Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Nineteenth Congress Page: 37
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97
OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
88
Jau. 12, 1826.]:
Prevention of Desertion.
[SENATE.
as row authorized by kw, of each non-commissioned offi-
cer and soldier of the United States'Army, enlisted after
that date, —— per month, until the period of his tlis-
ehargv., as a security for his faithful service; the sums so
retained to be passed to the credit of the said non-com-
missioned officer and soldier, and-paid by the Paymaster
to him, at the expiration of his term of service, or when-
ever he shall be discharged without disgrace.
" Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, whenever a
non-commissioned officer or soldier of the United States'
Army, having become entitled to an honorable discharge,
shall, voluntarily, re-enlist for an additional term of Jive
years, sliere shall be allowed him an increase of per
month on his pay as now authorized by law, during the
term of such re-enlistment; and that to each non-com-
missioned officer or soldier, who shall, in like manner, re-
enlist for a third term of five years, there shall be allow-
ed per month, in addition to his pay as now autho-
rized by law, during the term of such re-enlistment.
" Sec. 3. And be it further enacted. That, as an encou-
ragement to emulation, and for the advancement of the
non-commissioned grades of the Army, the Sergeant-Ma-
.jor and Quartermaster-Sergeant of each regiment, and the
first Sergeant of each company of the Army of the United
States, shall receive, in lieu of pay now allowed by law,
dollars, per month, and that every other Sergeant
shall receive, in lieu of the pay now allowed bv law, —
per month."
Mr. HARRISON moved to fill the first blank in the first
section with $1 50, and the first blank in tiie second sec-
tion with $1: which was curried.
He then moved to fill the last blank in the section with
-$2 50, which was carried.
He then moved to fill the first blank in the third section
with 515.
Mr. SMITH inquired what were the duties of the first
Sergeant of a company, that should induce Congress to
give Slim pay equal to that of the Quartermaster-Sergeant
and Sergeant-Major. He thought it would be better if it
were amended so that the first Sergeant should receive
$12, and the other Sergeants in proportion. The Quar-
termaster-Sergeant and Sergeant-Major were, he thought,
of a very important character, and ought not to be placed
on the same footing, as regarded pay, with the first Ser-
geant of a company.
Sir. HARRISON was very sorry to differ from such au-
thority as that of his friend from Maryland; but he thought
he could shew, and it was the opinion of many abler and
more experienced men than himself, that the first Ser-
geant of a company is the most important character of
all the non-commissioned officers of the army. He should
prefer, therefore, that the sum of SI 5 be continued.
Mr. SMITH denied that the first Sergeant of a company
was so important a character, as required so much pay as
the Quartermaster-Sergeant; though he allowed he was
of some importance. The Quartermaster-Sergeant ought
to be equal to any officer of the army of the more subor-
dinate kiiids Their pay should be greater than that of
the first Sergept, who has only the duties of his company
to perform, whilst the others have that of the whole regi-
ment to attend to.
Mr. HARRISON said it was true that the Quartermas-
ter-Sergeant was an important character. It was neces-
sary he should be trustworthy—but it required no more
military talents than are possessed by a common store-
keeper. If lie is faithful and understands accounts, it is
all that is necessary. The first Sergeant, besides being
storekeeper, and having charge of the arms and accou-
trements, performs the duty of Adjutant to the company.
Mr. H. said he had never seen a company that was not a
good one, where the first Sergeant was respectable—and,
on the other hand, he had never seen a good company
but he found an excellent first. Sergeant The men, Mr.
H. thought would derive their character more from him
than from any other man in the army. He could refer to
the authority of a most respectable officer to support his
opinion. He was informed by General Bernard, that there
was in the French army, an intermediate grade between
the commissioned and non-commissioned officers, called
an Adjutant sub-officer—a grade established by Bona-
parte, and on which he valued himself much; he an-
swers to our first Sergeant, and his pay corresponds to
his station. The objects of the bill would be better
obtained by having a good first Sergeant in the companv,
than by any other means; and if his feelings and judgment
could govern on this occasion, he would say §20, and
declare that, in his opinion, the money was well spent.
Sir. CHANDLER said, that, in filling these blanks, it
would be well to consider where this business would end.
If the first Sergeants were allowed fifteen dollars per
month, the subordinate officers, the Lieutenants, in mak-
ing the comparison between their own pay and that of
the Sergeant, will say to you at once, either our pay is too
small, or that of the non-comroissioned officers is too great.
Raise the pay of the Lieutenants, and the Captains will
make comparison also, and the pay of the Captains must
be raised; and thus it will go through the whole line. He
had no wish that officers should serve for less pay than
was proper; and, if their pay is not enough, say so, and
raise the pay at once, and not commence in the middle of
the line; for they will push you through.
Mr. HARRISON said he should make but one observar
tion in reply; the Sergeant has no further stimulus to a
faithful performance of his duty than that of liis pay; but
the Lieutenant lives in hopes of promotion.
The question was then taken on filling the blank with
fifteen dollars, and carried—Ayes 21, Noes 14.
Mr. HARRISON then moved to fill the last blank in
the bill with ten dollars; which was carried.
Mr. SMITH moved to amend the bill, by altering the
last two words in the first section of the bill, so that it
should read, "whenever he shall be honorably discharg-
ed;" which was carried.
Mr. HOLMES said, he doubted whether mcrcasmg1 the
pay of the army in this way, could do any thing very
eff'ectual towards rendering the army more efficient iii
case of war. He was satisfied that something permanent
should be done on the subject; we suffered more ri-oro
temporary armies, in case of a war, than from any thing else.
If provisions had been made by law, for a permanent
rmy in case of a war, and during a war, he was satisfied
that much blood and treasure would have been saved; lie,
therefore, moved to add the following additional section
to the bill:
" Every non-commissioned officer, musician, or private,
who shall, within months after the commencement.
of war, in which the United States shall be engaged, and
who shall enlist for, and during the war, and shall actually
serve during the war, and not less than twelve months,
and be honorably discharged, such non-commissioned of-
ficer, musician, or private, or his legal representatives,
shall receive per month," &c.
Mr. LLOYD, of Massachusetts, opposed this amend-
ment. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof, said he.
Before we get into a war we shall have time and oppor-
tunity enough to provide a remedy; it would be impossible
to say what might be the value of money in the country
ten or fifteen years hence.
Mr. COBB objected to the amendment of the gentle-
man from Maine, The first part of it was too indefinite.
It directed that, after- the commencement of a war, &c.
Mr. C. said he had experienced enough to know, that, in
this country there were two kinds of war waged: they
might declare war, or they might carry on war without
declaring- it. It was customary to declare war against fo-
reign nations, but never against the Indians. Did til"
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the First Session of the Nineteenth Congress, book, 1826; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30753/m1/23/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.