Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-07-04

posture of dclcucc; the Cessny Uf which 50 strong
y impressed him, that he could not have returned
to his constituents without seeing the proper
ures taken.
at has been said that this part Of the army
not part Of the system of defence. What else
could be! 70 be sure, it was not the only means of
defence adapted but 1t was considered that this
my would operate vauably as raiying point round
which the militia would assemble; it was thought
that wherever the U. S. be invaded, the enemy
would first be met by the militia; and that these
troops, being prepared, would rapidly come to their
aid
"Under these impressions, Mr.. Smith said he had
thought it his duty to bring forward resolution
for raising eight regiments, and six troops Of drag
oons; the House carried it further and voted twelve
regiments and the Dragons. The measure was
then thought to be essential feature of our de-
fence, that there but eieren members Cho roed
against H. 1t will be recollected that gentleman
expressed an opinion that the right wing Of the
my Of England Gas it was than caIled) would prob
ably come to this country although he had no such
idea) he had thought that the Southern States might
| be IN danger Of descent from Hispaniola, and
| therefore that a small army might be necessary.
at would not be considered improper for gen.
tlemen to vote for continuing the who had been
| recruited into the twelve regiments few months
longer, for although they could not be drafted into
| the old regiments, yet many Of them might and
probably would be recruited for those regiments,
and saving Of clothing, &c. &c., would thereby
be effected"
| "Undcr this statement of facts, would gentlemen
think of destroying this army at once Would it
not be more prudent to wait two or three months
for udyices from our ENJOYS! He felt well assured
in his own mind that peace would be the result OF
our negotiation. If gentlemen thought witk him,
they would wait the event. If successful, the army
would Of course be discharged under the law.
"Ihe resolution, Mr. Smith said, was CaCulat cd
. m n m ,ylth
to carry them home. He trusted they would not
be sent home without such provision as it had been
usual to make.
This army had been called IL standing army,
and it was said that excuses would be found to keep
it up, even after peace. But this cannot happen
for the law expires whenever the differences be-
tween France and America are made up
''Sr, said Mr.. Smith, there is no man that places
more reliance on the militia than | do; but, before
place all my reliance on that truly essential part
Of our defence, much as admire it, must a
better militia law framed than exists at present
Until that time, must say that a regular army. in
case Of war, will be always deemed necessary"
The truth being that there are not more rer
recruited for the new regiments than would fill the
permanent army, Of course no extraordinary ex
pense beyond the usual estimated expenses Of the
army except that Of the officers Of the thirteen re-
giments, the amount of which was not such as ii
his opinion ought to induce a conduct that woull
nave put too much the appearance OF versatility II
our Government--he should therefore vote agains
the motion, under firm reliance that therecrutiag
service would be stopped immediately
1.-THE reader will attentiveIy consider the pre-
, ceding extract from this Speech as published If
the Aurora Of February 6, 1900, he will find tina
Gen. Smith, Democrat if ever Democrat was
took stronger ground than Gen. Harrison on th
question, and succeeded in defeating the rcsolu
ton by inducing q sufficient number Of his dem
ocratic friends to go with him against it.
This is the true history Of the defeat Of that res
olution, in opposing which Gen. Harrison tool
the same side as several other distinguished Re
publican Representatives from his native Stat
and Mary land.
How absurd is it not to infer, then, bccaus
Gen. Harrison, representing a naked and expose
fr onter of perhaps two thousand miles in extent
was opposed to precpltate reduction Of SINAI
military force already raised, that he was an oil
t Fcderaist in principle and in action!