The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-26
MILITARY PREPARATIONS.


We have seen a letter from New Orleans, dated
the nth instant, which states that "the town is
all excitement with General Ganes's requisiiion,
and that the military spirit is rampant in the city;
that all the men called for will be raised, and more
than will be wanted. The artillery are to leave
here for Corpus Christi on Wednesday, (20th) in
the Alabama steam ship. A meeting of officers Of
the volunteers in the second municipality is to be
held to-day, to raise volunteers"
A further report is given in the same letter. viz:
that "General Gaines had demanded militia from
some of the neighboring States, and $500 from the
Texian Executive" This report is probably in
correct for we understand that letter has been re-
ceived from General Gaines, dated the 18th instant,
which only speaks of call for regiment of in
fantry, a regiment Of rihemen, and two companies
of artillery, from the governor of Louisiana.
General Gaines has received no authority, as far
as we are advised, to make this requisition upon
the governor of Louisiana, though he has acted,
doubtless, under the strong impulse Of patriotic
feelings. The command of "the army of observa-
tom is specially intrusted to General Taylor.
If he had made such call, we do not sec the
force Of the objection which the National Intel
lgencer" urges this morning. That paper is pleased
to quote with appreciation the following article,
which appeared in the "Union" Of Thursday last:
"For the information of the numerous gallant citizens
who will wish to avail themselves Of appointments in the
army, in the expectation Of a rupture with Mexico we
deem II proper to state what have learned from the
can in be increased previous legislation
If Congress; and of there will be such appoint
to be made until first authorized by law The militia
only be called in aid Of the regular army
l..l. al Nba
many snpernumerary graduates Of the Military Academy lit
for the most active and important service"
The "lntelligencer' regards this notice "as not
only proper, but consderate towards many who
were perhaps expecting well eager to take SER
vice, and distinguish themselves on the fields Of
Texas or Mexico, in the possible war between the
latter country and the United States"
ut happens however says the Intellgenccr) that the
greatest abstract truth in the official paragraph proves
have been its only practical for at the very time that
militia only be called out In aid Of the regular
by law established. Major General Gaines giving
practical contradiction the President by calling ont
some two thousand Louisiana militia himself, to march
1--WE six hundred miles to aid and assist the Ame
can General Taylor against immense Mexican force
leaning on ner way q attack and
only eight days march from the American camp Governor
Louisiana under pay readily obeys General Gaines's requ
ston and orders into service the number OF troops spec
fed
Except as heretofore amended by General Gaines the
constitution LAS our readers aware gives power 70
tia the laws OF the Union suppress
and epel invasions That power Congress has not TINT
clear that this Of and democrat
ic ascendency civil and military large body Of Louisiana
Gaines; although the President himself could legally
Congress enact such order, unless In
which certainly has not yet occurred
z What inconsistency there would be between the
principle set forth in the article in the "Union, and
the requiston for militia, if necessary for the pub
lie service, and if authorized to be called for by
General Gaines, we are atsome loss to divine. The
notice in the "Unon" article applies to ''the present
military establishment the regular army Of the
United States--"which cannot be increased without
the previous legislation Of Congress-" but the very
same article recognises the right to "call out the
militia in aid ofthe regular army, now by law es-
,ablished" And is this not the very case as stated by
the ''National Integencer" ITSELF for, to use its
own wor-,s, Gen. Gaines was scaling out some two
thousand Louisiana militia himself, to march some
FIVE or six hundred miles, to aid and assist the Amer
lean General Taylor against immense Mexican
force" Does not the case, as put by the National
Intelligencer," correspond with the "absrae truth in
inconsistency between them'
And, again, where would be the inconsistency be-
tween legitimate call, and the article in the consti
tuition SO unnecessarily paraded by the " National
Intelligcncen" We all admit that Congress only
can propide for calling out the militia; but hare they
exercised their power, by authorizing the Execu
tive to call out the militia, not only in Of inva
sion, but where there is imminent danger Of inva-
sioni Does an npasio',, or threatened invasion,
by the Mexicans, Of the territory of Texas author
ize call for the militia force' For, the National In
telgencer itself admitted (some time snce) that the
United States had acquired not only an "inchoaten
but "positive" right to the soil of Texas. The
whole article of the Intelligencer Isl indeed founded
on a Aimsy sophism.
We suboin to this article the copy of a circular
reply, which has been printed and circulated among
the applicants for military appointment Il is con-
ceived in the same spirit in which the article Of the
"Unon" Of Thursday last was produced:
"WAR DErARrMENr,
60 -, l645.
'SR Your letter Of the ---- has been received.
"The Executive is empowered to call out the mi
litia convenient TO the place OF danger IN the
event of invasion, or imminent danger thereof, and
in cases Of insurrection When such call is made,
the appointment of militia officers is reserved to the
States, respectively, by the constitution. The brevet.
lieutenans amounting nj this time TO more than one
hundred are entitled, under existing laws, TO the
vacancies of that grade happening in the line Of the
army; and vacancies Of higher grade are filled by
promotion
"The President and this department fully appreci-