The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-29
NEW YORK HERALD.
se., YorL. Taesdsy, Desember go, lsan.
Oar Volunteer System.

sist in he course of conduct they have pursued
since the commencement: of the present session
II is worse than useless to draw their attention to
any subject requiring legislation. Hoping, howe
yer, and expecting, that they will ere long recover
their reason, roll up their shirt sleeves and go to
work at the business which they were sent to the
capitol to perform, we venture to suggest that
some action is necessary by them in regard to vo-
lunteers for the war.
Volunteering is decidedly more popular than
ensting in the regular army, and it may seem an
anomaly, that while ten, fifteen or twenty thou
rand volunteers can be organized in this city
within one week, Uncle Sans corporals and
sergeants are obliged to traverse streets with
drums, ffs and flags, beating up,or rather soaring
up, with their execrable noise recruits for the
my, without success.
However anomalous it may appear, IT is never
theless true, and the cause is obvious. A requisi-
ton may be made say for two regiments Of vol
unteers. Our young men, fired with patriotism,
and animated by love of country, throw down
their implements of trade or profession, and enrol
themselves defenders or asserters Of that coun-
try's rights. The workshop or the office is vaca
ted, aud the drill room resorted 10 for discipline.
Arrangements Immediately made for settling
domestic afTairs-ther minds are bent on glory
and gunpowder. Nothing occupies their attention
but war, glory and heroic deeds. All civil matters
being disposed OF, they put In their pockets all the
money they can raise, and eagerly and anxiously
await the time when they shall be mustered
into service. After a short time, seven OF ten
companies have been raised, and the members
of these seven companies have expended perhaps
their last dollar in equppng and providing them
selves with articles necessary for their comfort.
Anon tney gel poor, and become dissatisfied with
the delay; their means perhaps exhausted,
and they are losing their time. Murmurng is
heard-dssatisaction increases, and, like con-
tagon, 1t spreads. Other young men, willing to
go, Will not do so, because they see no reason why
obey should abandon their civil pursuits and re-
main an Indefinite time before drawing pay from
Government; and the result is, perhaps, that the
ZEN companies will, with hard work, be filed
As tho law now is, the government cannot pay
volunteers until they mustered into the SER
vice Of the United States, and they cannot be mas.
tered into service until the requsition is fulfilled.
1,therefore, the law were changed, SO that volun-
teers would draw pay from the time OF their offer
ing their services instead OF from the time Of their
being mustered into service, one hundred volun-
teers would flock to the standard Of their country
where one goes now. Several of the States and
principal cities have been put to great expense in
equipping and supporting their citizens after
luuteerng, on account OF this defect in the law.
This they were obliged to do, to sustain their
character and regulations; but there is no reason
why they should be put to this additional expense
f,r the federal government
We hope that Congress will look into this mat
ter, and in its wisdom assume all the expenses
that have been incurred by our cities and States
in equpping and supporting volunteers, and that
the present law will be so modified that volun-
teers viii be entitled to compensation from the
moment they enter the ranks, without reference
to the time when they are actually mustered into
service.
Something ofthis kind will prevent great deal
OF difficult.
QUADRANGuLAs Waffle war in New Mexico
Is likely to be prosecuted something on the plan
ofthe triangular duel, with this difference, how.
ever, that the operations in which General Kesr-
ney is engaged produce quadrangular contest,
instead OF three cornered fight.
In the first place, the General has to fight a
mongrel crew of Mexicans and Indians, knavish
cut throats, who hail war as piece Of good luck,
because it enables them TO carry out their preda-
tory designs under the protection of flag. They
are never to be dete rred from shooting men, that
they may obtain their vsluables but still flag is
matter of convenience, and as they are likely to
be better rewarded by the plumber Of Americans
than Mexicans, they adopt the flag OF the latter.
The next corner from which opposition is to be
seen, is the one occupied by the Texans, who are
indignant at the idea of territorial government
being established at Santa Fe. The papers
throughout Texas generally echo this sentiment.
They say that
"sans Fe is included within the boundaries of Texas
laid and defined in the law of 1886; that right
fully belongs her. and her alone and any attempt to
establish territorial other government within those
limits, is an infringement Of her rights as sovereign
State.
Fron the time the Santa Fs expedition started from
Austin in lsilin fact from 1895 to the present time
the Rio Grande, within her limits; and that the United
States has no right to set up any form government over
portion OF the State Of Texas"
These paper bullets, though not quite serious
in their immediate effects as the leaden mes
which are sent from Indian rifles, have their inn
portance, notwithstanding, and may prove as Sc
rious, ultimately, as the bowie knife or scalping
blade of the yellow faces or their red skinned
companions.
The next angle is the position assumed by the
wings OF the United States, who oppose the war,
aud declare the invasion of California an outrage.
With all this opposition, General Kearney pur-
the even tenor of his way; forms his terrific
rial government, fights his Indians, receives the
abuse or commentator of the press, as the case
may be, and is content with doing his duty.
The course pursued by the wings, in this mat
: or, is one calculated to make them unpopular
with the Texans, who, almost to man, will
look upon those who oppose a war with Mexico, as
their worst friends. Theyremember their struggles
with Mexico, they remember their butcher ed
brethren, and they will be likely to forget that our
war with Mexico is aught else than another act
in the same drama and, consequently, the par
~ which is found opposing war with Mexico,
viii be likely to find few friends in the new