The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-19
THE ARMY.

The following remarks in favor Of an increase o
the regular Army Of the Uned States taken from
he Army and Navy Chronicle Of "Wednesday
Qua ARMY.-Any one who takes view Of our ex-
tensiye territory cannot hut be struck with the entire
inadeouacy Of our dimnutve military force OF twelve
thousand men, TO give any thing like protection 10 Ten
thousand miles Of seaeoast and inland honier-
scarcely more than, it, indeed, as much as, one man
TO mile. IN,
The old song Of the militia being our buwnk VIII
do very well, while tho.s militia are only called upon
10 defend their fresides and their property but take
them from home suffice them 10 military discip''ne
and privstion, and confusion, waste and delay, u no'
ingorous defeat, are too apt to be the consequence
il would be absurd TO attempt TO cothe the
youth of fifteen in the swaddlng clothes Of an IN
FAINT or the in the garments Of schof boy than
ii would be TO expect the commerce oil ioio 70 DC
gu arded by fleet that would have sufhced Tor that o.
1900 or the confines of new States TO be deienu-
ed by body that might have furnished line OF SEN
tines out of haiiDg distance, II not out oil sigh TOO
for the limits Of the /" old thirteen"
We speak Of this as age of improvement, OF the
march OF mind, &C., and yet We find the cry KEEP up
oil the danger Of maintaining standing armies. Wha'
POSSIBLE danger could be realized in this large territory
from an army OF fny thousand mem Are they not
our brothers and friends taken from the midst oil
US, and still part and parcel OF US IN feeling ana IN
love Of libertyl
If we hope TO preserve peace we must prove our
ability TO resent promptly any and every hostile dem
onslration, come fIom what quarter u may. we
have forts we must have To keep them IN order,
or il is a waste of money to build them.
A permanent army VI 25 600 men, or double our
present force ota too large for our present
wants. Scattered, they would be, over thousands
Of miles, what possibility is there that they could ever
be concentrated under ambitious lsaerl or wha'
unholy purposes could be accomplished, were they
rvent his will There need be no such fear
entertained.
An increase of our Army to double its present nun,
Der, would give promotion TO many war-worn and
SCARED veteran who lives to realize the provefo
that Republics ungrateful," than to inspire dread
that he beloDgsto profession inimical to liberty.
Ten regiments OF artillery would barely sufhce 70
garrison the permanent Notifications that are 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 oui
western frontier settlements.
Three regiments Of dragons would find ample EN-.
poy ment in securing the Indian frontier, keeping o
white inlruders from the Indian lands or preventing
the hasty retaliation naturally resored TO by sava
ges as well as civilized men, when they think them
selves aggrieved.
Two regiments Of rhemen might be advantageous
Iy engaged IN perpetuating that skill in arms fol
which our soldiers have been noted in the war o
our Revolution, and in wars Of subsequent date
These twenty-five regiments, OF ! 900 men each
may preserve TO US state Of peace but should ou
Legislators expect from 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 countys cost verify another proverb
trite though somewhat musty that an ounce OF PIE
vention worth pound Of cure" or, what synony
nous, that " stitch in time saves nine"