WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1846
480
and the question now was, whether the Government of the United States would respond to that action, and visit the aggressors with punishment.
]Cong,·essional Globe, 1845-1846, p. 798.
REMARKS IN THE UNITED STATES SE~ATE, MAY 15, 1846, ON THE BILL PROVIDING FOR THE RAISING OF A REGIMENT OF MOUNTED RIFLEMEN t Mr. Houston had, as a member of the Military Committee, concurred most fully in the view taken of this subject by the majority of that committee. He regarded the matter not merely in its reference to the present condition of the army of the United States, but also of its prospective condition, and the wholesome order of appointment and promotion in the line of the army. He could not conceive how any important or desirable object could be achieved by restricting the appointments and promotions in the army to any class of individuals, either civilians or officers. The officers of the army had entered the service fully aware of the regulations with regard to ·promotion, and had no cause of com- plaint so long as their rights were not interferred with. It was not with the design of "overslaughing" the officers now in the service that the amendment had been submitted to the considera- tion of that honorable body. It was, on the contrary, for the purpose of securing to them their peculiar rights and privileges. The addition of a new regiment did not at all conflict with the existing rights of officers already in the service. The extension did not involve any derangement of the system. The officers were restored or registered according to the date of their commission, and their promotion was not at all affected by the augmentation of the army in the creation of new regiments. If the President were restricted to the line of the army, much inconvenience would result. For the colonelcy, lieutenant-colonelcy, and majority, there would be at least three hundred applications from the army. [A voice: "five thousand."] This great inconvenience would result: only three could be appointed, and two hundred and ninety- seven would be disappointe.d-of course bringing down on the President's head two hundred and ninety-seven curses. He desired to see the honorable posts of the new regiments thrown open to all. There was less_ science than was generally imagined necessary to make a good officer. The material of the good
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