H. OF R.] South Carolina Claims. [DEC. 29, 1832. I re enough of their pay had been due to enable them to vances were made to them by their State, the amount was supply themselves with blankets out of their own funds, always deducted from their pay. Should the item be as the law required they should do. In other parts of allowed, the result would be this: that when the militia the Union, when militia had stood in need of blankets, furnished themselves, as they were required to do, their they had sometimes been furnished by the States, but the State would raise no claim; but whenever the militia amount had always been deducted from the soldier's pay. neglected to do so, the State out of humanity would It was said that these militia were poor, that they were supply them, and the United States must pay for all. called out on a sudden emergency, and the exigency of And, further, not a soldier would furnish himself but the circumstances had been such as to induce the Legis- would not have a just claim against the United States to lature of South Carolina, out of humanity and liberality the amount of his blanket; nor could the claim be reto her own citizen soldiers, to make the advance, for sisted. The true rule was this: when the United States which remuneration was now claimed. He admitted were bound to furnish individuals in their service with the fact, and accorded to that State all praise for her any particular article, and the treasury being insufficient, liberality, but there he must stop. Such an expenditure a State volunteered to do it, then the United States must furnished no ground of claim upon the General Govern refund. But when the individual himself, or the State to ment. Were all the sacrifices and sufferings of our mili- which he belonged, was bound to furnish the article, then tia confined to South Carolina? Her soldiers had served the United States ought not to pay. The principle of in the midst of a rich, fertile, liberal, and humane com- this claim would go yet further. If the General Govern munity, and their sufferings did not amount to a drop in ment were bound to pay for blankets, they were as much the bucket, in comparison with those which had been en- bound to pay for clothing. On this subject Mr. W. quoted dured in other parts of the Union, and especially on the a case which had come before the Committee of Claims, Northwestern frontier. In other parts of the country, where the claim, though not so strong as the present, was when the citizen soldier was in a state of destitution, his strenuously resisted, and the bill allowing it struggled appeal was made to his fellow-citizens, and his wants with difficulty through the House. supplied by the liberality of the public. Mr. McK. here Mr. NUCKOLLS said: I do not rise, Mr. Speaker, to adverted to the exertions which had been made in Pitts- discuss the general merits of the claim now under conburg and its neighborhood, in furnishing the volunteers sideration. I had hoped that when the House had consiwith all they needed, and he insisted that if the present dered the peculiar nature and the circumstances under items should be allowed, all who had made such contri- which the military claim of South Carolina had accrued, butions would be entitled to a remuneration, as much as it would have addressed itself to the justice, patriotism, South Carolina. The amount might be comparatively and honor of this assembly so directly as to preclude all small, but where was the difference in principle? Claims debate. I had particularly desired that no representaof this kind might be advanced by the whole Western tive from Carolina should feel it necessary to urge its country. Other States, Virginia and Pennsylvania, could allowance, when the very fact of its existence reflected present large demands on a similar ground. Should this so much honor on the public spirit of our State. door once be opened, where would be an end of the lied on the intelligence of this body to estimate its jusdrain upon the treasury? Could any gentleman say tice, and their equity to direct its payment. But, sir, I where these demands would terminate? The law had find I am mistaken. Objections are raised to the partifixed the principle, and he could see no reason why it cular item inserted in Committee of the Whole, which is should be departed from. now before the House. This section contains an approMr. McDUFFIE said he should be sorry indeed that priation of 7,600 dollars for blankets purchased by the South Carolina should establish the precedent of an un- State for the use of her soldiers, when the tents furnished just demand upon the treasury. But he should be equal- by this Government were insufficient for their protection. ly sorry, on the other hand, should his State be deprived Honorable gentlemen have objected to this allowance as of her rights because other States had similar rights. unusual and improper, because, by the regulation of the The true view of the question was this: shall the United United States, blankets are not furnished to troops servStates refund to South Carolina the money she actually ing for less than a year. Others object to it, because, if it advanced for troops in the service of the United States? be allowed in this case, other States may prefer the same He adverted to the circumstances of the late war, and demand, and that dangerous inroads will be made on the asked whether it was becoming, after a State had as- treasury. Sir, I will enter into no argument, in reply to sumed a responsibility not imposed on it by the constitu- these objections. But I feel bound to say that they do tion, and had defended the Union from attacks of the not partake of that spirit which animated Carolina in enemy, that the Government ought to descend to a huck- meeting the exigencies of that day. What was her situastering calculation as to the items of the account. Ought tion, and how did she meet it? Sir, the enemy's vesthe State, after actually expending the money according sels were off our coast, and every indication of an invato her best judgment, to lose it? sion of our territory, and sacking of our cities. This Government furnished none of those munitions for our defence, which it was her constitutional duty to have furnished, and, when applied to for that purpose, responded that she had not the means, and South Carolina must defend herself. She called out her troops, and armed, clothed, and fed them. Sir, there was no quibbling about doing this. No calculations made, whether or no she might be repaid for all this, or whether it squared Mr. WHITTLESEY said that he believed the gentle- with the regulations of the United States. Her officers man was incorrect in supposing that there was any law commanding these troops, seeing that the very lives of which required the United States to furnish the militia her soldiers were endangered for want of covering, did with blankets at all. An act had indeed been passed al-not hesitate to call on the Legislature, and that body, dislowing the President to accept the services of certain regarding the cost, appropriated the amount contained in volunteers, and it provided for the furnishing them with this section for the purchase of blankets, Such were the blankets, but there was no general law on the subject. circumstances under which these articles were furnished, Militia received compensation for their services, and and such the manner in which this House meets them. were to furnish themselves out of their pay. When ad- Sir, I do not feel it proper that the representatives Mr. ELLSWORTH inquired whether it was by a regulation of the War Department, or by statute, that blankets were allowed to militia only when serving for twelve months or more. Mr. DRAYTON replied that it was by a regulation of the War Department. Mr. ELLSWORTH then observed that he saw no reason why the claims should not be allowed. DEC. 30, 1831.] Public Lands. [H. OF R. of Carolina should higgle with this House for sums vernment, and should urge the claim of New York to the thus expended. They flowed from her patriotism--she honor of the very liberal cession she had made to the will not beg them from your justice. With the view, Union, by touching only on a single point. therefore, that the same Committee of the Whole, which inserted this obnoxious section, may erase it, and that the other sections may pass without question, I move the recommitment of the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, with instructions to strike out the fifth section. Mr. McCOY advocated the recommitment, but thought the bill ought to go to the Committee of Claims. It was unnecessary to go further into the subject of the relation of the Six Nations and their tributaries to the State of New York, as having been under an agent of the Crown, who was also a member of the Colonial Assembly of that State. On occasion of a difficulty with one of these nations, the Mohawks, Sir William Johnson had purchased the land extending east from the northeast corner of the State of Pennsylvania, and up the Unadilla to Mr. BURGES regretted the gentleman from South Fort Stanwix, and engaged those Indians to emigrate to Carolina [Mr. NUCKOLLS] should have had his feelings the western lands of the State of New York, and also to hurt by the discussion; it was a mere question of money, the head waters of Grand river which runs into Lake Erie, not of chivalry or honor. Mr. B. wished that the United and the river Thames, which flows into Lake St. Clair; States might pay every farthing of debt due to every thus keeping up the possession, by that State, of lands State and every individual for the expenses of the late which now constitute a part of Upper Canada. war, into which it had driven the country with an empty treasury, and wholly unprepared. He was proceeding in these remarks, when he was reminded by the Chair that the question was simply one of recommitment. Mr. DRAYTON insisted that the Military Committee was the appropriate committee to take charge of the bill. Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, opposed the recommit ment. Mr. WAYNE, of Georgia, strenuously resisted the proposal to send the bill to the Committee of Claims, the chairman of which committee [Mr. WHITTLESEY] had just expressed his opinion as being adverse to the claim in question, and the House well knew the difficulty of getting any claim allowed against the opinion of the chairman of any of the standing committees of the House to which it was referred. It had always been acknowledged by the Crown of Great Britain that the boundaries of that colony extended as far north as to the latitude 45°. The same thing was acknowledged in the grant to Virginia, and the grants to South Virginia and North Virginia. The same thing was in all the treaties: The boundary line, after leaving the highlands upon the St. Croix river, extended, west, along the 45th degree of north latitude. That extent was always claimed by New York, and the claim was constantly acknowledged by the Crown as conforming to the terms of the original charter. But it was found that, after extending about 200 miles west from the shore of the Atlantic, the line trenched upon the possessions of the French, running into lands which had been held and settled by. subjects of that Crown--nothing, of course, could attach from the grant, where this was the case; for the land had been in French possession ever since Father Hennepin Mr. NUCKOLLS rose, and said: I will not, Mr. Speak- had planted the crop upon the Western shores. Recurer, enter further into the debate; my object is to with- ring, then, to the cession made by New York to the United draw the motion for recommitment. I do this very re- States, he stated that that cession included all the lands luctantly, but some of my colleagues, and various gen-west and north of a line running from the most western tlemen from different parts of the House, suggest the extremity of Lake Ontario, extending north and south from propriety, and I consent. I am thoroughly convinced the Pennsylvania line to the 45th parallel of latitude, with of the justice of this item, and that every principle of a proviso that if the westernmost extremity of the lake construction in such cases, resulting from the relation of should not be found to lie twenty miles west of the most the State and confederacy to each other, demands its westerly bend of Niagara river, then the line should run as payment. But when I reflect on the reason why, and far west as that. But it proving, on examination, that the the manner in which this clause of our claim originated, and connect it with the spirit in which it is met by this House, I declare for myself, as a citizen and representative of Carolina, I would not receive the remuneration at your hands. Whereupon, the House adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30. PUBLIC LANDS. The debate on the resolution offered by Mr. BLAIR, and proposed to be amended by Mr. DUNCAN, in relation to the disposition to be given to the public lands, was resumed; and lake did extend farther west, the line in the deed of cession was fixed upon, and actually surveyed and run by authority of the United States, as the line of demarcation separating the territory of New York from that of the United States. At the same time, a cession was made to Pennsylvania of a little strip of land lying west of that line, and extending to Lake Erie. The point to which this whole statement referred, was, that the treaty of peace, by which our territory was acquired, was in fact based upon the cession made by the State of New York to the General Government. That act was passed by the Legislature of New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, soon after the adoption of the articles of confederation. It was read in Congress on the 7th of March following; and Messrs. Duane, Floyd, and McDougal executed the cession on the 7th of March, 1781. In March, 1782, a report on the subject was made by a committee, of which the late disMr. R. commenced by apologizing to the House for a tinguished Mr. Boudinot, of New Jersey, was chairman. departure from the strict rules of order in which he had The report was adopted by Congress on the 29th of Ocbeen indulged by the forbearance of the Chair, in pur-tober, 1792, when the cession was finally and unconditionsuing a course of remarks not directly applying to the sub-ally accepted. All these facts were known to the comject before the House, and observed that he should not missioners; but the other States, though frequently called have gone into such a course but for the remark of the on, did not make their cessions until after the peace. The honorable gentleman from Illinois, that the lands to which final cession by Virginia having taken place on the 1st of the resolution referred had been granted to the United March, 1784, and that by Massachusetts on the 17th of States by the State of Virginia, thereby hoping to make a more successful appeal to the generous feelings of the House. He would now proceed to remark briefly on the cessions of land by the several States to the General Go Mr. ROOT, of New York, continued and concluded his remarks on the resolution and amendment, in substance as follows: April, 1785, and both followed exactly the same boundary lines as had been designated in the act of cession by New York, four years before. The lands of Connecticut were ceded on the 14th of September, 1786. These being the H. OF R.] Public Lands. [DEC. 30, 1831. cessions which, as Congress declared, covered all the applied. What, said Mr. R., trustees assuming to direct Western country, the treaty giving that country to the their principal how to apply the surplus fund in their United States was insisted on by Mr. R. as having been hands, when their trust has been accomplished! Shall based on the cession by the State of New York. But the Congress of the United States undertake to dictate to he did not go entirely on that foundation. It was well the sovereign independent States, as to the manner in known that one of the British commissioners for nego- which they shall manage their own funds? Nay, the retiating the treaty of peace had insisted that the Ohio river solution went to make the States mere agents and servants should constitute our Western boundary, and in that ar- of Congress, to expend their money in the way which rangement one of the American commissioners was be- Congress should direct. Congress was to assume sovelieved to have been willing to acquiesce. reign control over their constituents! It had But that rule had soon been State were to be in proportion to the whole number of her white population, with three-fifths of all others within her limits. Let the distribution be made according to these federal numbers, and each State have the management of its own proportion. That which fell to the share of New York would, he doubted not, be applied by her to her school fund; but whether it were or not, he certainly should never assume to dictate to that sovereign State in what manner she should spend her dividend. But there were other possessions lying beyond the Ohio, Mr. R. said that, for himself, he had too great respect which authorized the venerable Franklin to urge, and to for the sovereignty and independence of each member of urge successfully, that the Mississippi river should be the this confederacy, insolently to dictate to them how they boundary. Those possessions on the Ohio were held under should manage their own affairs. He thought it more begrants made by the British Crown to Virginia and Penn- coming to leave the States to manage their own affairs in sylvania. This fact was strongly insisted on in reply to their own way, unembarrassed by too much of congres the British commissioners; and reference being had to the sional legislation. Let the proceeds of the lands which war which broke out in 1756, those commissioners were remained, go into the public chest, or let them be applied compelled to yield the point, that the claim to those lands in the manner directed by Virginia, in the words of her could not be considered a French claim, for the French grant, viz. in proportion to the contribution which each having built Fort Du Quesne, Great Britain had authorized State would have had to make, had a direct call been Pennsylvania and Virginia to repel that act as an aggres- made on the States for the expenses of the war. sion, and thus the war between France and England had at first been proposed that the direct contributions by the taken place on this side of the Atlantic two years earlier several States should be regulated by a valuation of their than in Europe. Great Britain having claimed that land, lands and improvements. fought for it, and taken it, as belonging to the colony, abandoned as impracticable, and the law was amended in named the spot after her great statesman, Pitt. Thus the 1783, in such a manner that the contributions of each British commissioners were compelled to yield to the strong argument of Franklin, and Pittsburg, in conse: quence, was not lost to Pennsylvania. It had been said that the British commissioners proposed the latitude of 45 degrees north as our northern boundary. But this was not agreed to by the commissioners on the part of the United States, who thought it would be better to take a natural boundary, consisting of the great lakes, and the connecting streams which passed between them. That that entire country had belonged to the State of New York, Mr. R. insisted was evident from the fact that the British commissioners had admitted the latitude of 45 north, and thence west to the territory occupied by the Six Nations and their tributaries, pertained to the colonies. Here Mr. R. dropped the subject of the New York claims, Mr. TAYLOR, of New York, suggested to the gentleand said he would now speak for a few moments on the man from South Carolina the propriety of withdrawing question really before the House. The amendment offer- his amendment, to make way for a motion that the whole ed by the honorable gentleman from Illinois proposed an subject be referred to a Committee of the Whole on the inquiry into the expediency of applying one-third of the state of the Union, and thus prevent the morning business public lands to internal improvements within the respect from being interrupted for perhaps weeks to come. ive States where those lands lay; one-third for the con- Mr. MITCHELL assented, when Mr. TAYLOR, after struction of roads and canals leading from the lakes and a few prefatory remarks on the injurious effect of having great navigable streams of the West, to the cities and a debate protracted from morning to morning within the towns on our Atlantic seaboard; and the remaining third hour allotted for resolutions, and an appeal to the recollecto the purposes of education. To the last item there were tion of members who had witnessed debates of that kind, insuperable objections, even should the others be regard- made a motion that the resolution and amendment be ed with favor. How did Congress hold these lands, but referred to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the as trustees for the States which had granted them? The Union. States had granted these lands to the Government, as a Mr. MITCHELL, of South Carolina, now proposed to amend the amendment of Mr. DUNCAN, by striking there. from all after the words "Resolved, that," and inserting, in lieu thereof, a proposal to sell the lands to the States within whose limits they lie. Mr. MERCER proposed a modification of this motion, trustee, for specific purposes, set forth in the deed of which he feared would lead to an interminable debate. trust, to wit, to carry on the war to its termination, and to He adverted to the course of argument pursued by the reimburse the debt which might so be incurred. As trus- gentleman who had just taken his seat, [Mr. Roor,] and tees, Government had these lands in charge. Supposing, to the inutility of a contest among the States for the then, that the object contemplated in the deed had been honor of having ceded the public lands, and a comparison accomplished by other means, (namely, by taxes on im- of their respective titles to that territory. He censured ports,) to whom, he asked, did the lands belong? Did the course which led gentlemen, in contending for the they not revert to the grantors? honor of their own States, to make gratuitous attacks If the objects for which the fund was provided had on the reputation of other States of the Union-a course been accomplished, the residue of the fund belonged of which he considered as tending to impair that general course to those who had created it. They had made the respect which ought to be accorded to every member of grant for their own benefit. The lands belonged to the the confederacy. He was prepared and ready at once original States of the confederacy, and to the States which to reply to the remarks which had been directed against had been formed since, in pursuance of the ordinance of 1780. But here, in the resolution before the House, it was proposed to direct the States how their own fund should be managed, and in what manner its avails must be Virginia; but he did not think the present a fitting occasion to do so. There were several very grave and weighty subjects before the House, the discussion of which would in a more legitimate manner call up an examination The House then went into the consideration of private -bills; after which, [H. OF R. into the Virginia title to her western domain. He wished hands, does not require the support of the soldier's arms. the question, in what manner the public lands should be Intelligence and virtue are the pillars of State, and on disposed of after the public debt should have been paid, these rests the noblest superstructure that man ever reared; to be left alone and unincumbered with other matter, that but, situated as this country is, a small military force is reit might receive that full and distinct discussion which so quisite to prevent the incursion of savages, and to meet grave a question justly merited. any emergencies that may occur. Such a provision has been made in the maintenance of an army of six thousand men. A very superficial knowledge of the condition and character of this body of men would present evils of great and glaring magnitude; and a thorough acquaintance with the army, its actual physical force, its expense to the Government, and its service in return, and its moral condition, would furnish cogent arguments to show the necessity of some change, so far, at least, as regards the enlisted Adjourned to Tuesday. TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1832. Mr. WARD, of New York, submitted the following resolution: men. Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be The character of a great portion of the enlisted men instructed to inquire into the expediency, first, of en- is far below the proper standing of a soldier, and the realisting into the army minors from the ages of sixteen to son of this is not difficult to be ascertained. The pay of seventeen, by and with the consent of their parents or five dollars per month is not sufficient of itself to induce guardians, to serve for the period of four years; secondly, any or very few but the lowest class of society to enlist; of establishing schools at such military posts, garrisoned and seldom being called into action, it cannot be expected exclusively by the troops so enlisted, for the purpose of that high notions of military ardor and enthusiasm will teaching such branches of education as will fit and prepare be inspired or kept alive. Men who enter the service the soldiers for situations of usefulness in life, and of re- with no other than a pecuniary motive, need some stimulus ducing their monthly pay in the ratio of two dollars for to urge them on to the feelings and conduct that ought to every five dollars now paid; thirdly, of retaining the whis- distinguish the soldier. On the contrary, being permitkey portion of the ration to be paid either in money, mili- ted to spend the greater part of their time according tary equipments, or in some suitable badge of honor; to their own tastes and inclinations, allowed sufficient fourthly, of exempting all such non-commissioned officers whiskey to produce an unnatural and unnecessary exciteand privates who shall have served for the period of four years from militia duty, except in cases of war, invasions, or other public emergency; and that said committee also inquire how far such enlistments and provisions may tend to destroy or lessen the evil of frequent desertion. Mr. PEARCE inquired the object of the resolution, and said that he wished to know from the honorable gentleman whether there were not schools already established at the several military posts. ment, and having no employment, either bodily or intel- One Mr. WARD said he would answer the honorable gentleman from Rhode Island with much pleasure; he had been informed, he said, by General Scott, and other of- Men sustaining the character which the greater portion ficers of the army, that schools have been established at of the soldiers who now compose the army sustain, would the military posts for the purpose of teaching the children be expected to be governed by nothing but their own inof the soldiers, but not the soldiers themselves; and, from clinations; bound by no motives of honor or pride, with what he had learned, he believed those schools had been no desire to defend or assist their country for their counproductive of much good: but his object, he said, in sub-try's sake, and prompted by no ambition to distinguish mitting the resolution under consideration, was, that the themselves, they desert at the first opportunity after they Committee on Military Affairs might be instructed to in- have received their advance pay. quire into the expediency of establishing schools at the In this opinion, Mr. W. said he was happy to have it in several military posts, in which the soldiers of the army his power to say that he did not stand alone: for, said he, on the peace establishment may receive instruction. the General-in-chief has taken the same view of the pre Similar schools have been established, he said, in many sent standing and character of our soldiers. He states in his armies, and particularly in the Prussian, in which the pri- annual report, when speaking on the subject of desertion, vate soldiers are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. that "this evil can only be attributed to the great prospeIndeed, said he, instruction became so general in the Prus-rity which pervades every class of our citizens. Although sian army by means of regimental and battalion schools, that, during the last years of peace in that country, the army was considered an institution for the instruction of the whole country, for every Prussian, it will be recollected, is obliged to serve for a short time in the army. the soldier is well fed, clothed, quartered, and treated with kindness by his officers, yet the apparent small amount paid to him in money, as allowed by law, does not offer a sufficient inducement to the steady and active citizen to engage in the public service in time of peace, but the unIn some armies conversationi have been introduced, in steady and idle, and frequently the profligate, are willing, which the officers hold discourse with the sergeants and for the sake of the bounty in hand, to enlist, with a view of privates on a variety of subjects, and particularly on sub- remaining until the first payment, and then desert, perhaps jects connected with the service. There is now much to practise again the same fraud upon the Government." time totally lost to the soldiers in our army, which might Mr. W. said his attention was drawn to the subject of esbe profitably employed in instructing them in many use- tablishing schools for the instruction of the soldiers, while ful branches of education, which would tend greatly to reflecting upon some remedy to check the serious evil of elevate the character of the American soldier, and, above desertion. all, would be a means of rendering him a useful and moral In order to show the extent of this evil, he said he citizen. Experience and reason, said he, unite in bear- would call the attention of the House to the annual report ing testimony to the truth that standing armies are need- of the able and efficient Secretary of War, wherein he less and dangerous in time of peace in a free Government. makes use of the following observations on that subject, A nation such as ours, that vests its powers in the people's viz. "I regret to state that this serious evil not only [JAN. 3, 1832. continues, but increases. Inquiries have been instituted into main objects of the soldier's enlistment, nor was the course the causes of this offence, and the most efficient remedy. of studies in that army so long and thorough as it might and But no means have been adopted to check a practice which, ought to be in our service. The army, under its present orfrom its extent and impunity, not only materially injures ganization, consists of five thousand five hundred and fiftythe service, by the loss of the men and its consequent ex-seven enlisted men: now, said he, if that number were to pense, but threatens in its progress, and by its example, be divided into four classes, one thousand three hundred to destroy that principle of fidelity which is the only safe and eighty-nine soldiers might be annually admitted, and bond of connexion between the soldier and his country.' a like number annually discharged from the service-for It appears, said Mr. W., from the reports of the Secre- none should be permitted to remain in the service after tary of War and General-in-chief, that one thousand four the expiration of their term of enlistment, unless retained hundred and fifty soldiers deserted from the army during as instructers or officers, but they should retire and give the last year, which is an actual loss to the Government in place to others; thus diffusing knowledge among that one single year of $121,000, and that, from 1823 up to the class of our fellow-citizens who have not now the means 30th November, 1831, eight thousand four hundred and of obtaining an education. The young men, thus educattwo soldiers deserted from the service, making, in that ed, after the expiration of their engagement, would be short period, a total loss to the Government of $794,187. prepared for the pursuits of practical life. Perhaps, said Now, said Mr. W., as it seems to be generally admitted that he, it might be more advisable to divide the army into five something ought to be done, in order to prevent this waste classes or divisions: in that event, one thousand one hunof the public money, and to induce the soldier to continue dred soldiers might be annually admitted into the army, in the service until the expiration of his engagement, it and a like number annually discharged. He said that, occurred to him that the plan which he had done himself in the course of five years, the soldiers might be carried the honor to submit to the House might be worthy of the through a regular, and complete, and practical course of consideration of the Committee on Military Affairs; for studies, that would prepare them for any society, or lay he said he was entirely satisfied that if the soldier could the foundation for any profession which they might choose receive while in the service an education which should fit to pursue; and, at the close of their engagement, they and prepare him for situations of usefulness in life, that, would be sent into the world educated men. This, said of itself, would be a sufficient inducement for him to re- he, might be accomplished, and still allow them a suffi main in the service until discharged with suitable honors. cient time to acquire a thorough knowledge of the miliThe army, he said, under its present organization, costs tary part of their profession. the Government, for pay, subsistence, clothing, quarters, Two professors and twenty-eight tutors would be all fuel, transportation, forage, and for the support of the that would be required for each division, or one teacher medical and hospital departments, and in contingencies, to every forty men. At the close of the year, each division upwards of $3,000,000 annually, and for which (if we ought to undergo a rigid examination on all the previous except the services of the corps of officers) it makes no studies, and, after having completed the regular course, to adequate return. And though, under our present state, be discharged with suitable honors. And such of the nonwe have the means of supporting a much larger force at commissioned officers and privates, who should stand the a far greater expense, without feeling it to be a burden, highest in the army for scholarship and general knowledge, still, if any course can be pursued whereby the resources diligence, talents, and acquirements, should be sent to the of the nation may be made more productive of benefit and West Point Academy to complete their education in the profit, it is the part of sound policy to adopt that course. higher and scientific branches, or commissioned in the This vast sum of upwards of $3,000,000, said he, is army, or chosen as instructers for the lower divisions, and now annually expended for the support of an army which, to receive other marks of distinction. This, said he, (so far as regards the enlisted men,) as a peace establish- would be a great incentive to exertion, and would be a ment, is not worthy the nation that maintains it, and in war means of exciting a laudable and commendable ambition it would be of no earthly service. If double the expense in the breast of all to excel. Such an establishment, said would better the condition of the army, it would be well he, would raise the standard of learning in the whole army, applied; but, employed as it is, it seemed to him that it and would reflect the highest credit upon the Governwould be better to seek for it some other use. Indepen- ment. Take, said he, a young man of sixteen years of dent, said he, of the other advantages which would result age, and no matter how abject may have been his condi from the proposed plan, it will actually diminish the ex- tion hitherto, place him in the society of five hundred of pense; but the amount of money necessary for the support the same age, all on equal grounds, all possessed of the of so small a standing army in a republic as rich and wide as this, is a matter of very trivial importance. Small as the army now is, he said, it might be so trained and disciplined, and its moral condition so improved, that it would become a pattern for the imitation of the world. If, said he, the soldiers should be enlisted, by and with the consent of their parents and guardians, at the early age of sixteen years, before their habits are formed, an opportunity would be offered them of preparing themselves for distinction in civil and military life. It is a fact, said he, and at this enlightened day it will not be denied, that true greatness can only be secured by a proper improvement of the mind and heart. The intellect of man inust be cultivated, and his views of things elevated above the mere routine of labor that he performs, before he is capable of aspiring to any thing worthy of himself or his true character. In fact, the real worth of an army, composed entirely of men whose minds are well educated and disciplined, has never been tested by actual experiment. In the Prussian service, already adverted to, there has not been an opportunity of testing the proposed system; for learning, in that service, was not considered one of the same advantages, and all having an equal opportunity for distinguishing themselves as scholars and soldiers, and a spirit of emulation, of ambition, and determined effort, will be created and constantly cherished. Teach this body of youth that they are now in the path to true glory; that each and every one of them may distinguish himself in his country's service; if she leads him not into the field of battle, that he may, while in the army, prepare himself for the cabinet or Senate. Cultivate his intellect, and store his mind with useful practical knowledge, convince him of his own native powers, and of the influence he may exert on society, or his country, or on the world, and you cannot fail to make him a man. Nay, more, you rescue from ignorance, from degradation, and, perhaps, from crime, one who may be a blessing to the country, that will one day be pleased to call him her son. And it is easy to fire the breasts of the whole army of youth with the same high, noble, worthy ambition. The spirit will spring up of itself, and reign throughout a host of men, whose minds are cultivated, whose hearts are defended against the poison of vice. A high sense of honor, said he, would prevail, that would sooner require restraining than quicken |