The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-25

| 'NNtu Oc NhnHStu-I our controversy WIN
should be-and he trusted il would be--brough t TO
friendly termination and our differences with Great
britain should be settled, then in this very bill now
passed, there would be contingent provision that
this increase should be dispensed with and our mil
| nary establishment brought back 10 the basis on
which II now stands. This was what should be done.
| Give your President, who is conversant with the
state OF our foreign affairs, authority in case the
contingencies Of the public service should reouire
to increase the existing regiments 10 one hundred in
| each company. IL can be done; it was done during
the last war; but il he thinks il not at ali
| he would not exercise that authority.
Mr. Mex, in conclusion, sent up to the chair the
substitute which he offered and lin pursuance of his
PLEDGE moved the previous question.
The amendment was read as follows:
| Amend the amendment reported as the said
substitute, by striking out all Of the same
thereof the following: "ten privates be added to
each company Of Dragons, and twenty privates
be added TO each company Of artillery and infantry
BE ii further enacted That the President of IN,
United States be, and he is hereby, authorized Il
increase the number of priyates in any regiment o.
the peace establishment whenever, in his opinion
the exigences Of the public service require the
same; Propided, That the number of prvates in any
company shall not exceed 100.
"Be Il further enacted, That any addition or in
crease which may be made, under the authority oil
either Of the preceding sections shall continue un
|
crults shall be enlisted until the number Of priyates
In the several companies shall be reduced, by the
expiration OF the term of service by discharges or
other causes, to the number authorized in the act
respecting the organization Of the army, and for
other purposes, approved August Goth, 1912 and
that the title of the said bill be amended to read
bill TO increase the rank and file of the military
peace establishment"
After some irregular conversation,
The question was taken on seconding the demand
for the previous question, and decided in the mega
tive, ayes so, noes &C.
| Mr. BOYD moved TO recommit the bill and
amendments to the Committee on Military Affairs
The question was then taken, and the vote stood
ayes 60, noes 81.
So the bill not recommitted.
And the question recurring on the amendment Of
Mr.. MoKAr,
Mr. HARRISON obtained the floor
| Mr.. PRICE inquired the Chair what effect the
rejection of the substitute would have on the origi.
nal bR
The SPEAKER said the rejection of the subs,i-
tute would bring the House TO a direct vote on the
engrossment of the original bill.
Mr. PRICE said he greatly preferred the original
| to the substitute.
Mr. HARRISON then proceeded with his re-
msrks He had hoped (he sald) that the discussion
on this bill would have been terminated by this time,
and that the final question would have been taken.
New propositions, however had been introduced
one of which had met the appreciation Of the com
mittee, and which Especially that offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.. Mckay
seemed to require some notice at his hands.
One Of the cardinal principles which had distin-
guished all parties IN the United States was that
the maintenance of large standing army was con-
| trary to the genius of our institutions; and this be-
ing the fact, It incumbent upon this House 10
| do nothing calculated to fasten even contingently,
upon the country large military force; yet if ne
understood the proposition Of the gentleman from
North Carolina did
crease of the standing army to an extent which
might probably be alarming TO the American peo-
Pile
Mr. RHETT Will the honorable chairman al.
low me to ask him question:
| Mr.. HARRISON. Yes sir
| Mr.. RHETT. 1t is this As the organ on the
part of this House-having, of course, an opportu-
nifty of communicating with the Executive-I ask
the gentleman whether any information has been
transmitted TO the Committee on Military Affairs
which authorizes him TO say that, on the part Of the
Executive, there is any desire that the standing ar
my should be increased to the extent provided for in
| either Of these amendments
Mr.. HARRISON. If the gentleman will look
to the report of the Secretary OF War, he will find
that it is there recommended that authority should
be given 10 the President conngently to increase
| the standing army; but that recommendation had
reference entirely to a peace establishment
Mr.. RHETT. That is the point. then under
| stand the chairman to say that he has no informa-
ton other than that communicated in the documents
with the message.
| Mr.. HARRISON. No, sir, do not saw anv
such thing On the contrary, say that the Com
| mittee on Military Affairs (more than month ago,
| beleve) reported to the House a bill not for the
increase Of the standing army but to meet the con-
| tlngences of probable difficulty with other coun-
tries, and which authorized the President TO accent
the services of - number of volunteers, depend
| ent on these contingencies. This is now a public
fact upon the files of the House; and the bill was in
tended by the committee to supcrsede the necessity
of any considerable increase Of the standing army
Do gentlemen suppose that, if we are to have any
difficulty with foreign nations, either of these amend
ments will accomplish what will be needed, or that
fifteen, twenty, or even thousand men will
be sufficient for the emergency
Mr.. G. DAVIS. Will the honorable gentleman
inform me (for do not know whether he has re-
ceived any specific recommendation of an increase
in the army from the executive department. and ; if
so, what the amount of that increase isl
Mr.. HARRISON, | will answer the gentleman.
On the 3lst of December last, did receive COM
muncaon from the Secretary Of War in relation
to the subject on which he asks for information.
mates and facts in relation TO the defences of the
country, the publication of which, in the opinion of
the Secretary of War, land in that opinion con-
cur) would be detrimental to the public interests
Mr.. G. DAVIS. My question is this: What
specific increase Of the army, with reference to
gress'
Mr.. HARALSON When the bill which had
the honor to report to the House shall be taken up
for action, gentlemen will be informed as to the num-
Der of men required to fiji the blank
Mr.. G. DAVIS. Still, that is not my question.
do not ask what particular increase the Committee
on Military Affairs propose should be made.
ask what particular increase in the corps, OF the
number of men, the Executive has asked from Con-
gress'
Mr., HARRISON. In the regular army
Mr.. G. DAVIS. In the army-in any force-in
anything which appertans to the military defences
Of the country.
Mr.. BURT. Before the gentleman answers the
interrogatory ofthe gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr.
DAVIS desire to ask him question. | ask him
whether the communication made to him by the Sec
retary Of War not Of confidential nature; and
whether he will feel himself at liberty now to dis
close any Of the facts contained in III
Mr.. HARRISON. will state canddlv to the
gentleman, (hough he is = member of the Commit.
tee Military Affairs, and knows the facts as well
as do,) that the communications received, and
which were laid before the committee were of n