Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-01-06
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Coueipo. deacs OF the Mhig.
WASulNgroN- Ian 4 1871

floor for personal explanation lie read his remarks from
paper, which had been ssrecd upon in which he sa,ec
that in referring TO the advocates OF Mexico" he had Nc
reference 10 the gentleman from Kentucky Had he
that assertion, when Mr.. DAVIS asked for explanation
now nearly weeks ago, would have prevented all th
trouble and excitement and consequent calamuos.
Mr.. DAVIS then and said upon this explanation he
withdrew the language lie had used towards the gentleman
from Virginia
Mr. BASLy then said that the explanation Just dc rem.
deEed AZ imperative him. heh he did with great pleasure
TO withdraw the impuaIon ct fasehood which he had
made towards Mr. DAVIS and which he requested the House
TO consider as never having been made.
And so this siaIr ended desire refrain making
remarks upon this subject but request you to
lsh the remarks OF both gentlemen, which were read as
agreed upon and furnished to the city papers The memo.
o poor BARROW makes the subject too Pau to be
referred TO-
This being disposed Of the Presidents Private Seere,a
~, JAMES h WALEsS. appeared with Message from the
President OF the United States which, the call OF the
House, read. IL recommends the increase OF the
regular army, and asks Tor power 7ppont general o
command both the regulars and volunteers The
Message was ordered TO be printed and referred the
! Military Committee;
| To f4e Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of tie United States.
In order prosecute tire war AGAINST NeSic witt, v;,o-
and success s necessary that authority should be prompt
y by Congress increase the regular army and to
remedy existing detects m its organization. With this
view. favorable attention to the annual re-
port OF the Secretary OF War, which accompanied NV mes
OF the sh ns' in which he that ten adj
Guona regiments OF regular troops shall be raised serve
/ during the
OF the additional regiment, % volunteers which have
been called tor from several Of the States have been
promptly raised, but this has the case IN regard t
ALL The existing law requiring that they should be organ
lied by the independent the State governments
has IN some instances occasoaed considerable dc,y and
Tor service In the field.
Ii is seucd policy maintain in time Of peace as
small regular army IS the eNisencies OF the public
Nce VIII permit In state OF war. Notwithstanding tie
great advantage with which citizen soldiers
be brought the field, this small regular army must
be increased N It's numbers reader the whole
iogce move efficient
Additional officers well mca, then. become ind.s-
pensa5ie Under the circumstances OF service DC.
liar proprey exists for Increasing the officers especially
N the higher grades The number OF such tiiecis who
from and other causes, rendered incapable Of &C
tive service in the field has seriously impaired cieiea-
cy OF the army.
From tie port The Secretary OF War appears ha,
about two-ttds q the whole number regmtntal field
officers either permanently disabled are necessarily
detached from their commands other duties The long
enjoyment OF peace has prevented from experiencing
much embarrassment from this cause; but IN state
VI conducted a re,gn county it has produced
/ serious Injury 10 the public service.
An efficient organization OF the army composed OF re-u-
arS and volunteers waist prosecuting the II be-
eVed would require the appointment 4 general officer
70 take command Of all our military forces the field
Upon the conclusion war, the services OF such an
gcer would no longer be and should be ds2.n
| .ishment.
recommend that provision be made by law FOR the ap
p1intnent OF such general officer during the war
IL Is respectfully recommended that early action should
be had by Congress upon the suggestions submitted Tor
their consideration IS necessary 10 aud elci-
eut service nprosecung war before tae present v
Orab.e tor military operations the eUerI,s coun-
try shall have passed away.
JAMES X POLK.
WlsmaGT-v, December 90 lsi6.
You vii! that the President wishes to ape the Eng
sh custom OF having higher gralcs officers than nave
hitherto been known TO cur TINS vii. not be the
end OF H. unless it be met by decided dsaPp,oya-we
shall have Admiras and Vice Admiras and Lieut. Gem
erals, and oIhe5 additional bur upon the people How
would do 10 have some great National Poet Of Baihcs
sing hereafter
Hufra Benton, that great god OF war
, Lieutenant Geaeal 10 the Earl OF Mari"
The Earl OF Mar would be a very appropriate title for
Nh Polk oT he mas married everything be has taken hold
Of during bis unlucky Administration.
But would warn people OF the danger TO which
they arc exposed. PrerOgaIye eading steadily IN is
stealtay strides tyranny. Ii there is no Young Hercules
II lib ry srangie the ia The cradle we may
bid adieu 10 freedom. One by the old landmarks are
troddon down. and dangerous are introduced
OBsTA PEiScIFHs Is wise p-ecept. Ii do NEE,
and coniognd these P.Oers against liberties there will
yet come day
when pro ua Pr,roFalive aught o creep
Win brtery' silent fco: freedoms ,ep,
WIN frankly Is bold culav ng plan
, And claim nom God right to uamfIs nan"
This p-oleut hour requires another Washington 10 res.
The usueuce OF hng!y power.
| And why do make these asseftonsl What IS the
object VI his message the President There i SCI
cre design IN Ia this The President has many acts
OF tyranny perform yet his OF Executive usupaon
% bus 4egui lie knows that Executive patronage il
! Lee
more 'i these 10 elect his purposes The creation
new regiments would give uim power appoint ten Co
lOneis ana numerous Other officers With the power of
Ocstow!ng these Cooutcc upon the I,rberS OF t
present Congress, he make difference 20 votes in
ms favor. This suppose DC hc whole secret Of the
movement You wall see by ths AoJunut Generals Re
port mat the existing regiments li ty some five
" SIX thousand men WY not f these up IL would be
well 10 do ihs,as ten new regiments To be
composed If not more itun thousand troops
which ae now want % al up the regiments already ere
aied. The 0hI-ct dent. IL is mainly create new Of
ice- by which 10 pure votes Congress II vas in
h.s way that the liberties Ireland were sold and the
unhappy Union clfficd, by who got appointments IN
the army, &C. for thef voics. Snail history teach ia
y vain
Tue Message, you will see, Is dated Oh the 29h Toes
day laiJ As mentioned iu my letter the 21ih
9. bo sent 10 that day, fuo-day but the death Of Mr.
BARROW prevented You will s,c that the President
recommends Congress increase the ofcers!n This IS
strange CcOmm nd1tiou! Does he increase the
numbC II not, how will he HE officers them
selves are aly not large enough already An E1ccu.
tive Document prepared with such cle and discussed In
Cabinet ought not 10 b. wooded careey ungran-
y maucaiiy. Law. prccsdcns, tho Constitution, and even
Language, would seem, be tramp under foot and
Il mua.atsd In tins Mexican var
The President recommends that THE Office .i,I asst ogIy
n the cad Of the wa, bat 10 Is hard get Of
office waan they got into H. Locoiocos have peculiar
u way Oi holding oyer"
The Message being read ho House went into commit.
tee OF the whole, and TOOK up iHe b t',o j7G Co raise
one regiment oi dug end nine OF infantry
- pf the regular ormys,ih the aamc number Of oicsf-
mcn &c. belong Co ,sisung regiments. the Pre-.
sIdeni appoint, during hc recess % the Senate tue COM
. u7sonot oicors The enlistment Co be Tor eve years Of
during the Does this moan That the wer De- q, las
for five yeaU'J The Pres dent also appoint with ih,
advice and consent of the Senate, additional Moor
each regiment Of Dragons, artillery infantry ond rHemcn
N The army, 90 be- taEe from ho Captains OF the army.
RogmenuI QuarcimastDr also to Us appointed each
T. ymeuL 10 each recruit ; - TO bo PAID Truly this b.
- might bo entitled 90 Oa ~ enable the President se,
Z, ins liberties Of tha people" LCi maik tc WHO VOTE
Tor o. AMI VIII, sinai. hereafter be- appointed 81 Office undc
~ IT,
Mr. Mc'ArsuES Of Indiana then took the floor, an,
r denounced the whole proceedings var movement
o c was entirely olpOacd 90 tuo war believing be- un
t JUST end unucccsslryha. twas war not Tor liberty b
he tor conquest Ilc Fald very justly, that he spoke not D
ins Wings, but iar hnIse This bot tue The Wig
believe tne war might have been i1r0rabiy avoided bu
" now Wai DO t2lst, they Yr fighting ont. In'1rg
10 naicy Tor ODE Nation have President who ON hc:rsy
DE country hai ll ilst the Wing Generals conquer Oh
Mexican Generals, be sCads them The "aj oud confJrr
yI