Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-16

Involve IN ATS OtScuSSl0n Tue pOiIiicai Ia
s,ituiions OF Tie country. its geographical
position and character, The humber and
distance OF our posts, and our relations
with The Indian tribes, and the principal!
European powers. Ii is conceived, how
ever, that a satisfactory Grew Of il may be
taken, without discussing topics go ex-
teusive and iadciinife.
The military establishment Of 1902 and
1903, have been admitted. almost unver-
sally, 10 be sufficiently, small Thelatter,
II Is true, received an enlargement from
the uncertain state of our foreign reIa-
lions at that time but the former was
established at period ot profound quiet,
the commencement Of Mr.. Jeh-rson's
administration and was proiessedly re-
duced, with view to economy, TO The
smallest number then supposed TO be Coz
slsteni with the public safety. Assuming
those as standard. and comparing the
present establishment, Oaking into the
comparison the increase Of our country
| with them, a satisfactory opinion may br
formed OH "a subject. which otherwise
might admit so great div ersity of op!n-
ion.
Our military peace establishment Us
limited, by The act OF 1919, passed at The
termination of The late war 10 ! Q, 600 men.
The corps of engineers and ordnance, by
that and a subsequent act, were retained
as they then existed; and the President
was directed TO constitute The establish
meni of such portions of artillery, infan-
try, and rltiemen as he might Judge pro-
per. The general order of the 9Th Nav,
1915. fixes the artillery al 3 200, the light
artillery al ESQ, the infantry at $40, and
the rife ego privatrs and Mattresses
Document A. exhibits Il statement Of the
military establishment, including the
general staff, as al present organized; and
Is. exhibits similar view OF those OF iS02
and 1908; by reierence 10 which, twill
appear, that our military establishments,
al the respective periods, taken in the
order OF their dates, present an aggregate
OF 1928. 1896, and 1866. Ills oh, ious,
that the establishments OF 1858, compared
with the then wealth and population OF
the country, the number and extent OF
military posts, is larger IN proportion than
the present; but the unsettled state OF
our relations with France and England,
al that period, renders the comparison
not entirely just. Passing, then, that Of
1903, let us compare The establishment OF
1902 with the present. To form Il correct
comparison, IL will be necessary TO com
pare the capacity and necessities OF the
country, then, with those of the present
time. Since that period, our population
has nearly doubled, and our wealth more
than doubled. We have added louisiana
10 our possessions, and with IL a great
extent Of frontier, both maritime and in
land. With the extension OF our frontier,
and the increase of oar commercial cities,
our military posts and Notifications have
been greatly multiplied. Document
marked G.. exhibits the number and po-
sitiOns OF posts in the year 1902, and do
cument ID. those Of the present time by
reference To which. ii will be seen that,
at The former period, we had but % posts,
the most remote of which Was, to tile
north, at Mackinaw, and 10 the south, at
Fort Stoddert, on Mobile river; bu, now
we have 73, which occupy line Of from
tier proporiioDaliy extended On the
Lakes, the Mississippi, Missouri, Arkam-
saw, and Red liver, our posts are now, or
will be shortly, extended, for The protec-
ton of our trade, and the preservation Of
the peace of the frontiers, to Green Bay,
the mouths Of the ST. Peters, and The
yellow Stone River, ~Brllepont and
haiebitochPs. Document marked f. ex
hibts q siatemen; of the extent OF the
line of our frontier, inland and maritime,
with the DISTANCE of some of the more re-
| mote posts from The seat of government,
drawn up by Major Long, OF the topo-
! graphical engineers, from The most APP
| proved maps.
If, then, Tie military establishment Of
| 1862 be assumed TO be as small, as was
iicn consistent with tie safety of tie
country our present establishment, when
we take inin comparison the prodigious
increase of wealth, population, extent of
territory, number and distance Of military
posts, caBnUt be pronounced eSlrava-
giant; but, OIL tie contrary, after fair
| and full comparison, that of tie former
period must, IN proportion 10 the neces-
stiles and capacity of the country, be adj
iniiied tn be quite as large as the present
aud, on the assumption, that the esiab
| llsliment Of 1902 was as small avs HE pub
| lIc safety would then admit, reduction
OF the expense Of our present establish
| mcni cannot be made, with safety 10 The
| public service, by reducing tie army -
| In coming 10 this conclusion, have moi
! overlooked The maxim. that large stand
ing army Is dangerous TO The liberty Of
| The country, aud tbat our ultimate reli-
ance for defence, ought 10 he on the mi
litia. It's most Jealous advocate, mist,
however, acknov ledge, that IA standing
army, 10 d limited extent, Is necessary
and no good reason can be assigned WHY
any should exist, but what will equally
prove, that The present is not 100 large
10 consider the present army as danger
! Gus TO our liberty, pariakes, il is couceiv-
ed, more Of tinidIty than wisdom. Not
| 10 insist on the character of the officers.
WHO, as body, are high. minded and
honorable men, attached 10 the principles
o.. freedom by education and reflection
what founded apprehension can there
he from an establishment distributed OH