Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-17

an end, nearit that force of two regiments will
now be sufficient there. The honorable Delegate from
orlda, however proclams the other hand, that this
war Is "still beginning ending and, Mr. Chair
man, if you will pardon the digression, may add it
never will end while it is conducted on the principles
which, up TO this time, have marked It's extraordinary
progress progress which has repeatedly empiiedN
, our Treasury, and brought reproach arms
There has never been than small number Of In.
dams and negroes in against in Florida. II, at
the beginning, these had been turned the hunt
ing shirts and rifles, they would long since havgiyen
good and final account of them, without the tro0s
oil marching and counter marching as many armies al
there savages in the swamps, and expanding from
80 TO 40 millions of dollars handful Of naked and
half starved warriors and sqnaws. When | consider
the climate the face Of the country the character ofhe
enemy, believe you will end this war till you
grant the country to those who will 70 there and take
and keep it. 1t will be chea per and humane
induce the backwoodsmen to drive the Indians out of
Florida and occupy ond improve it themselves. This
the principle on which our ancestors conquered and
settled this country There have not been lives
lost or more fighting in Florida, than at almost every
other point OF our frontier during the early periods Of
MS settlement Our whole history, from period Of an.
quity- we can be said TO have any antiquity this
side the Atlantc-proves that is useless march ar
mics into the swamps and forests fight Indians on the
carte and tierce principles of scientific war. Who has
not heard of Broddocks defeat, where the best ap.
pointed British regiments were cut up by Indians,
that none would have survived TO tell the tale of their
|
ngion at their head Sir, IL you will put this war on
the peace establishment, will soon be al end Let
the Quarermuster the Commissary let it out on the
contract system, md the last Seminole will soon die or
| cross the Mississippi
Admit, however, the premises of the War De.
partment, that two regiments be necessary and al
low 1000 for the deduct these from the 52l2
now recently in Florida, and there remain 1862 no
longer wanted there. Where will you station this sur
pus' Does the gentleman from Massachusetts desire
nd
gunncd in time Of peace Does he desire TO see them
half manned: Does he think the paltry consideration
of national etiquette, that salute may be recognised
returned, will justify expenditure this
would require To do this you must put the whole
country, revenue, expenditure, aud ALL the esta
blIsLment. Congress, al the session Of S40-'4l ap.
proprated Sl-5 50n for orcations at the late Extra
Session 81 PIG 500 and bill here before US proposes
TO appropriate $4,000 more-mukine an aggregate
of 00c 900 dollars, or two millions in about twelve
months. This was warranted probably by the ap.
prehension of war, and do BOT complain of or oh.
ect 10 it. know that Notifications cannot be erected
day-that wise forecast must provide these means
OF defence before war occurs Blu, army must be-
tpled quadruped if every fortress is to be manned
Without pretending TO, what do not really possess,
an accurate knowledge OF the military wants or capa
cities Of the country, will submit my own views with
perfect readiness TO be informed and instructed with
regard to them y those who better acquainted with
the subject. should suppose that force Of 900 men
would be abundanty sufficient for the Eastern d,.
i'll this dvlson-and the addition here will lie 5l4
For peace establishment this, il seems TO me- will be
ample. admit that there IS more difficulty in the West
division, and that increased force is necessary
there. approach this part of the subject with un.
.egned distrust Of my means Of forming correct
judgment. approach IT, however, without any pre-.
csoe de h 70 arrive al the truth am ready 10
conceive that the emigratng policy which the Govern
nent has for long time pursued towards the Indian
tribes by which they have been transported beyond
the Mississippi 10 country, to them foreign, where
numerous savage hordes concentrated, contiguous
to each other and to Western frontier has render
ed it necessary to maintain efficient military force in
that quarter. This, however, it should be remembered,
is the only occasion tor military force there. The
idea of invasion along Western frontier is chmer:
cal. If this Government shall endure 10 period inf.
niley beyond the hopes OF the most sangune patriot
the soil OF Western border will be polluted
by the foot Of invader foreign enemy will ever
penetrate this fortress Of Nature. The Indian war
whoop may be heard there as it once was here; the
tomahawk may CLEAN along distant frontier as il
stretches onward towards the Pacific; and is our du
ty afford ample protection 10 the bold pioneer he
brings the prairie and the forest under his peaceful
dominion.
The present force of 2, l7G men at the II Western
posts may not be believe it is not sufficient will
suppose that the same force which have assigned to
the Eastern division, covering the Eastern division
does larger extent OF frontier, and than double
the number Of posts, may suffice for the West, viz
,UUU III the troops oil rImht sort,
toned at proper points, this will be enough Ii will
require addition to the present force Of 1914 and
the aggregate then will be nearly double what il is
now If this force should require augmentation, be.
eve it may be derived by diminishing the number
our Eastern frontier, where, doubt not much less
force than 1000 will answer purposes if the present
ne gotiallons with England shall settle as We have
reason 10 hope they will, all causes of dissatisfaction
between that country and this. The troops in the
Eastern division are now distributed chiefly at few
MIR nd Nnrthe stern
at Buffalo, Sacke llarbor, at foulton in Maine and
at other points the Atlantic seabonrd, whence
they could be easily thrown upon the lake frontier
There are several hundred troops stationed at
several posts, which, but for the approximations that
have arisen from the border excitement OF the last few
years in that direction, would not require than
many Dozen In time OF peace it is not pretended that
all our military posts or ior'resses should be fully
manned They will only require small force for the
purpose police and protection to the public property
This will require more al points than at others,
admit. The Of riot and awless violence which,
unfortunately Tor the character Of our country, be-
coming too frequent in our large cities, adnonsh
that is necessary, in order TO preserve the and
other property in these ycinitcs to maintain larger
O1 men for the Eastern division will give more than
100 men 10 each Of The 80 posts in that division This
force certainly will not be required in peace at ALL or
at half these posts. Allow 100 men, however, for the
purposes of police and protection 10 each Of half the
Eastern posts and so TO each Of the other half and
$50 will be sufficient, leaving $50 OF the 900,
which have alphabetically assigned 10 The Eastern
DIVISION 10 be transferred necessary, TO the Western
division, or be dsbanded altogether. lftransfsrred
To the West in addition TO the 900 have allowed
for that division, it will give to each of the IL posts
there more than 300 men,
do not attempt to be accurate, and to say that a
force of precisely 5000 men will be enough for the
whole u. s., though have endeavored TO show that
something more something less than this number
ought to answer do not wish, however, to stint the
service. would prefer to have the army little too
large than too SMALL the country would sufer-ts
inlt rests its authority its honor might sufer-from
tho great reduction. The staff Of the army now con-
siss Of 54S. This has been organized, like the army
ITSELF ON the establishment since 1888. Like that
it will now admit Of considerable reduction, particn
larly in the suballern agencies of the Quarermasers
Commisserys departments, The military storekeep.