The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-09


employed in the documents, which he must confess ne
could not exactly understand He had heard good deal
about 'conqueTns peace" They had in his OPINION
been ''conquerng peace long enough. II was now ne
cessary to begin to think OF conquerng the Mexcans.
The Mexican Congress had been some sixty days in ses
sion, having been convened if he not mistaken, in
the month OF November last in anticipation OF the regu
period of its convention But nothing had been heard
yet OF any overtures for peace nor OF the manner IN
which the profers made through Commodore Conner had
been received No limitations OF readiness to for
peace had vet been made the part Of the Mexican peo
pie. What then the condition OF the United States
in regard to the at the present moment They could
not tell what the Mexican people would say IN reference
to the propositions which had been made to them
Would TO God they might accept OF them But they
had yet given no manifestations of their intended
course, and was altogether uncertain what they
might do. Well, then. the American. people found
their country provide the for the prosecution OF
the war. How was that TO be done By voting the men
and the money which required to sustain their arms
He was glad TO find that there even OF those
who disagreed with him, and those with whom he acted
in their political views and sentiments, who had freed
themselves from all party rammes in this matter, and
ready patriots, TO give both the and money
which were needed to sustain the country, and obtain the
great object of the war; He did intend to dis
cuss the question as TO the best means OF prosecuting the
war, for that was matter which properly in the
hands OF those inirusted with the conduct of the war.
The lapse OF single week might change the whole pol
cy OF the government with respect to the war The IN
tellgence which the next mail from Mexico might bring
might perhaps demand and justify entire change IN
the whole line Of operations. He knew not what a
tons connected with the general conduct Of the war
he left where they properly belonged-n the hands OF
those authorized TO prosecute the war; and who re
sponsible to the American people for the manner in
which IT was carried on But they called on
to vote the means and portion OF these was EN-
baced in the bill under consideration. They called
to vote, additional of prosecuting the
ten regiments TO be added TO the regular military service
OF the country was to this particular question he de-
sired to call the attention OF the committee Gentlemen
had told hemand the idea through all the amend,
ments-hai the volunteer service was preferable in all
the exgeneles , Of war to regular troop No man was
applause to the gallant volunteers who had with such
ardor and hsrosm pressed forward in the defence Of their
courage the field and in the most trying circumstances
were worthy OF everlasting remembrance But it no
Disagreement TO them to say that in war to be con-
stantly exposed TO attacks from hostile predatory
bands, attempting TO cut off small detachments, it
desirable to n nsv as eua hs,
was the view taken by those who from their position
and experience must be regarded as best able to form
own views decidedly in favor of the augmentation
of the regular force and the Secretary of War; in his re-
port calling for the additional regiments, declared the
same preference. And all military men would, he
(N1r. H) believed coincide in that view. The regular
army had placed itself in the highest possible position
rs to s and s Nd Oh LET them t r. nat ne
uar troops, But he drew no nvidous distinctions. All
that he desired to do full justice to all He would
now direct the attention OF the committee to extract
from the report OF the Secretary of War:
Itis possible to foreel with much precision what
number OF troops the exgencie of the require for
Of the Treasury have been made upon The present csab
shnient OF the regular troops wholly filed up, giving
upon additional regiments to be raised the
| end OF the war; which will amount to 1885, and upon
contingent force OF ten thousand volunteers TO be organized
under existing laws, and called into service fneeed
The volunteers who have the enemy in the
pectaons formed of this description of troops, but it is no
dsparagement to them say that regular force be
| atprraH in IN he ,fry
Besides, considerations of economy decidedly in favor
citous tha, this subject should receive the eav attention Of
Congress- and body of troops for the may be
discharge the end years service. Those who are
now IN the field with the exception of one regiment sent out
continuing in it for twelve months the end of the
and it is presumed they will have the rghtat all events
they will have the permission, il they claim the rght-o
retire from the service the end Of that period, which win
expire about the first of June next
| Here remark made BY Mr.. HAMLIN, which
distinctly audible and the reporter is unable to
give with precision. either the statement of the honora
BILE gentleman or the reply of the chairman of the Com
Mr.. HARRISON proceeded The adjutant general
made use OF the following language He read the extract
for the double purpose of commencing the information
to the attention Of the committee, and OF showing the
embarrassment that now existed M the recruiting stations,
and which might be easily remeded 1t might be stated
that the of service-ve yearswas an obstacle in
the way Of recruiting for the regular army Many men
would willingly enlist for the war, who would not enter
for long period five years But he begged to read
"The recruiting service has been pushed with vigor
Several companies, much reduced have been temporarily
broken up rendering available officers for this
nl service than Otherwise could have been drawn from
tive duty in the field.
The whole number of enlisted from the LIST of Octo
ber 1915, TO the Both OF September 1916, is 59t5; being
am excess OF over the previous year The number en-
listed in October and November, and TO be enlisted i'm De-
cember, may be put down at 1900
"Thc raising Of numerous regiments of volunteers, and
the greater inducements for short periods satsiac
orily accounts for the of better in recruiting
for the regular army High wages for labor is another
as decided
crling service; but more than all, perhaps, tho dstnc
ton in the pension laws between the private soldier OF
the regular and the volunteer and which operates
unia yoralv the tonper The widows orphans of
the volunteers who may be killed battle die wounds
received in the SERVICE pensoned while the widows
and orphans Of the regular soldiers who die under The
circumstances are entirely unprovided for by law.
The rank and file of the army (enlisted of artie
y, infantry, dragons, and riiemen) including dctach
nents, recruits and recruiting parties, may be computed
10 be about 10, 900 men by the 3lsi of December
1.-The objections heretofore urged TO the bounty n-hand
system, deemed to be valid in time OF peace. apl
cable to state of war. recommend therefore, that the
provisions of the 18th section of the entitled, An ac
fixing the military peace establishment, NC. approved
March 10, 1892 repealed in 1885, be reenaced and
continued during war, and longer The mpulse given
to the recruiting service would be prompt and decisive of
better success"
Mr. HUNT asked the gentleman when it conem-
plated the additional forces be raised under the pro-
posed bill would be enlisted and brought into the field
Mr. HARALSON said he would reply to that inquiry
directly. II was well known that il impossible for
any one to tell when volunteers could be brought into
the service No could tell with any degree of pre-
cision the time any description of forces could be
brought into the field More than two months since a
requson had been made several States of the Union
for eight ten regiments OF volunteers during
the war, and, if he was correctly informed two OF the