The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-10
Mn,tIn1 SaIricE--htIs,aa Arn sAfpass = onr

MrsfIsT tsHvi5E-Affss Al'o sAFPfss DIR
readers are aware, we presume, that short time
Since the government issued proposals fer
the formation of company, or regiment
of sappers and miners, TO be composed
exclusively of mechanics and which, when
completed, would be mustered into the SER
vice OF the United States, and take part in
prosecuting the existing war against Mexico. As
always has been the case with American citizens
when called TO the defence Of their country, the
number OF mechanics required by the govern
ment for the proposed service was readily enrolled
and mustered into service. The call had not to be
repeated, for at the first summons the required
number of men rendered their services and left
their homes, their families, their old associations,
and every thing hat is near and dear to them,
ans took up the line Of march for the enemy's
country.
So far-very good
While these patriotic citizens are entitled to the
fullest credit for the alacrity with which they
obeyed their country's CALL it must not be sup
posed that y enrolling themselves among their
counuy's defenders, they for ever lost to the
society they left behind them, Or that they de-
prived themselves of those rights and privileges
which are the hirthright of every individual born
case in the United States, although it is lamenta-
bly, so in Europe.
II behoves, therefore, the Government to throw
its fostering arms around those OF our citizens
who rush to the lannon's mouth to serve and de-
iend their country, and see that they are pro-
tected in all their rights and privileges.
We have been induced 10 m, Ike these remarks
by reading the complaints made by the prvates
OF the new regiment company of sappers and
miners, that we have referred to above From
what we have heard, the persons composing
this regiment, daily msused. This regiment
was formed upon the condition that its members
would, when organized, be on superior footing
to the soldiers of the army, that they would re-
ceive higher pay than privates, and that they
would receive a regular education under the
United States Government, and be provided with
everything necessary to eonduce to their COM
fort
On these conditions they enlisted, and entered
the service Of the United States for five years;
but when the facts Of the case became known, it
was discovered that certain persons in the employ
of the government had sadly misrepresented the
prospects of these, our fellow citizens, who, the
moment they were under the control of their SUI
perior officers, discovered, to their sorrow, that
the glorious prospect under which they enlisted,
vanished like a dream; and that instead OF being
superior in any respect to privates, they were
only equal to them in point of rank, and inferior
to them in point of comfort and enjoyment. II
their represer tations are to be credited, their
clothing is poor and insufficient. Their diet is
meagre and unpalatable, and their general treat
ment far different from what they expected when
they joined the regiment. Misrepresentation
were resorted for the purpose of seducing these
men from their quiet pursuits and avocaiions, by
those empowered by the government TO enlist
them, and the consequence is, that the best
among them are finding themselves deceived.
Now there is no question but that the govern
ment woald never countenance any proceeding
of this nature on the part of its employees; bat
that such proceeding has been resorted 20 in the
case we have mentioned, there probably can be
no question. How important therefore, it is for
the Secretery of War, the President, as the
may be, to employ none but persons of
known character and responsibility, who, by their
previous life and conduct, incapable of re-
sorting to such underhand means Of filling the
ranks of companies required by the government
in prosecuting the war; for service like this.