Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-03-03
WHOLE NUMBER 80.

fels. II. 80 TlluG1l 4tOthAsAlts sN4s
,lber last, that the war would sscontinue 10
4 represented with yigor, as the best means
|, of securing peace, and recommend 10 your
tearly and favorable consideration the
Z. measures proposed BY the Secretary aof
1 War; in his report. accompanying hat
tgaossaee sss.s Z
j In my message oftRe 4th January last,
these and other measures, deemed to be es.
sential to the ''speedy and successful ter
4 nination'' of the war, and the attainment
of a just and honorable peace, were re.
commended to your early and favorable
consideration.
! The worst state Of things which could
exist in war with such power as Mexi-
GO, would be course Of indecision and in.
activity on our part. Being charged by
the constitution and laws with the conduct
ofthe war, have availed myself Of all tho
means at my command to prosecute it with
energy and vigor. "
! The act s'to raise for limited time an
additional military force, and for other pur-
|poses," and which authorizes the raising of
ten additional regiments tosthe regular ar
my, to serve during the war, and to be dis.
banded at its termination, which was pre-.
sented to me on the 18th instant, and ap-
proved on that day, will constitute an i'm.
portant part of our military force. These
regiments will be raised and moved to the
seat ofwar with the least practicable
| 1t will be perceived that this act makes
| no provision for the organization into brig
Eades and divisions of the increased force
which it authorizes, nor for the appoint.
ment of general officers to command it. Il
j will be. proper that authority be given BY
!, law to make such organization, and to ap-
point, by and with the advice and consent
/, Of the Senate, such number of major gen.
erals and brigadier generals as the effi-
cheney OF the service may demand. The
number Of officers of these grades now in
service. are not more than are required for
i their respective commands; but furtherleg.
islative action during your present session
viii, in my Judgment be required, andto
which il is my duty respectfully to invite
your attention BE- IA fFss L .g,7ga 4e5
/ Should the war, contrary to my earnest
desire, be pro;racted to the close of the
term of service Of the volunteers now in
! Mexico, who engaged for twelve months,
an additional volunteer force will probably
I become necessary 10 supply their place.
i Many OF the volunteers now serving in
i Mexico, it is not doubted, would cheerIully
engage, at the conclusion of their present
term, TO serve during the war. They would
constitute more efficient force than could
be speedily obtained by accepting the ser.s
vices ofany new corps who might offer
4 their services. They would have the adj
vantage of the experience and discipline Of
a years service, and will have become ac-
cllstorned to the climate, and be in less dam
ger than new lev: :es of suffering from the
4 diseases Of the country. .sa5. u
4 recommend, therefore, that authority
be given TO accept tho services of such Of
!, the volunteers, now in Mexico as the state
I Of the public service may require, and who
may at the termination of their present
term, voluntarily engage to serve during
! the war with Mexico, and thai provision.
be made for commissioning the officers.
Should this measure receive. the favorable
consideration Of Congress, tits recommends
ed that bounty be granted TO them upon.
4 their voluntarily extending their term Of
service This would not only be due to
the government; because, if discharged at
the end Of the twelve months, the govern.
ment would be bound to incur heavy ex-
: pense INFRINGING them back to their homes,
and in sending to the seat of war new
corpse of fresh troops to supply their place.
. By the act Of the thirteenth Of May last,
=, the President was authorized to accept the
. services of volunteers, sin companies, bat
= talions, squadrons and regiments" but no
- provision was made for filling up vacancie.
y =, which might occur by death or discharges
= ~ , from the service, on account Of sickness Of
iu other causalties. In consequence Of this
omission, many ofthe corps now in service
CO have been much reduced in numbers. Nor
IL 81 was any provision made for filling vacari,
ol cies ofregimcntal or company officers who
~ might die or resign. Information has beer
IN received 1t the War Department of the re
eW sienation Of more than one hundred D
A. these officers They were appointed By
the State authorities, and no information
ur has been received, except in a few is.stan
di. Fces, that their places have been filled; an,
rd the efficiency Of the service has been i'm
ry[ paired fromthis cause. ,is
le. To remedy these defects, / recommen
by that authority be given to accept tho SCI
ce elvices Of individual volunteers, to Gil UP Iii
in places of such as maydie, or become uI
4s fit for the service and be discharged, an
ch that provision be- also made for filling th