Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-07

DEE the dosnaoa % vhg,a,a. add ~he's the foot
psiot Of the white had scarce renelrsied-when,
too, there probably ss much Zoe tnofe) OF the
n,iIlary spirit among the people as a, present.
Then said he, we had but one esireat Of infantry
| with aggregate OF 736 men,
| For a seres OF years thereafter, the number o
the army was follows, including officers:
In i7s6, there were regiments OF infantry, Z
companies OF cavalry, OF artillery, making alas
| men.
In 1889, there were regiment of infantry, bat
talon Of artillery. making ss6 men.
| In 1890, there were regimen, OF infantry, bat
TALON of artillery, making 1878 men.
| In 1891, there were regiments of infantry bat
talon of artillery, making 2,232 men.
In 1899, there were regiments ofiniantry, bat
| talon OF artillery, making 5,SiT men.
In 1894, there were regiments OF infantry, !
battalons OF artillery and engineers, making e,lU]
men.
In 1896, there were regiments OF infantry, 4
hattalions of artillery and engineers, companies OF
Dragons, making 1859 men.
In l19s there were 4 regiments of Infantry, bat
talions Of artillery and engineers, companies Of
cavalry. making g. 80 men.
| Immediately, thereafter in the same year, the
army greatly increased, the relations Of the
country with other portions of the world, and our
difficulties with the Indian tribes, seemed to Justify,
as he supposed, at the time. In $500, however. the
army was again reduced these Difficult.
ties were settled, 10 about what It was in the Begin
ming of 1898, to 4. &c men. The same course was
adopted then that is proposed to be pursued now,
so far the reduction is concerned. In 1919, when
we not anticipating difficulties, but when war,
with all its horrors, had extended itself from one end
OF the Union to the other; when We were IN deadly
conflict with the most powerful nation on earth;
what, sir, said MIR q DO you suppose was the size
of our armyl Il was but 35,603i while in isOs
(the time Of preparatory 1t was only 1921! No
returns are given for the intermediate time, but in
1915 it wasreduced to 1881; less than its present
number, and in 1921 it was brought down TO 6.l27;
much less than the number proposed by the amend
ment TO the hill under consideration, which
proposes about 5000 as the aggregate. | have
alluded TO the several periods to show with what
facility army be raised by enlistment when
the situation of the country requires IL. In 1886.
the whole number of the army was but 7,95s, and
IN ISIS received the present augmentation 10 us
number by the bill passed for that purpose, advo
Gated, as it then was, by those who are now most
elamorous for the reduction. That bill (sald Mr.
Goggin) was sanctioned by Mr. Van Buren,; the
increase, in fact, in the hrst place recommend
ed by him. change OF affars had now taken
place. and he was no longer nj the head OF the Co.
vernment. There seemed 10 be now sort OF new
born zeal 10 retrench expenses and 10 reduce the
| army, coming from gentlemen who, until now, had
not moved in the matter. He did not object TO it,
however, bu, on the contrary pleased TO
that reform IN existing abuses was contemplated from
that qua'ter. He only feared tina; the ZEAL which
had been recently kndled, might lead gentle
| with the welfare and the interests Of the country.
As for the honorable mover Of the amendment, Mr.
Mekayl he was glad to see he hal been aroused
| 20 the Importance OF reforming abuses which had
crept into the service under his own bill-the bill
OF lS3S-reported and voted for by the honorable
gentleman. Sir, said MIR G., that gentleman, MIR
| Mckay,l he knew, watched with the most untirins
vigilance every thing that passed in the House; he
was laborious; his mind was capable OF the most
minute investigation, as all must have observed,
and n N the HOuse tha N
the gentleman TO see At glance the defects OF any
measure. But, said he, with all the gentleman
acknowledged ability, he had permitted features 10
be engrafed into the bill of 1855 which he now
desired TO change. He had not only voted Tor the
bill to augment the army. but he had given his
sanction TO the increase OF the raons Of the officers
Of the army, which the gentleman was now opposed
TO.
| mr. MCKAY here inierposed, and repeated his
objections, as before urged, and that, member
OF the Committee, he had not given his sanction TO
many OF the details OF III. bill
Mr. GOGGIN said he did not question the gen.
tleman's statements; he had no doubt of their &C
curacy, as the gentleman asserted il. He (Mr G. }
had only alluded 10 the facts, presented by the
bill and the proceedings upon 1t. The gentleman
tells us he was in favor Of notifications OF the bill;
that he was opposed to its details; bu, sir, look
ing at the journal this moment, (said MIR u y while
the gentleman was explaining, my eve has fallen
upon the vote taken on the bill itself. find, sir,
that alter MS ensrossmen others who were opposed
10 the bill and its details moved a reconsideration
OF the vote on ordering to be engrossed, order
70 remedy these defects, 10 defeat the DILL and II
was lost by one vote-ayes 81, noes %. Among
the noes, sir, find the name OF 'Janss j. .MeKay'
He presumed ne was the same gentleman who now
moved the amendment. \ laugh.) II he was not,
the gentleman could correct him. after this, he (Mr
Mckay had voted for the bill.
The amount Of the increased pay of the army
under the bill OF ISIS, on the amendments proposed
TO the Senate's bill ov the House, was $685., 1868.
OF this sum $4,000 was for additional raions 10
the officers Of the ARMY What (said MIR G. are
these ratons fort Why should this expense be
added to the general charges for the army? Why
was this especial benefit extended 10 officers OF the
army2 he could not himself answer the question.
| The bill gave IL to those who had served for five
years. He thought the pay OF the officers OF the
army, many OF them, was now better than that of
most ofthe officers Of the Government. He spoke
he said, OF the higher officers, for all Of whom he
entertained the most friendly feelings. He h.d the
pleasure oil knowing many OF them personally, and
/ he would he the last in the House 10 intimate
that they were less meritorious than the whole
country believed them TO be. Yet he was opposed
TO this increased ration, which, according to the bill
1 OF ls3-, had Increased the expenses OF the army
near 100000. lie would no: deny it to them if il
were necessary for their comfort, TO enable them
TO maintain their high character for hospitality and
TO keep up the dignity or their stations lie would
II Of any importance 10 the merits OF this question
refer the House TO the statement which each member
had furnished him, laid, he believed, Oh The tables
yesterday. He would not trouble the House with
Il, bot would only Rl.ude 10 it now. That table in
part was as follows: