Mr. Dana believed those officers accepted their appointments under an idea of its being the permanent Peace Establishment, and therefore something was due to them when dismissed from the public service.
Mr. Smilie said, they knew the terms on which they entered the service, and they entered voluntarily. How could any thing, then, be due to them? It would be more proper to give the men something when disbanded than to provide for the officers. It was not long since that about forty were wanted, and there were thirteen hundred applications. Men could not always be obtained. When the ten regiments were ordered to be raised, the officers were soon obtained; but, after recruiting a long time, the proper number of men could not be procured.
The question for striking out was taken by yeas and nays—for it 26, against it 56.
Mr. S. Smith made a motion to raise it to the same as was granted in 1796.
Mr. Eustis advocated it, but it was not carried, there being 26 for it, and 45 against it.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading to-morrow.
Thursday, January 21.
Military Peace Establishment.
An engrossed bill fixing the Military Peace Establishment of the United States was read the third time.
Mr. Bayard observed that he should vote for the bill, because he thought it better than the former system, and it would be of much saving as to expense. He was, however, very far from being pleased with a part of that bill, that part relating to the Brigadier General and his aide-de-camp. This office he knew to be a perfect sinecure; no such officer was necessary; he could have no duties to perform. He would not, however, vote against the whole bill on account of this.