The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-08

only way Of raising proper military force for thi
service let the officers Of this regiuentthe compa
nv oficersgo into the western country TO enlist IN
mep TO serve under them, where there men com
petent to ride, hunt, and acquainted with the dan
gers and hardships Of the service TO be found
and with the state OF feeling that now exists lei il b
known that the regiment was intended expressly 70
this Oregon route, and there would be no difficult,
whatever in finding sufficient recruits, which Difficult
ty would exist TO some extent ia recruiting tor tn
army generally.
As to taking for this service portion of each
company as Il now exists, all must be aware that !
could not be accomplished. A man would object L
being transferred, II he was eminent in his regiment
and such men only would answer for this ser
vice.
Again il would be extracting from every eompa
ny the picked men of the company, and leaving the
rest scarcely fl for the service in which they were
now employed.
They had constantly heard about the ability Of
the President TO mount regiment for this particu-
lar service. The President had no such power, un.
less they gave it to him by law. There was regl-
ment Of infantry not now employed and We knew
not how soon might be called TO increase our ar
my now in Texas.
As to expense, he considered that il was usually
much over estimated While in service on this
route, the men would nearly support themselves
upon game, and their horses would subslst on the
grass at their feet. II was only when they re-
returned TO garrison 10 be recruited that the expenses
for forage &c, were incurred TO any great extent
He touched upon the question Of natiyeism, OBJ
posing the amendment Of Mr. LEyIs, and arguing
while the West was principally TO be relied on TO
furnish the men and officers, filled by education and
experience for this peculiar service that the dscro-
ion should be left TO select from among foreigners
a. well as elsewhere, those who were best qualified
tic spoke IN high terms Of the value and efficiency
Of service OF many foreigners, and instaneed the
case Of an Englishman, (of whom he gave some
anecdote,) who was the best dragoon he had ever
seen. ' .
He concluded by appealing to his western friends,
especially who knew tho necessity Of this bill, and
that the force proposed under il should be raised
and ready for service by the 10Th May 10 reject
amendments, Akieh would embarrass the bill, and
pasr il without delay.
Mr.. SAWYER next obtained the boor. He in
tended (he said) to occupy the attention of the
House but very few minutes. There was only
one branch Of the subject which he intended 70
say anything. He discovered that a gentleman
from New York [Mr. WHrEl had given notice that
he would introduce an amendment 10 this bill at the
proper time, TO take the officers Of this regiment
from the regular army Upon that branch Of the
subject he intended To say a few words, and he
would say at the outset, that, should a proposition
OF this kind be adopted engrafted upon this bill
he should vote against It without any hesitation
whatever, for reasons which he would give, and
which were to his mind sufficient. And now he
undertook 10 say that you can enlist man into
that service from the West, to be governed by any
man taken from the regular army; il he was to he
man taken from West Point or elsewhere, and not
familiar with the peculiar nature Of this service
there we're very few Of his western friends who
would join him. he did not wish any Of his friends
to go into that service.
He had heard an objection made by the gentleman
from la Mr.. McGAUGHErl when the bill to raise two
regiments under considerations and il was said by
the gentleman that this bill would furnish very
yenent places for certain members of Congress who
were to lose their seats here in consequence Of ger
rymandering in their respective States and of other
causes, and that this bill got up for the purpose
of making places for them. He did not know how
the gentleman arrived at his conclusion. So far as
his statement, with reference to gerrymandering
concerned, the gentleman was well answered at the
time. Upon the other branch Of the subject he
wished to bestow little attention, he believed he
knew to whom the gentleman referred. He under
stood him to allude to the gentleman from Ken
lucky, [Col. TBssrrs
The CHAIRMAN reminded the gentleman that
ii not in order to call gentlemen by their
names. .a.
Mr.. SAWYER Well; will take that back
then. Ii was understood that a large petition was
got up recommending the appointment Of the gentle
man as colonel. There were other gentlemen, he
ulu not care Wnctner II was the gentleman from
Kentucky, or yourself, addressing the Chairman,
or any man from any other portion Of the Union, so
that he was as well qualified he took the gentle
man from Kentucky to be. He wanted man at
the head Of this regiment who had the requisite nat
ural good sense, and the proper experience end dis
cipne in regard to the nature Of this peculiar
vice. if he undertook this Oregon expedition; and
man whose general qualifications would be an in
ducement to many young men who live in the West
to enlist with the full that If they enlist in
this regiment under such commandments he be-
leved they would do in sufficient numbers and with
out hesation-that they would be so conducted as
to render the service efficiently, to do honor to them
selves and their government, and to be protected in
their lives and interests far as their gallant
ry and bravery under the direction of leader who
understands his business, would protect them.
The objection had been urged by some gentle
men, that when they made up this regiment, it
would be composed of the loafers and vagabonds Of
the country. Sir, (said Mr.. 81 that will be the
effect, if you put at their head that they have
not confidence in; that is the fact He would be glad,
fit could be done, to the officers of this regiment
chosen by the companies themselves after their
organization; but that, he undertook to say, could
not be done, for the constitution itself interviewed and
prevented, giving authority to the President to
make the appointments. Well, he was perfectly
willing to leave it in the hands of the President to
select citizens if he chooses, or men from the regu-
intelligence of the President, that he would select
the citizens only calculated for this peculiar service
But he was astonished to this proposition
coming from the quarter from which it had emana-
ted. His friend from the same State near him Mr..
RArHBuNl he thought would make no such PROPOSE
ton, ror did he think majority of the represen-
tatives Of the State of New York would sustain it.
[Mr. RArHBUN indicated his favor to the amend
ment.
am astonshed Continued Mr.. 81 that my
friend on my left says he is in favor of it. Now,
undertake to say that from the State of New York
this objection ought not to come. Let them look
for moment (and he had been at some pains to as
certain the facts) and see how many persons there
were in the army from New York, and from the
other States of the Union and he had made this ex
animation in anticipation Of his friend from Ken
lucky being appointed to that place. and he had looked
at that gentleman's State to see how many officers
of the army it now has. He had the whole num-
Der in the army and in addition to that he had the
number Of officers in the navy from the differ
ent States; and he found that New York
has now 1872 officers in the army, and
that Kentucky has SO, (the least Of any State
the IIpion II, nroportior, IN ponuotion