Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-01-30

ing 70 more than one hundred per cent Of that description of
force then In the service making force of between eight
nine thousand regular soldiers TO be enlisted How many re
cruits, he would ask, had been enlisted under that bill He
believed they had obtained about the number and
now they were asked TO pass another bill for the enlistment Of
ten thousand in addition those previously authorized TO be
enlisted Butt appeared from the ill which had at
tended their efforts TO fill up the regular army be very clear
that 1t would take long time to procure in that way the
amount of force which required But it admitted
all hands that volunteers could be got any
any extent that might be called for
The next question, them which the most efficient
troops lie would ask any gentleman whether experience
had not shown that volunteer force efficient any
force which could be brought into the service The progress
OF the had shown this to be the And the
matter OF expense for transportation &c. that could be
greater in the than in the other both descriptions Of
force being proposed be engaged for the PERIOD viz
dung the war In point OF efficiency indeed he believed that
the volunteer troops would be found be superior to the
gula soldiers. They certainly intelligent, and they
had the advantage of feeling greater degree OF patriotic ador
aud enthusiasm OF those enlisted under the authority Of the
act of 9Th of May, twohrds he believed foreigners,
and the desertons from the regular army, small that army
in comparison with the volunteer forces
the assertions that took place from the volunteer
forces This proved that in that point of view least vol
uneers were the best material for soldiers
The passage of the bill in its original form urged for
the that the Administration desired it in that FORM He
believed that he good friend this Administration
that had for he had used every exeron bring
power yet argument with him, for the adoption Of
particular measure that the President the Secretary Of
War desired it. Fiji doubtful case, he would yield to
their opinion but not he claimed the privilege Of
exercising his own judgment.
There other matter to which, though il did not
properly belong to this subject he would briefly aude How
this with Mexico to be terminated Some gentle
men proposed that should be done by vigorous prosecu
ton of the war; Some for marching to the city Of
Mexico directs and others, among whom the Senator
from Texas in favor of making Mexico feel the effects
Of the from her frontiers to her capitals and with these
he conceded in opinion Others for Withdrawing our
trannc nj fati fbaaa
side of the Rio Gande but if they intended by this the
withdrawal Of troops from the Mexican territory, they
must remember that 1t would be necessary TO ake up their
position the of the Sabine for Mexico had yet
reinquished her claim to the territory beyond that
proposition had also been started from high authority
establish the army along line be drawn from Tampco
the Gulf of California and TO hold possession of all the
rory that had been conquered from Mexico living north of
that line He did not pretend TO know much of military af
fairs, but it seemed to him that it would require army
equally strong to hold all the country north Of that line
would require to crush the Republic of Mexico and with lit
tie probability of bringing the conclusion but an
doubted certainty of rendering most expensive He
would not have been disposed occupy the time Of the Sen
ate with single word on the subject it not that he
might be supposed to be arayed against the proposition sub
mted by the Executive He had deemed necessary there
FORE explain the reasons why he preferred his proposition
to that contained in the BILL And there another reason
If this bill were adopted, and possible ill the army
so that they might carry the with regular troops they
would etecuay preclude the people of Missouri and he
might add Mississippi, Indiana, and perhaps other States
from any further participation in the for those
States would be willing enrol themselves regular soldiers
Mr. GREENE said that, reluctant he was occupy the
time, he compelled TO ask the indulgence of the Senate
for few moments while he assigned of the reasons for
the votes which he had already gven and for those which he
proposed give He had voted in Of the amendment
to the first section OF the bill proposed by the Senator from
Texas because considered question between
the employment OF volunteer force and the employment Of
regular soiers and proper for hm'to say that in
giving that vote, he felt himself by committed
the entire plan of the Senator proposed in the
amendments submitted by him. On the contrary he
sed that the proposed election of officers inconsistent
with the constitution Of the United States He only intend
ed by that vote TO express himself favor of the volunteer
system He had also voted for the amendment proposed by
the Senator from Kentucky, because he would voted
tor tho amendment amended but because essened the
evil which he considered existed in the amendment the
Senator from Texas. He should have voted against the
whole proposition and the given by the Senator
from Kentucky, that where the question doubtful he
would give the privilege of election the soldiers, would
have induced him to otherwise than he did, because he
held that would have been doubtful exercise of power
the part OF Congress to grant such privilege He intended TO
vote for the amendment proposed by the Senator from Mis-
sour, not with view of throwing any impeachment in the way
OF the prosecution of this war; but because he believed it
the only way in which they could carry the design Of the
President himself well the design of the Senate and
that was, to prosecute the with vgor. Experience had
shown that enlsmens but slowly While under the
authority Of the which passed last year they had made
comparatively but few enstments for the regular army the
answered, but thousands waiting and anxiousy wait
ing, for opportunity to avail themselves of another call for
volunteers. He knew it had been said that the companies
already organized volunteers would Immediately enrol them
selves in the regular service that it but change of
But there sometimes good deal in the change OF
The people of this country, he believed had decided
aversion TO any thing that seemed like entering upon state
Of servude, and the of regular soldier had attraction
for them Volunteers preferable name and volunteer
forces he believed, preferable many accounts The
volunteer not mpeed by motives Of pecunary
wand He actuaed by spirit entirely dicrent he
tered the service because he felt to be his duty citizen
and patriot and because he emulous of the dstnc
ton attained by those who preceded him. He would say
that this would not be the instances with the
guar soldier but he would say that experience has shown that
when given force TO be raised in given time, their APP
peal must be made 10 the patriotism Of the people He had
not risen with view of occupying the time Of the Senate, or
any intention Of making speech upon this occasion. His OBJ
ect principally to explain his for the votes which
he had and those which he intended TO gives and hav
ing accomplished that object gentlemen extremely i'm
patient for the passage Of this BILL he would further
pass upon the me but would take other occasion ex
press his views IN regard 10 the origin Of this war
Mr. DAYTON said that he unable to see any good
reason why gentlemen who disposed express their
views either upon this bill upon the general subjects con-
nected with it, should do now So far as he was able
to judge seemed manlesy proper that they should do so
at this time He intended without infringing much he
trusted, the time Of the Senaefor he not much in
the habit of trenchng upon their tme-to make few gene
raj remarks well upon the bill itself upon the genera
subject with which this bill connected The idea that
they not 10 speak their mndha there something
that TO operate species Of upon members of that