The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-23
THE DAILY UNION.

ter preparations for war adequate TO the prosecu-
ton Of war yet conceive IL TO be the part OF wis
dom TO make sons preparations. Upon that policy
Great Britain is now acting OF the fact there can
be no doubt. In the New York " Herald" of the
10th inst sec the report Of debate in the British
Parliament Sir Robert Peel, in a speech that he
made, read an extract from a letter which he had
addressed to the Queen after his resignation as
prime minister disclosing the course Of policy that
he would pursue in case Lord John Russell should
be able 10 form cabinet. In that letter Sir Robert
Peel assures the Queen, that in case il should be-
come necessary, (and he had already declared in
Parliament that IL necessary, and the British
government was acting on the suggestion,) in case
u became necessary, in view OF the relations with
the United States, TO increase the estimates for
the naval and military service, he would do
Lord John Russell the justice 10 say that that in
crease was not wanted on account of any change
In the relations with France; and he explains the
true ground Of that increase to be- that il looked to
preparations for a rupture with the United States
Here Is his language;
"siT Robert Peel feels IL to be hi. duty add that should
ysu Msesys future advisers alter consideration Of the
heavy demands made upon the army Of the county for
onial service Of lstonS with the United states and
Of the bearing which steam navigation may have upon
maritime warfare and the defence VI the country deem
II advisable propose addition 10 the army and in
creased naval and military estimates Sir Robert Peel will
being considered indicative Of hostile altered feel
inss towards France"
say, then, Continued Mr.. b. that Great Britain,
although probably not placing her forces on the fall
war footing, is still making considerable preparations
for difficulty with the United States In case such
an occurrence should take place; and | say, there
fores that believe to be the part Of wisdom in US
70 initiate, TO some extent at least, her example
These two regiments, TO be sure, would be nothing
towards carrying on war but nevertheless, they
would be valuable force. We need them now in
the present exigeneeies Of the public services and If
peace should finally be the result they could read-
ly be dlsbanded; but they are needed for present
service and In view OF the contingencies which
might fairly be anticipated.
trust is not necessary for me to repeat the rea-
sons why the Committee on Military Affairs prefer
foot 10 mounted men. They are considerations of
economy and the exigeneies Of the public service
Two regiments are necessary. Therefore | hope
the amendment Of the gentleman from Indiana [Mr
saTHl will not prevail. One regiment is needed to
supply the place Of the first regiment Of Dragons
and the other 10 garrison the forts on the route 10
Oregon, and to give protection to our emigration in
eonnexion with another bill now before this body,
and which, hope, will receive its favorable consd-
| Grafton.
il will be perceived, also, that this bill proposes
a small addition, by filling up the companies Of the
present military establishments. That proposition,
too, has received the recommendation Of the Secre
Ary. hope Il may be adopted. We see it stated
IN The public prints-and no where contradeted so
We may assume It TO be true-that the army of Tex
as u moving towards, or has actually moved to-
the Rio Grande. Before this time il has doubtless
taken up its position there and is in the immediate
vicinity OF the Mexican forces We know that
Mexico has been strainng every nerve to gather a
force TO beat back that army and has been threaten
ing to march upon Texas. tbs we'll known to the
members Of this House, at least To such of them as
were members Of the last Congress, that | was no
particular or especial friend TO the annexation of
Texas, upon the terms on which II was accomplish
ed. But the country Is ours The decide il for
good or for evil-for veal or wo-has been accom-
Iplished. Texas Is portion Of our territory She
will soon be represented on this floor as one of the
sovereign States Of this Union. Being ours, am
for defending II; and for placing force there ade-
quate TO It's defence, without subecting her 10 the
possibility ofdisgrace or disaster. Our army there
is small far smaller than that which Mexico, if
she can raise the funds, will precipitate upon it,
IL that small but gallant army should be inadequate
to the struggle if its force should be overwhelmed
by the Mexlcans, the moral effect, aside from the
disaster ITSELF would be most deplorable Il would
raise the spirit Of the Mexicans, now cowed down,
and would encourage them in their hostile policy
towards us. And this would involve the necessity
OF largely increased expenditures No man here
give expression to the felings which would agi-
tate him, il that gallant little army should be over
whelmed for want Of adequate force.
The head Of the department having regular charge
Of these matters, says, that the force in exist
ence is not adequate to that, and the other duties
devolving upon IL in other parts of the United
States. We all know that for many years past
the army, in Its present strength, has been barely
adequate TO the maintenance OF garrisons in our
| own territory before Texas became part of il
How then can 1t be expected that can perform its
| ordinary duties, whilst, at the same time, large
force is to be kept up in Texas unless some add
ton Is made to IL trust that these Jealous friends
of Texas, who differed with me last winter now
that they have got the territory which they so much
desired, will not shrink from the responsibility of
making such small addition to the military force of
the country as may be requisite to place it beyond
the contingency of disaster.
Before / take my seat, will read the estimates of
the relative cost of rfemen mounted and not noun.
ed. The annual expense for regiment of mounted
rlhemen, with infantry pay and forage as Dragons
il 500, APO 81 The annual expense of a regiment
of rifemen, serving on foot, is $l2O,27l &c; being
something more than half of that required for a
mounted regiment. So that we can maintain two
regiments of rfemen, serving on foot, for about
the same expense regiment of mounted
rifemen, or Dragons; difference, it will be per-
ceived, of no small account.
For these reasons hope that the amendment of
the gentleman from Indiana will not prevail, and
that the bill as it stands may receive the favorable
action ofthe committee and the House.
Mr.. HAMLlN obtained the floor, but yielded
for the moment to-
Mr.. MCCONNELL, who offered the following
amendment to the amendment
"That all applicants for commissions to be ap.
pointed by the President, shall give bonds and Sc
curity honestly to abide the decision of said execu-
tive, and if not epauleted commissioned, then to
take the ranks as private"
Mr.. HAMLlN said, upon the bill now before
the committee, he desired to vote accordance with
the wants of the country; and if he could be salts.
fed that the wants of the country demanded at this
time greater military force, he would vote for it.
But, before he gave affirmative vote for noreas-
ing the army single individual or for adding to it's
numbers single officer, he asked that he might be
better informed upon some points than he now
was.
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF (Mr. H. yielding the
foor) inquired Of the gentleman if he was not in ia
vor of carrying out the recommendations of the
President to establish line Of stockade or block
house forts the route to Oregon for the protection
of our emigrants to that territory
Mr.. HAMLlN. | am.
Mr.. BRINKERHoFF Very well. Does the
gentleman from Maine imagine that our present
military force is sufficient to man the garrsons at
/ pra NJ axr;.t and ~ IL