WRITINGS OF SAl\l HOUSTON, 1847
505
being the regulars, as created by the power which the Constitution gives to Congress to raise armies and to support them, (for it was exclusively a subject for the legislation and action of Congress, and under the control of the Executive of tre nation), and the militia or volunteers, who were under the control of the Federal Government whilst they were in service, although they derived their commissions and organization from their respective States, there was an inconvenience in the army which existed at this time, and it arose from the fact that there were hardly two States . in the Union that appointed their officers in the same way. In some States they were appointed by the Legislature, and in others they were elected and elected by various modes. And it was im- possible in the promotions which must take place in the army, when vacancies occur, in order to preserve its organization, that these different modes could respectively be preserved. In fact no provision was made for filling such vacancies, and if promotion took place it was done only by the common consent of those con- cerned. The President of the United States had no authority to commission them, because their commissions were originally derived from the Executive Departments of the States from which they ca.me. Hence a great difficulty occurred in preserving the organization of the army. · But if a corps were created by Con- gress, and commissioned by the Executive of the Federal Govern- ment, it would obviate this difficulty; it would answer all the· purposes for which regulars were intended, and would constitute, in fact, regular forces. It was not the mere name of regulars that constituted the efficiency of a corps; it was not the name of regulars that gave discipline and subordination to men; it more depended upon the ·terms of the service in which they were <=.ngaged, than it did upon their name or designation. If the object was to have an efficient corps, he contended that the one proposed by his amendment would not only be efficient, but the most efficient that had ever been exhibited on the face of the globe. They would be dissimilar from the regulars in this, that they were not composed of men picked up indiscriminately- men of different languages and different habits; men not stimu- lated by patriotism, but operated on by necessity, and not by choice. This corps v.·ould be composed of men prompted by patriotism, and stimulated by chivalry-men who loved their homes, and would go forth to fight their country's battles with calculations and anticipations of return; men who, entering upon
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