The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-31

rsTINATEs OF THE WAR AND NAVY DEPART
MENTs FOR NATIONAL DEFENCE
Az the best reply to the inquiries OF those desi-
,ous of correct information on the subject we give
below the letters of the Secretary of War and the
Secretary Of the Navy to the committees OF both
hoases Of Congress, by which 1t will be seen what
the recommendations were which they made, ana
which the President sanctioned. . 90
The military and naval committees OF Congress,
according 10 ons-sstablshed usage, communicated
with the departments, and asked their views as to
the increase OF our national defences Each depart
msnt in the first instance referred the inquiries thus
made 10 the proper military and naval bureaus The
bureaus took the inquiries Of the committees into
consideration, and made their estimates; but they
made them az il with reference To state Of actual
war. The Secretaries Of War and OF the Navy, at
ter examining those estimates respectively, made,
with the sanction Of the President, specific recon-
rnsadaioas, having in view precautionary measures
of defence .... ..
They did not think proPerto withhold from the
committees Of Congress the estimates and sugges-
ton. Of the bureaus. These were also communal
Gated and in the usual manner, without any injunc-
ton Of secrecy whatever except that the Secretary
of War very properly suggested that some facts,
as set forth in the reports Of the military bureaus,
and understood to relate to the weakness Of some
military positions, should not be made public.
The recommendations made and sanctioned will
best appear from the letters ofthe respective seere
tsres which we suboin. Il is to be regretted that
the chairman of the Naval Committee Of the House,
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when NC S'a'eu "'. WV
Of the Secretary OF the Navy with the suggestions
of the bureaus, had not communicated to the Mouse
,L..,.x,,, Latte, of Jsp,.rv 9Th which accom-
WIG -. -.
panied the reply Oh inc bureaus W uhe foSo'u''""
Of the House committee. Had he done 30, misap-
,,.hsnson would have been avoided. o..
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They contain the views which the secretaries rec
commended, and which had the sanction Of the Presi.
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u'"'' 20 W.
Liter from the Secretary Of War TO the Hon. THOMAS
H. BEsros, chairman Of the Military Committee Of
d he Senate.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
December %, l645.
SrR: | herewith return TO you the resolution
which you sent to me on the 23d instant. The rec
concentrations in my report to the President of the
9th ult have reference to permanent peace estab-
that our seacoast and northern frontier should have
a larger force stationed on them than they now
have or the department can now place there by any
proper disposition it can make Of the regular army
1t this time. The number of troops now in Texas
cannot, under present circumstances, be essened.
There ought not to be less-indeed | think there
should be more-troops on the Indian frontier.
Should the suggestion in the report to increase the
rank and Ale OF companies to sixty-eight or eighty
four privates be approved by Congress and carried
out there would be dsposabe regular force for the
forts and Notifications the seabosrd and northern
and western frontiers; but this force would not fur
nish adequate garrisons in case Of an apprehended
attack. Besides, il would require some months to
raise the men, incorporate them In the old regi-
mens, and get them in position. Should this sug-
gestion meet with favor, still think that authority
should be given to the President to accept the SER
vices of volunteer companies, squadrons battaons,
regiments, and State troops for a term not exceed
ing one year Our situation may be such that, for
the mere purpose of Defence these volunteer troops
or militia, to the number Of ffiy thousand, may be
needed. Under the direction of the Executive, the
number actually received would be regulated by cir
eumstances.
The present Notifications Of the seaboard, as well
as temporary defences which must be resorted 10 in
case of threatened hostes must be garrisoned; and
the number have mentioned, in addition to our
regular force; unless it was greatly increased would
certainly not be more than sufficient to nut the coun.
IL
with Great Britain On the northern frontier, where
there are now stationed only about four hundred and
eighty men, provision should be made for placing,
on the shortest notice force equal to that in Cana
da, which could be brought to assai that frontier if
hos,ies from that quarter should be reasonably APP
pretended There are at this time about seven thou.
sand regular British troops in that province I
should prefer in case il was necessary to call in the
aid of tbe militia for the defence of the country to
obtain the troops required by the acceptance of VOL
unteers rather than by the present mode of making
requisition on the executives of the States, and
leaving it to them to raise the number required by
draughts &C. though i, is probable that il, most in
stances the number required by the latter mode
would be volunteers. Volunteers would be likely
to do more effective service when first called out
than draughted militia men, ] would respectfully
refer you TO the acts Of Congress on this subject
[See VOL Q, u. s. Laws, chap 40, session of 1896;
chap. 1919, session of 1891
In relation to raising additional regiments, refer
YOU to nv views as expressed in nv report to the
President, and by him sent to Congress
In reference 10 a peace establishment would rec
ommend two new regiments. If the suggestion IN in
.r...o III. III, "a el. or III. ,rosan, Il.