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228.

As to Commissions, they ought to be considered as the hallowed monuments of an honest and popular credit, to last to future times, as should be such elections as have placed us here, being the testimony of our countrymen that they deem us worthy to be employed.

These propositions would appear to be offered in supererogation if they had not refference to an object, or rather to an opinion which if you shall not approve it, you will not it is hoped, censure the submission of it to your better judgement, especially as the object is to prevent the trouble and expence of Courts Martial, now considerably burdensome to the State.

The private, as you know is compelled to, his post, and amendable not only on the principal as valuable and dear to him as to his commander, or honor; but his interest is also pledged in his liabilities to fines and costs to loss of time expenses and inconcurrences. Such is a very imperfect view of the condition of the private. As to the officer let me freely present the contrast. We have borrowed from the regular army where officers serve underpay and under much of dependence in character and interest on their fidelity, the idea that cashiering must be equally formidable with us, and that pride of character is a sufficient security against an exposure to so unfortunate a result. Believing this impression to be wrong while I am bound to acknowledge the great worth of our corps of officers, it appears a necessary result of the comparison to propose for your consideration the providing for them a similar liability to that of soldiers. As far as relates to those officers to those officers who receive a compensation for service, it would not seem to be a violent innovation to take the course proposed.

This reservation has however been kept constant