Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-04-13
From the National Intelligence March 81
The reduction of tie Army.

TINS was question on which there ex-
listed in Congress, much difference of opini-
Jon, and particularly in the House of Re
personalities, where majority were for
reducing the army to six thousand men -
The senate being favorable TO much lar
ger number, and willing 10 have voted for
10000 men, the force actually fixed on was
the result of compromise. re,orted to at a
late hour OF the session, and accepted by
the Senate as the only alternative to the
retention OF the existing force The de
bate which took place in the House on this
question. which was highly interesting, we
have already published II will have af
forded to every reader much more salts
factory view OF the conflicting opinions ON
both sides of the House than we could of
fer
The executive of the United States has
been required, by law, On the lst Of May,
or as soon as circumstances shall permit,
to reduce the present army of the United
States to ten thousand The authorised
force at the ratification Of The peace was up
wards of sixty thousand men, the actual
force one fourth at least less than that q
mount, though so rapidly augmenting that
IN all probability the ranks would have
been full before the campaign opened -
The reduction will therefore be to about
one fifth OF the then existing force, great
part of the priVates Of which having been
enlisted only during the war, are already
discharged. 1t is probable that full five
slxtLs OF The Officers now in service must
De disbanded In what manner the selec-
ton OF officers for the peace establishment
VIII be made, is not yet determined, nor
will 1T be, we presume before the time ar
rives. The task will be one of no little
difficulty and, whatever be the rule
greed on, many valuable off and excel
lent men must, out of 80 many, be thrown
out of public employ
There was one feature of the proceedings
on the Peace Establishment bill. the mo
tlves OF which we were at loss to under.
| stand. We mean the erasure of the sec
| ton for giving donation in land to sucn
! of those officers as should be disbanded-
ouch measure, we thought, would not on.
~ be just but at the same time provident
1t would have been Just, inasmuch as the
! greater part Of those who accepted com.
missions In the army gave up other msans
or substance, which 1t will not be in their
power on the instant to resume and j,
would be unjust not to make to them some
compensation for the sacrifices they made
IN entering the service-lt would have
been provident, inasmuch as it would have
secured to The country, on any future EN-
Urgency, the services of her active and en-
terprising citizens, who might otherwise
tear to sacrifice a certain livelihood for the
uncertain tenure of military office.
Considering the small majority, of two
votes only, by which the House of Repre
sentatives abandoned TINS clause of the bill
the thinness of both houses at the time and
all other circumstances, we shall be dis
appointed and mortified if Congress do not
at their next session, revise their decision
on this question, and, by posterior gran,
properly recompense our gallant officer.
who will return to the pursuits of civil life
for the loss of business or profession the,
may have sustained by entering the service
oftheir country,