Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-14
RICHMOND WING.
rrEspAr nonrryo. su,n,,
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY AND THE
n V V

~ ~
We regret TO find ourselves at points. on this sinh
jeci, with some whose opinions on mos. subjects we
respect. But the opposiiion-ihe boisterous and
vehement opposition, which has been manifested in
certain quarters TO the proposed retrenehments by
Congress, has more THAI ever convinced MS Of IN.
high importance Of reducing the pension list. We
nave already seen one writer calling upon a Nav
foTk paper TO denounce the action Of Congress-
not because that action preudicia to the liber
Ties oil the people and the prosperity Of the country
but Tor the simple reason, that 200 Of the subscri
bsrs TO that paper would have their annual stipend
curialIed. Their individual interests would be nf
fecied-and therefore Congress must be abused
and abused it was roundly. The mo, We nc,ua,inc
this writer and Editor will be found actuating all
who assail the action Of Congress. They have re-
gard only to their private interests, and take no
thought whatever Of the interests Of the Common.
wealth.
This opposition, and the motives Of it thus onenlv
avowet, should ring a warning in the years Of the
people. If an army oil less than IL, 900 and navy
comparatively small, can exert an influence unon
the press and Congress- sufficient to control the e
sisaiion OF the country and even cause the Govern
ment TO borrow money 10 augment their resources
and supply them with increased means for extrava.
ganee-what may we not expect when the army
ana navy shall be doubled; and the friends and de
pendants ofthose, who prof. by army and navy ap-
preparations shall be quadrupIed7 The resources
Of the Countryside substance Of the people, will be
exhausted 10 feeding these privileged classes-tbess
unproducIive consumers. Even now, in proportion
to our revenue, more Of it is appropriated to the
Navy and Army, than is appropriated to similar
objects IN any government Of Europe.
We DO not wish to be misunderstood. We are
not enemies either TO the Army or the Navy.
We have personal friends in both, and If we were
TO consult our feelings merely, we would double
their digntes and pay We confess that in
the abstract, nothing can be more abborren,
to Repubcanism, than the idea Of standinp
military force to maintain IL; and If the alb
sfaction were practicable, We should lie content
to see the entire Army dsjandoned; and their
swords converted into pough.shares. But il not
practicable. IN the present condition Of the world.
we must, 20 some extent, DO rs others do. 4, isa
painful necessity, and we submit 10 r. But 10 any
farther Increase Of tho Army, We are utterly and
inveteraiey opposed. So for from being inereafed
II might be safely and wisely reduced. We
achieved our independence without a Standiog
Army. During the late war; the regular Army
did not exceed 5000. II may DO true, that We suf
iered some reversos during both Of those contests
from the want Of large disciplined force. Bot we
came out triumphant, and when the conflict wos
over, the public liberty did no, fall prey 10 n
mcreenlry soldery, as il has ever done, wherever
such existed. Since the late war, the Army has
been doubled-olmost imporcspuby. and without
attracting public attention, or exciting popular d..
appreciation. Within the last five years ssvera
regiments have been aJded-under the pretsEt-
pretsNs are never wanted Ivy the few in their
schemes against the manY-of protecting the from
ter from the ravages Of Indians The true reason
was TO supply new source Of patronage to the
Federal Government Many y partisan was 70.
wsrded, md many a foe eoneilialed, or hs hostility
nuiralzsd by tho appointment Of himself or some
friend to lucrative posts in the new Regiments.
The Navy, too, has been greatly augmented since
the last war. 10 1913, il consisted Of 10 Fngste'
,nd ~ smaller vesseis-Now il consists Of II ships
Of the line, IS ireates Of 80 guns, and Of 80 guns,
4 steameu-besides smaller vessels, amounting 10
IS IN a. Devoted, we arc, to tie Navy, this IN.
crease is rapid enough for US. But We would deal