The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-04-22

HE OF the army 1920 men this reduc-
ton is now proceeding, and when it is
completed the standing army will con-
sist of 7 $50 non on-commissioned officers.
musicians, artificcrs, and prlvatcs. 1t is
true, that if this corps should appear
rather small for the defence of the Uni
ted States, and invasion Of region stu
ated 1000 miles off, on the other side of
the American continent, the militia force
OF the United States might, by its num-
bers at least, have excited the envy of
! Aerxes or Bonaparte.
The army register for lS43 contains
the appalling announcement that this
multltudinous host is commanded bv
627 generals, 2,67O general staff officers,
1888 field officers, 44,938 company of:
fcers, being in all 62,2O5 officers nor
are these numbers at all excessive,
when we learn that the forces nnder
their command consists of l,3s5,6l5
men! For the purposes of defence
against foreign invasion we have no
doubt that these American citizens
would exert themselves credibIy. A
considerable number of the Younger
men may even volunteer to take part in
offensive operations. But we have no
hesitation in saying that to bring an eff
clent army of even $4,000 men into the
field, prepared to march beyond their
own frontiers, is the most arduous task
which has ever devolved upon the Fed
eral Government of the United States.
and with its present powers and resour-
hpI1aua fr> Io oIeo1,,ka1-
practicable.
The Navy of the United States con-
slsts OF | ships Of the line, two of which
are afioat, three are receiving ships, and
SIX on the stocks or under repairs. The
ID first-class-frigates Of "A guns are the
best part Of the fleet; of these four are
ON the stocks and three in ordinary.
The two Sc gun frigates are old. The
smaller vessels are II sloops of war, 8
briggs, 9 schooners, and 6 steamers. The
The navy list contains 81 captains, o4
commanders, 324 lieutenants, and 1873
passed midshipmen, 4lO midshipmen,
and 81 masters. No estimate can be
formed of the strength of the crews of the
American navy, because it is well
known that considerable proportion of
this fleet is manned by British seamen,
who are attracted by the high pay of
the American navy in time of peace.
But that very circumstance shows the
extreme difficulty of manning an Amerl-
can fleet in war, and especially in a war
! with England. Their ships are, in fact,
worked to great extent by the Eng
lish merecenaries, large proportion of
whom would unquestionably return to
their own colors on the outbreak Of hos.
tilities.
We content ourselves with this sim
pie enumeration of the forces of the Uni
ted States by land and by sea, which
we hope is correct We know not what
course MIR. Polk may intend to pursue
after the notice for the abrogation of the
treaty of joint occupation has been duly
given; and we shall await with more
curiosity than alarm the enterprises
which may be projected for the purpose
of expeiling British subjects from dis
trlct where we happened to command
the coast and the interior, the Indians
and the forts. The world is perfectly
aware that England is not the attacking
party, and that we are content to leave
matters in Oregon as they now are. If
the Americans mean any thing, they
mean to dispossess us of what we hold
At the same time, if this intention be
avowed by the Cabinet of Washington,
or if it be disclosed by votes of money
and warlilse preparations which imply a
fixed determination to engage in this alb.
surd and fiagitious content, no State is
bound TO wait to be attacked.
| MIR. Polk has already instructed the
Amerisan Minister in London to ask for
an explanation of the activity in our
dock-yards. His own conscience might
have given it to him: his own language
has put us upon the defensive; and al
though the termination of the conven-
ton OF 1927 by notice is no casus 6elli,
yet the disposition indicated by that no.
tice, and the means which may be taken
| to Carrv that disnosition into aHoot ,o,