attention of a people, and as expe
rience teaches, have alone flourished in the
maturest state of society. Cast on a deso
late shore, our first care was to provide for
the proximate necessities of lile, and next to
lav those solid foundations, on which, may
lie perceived, through the vista of no distant
futurity, to arise the most splendid edifice
of national happiness, prosperity and glory.
Be the charge, renewed, it may be more
distinctly replied, that we are still in the state
in which the useful »s preferred to the orna
mental, bihat as in thecasoof inanufertures,
being readily supplied from abroad, We have
taken no pains to force the culture of litera
ture or the fine arts by the warmth of indi
vidual patronage, or legislative provisions.
No part of the reproaches to which we
tyivc Xdid, can, with a «had°«' «■■«*.
he extended to the profession of medicine.
Emphatically, we have done our duty. I
rnav b* safely said, that in no country is me
dicine strictly defined, better understood, or
more* successfully practised than tn the U.
States.
European physicians do surpass us, m
classical education, and in variety, depth and
extent of erudition. But in acuteness of pe
netration, and promptness of remedwl^ej
source,—in that species ot tact, without
which genius is cold, and knowledge inert, -
ifa .over whereby the means are accurate
ly adapted to the end, and which in the
treatment of disease confers vigour and effi
ciency, we are unrivalled.
Douhu as to the soundness of this posi
tion, wifi at mice be dissipated, by reference
to the periodical and other recent publica
tions of Euro|>c, in which may he traced
doctrines and inodes of practice, long pre
valent among us, now eagerly adopted and
very generally approved.
Ills not difficult to assign some of the cau
ses of this superiority. Necessity is the
strongest incentive tn exertion, ami in all its
tendencies, is original und inventive. It is
the fate, as previously intimated, of n large
proportion of those who toil at the profession
among us, to be so situated, as to command
few of the ordinary advantages, and hence
they are driven mainly on their own resources.
Neither perverted by prejudice, nor enfee
bled by any undue reverence for authority)
the medical mind of the country was every
where open to the reception of new impres
sions, when thirty years ago, thn pestilence
which has since wasted our cities, made its
appearance in a guise so anomalous and vio
lent, as to tender the existing principles of
the science inapplicable, and to e igage us in-
tcnsly in a wide scope of observation and re
search.
As new lights were elicited, correspondent
changes took place, and the spirit of refor
mation continuing tn move on, eventually
led to one of those revolutions, incident to
the history of medicine, in which views were
established, inure pertinent to the condition
of the distunes of our climate, and in stricter
c.oiilurmitySb the general advances of human
know ledge, during a season of such uclivu
exertion.
It may he collected from the foregoing
observations, that among our leading aims,
will he to trace the progress of medicine in
the U. Stales, to vindicate our claims to cer
tain improvements, to preserve these, as
well as what may hereafter lie done, fiom
foreign usurpation, and lastly tn evolve, and
stimulate the genius of the country to invi
gorated efforts, by holding nut a respectable
and more permanent repository for its pro
ductions. Connected intimately with one of
the schools, from which has emanated n
large share of these improvements, anil
where medicine is still most ardently culti
vated, we shall have peculiar facilities in the
execution of this part of our plan, though, at
the same time, we are sensible, that much
has been accomplished elsewhere, and is
•ereforc to be drawn from other sources, b
by the help of such as are friendly to our
undertaking.
There is no section of the Union without
able and intelligent medical men, or which
does not present the amplest field for the dis
play of talent, the extension of knowledge,
and the consequent acquisition of fame.—
Confessedly, the indigenous medicinal vege
tables have hitherto been imperfectly inves
tigated, and much remains to he performed
in relation to medical topography,—in the
history of epidemics, or more, common dis
eases, as modified by climate, the seasons,
the state of weather, tin* habits of society
and other localities, and peculiar circiimslan.
ces,appertaining to the infinite diversities o
our widely spread territories.
Communications on these points, so curi
ous in themselves, and of such high practical
import, as well as on subjects, which more
commonly enter into the constitution of miR-
cellanies of this description, are earnestly so
licited.
Nor do we confine our views exclusively t o
mere technical mtuiciiic. Contemplated in
a shape so -limited, whatever may be iti
boasted usefulness, our profession loses hull
its elevation and dignity. *
The physical sciences, or at least the
brunettes having the closest affinity to medi
cine, shall share our attention. Exidmraut
in objects of curiosity, the. United Stales most
unquestionably afford the finest Opportuni
ties fertile cultivation of this species of know
ledge. Contributions, which tend to eluci
date any part of our natural history, in the
widest sense of the term, we shall always
gladly receive.
Criticism will regularly occupy a part ol
our space. As our wish, however, is to in
struct, ami not to censure, nr gratify our own
vanity by wantonly wounding the scnsihili- i
ty of another, we shall restr-cl lire cxi-iei-o
of it tn those works only, which have indis
putable claims to notice, by the value ol tlu-ir
matter, or the merit of execution, and there
by he spared, the pain of contending with
unresisting feebleness. Native medical li
terature, by which we now mean, tlie art of
elaborate writing, is still pretty much in its
infancy, and we are persuaded may he inure
promoted by the language of U-nd-Ttices and
encouragement, than by any severity of ani
madversion, or harsh exposure of its defects.
Deviations from the rule of conduct we
have presented to ourselves, will only he
found in cases of obtrusive impertinence, or
empirical pretensions, and under such cir
cumstances, we shall ever he mindful of the
legal maxim, “ that the judge is condemned
when the criminal escapes.”
To complete our design, we mean at stnt-
I intervals, to give an analysis of the l’o-
gust from whatever partakes of narrow ness
and favouritism. We look to the profession
at large, lot countenance and support of a
scheme that deeply concerns the whole, and
which we. are sensible, can only succeed, by-
general approval and cordial co-operation.
An enterprise, such as we meditate, vigor
ously sustained by the various ability w buffi
we hope to enlist in its service, is eminently
suited, in our delilierate opinion, to promote
the best interest of medicine, and in the illus
tration of its character, to conduce in no
slight degree to the moral ascendancy and
intellectual glory of the country.
CONDITIONS.
I. The. work shall he issued in quarterly
numbers,each to contain about two hundred
pages, handsomely printed in flow paper.
t The price w ill he six dollars per annum,
payable on delivery of the second nmnhur.
(ieutlndien at a distance who wish to receive
the work, will have it sent by mail or other
wise, as they may direct, on enclosing to the
publishers one rear’s subscription.
;t. No subscription to be uisconlinuedex-
ceptnt the end of a year.
4. The iirst number will appear in No
vember.
AT Subscriptions rereived by Dr. T. f Wray
and Iti/i. J. Hobby, of Augusta, and W i/Ikm T
n'illiams, Savannah.
DOM1&&TU3.
their zeal, courage, and habit of using
ilk... .. ... . . A BA ...all I.JB A* _ A * J
ed „ .
reign Journals, so copious as to embrace tin
most interesting of their contents, and to ex
hibit the progress abroad, of medicine, and
the collateral branches of science. Distinct
f.omthe obvious auvantages of such a syuop
sis, it is especially demanded by the cost and
difficulty of procuring the wotksthemselves.
Extraordinary ton, as it may appear, it ran,
perhaps, be here only executed with fidelity.
Controlled by hostile feelings, and the
meanest jealousies, the must enlightened na
tions of Europe, und with whose literary
proceedings w*e are chielly* conversant, per
petually offer proof of a mutual spirit ol in-.
Justice, ill the. snppreseinn or depreriqjion of
each others merits, and more particularly, in
relation to medical improvements. Toe
neutral in our position, tube warped or in
fluenced by such considerations, \vl* art- in
Ibis case, the best prepared to institute a can
did inquiry, and pronounce a just and im
partial decision.
After so ample an exposition ofotir mo
tives and views, wc might, perhaps, be saved
Report of the Secretary of Fl’ar on the
Military Peace Establishment.
Wak Dr.i'AivrMFM, )
December 12, IbJO. j
Sir: In obedience to a resolution of the
House of Representatives of the 11 th of
May last, directing that the Secretary of
War report to this House, ut the com
mencement of the next session, a plan
for the reduction of the army to six thou
sand non-commissioned officers, musici
ans, and privates, ami preserving suqh
parts of the corps of engineers as, iu his
opinion, without regard to that number,
it may be for the public interest to re
tain ; and, also, what saving of ttie pub
lic revenue will ho produced by such ar-
rangemC'.i' of the army as lie may pro
pose in conformity with this resolution,
have the honor to make the following
report :
1 derm it proper, before a plan is pre
sented iu detail for reducing the army,
s proposed in the resolution, at stem
briefly the general principles on .-kith
it is conceived our military peace e-tab-
lishmenl ought to be organized. It
b.: readily admitted, that the organization
of the army ought to have reference to
the objects, for which it is maintained,
and ought to be snclt as may be best cal
culated to effect such objects ; ns it
must he obvious, on the slightest reflec
tion, that on considerations connected
therewith ought to depend not only its
nun,tiers, but also the principles on
which it ought to lie formed.
T'lie necessity of a standing army in
peace is not Inhered to he involved in
the subject under consideration, a* the
resolution presupposes the propriety of
maintaining one ; nod, in fact, its neces
sity is so apparent, that even those least
friendly to tiiu army have never attempt
ed to uboli-Ji it, or even to rot-lute it
since the late war, much below the num
ber proposed in tlie resolution. Thn ob
jects for which a standing army in pJjace
ought to be maintained in.ty be o«in;u t/.ied
under two classes ; those which, though
they have reference to a state of war
yet tire more immediately connected
with its duties iri peace, anil those which
relate immediately und solely to war
Under the first class snay he enumega-
ted, ns the leading objects, the garrison
ing of the torts along our Atlantic fron-
j tier, in order t*o posbrve them, and to
I cause the stiver* ignly of the I . ritates h>
lue respected in their immediate neigh-
I horhood, and the occupying of certain
oititnatiding posts ou our inland frontier,
to keep in chetk our savage neighbors,
und to protect our newly funned and fee
ble settlements in that quarter. These
are, doubtless, important objects, lint
ire by no means sn essential as those
which relate immediately und solely to ii
tate of war ; and, tlfongh not to be neg
lected wholly, ought not In have any de
cided influence in the organization of oar-
pence establishment. Without, there
fore, making any farther remark on tlii-
point of the inquiry, I will proceed to
;onsidor the other class, on which, as it
comprises the great and lending induce
ments to maintain in this country a regu
lar army in pence, the prominent fea
tures of its organization ought 10 depend.
“ However remote our situation from
the great powers of the world, and how
ever pacific our policy, we are, notwith
standing, liable to he involved in war ;
and, to resist with success its calamities
and dangers, a standing army in peace,
in the present improved state of tlie mi
litary science, is on indispensable pre
paration. The 0| po-ite opinion cannot
be adopted, without putting to hazard
the independence and safety of the •oun-
trv. 1 am aware that the militia is con
sidered, mnl in many respects j'lktly, as
thegri-.it national firre ; but, to render
them effective, every experienced offi
cer must m knowledge, that they requite
the aid of regular troops. Supported
by a suitable corps of trained artillerists
and by a small but well disciplined bo
the declaration that in conducting this Jour- . 0 f j^fanlrv, they may he safely relied! completely formed, w
nal no traces of^ local partialities,,ox •ici-tuni.i , ( garrison our foi ls, and to act In Ihoj as the number of troo
5 H S I.« troep.. 1. -W sW ™>«« »o
tire arms, would be of great importance,
and would Imve their full effect. To ro
ly on them beyond this, to suppose our
militia capable of meeting iu the open
field the regular troops of Europe, would
be to resist the most obvious truth, and
the whole of our experience us a nation.
War is an art, to obtain perfection iu
which, much time uud experience, par
ticularly for the officers, are necessary.
It is true, that men of great military gen
ius occasionally appear, who, though
without experience, may, when an army
is already organized auddisciplined, lend
it to victory ; yet, 1 know of no instance,
under circumstances nearly equal, in
which the greatest talents have been a-
ble, with irregular and undisciplined
troops, to meet with success those (hut
were regularly truiifcd. Genius with
out much experience may command, hut
it cannot go much further. It cannot at
once organize mid discipline nn army,
and give it that military tone, and habit,
which only, in the midst of immioent
danger, enn enable it to perform the most
complex evolutions with precision and
promptitude. Those qualities, which
essentially distinguish an army from un
equal assemblage of untrained individ
uals, can only be acquired by the in
struction of experienced officers. If
they, particularly the company and re
gimental officers, are inexperienced, the
army must remain undisciplined, in Which
case, the genius, and even the experi
ence, of the commander, will lie of little
avail. The great and leading objects,
then, of a military establishment in peace,
ought to he to create and perpetuate mi
litary skill and experience : so that, at
all times the country may have at its
command a body of officers, sufficiently
numerous, and well instructed in every
branch of duty, both of the linn aud staff;
and the organization of the army ought
to be sncl), as to enable the government,
at tile commencement of hostilities, to
obtain a regular force, adequate to the
emergencies the couutry, proporly or
ganized mihI prepared for actual service.
It is thus only, that we can be in the con
dition to meet the-first shocks of hostili
ties with unyielding firmness ; and to
press on an enemy, while onr tosr.urcvs
tre yet unexhausted. Hut if, on tlie o-
tlier hand, disregarding the sound dic
tates ol reasonexperience, wesimuld in
peace neglect out- military establishment,
we riAist, with tt powerful ami skilful eu-
emv, be exposed to the most distressing
calamities. Not nil the zeal, courage,
and patriotism of our militia, unsupport
ed by regularly trained pud disciplined
troops, can inert them. W ithout such I
troops, the two or three first campaigns
would he worse than lost, The honor
ol our arms would bo tarnished, and l|ie
resources of the country uselessly lav
ished ; for, in proportion to the want of
efficiency, and a proper organization,
must, in actual service, he our military
cxpeudituws. When taught by sad ex
perience, we would lie compelled to
make redoubled efforts, with exhausted
means, to regain those very advantages,
which were, l ist fur the waul of experi
ence and skill. In addition to llie im
mense expenditure which would thei| lie
necessary, exceeding, manifold, what
would have been sufficient to put unr
peace establishment on a respectable
footing, a crisis would be tints brought
on of the most dangerous character. If
our liberty should ever be endangered
by the military pow er gaining the a-cen-
d.iiicv, it will lie from the necessity of
making i!m,e mighty and irregular ef
forts to retrieve our affairs, niter a -ciaus
of disasters, caused bv the want ot ade
quate military knowledge ; just in, in
onr physical system, n state of the munt
dangerous excitement and paroxysm bil
lows tlintof the greatest debility and pros
tration. To avoid these dangerous con
sequences, and to prepare the country
to meet n state of war, particularly at its
commencement, with honor mol safety,
much must depend on list? organization
of our military peace establishment ; mol
I have, accordingly, in the plan about tu
lie proposed, for the reduction of the al
loy, directed my ntientiou mainly to that
point, believing it to be nf the greatest
importance.
To give such nn organization, the lea
ding principle in its formation ought to
be, tii,at, at the c<>iimionc»*mont of hos
tilities, there should he nothing either to
new model nr to create. 1 tie only
difference, consequently, bat ween Jlie ;
pence and the war formation oft he army
ought to he in the increased magnitude
•>f the latter; and the only change in
passing from the former to the I liter,
should eon-ist in giv ing to it the augmen
tation which will then he necessary.
It is thus, and tints only, the danger
ous transition from peace to war may be
niado without confusion or disorder ; and
the weakness and danger, which other
wise would he inevitable, he avoided.—
Two consequences tesiilt from this prin
ciple. First, the organization nf the
«taff in a pence establishment ought to be
Mich, that every brunch of it should he
ith such extension
of troops und posts occu-
cortdly, that the organization nf the line
ought, as far ns practicable, to be snclt
that, in passing from the peace te the w«r
formation, the force may he sufficiently
augmented, without adding new regi
ments or battalions, ; thus raising the
war on the basis of the peace establish
ment, instead of creating a new army to
be mhled to the old, as A the commence
ment of the Inst war. The neat princi
ple to he observed, is, that the organiza
tion ought to be such ns to induce, in
time of pence, citizens of adequate tal
ents mid respectability of character to
enter and remain in tlie'iiiilitarv service
ot the country, so that the government
may have officers iff its cynitimnd, who,
to the requisite experience, would add
the public confidence. The cot redness
ol tins principle can scarcely be doubted,
for, suroly, if it .is Worth having an ar
my at all, it is worth having it well com-
mantled.
These nre the general principles tip-
on which I propose to form the organi
zation of thn ••H'tny, as proposed to lie
reduced under the resolution. By re
ference to taldes A nnd B, which contain
the proposed anil present organizations,
it will he seen that the principal differ
ence between them is in the reduction
ot liic rank and tile. The present or
ganization of the staff, with its brunches,
is retained, with slight alterations. The
principal changes in il are, iisthat of the
commissary general of purchases, aud
the judge advocates, hy which il is in
tended that they should conform more
exactly to the principles ou which (he
other branches nre now formed. It is
believed that the true principle of its
organization is, that every distinct branch
of the staff' should terminate in a chief,
to be stationed, at least iu peace, near
the scat of government, mid to lie made
responsible for its condition. It is tints
that the government may at all limes ob
tain correct knowledge of the condition
of the nriuy in every particular, and lie
enabled tu introduce method, order nnd
economy, in its disbursements. It is, at
present, with slight exceptions, thus or
ganized, and the beniTtciul effects of it
have already bean strikingly exemplified
by experience. .Since the passage of the
act ol'the 1-lib of April, UUtl, winch gave
the present organization to the staff, Die
expense nf the army has been greatly
reduced, while, at the same time, the va
rious articles supplied have been im
proved in quality, and tho punotnnlity
•viih which they Imve been issued ; and
while the movements of the army have,
at least for the present, been refldered
more expensive by occupying the dis
tant. frontier posts at the mouth of the St.
Fetor's and at the Council Bluff*. Bv
a state mo, nl from tho adjutant and inspec
tor general, and the books of tiie second
auditor, marked U, containing the army
disbursments from Iblti to 1821) inclu
sive, it appears, that the expense of the
atniy in 1010, the year in which the
present organization commenced, amoun
ted to three miliums setreo hundred uud
lorty-eiglit thousand four hundred and
forty-live dollars aud one cent, while the
amount of warrants issued f>w ciirrmit
disbui toments to the firstuf November
this year, lots amounted only to two mil
lions six hundred und sixteen thousand
live hundred and tw enty-six dollars nnd
eleven cents, aud tho disbursements ot
the whole year will, probably, hot ex
ceed two millions seven hundred thou
sand dollars. In tho year 1818, the ag
gregate average number of the military
establishment, including the cadeti, u-
iiioonted to eight thorn.uid one hundred
mid ninety-nine, and that of (hi- year ti
nine thousand -ix hundred and eleven.—
It is admitted, that, during the same pe
rm,!, a considerable reduction ims taken
place in many ol'the articles which con
stitute the supplies of the army, the ef
fect of which has been to reduce its ex
pense ; but, mi examination, it will ap
pear licit the diminution on this account
is tnm il less than what on the first itn-
*
cent, high*# Ilian in this, nnd w tie *»fc"
tiatttic* about forty per cent. With
these data, it i* ascertained, that the et-
pense of the army this year, had no dim)*
tuition in pried aince 1618 takan plat e,
would have amounted, deducting for (to
diffarenoe of the average number ef Ah
two yeitri end allowing- for the expendi
ture of the Semieote war in 1818, to e>
bout two milKena saven hundred k mnw>
tjf-une thousand nod thirty-eight tfelhwh
and fitly five cent*. This sum, deduct
ed from three million* seven hundred
und forty-eight thotplpd four hundred
und forty-five dollar* nnd one cent, the
expense of the army in 1818, gives for
the actual saving, niter allowing for the
diininulioh of prices, the sum of nine
hundred und filly seven thousand three
hundred nnd fifty six dollar* and forty lit
oento, (see table fo,) which ha* been ef
fected through the organimtioe of the
present staff, by enabling the department
id, in its inioete details, sn
to superintend,
well thn various diabursentents of the ar
my, ns thn measures token te pro waft
the waste ef public property. Tire o
mount of saving may appear to be rery
great, hut it is confidently believed, that
it cannot hu materially reduced by nay
just inode of calculation of which the
subject is susceptible.
As rreat as tills result is, it is only in
war that the benefits of a propar organ
ization of the staff-aan be fully realized.
tV ith a complete organization, and expe
rienced officers, trained in time of peacss
to nn exact aud punctual discharge of
their duty, the saving in war (not to in
sist ou an increased energy und success
in our military movements) would be of
iucalculalde advantage to the country.—
Thu number ef deputies and assistants
in ouch brunch ought to be regulated by
tho exigency of the service, and thw
must obviously depend much more on
the number of posts than on the number
of troops *, und ns no material change cue,
consistently with the public interest, be
made as lathe posts, under the proposed
reduction, little diminution can be mad*
in the number of subordinate officers hh>
longing to the stuff.
It is also proposed to retain the twe
major and four brigadier geosrala. Al
though it is not probable that thera will
tm concentrated, iu time of peace, at any
ono point, u fore*equal to the command
of a single major or even a brigadier gen
eral, yet il is conceived that it is import
ant to the service that they shobld be re-
tai led. As two re-iments, with a pro
per proportion of artillery tf light troops,
constitute, iu our service, one brigade,
and two brigades n division, the command
ofu major general, the number of regi-
luouls and buttalioiM, under the proposed
organization, thus give# a command e-
q tat to that of two major und four brign-
•tier generals. But a more weighty, and,
in my opinion, decisive reason, why they
riiinuld Ims retained, may be found in the
principle already staled, Chat the organi
zation pf the peace establishment ought
to be such ns to induce persons of talent
>nd' respectability to enter and continue
tu the military service. To give te the
officer**«f the army the necessary skill
«nd acquirements, the military academy
is an invaluable part of our establisbmen
—but that alone will be inadequate. For
this purpose, respectability of rank and
compensation must be given to the offi
cers of the army, in due proportion to the
other pursuits of life. Every prudent
individual, in selecting his course of life,
must be governed, making allowance for
natural disposition, essentially by the re
wards w Inch attend the various pursuit#
open to him. Under eur free institu
tions, every one is left free to make bis
selection—and most of the pursuits of
life, followed with industry and skill,
lead to opulence nnd respectibility.—-
Flic profession of arms, in the well ef-
tat,fished state of things w hich exists a-
tuong ut?, has no reward but what is at
tached to il hy law—and if that should be
inferior to other professions, it would be
presrion might bn supposed. Many of file to suppose individuals, possessed of
' the necessary talents and character,
would be. induced to enter it. A mere
:-en*e of duty ought not, and cannot be
safely relied on. It suppoees that indi-
viduals would he actuated-by a stronger
sense of duty toward* the government
■than the latter towards them.
H’wi may judge fro® experience, it
would seem that the army, even with
these important commands, which, from
their rank and compensation, must ope
rate strongly on those who have a milita
ry inclination, does out present induce
ment* to remain in it, stronger than, nor
even as strong a-^ those of inpst of the 0e
ther respectable pursuits of life.
The number of resignations has been
very great, of which many are among the
most valuable officers. Should the num-
ber of generals be reduced, the motive
for entering or continuing in aarvict
must idso be greatly reduced—for, like
the high prize* iu a lottery, though they
c ut be pbtuiued by a fear only, yet they
operate ou all those ryko adventure—so
those important stations which they oc
cupy arc, with tho»“ *
to serve their count
live to enter or j
rbtaie them is, ini
ilic more consiil- ruble items, w hich con
stitute the expenses of the army, me
lixial by law, and d» not lltiMtlule with
the change or prices, such as tha pay of
I be officers and idi-ii, the subsistence of
the former, and the allowance to them
lor servants, forage, transportation of
barrage, (ic. All of the items ertinmtud
for, by t e pn\-ma ter-general, except-
ing clothing for servants, which is of
-mull amount, partake of this character ;
to w hicli, if wc* add those in the quarter-
mastor-general'i estimates, which, id-
tbonuli the price of some of them Imve
ia the period under consideration been
i educed, yet that lias been at least ba 1
I,meed in the increased expenditure of
that department for tire two last years,
bv the extension and increased number
of (lie military po-ls ; it will result, that
the reduction in the expense of the anuy
by the diminution of price* is substantial
ly confined to the clothing, medical, nnd
subsistence departments. Some pains
have heeu taken to ascertain this diminu
tion, in the various articles supplied by
them, and it 1ms resulted in the belief
that the average ef those supplied by
the clothing and medical departments,
necessary ^ and, se- Ip'ere, in the year 1818, about 4 seven per
