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

tone OF voice which the reporter regrets renders II
impossible to give anything more than a general
sketch Of his remarks. As far as heard, he said
In the investigation Of this subject the committee Of
which he had the honor to be member, and who
had reported this BILL had never taken il into con-
sderatlon as war measure, but as one necessary in
nme OF peace. They had made no calculations what
may DC he consequences OF our present unsettled
state OF relations with Great Britain, with Mexico
OF win any other foreign power they had taken the
ieeominenaauons OF the Executive, and the heads
OF the different departments, in relation TO the
| organization oil our army and in so doing
| they had come 10 the conclusion that in he
present undefended situation of our western from.
tier, and in the defenceless state of other marion. AZ
our country, not less than two regiments of dra
goons are Indispensable for the protection Of he
country, and Of emgrants to the Oregon territory
He proceeded TO an Investigation To ascertain wheth.
there is any necessity for increase of our army
flor, after candid and impartial view Of the subject
| he did not believe there was man in this House
member Of either party, who would go for the ad-
diton of single man. IL he did find il 10 be neces
sary.) With about 900 troops, Of which our army
| was at present composed, We had the whole coast,
| from Maine to the Rio Grande, TO defend upon our
seaboard, the whole coast upon the lakes up to
Green bay, and from Green bay to the mouth Of
the Red river besides sustaining the army Of oeeupa-
ten in Texas and defending our western settlers
and emgrants against 60 900 Indians upon our from
tiers. The army Of occupation in Texas has taken
all the available forces now in the United States; we
had perhaps four thousand troops there, and we
could not muster, from Maine TO New Orleans and
around on our northwestern frontier, a thousand
! effective men; and we had but 500 troops for de-
fence against these 5000 warriors Of whom he had
spoken. lie asked any gentleman to tell him
where' from Maine around our seaeoast, a solitary
| tul company was to be found. And where from
Green bay across TO the Red river, was solitary full
company They were all in Texas. And vet we
were told II Is not necessary TO increase our army
| Mr.. Y. gave his estimate Of the number of posts
which were required in Texas, on the route TO Ore
gon, and at other points, and strongly urged the in
dspensable necessity Of the two regiments proposed
to be raised, as peace measure. He also gave his
reasons why he preferred this bill for the raising of
two regiments Of infantry, TO the bill from the Sen.
ate for one OF dragons, being more efficient and
called for in greater degree to cooperate with our
present military forces and also az being more eco
nomleal, these two regiments costing but little
| more than the one mounted regiment.
With reference TO this question Of "supernumera-
ry" officers, he expressed the idea that the alega.
ton that there were so many unemployed was all a
humbug, and that all Of them nearly ALL were in
| the service.
Mr.. JAMES A. BLACK, (Mr. Y. yielding, in
an explanation apon this point said that the reports
from the proper department showed that we now
have three officers TO every forty men. and ninety
| five "supernumemryn officers beside He there
fore, distinctly said that they were supenumerares
He had always said in this House, and be repeated
that these men are employed, but they are employ
ed in place Of officers who are either on furough or
who are ncapaciRted for service on account Of age
or disease. He further expressed himself in favor
OF the ball, and wished an amendment made to it pro-
vieng for the immediate disbanding of these regi-
mens when they should not be needed for the de-
fence and interests ofthe country
Mr. HARRISON, (Mr Yell still Welding
1 nm ia gala Iar. r. r
6cers, referred, for the information Of the House,
! TO the report OF the commanding general Of the
army, made TO the Secretary of War, and commu-
nicated TO Congress at the commencement of the
present session. in which, speaking Of the supernu-
menres, he says: "95 brevet second leutenants,
graduates OF the Military Academy-strungely call
ed 'supernumeranes'-are,nb by act Of Congress Of
the year -, attached to companies, and doing
/ duty with them.n
Mr.. YELL resumed, and, in refutaton of the
charge against the officers Of the army, that so
many are unemployed and "supernumerary," en-
tered into an earnest defence and fervd eulogy Of
the gaantry, bravery, and actual efficiency of our ar
my. No army in Europe, or the world, he said, had
done more service IN proportion TO its numbers than
ours, in Texas, for the last IL months. Talk about
these supernu meraries Where are they From the
| brigadergeneral down to the brevet there was not
one. And these IS "supernumeraryn cadets which
the gentleman seemed to think were living upon their
were some OF them in command Of companies, and
we're in Texas or elsewhere. And yet they were
called supernumerary and useless He was content
to leave the selection Of these officers to the Presi-
dent; he cared not whether they were taken from
the line or from civil life; but such officers should
be selected for our frontier knew something about
frontier service, and familiar with and fitted to
endure, all its peculiar hardships and dangers
Mr.. Y. having concluded,
Mr.. BOYD gave notice Of an amendment he in
tended to offer, when in ORDER to be inserted at the
end Of the 10th line of the bill, providing ''that
such portions of the two regiments hereby author
| lied, should be mounted whenever, and continue
mounted so long as, in the opinion of the President,
| the public service should require"
DUTIES ON IMPORTS.
Whilst Mr.. YELL was speaking the committee
rose informally, and the Speaker resumed the chair
for the purpose of receiving a message in writing
from the President of the United States, by the
hands of J. X. Walker, esq, his private secretary
The reading of the message (under a manifest
Misrepresentation Of its purporD was called for
And the clerk proceeded to read it, but had given
only the fanes look at its contents, when general
laughter followed, accompanied by calls to suspend
the reading, and to take the back track again into
| committee.
| The message covers correspondence between
the British minister and the Secretary of State in
| relation to a mutual arrangement for refundng du-
ties upon imports improperly paid.
| The documents were referred to the Committee of
Ways and Means, and were ordered TO be printed.
| The chairman then resumed his seat in COM
| mlttee.
TWO REGIMENTS OF RIFLEMEN.
! Mr.. McGAUGHEY (when Mr.. YELL had con-
cuded) obtained the foor but yielded it for mo-
ment to
Mr.. RHETT, who desired to put an inquiry to
the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs,
Mr.. HARALsoN. 1t was this Whether this bill
was substitute for the bill from the Senate, which
proposed to raise one mounted regiment, whether it
was proposed to take up that bill after the present
| one should have been disposed of
Mr.. HARALSoN'S reply las he turned and adj
dressed himself to Mr.. RHErr) could rot be heard
by the reporter on the left of the chair, except to
this extent, that cit depended the action Of the
House."
Mr.. RHETT. FIVE pass this bill, what do you
propose to do'
Mr.. HARRISON (again not hesrd) was under
stood to say that the committee had given him no
particular instructions
|