The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1841-09-17
roa Tue ILLINOIS FREE TRADER.
1liliinry Disciplinc--.Yhc Indinns.

-NsSrs E2f0rs.-It would be presumption in
me to indulge hope that any thing from my un-
practiscd pen. cyncng desire to see some system
of Military discipline in operation in this country,
would produce the much desired result; yet the
hope that others more qualified than myself will
take up and give the suggestion force, is sufficient
Involvement to venture few remarks upon the
subject
\ slight sketch Of the past, and passing events
and signs, which go to strengthen the probability
that the United States will shortly be engaged in
bloody and sanguinary war from one extremity
of its territory to the other, will perhaps not be
out of place, when it cnorces the necessity of dis
GPhuc and preparation. 1t is beyond my pro-
vince to suggest preventive measures or such as
are calculated to stay or put oil invasion; but
what course is best to pursue in anticipation of
such an event, and how and in what manner, and
by what action we may most safely count upon
successfully rcpcllins the enemy when an inva-
sion is actually made 1t is well established
fact that England, our most to be dreaded enemy,
has pursued such a course of policy with the "a
wages along our Northwestern border, as cannot
fail of onsuring her their services and support,
and not many months ago we had intelligence,
from Tie most UNREASONABLE authority, that the
English had agents and runners spread all over
the country which these tribes inhabit, for the
purpose Of cnstiug their services in the conflict
which they expected would take place with the
Americans.
The probability of war with England daily
strengthens. movement has recently been
made along our Maine border that savours strongly
of war, and the order from the General Govern
mcnt to dcpoSte arms at Gaena, indicates a
thorough conviction on their part that we shall
soon have hot work of it. On a late occasion it
was asserted by Senator Sewer, that there are
10000 Indian warriors along the borders of Ar
kansas and Missouri, who entertain neither fear
nor affection for the Americans and are ready
at any moment to begin the work of death. That
the whole Indian population in northern Mexico
and Texas could be subsidized by the English, is
well supported by the facts, that England has
such claims upon Mexico as will ensure her the
power of disposing of these Indian forces as she
thinks proper; and that Mexico, who has ling
erlng, aye, strong hope of rc-conqucring Texas,
which she regards as having been wrcstcd from
her by refugee Americans, with the secret appro-
baton of the Government, will use the opportu-
NIFTY and make common cause with England for
that purpose.
But, perhaps this depends upon what is too
distracted and remote to constitute an argument
why we should prepare ourselves by discipline
and be ready to meet an enemy on something
Ike equal Iootlngi and perhaps on what is UNI
certain and unlikely. Yet, we must not shut our
eyes to the fact of the extreme disadvantage we
'abour0d under throughout the whole of the late
war with Great Britain, in consequence of what
is most essential to successful military operations
discipline and subordinadon. |, is 10 these we