WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
513
entitled to a majority or a colonelcy in another regiment, I do not think there is any great misfortune in that. It may be that in some cases they may not be so competent as a captain might accidentally happen to be who would be entitled to promotion under other circumstances in the regiment; but there is an equal chance that he will be as well qualified as the other. It is man against man, and no more; and he is as liable to be perfectly competent as the captain would be if promoted to a majority, to say nothing of his additional experience. So it is with the major, or any other field officer. I cannot see that any advantage would be gained by confining the promotions of field officers to the regiments in which vacancies may occur; but, on the other hand, by pursuing that course mani- fest injustice would be done to officers who, ~!though you may say they have no vested rights, have yet reasonable expectations under the system under which they came into the service. To be sure, it is subject to modification by Congress at any time; but still, they had a right to expect that for faithful service they would receive certain rewards upon certain contingencies; and I think it would be unjust to them now, suddenly, when there is no necessity for it, to change a system that has been of such long duration, that has worked so well, and so successfully heretofore, and under which the respectability of the present military estab- lishment has grown up. Here let me say that, although I have been charged with hav- ing detracted from the Army, I believe my appreciation of it is very just, and I think it has respectability and character. I believe it is composed of as respectable gentlemen as are in the United States. I have objected to an increase in the Army, not on account of the unworthiness of its officers, but because of the expense, the inexpediency, the danger of such an increase. I have always entertained a just appreciation of the respectability of the officers, and have voted in this body for an increase of their pay, to allow them to surround themselves with the comforts and conveniences required by their position. It is to maintain the respectability of the Army, and not to disappoint the just expec- tations of meritorious officers, nor to subject them to caprice, that I am in favor of striking out this section. I maintain that, if you promote under the present system, you will be quite as likely to get good and efficient men for the high grades, as you will be if you confine promotion in each regiment to the officers of that 1·egiment. When officers have given their years, and have been willing to give their lives, to the service of their country,
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