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

the expense al SjOU,UUO. lie woulu give his ioo
sons why he was opposed to any increase q The
TWAS said that we had two thousand miles Of
additional frontier TO defend. Was not the frontier
the only place where troops were wanted Whal
was the use Of having any troops on the seaboard
Was not the fort Of Governors island, or any oth-
sr post, just as well manned by force barely SUI,
keent 10 take Of the guns, as by larger ioiGe'
What necessity was there eys for The force on INC
frontier The position of the frontier had' IN ms
opinion, been misepresenled. lie was a western
man He remembered tho time when, standing on the
hanks of the Mississippi, and looking across mat
river, scarcely hut was yisible-when mere was
not habitation between the Mississippl and the
Pacific. A soldier was never wanted there, except
in time Of actual war; and then the regular troops
were not deemed as very seryiceable. There could
b. no Indian war without previous notice Of il.
There would always be time for the government to
provide against IL. -
The gentleman from Arkansas [Mr YELLl had
aid hat there were sixty thousand Indians on
the frontier; they might carry off our hogs cows.
But he did not think that there would be any trou-
bic with the Indians, unless there should be a war
with Great Britain. Certainly, there would
Be no necessity for additional troops for the proec-
ZION Of the frontier from the Indians. ofwhat use
would be an army Of more than 1000 men now
Gentlemen talked about Great Britain; but still
il was said that the bill had no reference to a war.
The expense ofthese regiments could not be limited
10 any definite term As the gentleman from Indiana
had said il would be difficult to get rid Of the com
mon soldiers and still more Of the officers. He con.
.ld,rsd seven thousand men as sufficient for the
whole Of our frontier and he would say that the
frontier was able to defend itself
Frontier people had love for adventure and
excitement and they would laugh to- com the idea
that they must be defended by United States
troops
There were now 1000 men in Texas under the
command Of Bngadisr General Taylor, and TO see
the pompous parade Of general orders one would
suppose that General Taylor was commanding a
division at least He thought the force more than
sufficient, unless there should be war, when twenty
regiments might be wanted. But IL said that
he additional force was not wanted in reference TO
Mexico. What then was II wanted foR How
long was this army to remain on the Rio Grande'
Certainly not more than a year. Time would
solve the whole mystery as to what was to be done
in regard to Great Britain and Mexico. But he
would say, that the frontier was able TO defend it.
self and that seven thousand troops were sufficient
for any practical purpose. II had been said that
we we're to take Oregon. IL was no such thing
There were not thirty Oregon mel in this Hsuse.
The other day he drew up resolution, declaring
that the President could not consistently surrender
any portion Of the territory Of Oregon, to which he
had asserted that title "clear and unquestion-
able" and all around him, Oregon and anti-Oregon
men, joined with the gentleman from Massachusetts,
lMr. WHrHRoP,l to put 1t on the table, as though
Il was treason, or altogether insdmissibe for one
moment.
This great question had degenerated into question
whether the President should take the 49th parallel
or come down a liule lower. There was nothing in
the Oregon question that could render necessary
these two additional regiments. The very uneer-
ainty that hung over the Oregon question would
prevent him from voting for this bill He believed,
that If a message should come in now at that door,
informing us that the President had made treaty
on 49o, it would meet NTH a universal burst Of
appreciation. What would be the use of the block
houses and stockades that were talked Of unless
were to have 0regoni He did not want the people
Of Illinois to leave her fertile fields upon any doubt
full enterprise. He did not wish them to go with
out the prospect Of some practical benefit If they
were TO be obliged to contend with British set
tiers, he did not wish them to go. He was asked
by some one, whether he would now build stock
AIDES beyond 40. He answered that he would
comply with the supulatons Of the treaty; but he
could see no use in taking any measures Of this
sort unless we were to 60 to $40 40.
This government expended $4,000 900 year
for the protection Of the frontier and Of our CON-
merce, and yet our commerce did not require
gun, and the protection of the frontier could be
safely left to the frontier people.
He thought il very bad policy TO increase the ar.
my in time Of peace. Did any one suppose that
these two new regiments would pat us in any better
condition to sustain a war if one should occur
Something had been said about the cultivation of a
military spirit among the people, through the
means Of a standing army; but this a great
mistake, for that spirit would be aroused among
the people when circumstances required it, 1t was
thought more genteel and convenient to fight on
horseback but all the "good fighting" that had
been done in this country had been done on foot.
Here Mr.. BAKER made some ausion to a re-
mark of Mr.. McGAUGHEr which called up that
gentleman, and he explained, that he was in favor
Of protection to every branch of domestic industry
and if the tariff Of 1642 should be repealed, he
should be in favor Of such system as would equal
lie all protection.
Mr.. BAKER said, the gentleman from Indans
is in favor of the tariff Of l642, and am l. If the
South and the democracy should unite to pu
dewn the tariff of l842 if they should kiss and make
friends, after abusing each other on the interna
improvement question-then American industry
would be FRUSTRATED. If the alternative to thu
tariff Of 1912 was supposed to be free-trade-
If the abolition Of one was supposed to be thu
sure means Of obtaining the other-it would b
found to be a mistake--a humbug. Much as hi
desired the maintenance of the tariff of l842 i
it could be permanently maintained, he would
not consent to any increase Of expenditure, unles,
it should be applied to legitimate and expedient pur
poses. We were getting along so fast in expendi
lures, that gentlemen would be afraid to reduce thu
tariff. He would not vote for any Increase of ex
penditure for the express purpose Of keeping up tn,
tariff. Instead of raising these 400 men, he woult
say to Mr.. Polk that he should be at liberty to cal
out sufficient number of men in Illinois, Arlsan
sas, elsewhere, for the defence Of the frontier il
case of necessity. That would be the best way
proceeding This would encourage that military
spirit among the people which gentlemen desired &c
much to see, and which was everywhere dyine
throughout this country.
The militia system was dying out. The Balti
more volunteers were formerly fine military corps
but what had become OF them now' Everywher
the system had fallen into neglect and dsrepute.
Persons could not be found to take commission
in the militia. II it was wished to preserve a mill
tary spirit in tho country, let the West believe tina
they are to defend themselves from the assaults Q
the Indians ...
Mr.. YELL here remarked that the gentlema
did not know anything about the Indians. Their
was difficulty among the Indians themselves, an
not between them and the whites. We we're oblige'
to keep force to protect the Cherokees from tn
Seminoles. The Seminoles were just as host il
to us as they were when they were removed from
Florida. But we could whip them more easil,
where they now were than in Florida
Mr.. BAKER. They knowit They know the