The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-17 00:00:00

Total 640,637 20,334 660,97

" The appropriations asked for the service of the
next fiscal year are computed for a force of
500,000 men. I propose, with the object of reducing
the volunteer force to 500,000, with the consent of
Congress, to consolidate such of the regiments as
may from time to time fall below the regulation
standard. The adoption of this measure will decrease
the number of officers, and proportionably diminish
the expense of the army. The disaster of Bull's Run
was but the natural consequence of the premature
advance of our brave but undisciplined troops,which
the impatience of the country demanded, The be-
trayal also of our movements by traitors in our
midst enabled the rebels to choose and intrench
their position, and by a reinforcement in great
strength, at the moment of victory, to snatch it from
our grasp. After having made contracts for arms
with the private establishments in this country, it
was deemed necessary by the President, to insure a
speedy and amply supply, to send a special agent
to Europe with funds to the amount of 2,000,000
dols. to purchase more. lam gratified to state that
he has made arrangements for a large number of
arms, part of which have already been delivered.
The remainder will be shipped by successive steamers,
until all shall have been received. Combinations
among manufacturers, importers, and agents for the
sale of arms, have, in many cases, caused an undue
increase in prices. To prevent advantage being thus
taken of the necessities of the Government, collec-
tors of Customs have been directed to deliver to the
agents of the United States all arms and munitions
that may be imported into this country. Some
general plan should be provided by the Congress in
aid of the States, by which our militia can be
organised, aiined, and disciplined, and made effec-
tive at any moment for immediate service. It is of
great importance that immediate attention should
be given -to the condition of our fortifications
upon the seaboard
exposed, frontiers. They
and the lakes, and upon our
They should at once be placed
in perfect conditimonfoer successful defence. Aggres-
sions are seldom ad
defend its honour and tou pon
a nation ever ready to
repelWlil insults, and we should
show to the world that
engaged in quelling
disturbances at home we are abletoprotect ourselves
against attacks from abroad. e •
suenut for reflec-
tion the question, whether the distinction between
d
volunteers which now exists,iene should
be
regulars and
be permitted to continue. The effi.e • yof
the
army, it appears to me, might be greatly increased
by a consolidation of the two during the continu-
ance of the war, which combining both forces would
constitute them one grand army of the Union. Re-
cruiting for the regular army has not been attended
with that success which was anticipated, although
a large number of men have entered this branch of
the service. While it is admitted that soldiers in
the regular army, under the control of officers of
military education and experience, are generally
better cared for than those in the volunteer service,
it is certain that the popular preference is largely
given to the latter. Young men evidently prefer to
enter a corps officered by their friends and acquaint-

antes, and, besides the bounty granted to volunteers
in most of the States, inducements are often directly
offered to them by those whose commissions depend
upon their success in obtaining recruits. In addi-
tion, the volunteer is allowed to draw his full pay
of 13 dols. per month, while by law 2 dols. per
month are deducted from the pay of the regular, to
In returned to him at the end of his term of service.
Y judgment this law should be repealed, and
the regular soldier be allowed to receive his full pay
when due. lie should also receive a reasonable