The Arkansas banner., 1846-05-13
4. SPEECH OF
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~N -S- s,S~ 4 - sA ~
 Ia Hc House of Representatives., .liarcA 20, l lS46--On the bill to raise two new re- ! giments of rtlemen.
 The bill 10 raise two new regiments ot rifle
 men, citizens of the United States, to strve
 for the term of three years, being under
 consideration In Committee of the Whole
 o the House of Representatives,
 MR. YELL obtained the floor, and said
 MT. CHAIRMAN: My position as member of the Committee on Military Affairs, by winch this bill was reported, renders it my duty in some degree to explain 10 the com, mIttee ol the House, the reasons which indu- eed the Committee on Military Ailars to re- port the bill.
 The increase of the military force contem- plated by this bill, is an indispensable and ab- solutely necessary increase, called for by, and corresponding with, the extent of territo- " acquired by the annexation of Texas, and r the proposed extension of cordon of posts on the route to Oregon. The bill has not been reported with any other view than the protection of our notifications and extended iroater--a service which will require dt least the additional number of troops now asked for. Our relations with Great Britain and Mexico, threatening, as they do, the peace of the country, were not taken into eonsideta- ton Tn the estimates Of the committee which reported this bill. Another bill has been re- ported from the Committee on Military Af- fairs, and IS now upon your table, which looks to the.contlngency of rupture with a foreign power, and hope that in the provs- ions of that bill the House and the country t,yiI tl,1gI {. Il collision, we have provided ample means, and placed them at the disposal of the Exec ntive, to meet any contingency. The pro- visions of tha, bill look alone 10 the event of war, which may or may not take place, as our adversarles may i'll their wisdom, decide
 The recommendations of the Executive and the Secretary of War, and that of the commander-ln-chlei,W were carefully weighed by the committee, and received their iavora- hle consideration. These recommendations they have endeavored to carry oltt ill fhe bill which they have reported. The committee were satisfied, from the condition of the army, and the extent of territory necessary 10 be manned and defended, that there must be an increase of force to meet the necessary de- mand; that the present skeleton of fn army, consisting of only 7,S80 men, rank and file, was not sufficient, before the extension of our territory by the admission of Texas, to man our Notifications on the seaboard and on the lakes, and 10 give sufficient force upon the frontier, extending from the St. Peters to Fort Washta, on Red river Ii was admitted by all parties, and the whole country was complaining of the fact, that the present army was insufficient even to man our lortlfica- tons on the seaboard and the lakes. How much greater, then, Mir Chairman, IS the ne- cesslty of an increase of the army to defend the country and give protection to the terri tory acquired by the admission of Texas, which adds at least 300 miles of coast on the sI Gulf of Mexico to be manned and fortified :? A strong fortiGcation should De constructed at the mouth of the Sabine Another at Gal weston is indispensable for the protection of that beautiful and Aourshng city, destined soon to command the trade of all l--neary all of southern Texas Besides u forllliealion al that place, we should--and no doubt wifi establish navy-yard, all oI which will re- qulre an increased force. Another fortiica- ton should be constructed at Matagorda bav Al all events, strong aud extensive fortifi- cation should be constructed at Brazos de St Iago, near the mouth of the Rio Grande Al this seacoast has been added during the last year, and demands our immediate protection
 Besides, we have the western frontier of Texas. bordering on Mexico, to forlily and mai with forts and 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 thou [ S,nJ f 1aJ claim to the Rio Grande, which presume Is not questioned by any.
 I In addition to this extension of frontier. we shall be compelled to extend our line of defence from Fort Washita on Red river. in. a westerly difeclion to the Rio Grande a distance of not less than 500 miles, which will require at least three stockade forts, With a strong force at each to keep in subjection the Cumanches, Pawnees, and other wild tubes, 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 stock ade forts, at least, will be required, and one regiment of rflemen, and one of dragoons will be necessary for their defence, and to escort the emlgrants on the way to our terri tory on the Pacific. One of the regiments of rihemen, which the bill now before the com mittee proposes to raise, would place oir the line of route to Oregon. They are ex- acty the proper kind of troops for such d service; and with company Of artillery, and one or two of dragoons at each post, t,,would be amply sufficient to defend the forts, and to afford protection to the emigrants The moral effects of such a system of iortification and the garrison could not fail to be most salutary on the wild and hostile Indian tribes who infest that region, and would very soon. secure the emigrants from their aggressions.
 The other regiment of riaemen, with portion of the artillery, and five-or six con- panies of the second regiment of dragoons, should be stationed on the northern and wes- tern frontier of Texas. The balance Of the dragoons 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 mat ter of right, government having thrown upon our frontier some 60,000 Indian warriors It is true that no immediate danger or hostility is apprehended from that quarter. But who