The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-13
SPEECH OF MR.. YELL,
OF ARKANSAS,

Tn. bill 10 raise two new regiments Of rhemen, eiti-
Lsns Of the United States 10 serve for the term Of
three years, being under consideration In Com
nitiee ofthe Whole Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes,
Mr.. YELL obtained the floor, and said
Mr. CHAIRMAN; My position a member Of the
Committees on Military Affairs, by which this bill
was reported renders ii my duty in some degree to
,.olan 10 tho committee OF tho House, tho reasons
which induced tho Committee on Military Afiairs
10 report the bill.
The increase Of the military force contemplated
BY this bill, is an indispensable and absolutely ne
eessary increase, called for by, and corresponding
with the extent Of territory acquired by the annexa-
lion OF Texas and the proposed extension OF a cor
don Of posts on the route 10 Oregon. The bill has
not been reported with any other view than the
protection Of our Notifications and extended from
uer--a service which will require al least the add-
tionsl number Of troops now asked for Our rela-
tons with Great Britain and Mexico, threatening,
as they do the peace Of the country, were not taken
into consideration in the estimates OF the committee
which reported this bill Another bill has been re-
ported from the Committee on Military Affairs, and
IL now upon your table, which looks TO the con-
tingency OF rupture with foreign power, and
hope that in the provisions Of that bill the House
and the country will see that IL the nation is forced
into such a collision, we have provided ample
MEANS and placed them at the disposal OF the Exec
utive, to meet any contingency. The provisions
Of that bill look alone to the event Of war which
may or may not take place, as our adyersaries may
in their wisdom. decide.
The recommendation Of the Executive and the
Secretary of War, and that Of the commander-in-
chief were carefully weighed by the committee and
received their favorable consideration. These rec
lamentations they have endeayored to carry out in
the bill which they have reported. The committee
were satisfied, from the condition Of the army, and
4 IT,. he nd
defended that there must 10 increase Of force to
meet the necessary demand; that the present skele-
ton Of an army, consisting Of only $50 men, rank
and kIe was not sufficient before the extension Of
our territory by the admission Of Texas, to man
our Notifications the seaboart and on the lakes,
and to give sufficient force upon the frontier, ex.
tending from the 81. Peters to Fort Washits, on Red
river IL was admitted by all parties, api the whole
country complaining Of the fact that the pres
ent army was insufficient even TO ran our fortihca-
tons on the seaboard and the leSes. How much
greater then, Mr.. Chairman, Is the necessity OF an
Increase Of the army defenf the country and give
protection to the territory acquired by the admission
pfTexas which adds at last FIVE hundred miles of
coast on the Gulf of Mexico to be manned and fort-
6edp A strong fertilization should be constructed
nj the mouth of the Sabine. Another at Galveston
is indispensable or the protection of that beautiful
and hourishing city, destined soon to command the
trade of s.l-or nearly all-of southern Texas. Be-
doubt will-establish navy-yard, all Of which will
require an increased force. Another fertilization
should be constructed at Matagorda bay. At all
events, strong and extensive fertilization should
be constructed at Brazos de st. lago near the mouth
Of the Rio Grande All this seacoast has been added
during the last year, and demands our immediate
protection.
Besides, we have the western frontier of Texas
bordering Mexico, to fortify and man with forts
and a sufficient number of troops to exert moral
influence upon the Mexicans in that quarter. The
whole extent of this frontier cannot be less than
one thousand miles, if we intend to maintain our
claim to the Rio Grande, which presume is not
questioned by any.
In addition to this extension Of frontier we shall
be compelled to extend our line Of defence from
Fort Washita Red river, in a westerly direc-
ton to the Rio Grande distance of not less than
five hundred miles, which will require at least three
sockade forts, with strong force at each to keep in
subsection the Cumanches, Pawnees, and other
wild tribes, and prevent them from destroying the
settlements in Texas.
But, Mr.. Chairman, this is far from being all
The route 10 Oregon must be fortified and manned.
For this purpose three stockade forts, at least will
be required, and one reg iment Of rifemen, and one
Outrageous will be necessary for their defence, and
to escort the emgrants on the way to our territory
on the Pacific. One Of the regiments Of ri1emen,
which the bill now before the committee proposes
TO raise, would place on the line Of route to Ore
gon. They exactly the proper kind of troops
for such service; and with a company of artillery,
and one or two of dragons at each post, would be
amply sufficient TO defend the forts, and to afford
protection to the emigrants. The moral effects of
such system of fortihcaon and garrison could not
fail 10 be most salutary on the wild and hostile In
dian tribes who lnfest that region, and would very
soon secure the emigrants from their aggTessions.
The other regiment of riAemen, withssa portion
OF the artillery, and five or six companies of the
second regiment of Dragons, should be stationed
on the northern and western frontier of Texas.
The balance of the Dragons could then return to
the Arkansas and Missouri frontiers, where they
are much wanted, and where troops must be placed
to afford security. This we demand as a matter of
right, government having thrown upon our frontier
some sixty thousand Indian warriors. 1t is true
that no immediate danger or hostility is apprehend-
ed from that quarter. But who tell how long
the present pacific policy will be pursued In or
der to preserve our present friendly relations with
these Indian tribes, we must be provided with n
force sufficient to preserve their respect for cit
zens, and for our laws--a respect which is always
paid when they see our ability to command ii BY
force.
1t is not my purpose to dwell on the fact of the
government having placed upon the frontier Of Ar
kansas the Florida Indians, who entertain TO say
the least of it no kind feelings towards our citizens
or towards their neighboring tribes, and who can
only be trusted when you have force sufficient to
deter them from acts OF hostility; nor Will Tune now
suffice TO dwell on the deplorable condition Of the
remnant Of that once brave and powerful nation
the Cheroktes. From them the whiie men have no
fear of hostlites but dissensions among themselves
leading to intestine and MURDERS must eventu-
ally end in the destruction Of that gallant people, II
the government does not interfere it is in honor
and by treaty bound, TO protect them from them
selves and from each other. Thus far nothing has
been found capable Of restraining them from their
own destruction but the strong arm Of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Chairman, the "army Of occupation" in
Texas has drained from our frontier more than hall
our force, and has left us almost defenceless The
same complaint is justly made upon the seoboard
where many Of the Notifications are left without
men enough to take care of the guns How lone
we are to remain in this defenceless condition, will
in great degree, depend upon the temper and tone
Of the Mexican government, and the movements oi
the Mexican troops on the Rio Grande; for pre-
sumo that state Of uncertainty to the final result
Of our difficulties with that government, cannot
much longer exist Either peace war must soon be
definitely determined on. But in the natural course
OF events we cannot hope for return of the troops
from Texas in less than twelve months, IL 40 soon
therefore urge the necessity of an immediate in.
crease Of the army-an increase sufficient nsur,
puiet and proiecfion to every portion of our vas