Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-01-30
NO. A..

that which an American soldier would
starve. Their horses want no food
Every bushel of oats that our horses
consume must be sent at least two
thousand miles. | beg gentleman not
10 understand me to speak literally
when | say that Mexican horses do
not need food. "a taught If neces-
sary will make a personal cxpIana-
ton on that subject. Laughter.1 But
they are so used to the scanty foraging
Iofthat country, that they can live upon
"a range"--as we call il in the wcs-
tern country where American horses
would die.
Mr.. Chairman, the Mexican nation
al feeling is kindled up. confess, sir,
| am very doubtful! as to the result, if
that country be defended as it ought
to be. and as it may be defended, un-
less that now an adequate force and
full supplies be sent into the field
Bat | am sure of one thing, that the
sentiments of the American people,
and the American army. is for a short,
sudden, brilliant war, for advance
constant, triumphant, unceasing adj
vance.
speak for the regiment with which
am associated speak for the whole
VOLUNTEERS army. when say that the
brave men who have periled strength,
health, and life itself in the valley of
the Rio Grandc, without having seen
an enemy, desire war. They pant for
battle, and they feel it to be but just
that you should SO reinforce them that
they shall be able wisely and prudent
Ily to resume the advance before their
twelve months shall expire.
They desire to strike at least one
hard blow before they return to their
homes. Permit me TO. observe Mr..
Chairman, that independently entirely
of this question of raising troops at
home, your regular and volunteer army,
not only desire, but deserve-and far
more deserve than desire!--5ut both
deserve more support, aid and comfort
than they yet have received at your
hands.
| believe that il is true that at tho
other end Of the Capitol proposition
has been made to give the army three
months pay in advance. Sir, | hope
il will be done. If had any choice
on that subject, should act on the
conviction that il would be far more
preferable to them-nay, far more me-
cessary to receive that now than
prospectively in any shape whatever.
Many of the volunteer regiments
have not been paid in six months. 1t
was nearly six months before the !lli-
nois regiments were paid. When
they were paid, a private received al
the rate of seven dollars per month
and yet was compelled often to pur-
chase articles such rs could be procur-
cd only at the most exhorbitant prices.
| have seen the young man, who had
come forth from his home in the
strength of vigorous manhood, now
worn and wasted by disease, either by
borrowing or some other means, pur-
chasing at fifty cents a pound, little
morsel Of cheese with which to mois-
ten his lips, having no other sustenanco
provided for him but the hard bread
afforded by the army rations. which
he hardly had strength TO masticate. |
have seen them pay twenty-five cents
per pound for bacon, twenty-cents for
sugar, and ten cents for what was call
ed bakers bresd-expenditures which
the state Of their health not only justi-
fed but required. | am not to be told,
sir, upon this floor, that the soldier is
TO be confined to his rations. In an
emergency, the volunteer soldier per-
fectly willing to be so confined, and
not one Of them will be found TO grum-
BILE. But say for them, if you will
increase their pay, if you will tell
them they have behaved gallantly, and
at once give them three months pay
for what they have done, and as
pledge of future reward, they will
think of you with gratitude, and you
will only have done them justice, only
announce the consciousness that the
American volunteer army have done
more than could be expected of any
citizen soldiery. ] do not care a cent
whether the war costs thirty millions
or one hundred millions, while it lasts
would give them money, justified by
one principle; and it is this-frequent
doubts were expressed not as to the
vaIor Of volunteers, but as to their ca
pacity to acquire high state of discip-