The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-31

Iaiupehy, poms an Increase OF SUI men, und maht
a grand aggregate increase of 1856 men-thal IL .,
say in the event Of the ball being carried out in all Ia
parts by the President The increase OF the presen
establishment, however, as ] have said, 10 lett dis
ereuonary with the Executive, and II he does mo-
think there is strsng and abiding necessity for II
u Is 10 be presumed il will not be made.
In relation 10 the term Of service, should prefer
that no particular time should be specified. But i
any term at all is 10 be inserted, think, for many
reasons, that three years IL preferable TO any other
IL these regiments should take up their position on
the line TO Oregon, how necessary Il is that know
ledge Of that country, by means Of excursions made
by the military from the posts that to be esab-
lished should be impaired TO the people OF the Uni.
ted States Ii Is probable that three years is as long
a term as any man would desire enlist for in that
particular service IL this territory is rich and
fertile as il has been described TO be- there are no
means by which our agricultursts, and those who
wish TO settle there, obtain such certain infor.
through them knowledge of the country viii be OBJ
taaed which would lead TO its settsnient, In many
instances by the discharged soldiers themselves. i,
Is better therefore, to have short term OF service
THAN long one We do not know how long this
corps may be needed. There may be permanent
necessity for tin which event additional legsla
ton will hereafter be necessary. Or IL may be ex-
pedient TO disband We cannot decide this poin, At
present.
The 4th section of the bill is in the following
words:
Sac. 4 .ans Dc q further snae.d That the Pre.idsn. Of
s .IS ada AZ len aSI p.s. 20 the
number In each company Of the existing regiments Of
the sIgeneies OF the public service may require the same
take il for granted (as have already said) that
this addition 20 the existing army will not be made,
except there is necessity for IT, because II would be
unreasonable to suppose that the President would
take upon himselfthe responsibility Of such meas
ure in the absence of any adequate cause. on the
small military establishment Of the United States,
amounting TO 1888 men, upwards offour thousand,
recently at Corpus Christi, are now probably on the
Rio Grande. These forces have been drawn from
every section Of the country-so much so that in
many Of our military posts, scarcely a corporal's
guard las one gentleman remarked) remains. We
have been officially informed that this force cannot
probably be Withdrawn for some time to come. Are
gentlemen willing that these posts, and the public
property there, shall be eft without garrison, or
scarcely man to protect them trust not
In view Of our more widely extended frontier by
the annexation OF Texas, and the demands Of the
service at points from which troops have been with
drawn, as well as the proposed policy OF the govern
ment encouraging emigration TO Oregon some in
crease Of the military force is necessary We are
told by the commsnder-in-chief that exclusive of
commissioned officers the peace establish me mt was
from 1908 TO 1912, 8, 1913 men; from 1915 TO 1897 ,
500; and at the date of the last reduction in l542
$40; since that reduction, at present. 1883 I"
The addition now proposed by the bill would still
leave the army about the same in numbers that il
was from 1908 to 1912, and much ess than it was
from 1915 1921, and less also than at the date Of
the last reduction in l842.
The amendment Of the gentleman from New York
gives you greater increase than the bill reported
from the COMMITTEE on Military Affairs, though it
gives it in a different form-a form which will prob
ably prevent you from obtaining the services Of such
men are thought to be bes, suited to the service
Before taking my seat, i will show from the docu-
ments what the estimated annual expenditures for
different kinds Of force will be: r.-I
The annual expense of regiment of Dragons is
estimated by the Paymaster General at $3.50 292 81;
that ola regiment of mounted riiemen, with pay Of
infantry, and forage as dragons, at S203, 420 go;
and that Of regiment Of riaemen, on foot, $780,
al &c. RI ....E,s = 300. A--a.. - ri 49, 4
have thus, Mr.. Chairman, laid the facts, an I
think, fairly before the committee, and have given
briefly some of the reasons which induce me to sup
port the measure, and prefer the provisions of the
bill, as originally reported, including the amend
ment Of my friend from Kentucky, [Mr. Borp, ]
to the other amendments which have been offered.