The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-12
EXECUTIVE OFFICE.

SIR have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt
OF communication from the War Department, da-
ted the I'd instant, the concluding paragraph of
which relates to matter fully explained and an.
swered, hope satisfactorily in my reply to a pre-
vlous despatch from that department. of the 18th ul-
timo.
The communication in other respects, has, must
confess, given me the greatest surprise and uneasi-
ness and cannot contemplate the result likely to
arse from the alternative which you have instructed
Gen. Taylor to impose on the Louisiana volunteers,
OF being sent home and disbanded or of enlisng for
twelve months, under the act of Congress oft 18th
ultlmo, without emotions Or decided repugnance.
therefore earnestly entrcat the government TO
ponder and reflect upon the circumstances attending
the enlistment OF these troops before concentrating,
as 70 them an er post laeo measure Of hardship and
of hagrant injustice. They were not enlisted, or
ganzed, nor mustered into the service of the United
States IN virtue Of the provisions Of the act Of the
18th OF May, and, in my Judgment, it would be a
marsh ana unnecessary proceeding TO subject them
70 me torture OF enlisting under 1t for twelve
months, or Of being ordered home, In the event of
an unwlingness so to enlist General Taysrs re-
QUESTION upon this State is couched, in part, In the
following terms: 81 have the honor, under the au.
thority Of the War Department, to call upon the
State OF Louisiana for four regiments of infantry to
be ordered into the service Nth The utmost despateh
and for the longest period authorized by law"
The law governing and prescribing the period of
enlistment is Of course the State law section 80, of
an act entitled act for tho organization and dscip-
line Of the militia Of the State Of Louisiana and 10
the following language: "No detachment shall be
required to serve more than three months at one
time, unless IN case of urgent necessity when the
comnander.n-chief ia authorized tn detain them
sixty days longer. The time in going to the place
OF rendezvous and returning from the place of dis
charge, is not counted in the time of service" 1t
will be seen, by this section that was necessary to
strain point to extend the period to six months.
Hnf ha nUnAr IL q.
with cheerful acquiescence the volunteers engaged
for six months, in order that Gen. Tayor's requsi-
ton might be met in the spirit well as in the let
ter. The act of Congress # 2sth of February 1895
Gordon's Digest, article 2,4ll, provides, that ''no
officer, non. commissioned officer, or private Of the
militia, shall be compelled to serve than three
months" Thus it is apparent that the Louisiana
volunteers enlisted sfor the longest period au-
thorzed by law" as tho law then stood, and their
position under it cannot be changed by the act
of the 18th of May unless forced by the exercise Of
arbitrary power
also beg the department to consider, for one mo-
ment the circumstances under which the enlistment
of these volunteers was required The call upon the
patriotism Of Louisiana, presented startling view Of
the critical and perous situation of the army and
of Point Isabel, and left no time for calculating
Fiction, and none for delay. An absorbing, ener-
getic sentiment Of duty to the country, possessed
the minds and hearts Of this entire community.
The Judge deserted the bench, the lawyer his clients
the physician his patients the merchant his count
ing house, the mechanic his workshop, and the
minister of the Gospel his pulpit, to respond the
proclamation for volunteers; and though we had
severe difficulties to encounter, by union and de-
cision of action, they were speedily overcome In
incredible short space of time, several thousand
brave and devoted men were forwarded to the seat
Of war, where they happily arrived in time to en-
able General Taylor more confidently to assume
an offensive attitude against the enemy, and to
crown the brilliant victories Of the 9th and 9Th al
ready achieved, with the conquest of Matamoras
These men were despatched with the express con-
dition and understanding that they were enlisted for
the term Of six months, unless sooner discharged
by the cessation of hostilities.
Would it be just or expedient, ask or would it
be in good faith, 10 disband these troops now, he
cause they might be unwilling to change the terms
Of their enlistment ! feel sure it would not, and
trust with confidence that the department will re-
consider and countermand the instructions to Gen.
Taylor on the subject.
Very respectfully, youENPedient servant,
SAAC JOHNSON.
Hon w. L. NANCY