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WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1851
284
OPPOSING CREATION OF THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL, FEBRUARY 12, 185!1
From the course which this debate has taken and the amount of time occupied, and some allusions which have been made in reference to a former action of this body, I feel myself called upon to assign my reasons for the vote I then gave, as I shall not vote for the present resolution. On the occasion alluded to a proposition was submitted to the Senate for the creation of the office of lieutenant general of the Army. War was then existing and our armies were within the enemy's territory; a misunder- standing had arisen between the commanding generals, and a discord almost amounting to dissolution of the army seemed to reign in the ranks; at least such was the impression in this coun- try, and serious apprehensions were expressed that the army would be disbanded. Under these circumstances I was disposed to support the proposition, with the hope that by the creation of one head, by elevating one individual above the others, between whom the misunderstanding existed, harmony would be restored to the army, and that our arms would be triumphant. This was my reason for voting the power to the President of the United States to create a lieutenant general of the Army. It was then decided by the Senate that it was not expedient at that time--in time of war and when a want of harmony was manifested be- tween the generals-that such a course should be adopted. But I have reflected upon the proposition since, and must confess that the only excuse I could find for it was the emergency then exist- ing, and I have come to the conclusion that if in a crisis as then existed, it was unnecessary to create a lieutenant general, no fitting occasion has since presented itself. Having come to this conclusion and assigned my reasons for it, I will now go on to state that I can see no possible benefit that can result either to the country or to individuals-I mean a substantial benefit-from the adopting of this resolution. The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and such subordinate officers as are necessary to fill up the details of organization are appointed as his assistants. Since we have got along for such a period of time without the creation of a lieutenant general, and since emergencies have seldom arisen that suggested the propriety of appointing one-they having all passed away and left the coun- try at peace with but a small standing army-I cannot see any necessity for the creation of a lieutenant general, particularly if it
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