Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-06-17
Tvycnty-aourtia Congress--lst sess.
IN SENATE.
Fritay. June 10, 1886:

!
lishmcnt Of the United States.
Mr. Benton made some observations on the Necessity
which exists for the increase Of the Army IN consequence
of the attitude and disposition oil the Indians on oul
Southwestern frontier, and in other parts OF tne country
Mr. Nicholas moved TO rpcomm the b!!! Win nstfnc'
tnns 10 report organization precisely similar 70 tiet
which was adopted for the peace establishment IN lelo
! After few words frum MIR. Benton IN opposition 10
the motion, i
the country within few years. In consequence OF Inc
progress made in the manufacture OF arms ana IN the
knowledge of their use, we have become ui arHeu 20
pcatipn The extraordinary concentration c! fnaian
forces on frontier has, indeed. rendered 1t neces-
sary that The government Of the United States should
adupt system OF preparation corresponding with the
aspect Of things. But our Indian frontier p not now
as exposed end difficult Of defence rs 1t was nifty
wears ago. The increase of popalatnn, aboundlng IN
arms and provisions and having al! the facilities which
can be obtained from the Application OF steam 10 OCT
roads and rivers, and also the Western frontier IN
state Of comparative srcnrty. re went onto s*aH'ol
the dereneracy OF the Indian character and the name
rical dninuton of the Tribes but ct the Same tine adj
med that the provdent Of the Government ought
to be exhibited in extending 10 The frontier proper &C.
gree of protection He inferred from general survey
of the facts, that increase OF the Army IS necessary
and the ONLY difficulty was TO The extent OF such IN
crease Al Present. have thirteen regiments IN ser
vice. amounting about G000 men. There arc AZ or 3O
in each company. The present bill Increases the mum.
Der of the Company between 50 and So IL was Eis
opinion that the companies ougt 10 be 60 Increased, us
10 make an aggregate Of about 9lOO. The object has
been 10 increase the efficiency Of :e Army without dis
turbng its organization.
There had been found 10 be s:great drsency in the
stall which was totally inadequate to the performance
of the duties required Of it, Much had been dSne 20
make the staff efficient land more was IN progress
The staff Of the Inspectors and the QarsermaslcIs De
partmcnls demand increGEe. He was wiling That
there should be general reccmmmert OF the bt 10
as to obtain the sense Of lie Senate anncrease Of
the Army.
mr. Calhoun called for division Of the question: so
as take the question first on The reccmnitinenl gene
rally and afterwards Tie instructions lie had thought
that there ought to be increase Of the Army by ti'ag.
I'D the companies; but he opposed TO a na% or"ni.
cation of the Army. There vas nothing in the caFac-
Ter Of foreign relations 10 shake the belle: that
would depend prsdeHce only TO remain at peace
with all nations II was only in reference Indian
relations that any addsnal force was necessary. lie
would be willing To give. al much increase Is would
place situation of drrnce, but not man more
| than was necessary for that purpose.
Mr. Porter coucured in the opinion OF the gentiena
from South Carolina TINT ere sufficient cause Tor
all increase of the Army. The cupacy OF the country
10 bear the expenses at standing army was now suii-
cently esabsed and az TO the dangers 10 be appfe-
hended from standing army to our liberties, there
could te ground for thai apprehension %le the Ar
was kept TO a naius"a OF thrice the AMOUNT OF men
now asked for The general kno s!edge OF The use OF
arms which peivats t'e country is Tie haii se"fiy or
the ruh,s and liberties u the Fen2L which cn BIZ nro.
yided He considered The United States bsuntary rs
more extensive than it has been al any tosser period
He admitted that the indian tribes were ncon2ctrnt to
carry any prolonged Warfare wAhthe United States
but they ought to be prepared TO ect ll!oye sudden
outbreaks, which a!w2rS inflicted se7cre w"nnas or
the country before the enemy could be found AID
repelI,d. The People Go not ask that kind OF pro-
lection which comes after their homes are destroyed
and their plantations deTastaed. The protection They
ask is that which will ,TcYeHI those evils Burning with
Indignation, fired with sense OF their wrongs, the vast
body of Indians 10 be moved Will go To their
names with feelings excited 10 the desire Of vengeance
It oniy required man Of commanding genius 10 unite
tn. Indians and lead them to bring the eEc race
along our frontier into the field against the u States
and The power and the energies Of thu Camanches alone
are sufficient render that tribe most tuimdabc enc
my. lie should vote Tor TIE rcconmIsEent Hlth ihstfuc
lions
Mr. Preston repeated what he had before stated as to
the extent Of the Indian frontier, andwent more minute
~ into detail in order to show that he had under-esi'
mated the extent rather than gone beyond IT. IT was
necessary to give fair defence TO that frontier, not by
drawing line Of river iortresses, but by giving sul
Gent force. Two regiments OF dragocnS maze been
given to the gentlemen. from the West Do they want
another regiment let them take it. 1t was useless 10
carry on war in the sramps, where the army might
as well be sent to hunt deer or raccoon as an In
dian But, in the Western praIr:es, It Is c'teFent-
The CgmancIcs mounted lartars, ana slTike from
distance, and they mast be encountered by drag"ons
He would not oppose any TO give tile utmost
defence the frontier settlements but 1t was mol IN the
power Of Government: to give theHul and perfect as'
ipnce fIe touched the situation. OF our South
western frontier and expressed hope that the day was
not distant when instead Of calling Fort Towson or
Southwest post should have forts on the Mo Gel
Norte
MR. Porter said few words in explanation Of his for
remarks.
Mr. BENTON protested against the rccommitment which
must be entirely useless without the Instructions
put the committee in possession OF The sense o. The Sc
nate.
The bill was then ordered to 6e reco'nmltted.
hpr il;p1n IN, he 20
committee,
order to take up the special order. lie Withdrew bis
motion, and
be taken as the bill! already committed and 1t was
important to take the question on the instructions
mr. Buchanan asked what the strength Of the Ar
my in 1873 ,o,-
Mr. Benton replied that the tnta! OIL the izny III lolo
was Il. 'G56.
Mr. Preston scd that, if the Senator from Louisiana
r;,baut ,nuching the organization. '''0'e - M
Mr. Calhoun was against anS instructions.
MI Porter called for the yeas und Nays "''''l -
ordered. ,L ;,o.0.d
,, ~ nur born,Isry aad :dicred the idea OF iruis'
,nr,inp by steamboats, sufficient lorce 10 PIo.te9 a
frontier. fie diverted TO the destruct"n % nc a.
proprry which had been already pelPrtfa'eu; tns s
,h,i ,hi WEST mus, nave the drirnGe 10 "hch was
n,;,lcd ne attention Of the Srnrte he complained'
could ma, be diverted lom the subject suPas
~ ~. situation of our citizens on the rnHtier. MS OH
no, Wsssrn in lis object and its origin The whole OF
tbs YVES, were calling for ill., and he was glad the yeas
and uays were ordered cuc
Mr. Linn read an exs:acsrom the report Of 'ne oece-
t,rv Of War; in which it Was estmaed 'mt nHeu '.s
'ay 49,, Indians intended 10 be removed shall be
on The western shore Of the Mississippi
s .u anonnl TO $50 600 He added few worGs in
vor Of the concentration Of military force on the
frontier protect j! against the danger to be
ed from this larger force
NJ Calhoun took view Of the present force of the
connt,v. and indicated liz what name. the reg nents
W. now have might be stationed in order to effect az
efficient defence Of cur frontier tie was disposed to MI
up the composites, so as to lender the regiments more
| competent. 1