The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23
THE ARMY.
The following remarks in favor Of an increase of
the regular Army of the United States are taken from
:he Army and Navy Chronicle of Wednesday:

tue regular Army OF the United States are taken IRON
The Army and Navy Chronicle of Wednesday:
Qua ARMY-Any one who takes view Of our ex
ensive territory cannot but be struck with the entire
inadequacy of our diminutve military force OF twelve
thousand men, give any thing like protection to ten
thousand miles of seacoast and inland fIontier-
scarcely more than, it, indeed, as much as, one man
to mile.
The old song of the militia being our bulwark will
do very well, while those militia only called upon
to defend their resdes and their property; but take
them from home, subject them to military discipline
and priVaon, and confusion waste and delay, If not
inglorous defeat too apt To be the consequence
II would not be more absurd to attempt to clohe the
youth of fifteen in the swaddling clothes Of an in
fant or the man in the garments of schoClboy than
it would be to expect the commerce of 1910 to be
guarded by fleet that would have suced for that OF
1900, or the confines of States to be defend
ed by body that might have furnished line of SEN
tines out of haiing distance if not of sight, too
for the limits of the " old thirteen"
We speak of this as an age of improvement, of the
march OF mind, &c., and yet find the cry kept up
Of the danger of maintaining standing armies. What
possible danger could be realized in this large territory
from an army of fifty thousand men Are they not
brothers and friends taken from the midst of
US, and still part and parcel of Us in feeling and In
love of liberty?
If we hope to preserve peace must prove
ability to resent promptly any and every hostile dem
onstration, come from what quarter it may. II we
have forts, must have men to keep them in order,
or it is a waste of money to build them.
A permanent army Of 25 600 men, double our
present force not ota large for present
wants. Scattered, they would be-, over thousands
of miles, what possibility is there that they could ever
be concentrated under an ambitious eat er? what
unholy purposes could be accomplished, were they
subservent to his will There need be such fear
entertained.
An increase of our Army to double its present num-
Der, would give promotion to many war-worn and
SCARED veteran who lives to realize the proveTb
that Republics ungrateful" than to inspire dread
that he belongsto profession inimical to liberty.
Ten regiments of artillery would barely suffice to
garrison the permanent Notifications that already
or nearly completed.
Ten regiments of infantry would scarcely keep in
awe the savage hordes whom the policy of the Gov
eminent has placed in dangerous proximity to our
western frontier settlements.
Three regiments of Dragons would find ample en-
ployment in securing the Indian frontier, keeping off
white nruders from the Indian lands, or preventing
the hasty retaliation naturally resored to by
yes, well civilized men, when they think them
selves aggrieved.
Two regiments Of rifemen might be advantageous
ly engaged IN perpetuating that skill in arms for
which our soldiers have been noted in the war of
our Revolution, and in wars of subsequent date.
These twenty-five regiments, of 1000 men each,
may preserve to a state of peace; but should our
Legislators expect from our skeleton Army ample de-
fence against internal and external foes they will
not only be exacting too much from human nature,
but may, to the counys cost verify another proverb
trte though somewhat musty, that an ounce of pie
venton is worth pound of cure" or what is synony
nous, that stitch in time saves nine"