Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-21


SPEECH, OF MIR. GlLMER, OF YIRcisIA,
ON TIE ARMY BILL.
Deti0ered IN the House Of Representatives. in Commi
OF the Whole, May % and 80, 1912.
-, lcoScLuDEp1
Dut ,nere are considerations, not applicable TO tn
west alone, but TO our whole country which cannc
escape our attention, when we are rejecting on th
means OF our national defence. Our manufacture.
our commerce, our agricultural products number,
ana our wealth, have all increased until we hear
sao that The enterprise Of the nation demands war
diversion from the domestic excitements which lon
prosperity and peace have engendered II is said tia
the CANCERS oil foreign necessary once more
re-unte US as people; TO remind us Of the weakness
TO winch We are exposed by internal discussions; /
teach Us again the true causes of that strength happ
ness, and glory, which we have acquired revive tn
spirit OF elevated patriotism and fraternal affection
which, with the memory and the monuments Of our re
volutionary renown, we have amo. ceased to cherish
These domestic dangers do sometimes seem appan
but trust they are only the spots the sun disk a
they viii lot dim the eirulgence of the past,
single {, adow over the future. trust that what
enemies regard fatal sources OF discard and dsunor
to u.s. only signs Of exuberant health and strength
which render us more formidable TO them. Peace has
prepared us for Our railroads, our canals ou
tnrnpkes, steamboats,, covering the surface of
thousand streams-these are the rich trophies of indus
try and art and they seem designed, by the nscrutabt
wisdom Of God TO teach that peace is his true po
Icy and his true happiness. We learn from these ant
from the observation and experience of every day, how
much User and better it is for TO heap benefit:
than injuries on his fellow it adds 10 his
jnyment here and his happiness hereafter War, after
all when we come TO contemplate il apart from its pa
geinry and pomp, is but poor occupation, vulgar
pursuit. accomp shment in which most Of the brntes
tar excel the bravest OF men who have lived died
Without dsparaging military science fame, without
pluckng it's epic charm from history, would ask il
The bravest of the CAESARS not coward, mere
Al. Il al. L
II Is peace and virtue which adorn and bless society,
and exa man TO something like resemblance Of his
Maker.
1t has been said as we'll in the House as out of it.,
that we are badly prepared for cannot subscribe
TO the sentiment. | believe that better prepared
for at this moment than have been, though
| fear our army never was in worse condition. But,
have endea Vored 10 show that il is not the army
alone, or chiefly, that would rely. The application
OF steam power To transportation, by land and by wa
ter has done more TO prepare the country for than
an army Of four times present force could do. You
may transport whole company, nay, almost regi
ment now from one extremity Of frontier TO the
other for very little than il cost in the last war,
to carry few barrels of flour The expedition with
which forces can he concentrated at almost any point
also element OF strength not less striking than the
economy which results from canals and railroads.
repeat, that peace has fortified the country it has
abied ns 10 reduce our army Economy is virtue
as well r governments as individuals. The present
times indicate that it is duty which we not at Ii.
berty 10 disregard Extravaganza begins with injustice
and ends lin vice.
| maislan then, that an army of about 5000 men
will be sufficient for peace establishment. This will
be reduction of ,5l3 men from the present nominal,
and of about 800 from the actual force This opinion
IS founded on the hypothesis of continued peace.
believe, Sir that, If the States and this Government
would turn their attention 10 neglected militia, if
hey would do but half their duty to this most ma
ural and safe Of defence, should scarcely
need army at all in time Of peace while we should
be able 10 obtain any force that might be necessary in
II is not possible to drill all the militia, nor is it
desirable, D. - ;..t 4nd proper classification,
onId soon improve our militia and eSljay e5y sna
hort time, TO bring into the field larger and more ct
icent force than be composed OF the materials
ocular armies-n force made up of men who can be
-ed on 10 defend the country, and who VIII night io
he country and not merely for their pay. II 10 one
# the Inconvenience ola Republican form OF Govern
nent that il cannot always he prepared Tor war Inc
lesoo,sms of the old world exor millions OF revenue
rom starving people TO keep up large standing ar
mics These are intended, however, TO be used as oc
,os;on NAV require, either sustain their power
pans the people at home, or to push their schemes
,onouest abroad. Our Government needs no such
.trenoth il is Government of laws; and, when ad-
n,nisered according to its pure theory scarcely seem
mr. heard or felt except in its blessings, which, as the
dew of heaven, descend alike on all.
| have been led further than designed INTO these
The main purpose for which rose TO
address the committee to call It's attention TO GER
tain abuses in the army, and IN the general admns'fa
,ion of our military establishment There IS no ornnch
of the public service which calls 80 Loudly LOT
! am no enemy of the army. They its enemies who
re- unwilling 10 reform abuses which threaten TO I'M,
nair it's usefulness If not to destroy It's existence II
is not possible guard against all these evS ny e
o;slaon shall at least protest against authorizhs
,ben nv law On the face of this bill there are abuses,
,1n,, IN falya
the sides Of others which have long been pracsed.-
Those abuses generally begin under the authority oil
What are called "regulatons" at the Departments,
soeces of Executive legislation which, in latter times
has created almost as many oihces, and appropriated
almost as much money as Congress-
rbore are items in this bill appropriatng So2I, 264
,,cor communication of officers subsistence; SlloTl
go, Communication of forage for officers horses; So0
o1o ufor communication Of clothing of officers servants
81 IN ono ufor armament Of forcatIons including Sa
iorp of special agent 10 attend at me Joundrts en-
iofd in making cannon 1000 'tor transporta ''on
of officers baggage; S4o,o" "ior coh,mn.a',o" 81
subsistence of officers and cadets at West Point;
az Te4 afor communication Of forage OF officers horses
=, West Point; 1920 "sor communication OF clothing oil
-; go servants' at West Point. These are some
Of the features of the BILL which regard as Objection
able They nre not now proposed tor The hrst ume'
OH the contrary, they nave es's.tu ~ '.'s o'".
many wears But it is not only the general principe
or continuation, as n form of appropriation That OBJ
ect TO- AS an example of the stealth by which more
direct abuses are legslaed into authority, ASH
vour attention 10 the fact that the especial agent
whose salary We are called on to appropriate un.
der the general head of armament and forihcaons'
r. ox;s,ed heretofore under Executive regulations,
nd we are now asked to give The office thus created an
indirect legal sanction This officer is n[eady TesS
a,s rnknown to the laws but pad for years from The
Treasury, by virtue of Executive regulations: Ill,
compensation is there quoted at $4,000 annum' and
N cents per mile for travelling expenses will mol
eoumera,e the many instances of this sort which might
be referred to- This may suffice as example, WI" Tha
do vou suppose are The duties OF this ofhcer: ne
II s have no national foundry. 1t is now proposed to
establish one. Our cannon made by contracts with
private individuals These contracts, OF course specify
ihc scrt of guns wanted-their caibre, weight, &c
The officers in charge of the Ordnance department. OF
whom there are good many, are surely compelen,
first TO make these contracts, and then, by suDec,he
The cannon 10 proper tests, TO determine whether they
have been complied with. What then do you wan
with special agent to travel about with S2,4oo yea
and 10 cents a mile:
NJ, ;o;,,s ne Communication is an improper onr