Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-14

taCturerS mechanics and laDOrerS ana tnlS not
only among the officers, but the private soldiers
in the ranks. Our citzen-soldiers are unlike
those of any other country in other respects,
They are armed, and have been accustomed
from their youth up to handle and use firearms
and a large proportion Of them especially in the
western and more newy-sctted States, are eX-
pert marksmen. They are men who have rep
utation to maintain at home by their good con-
duct in the field. They are intelligent, and there
is an individuality Of character which is found in
the ranks of no other army. In battle, each pr-
waite man, as well as every officer fights not on
ly for his country, but for glory and distinction
among his fellow-citizens when he shall return to
civil life
The war with Mexico has demonstrated not
only the ability of the government to organize
numerous army upon a sudden CALL but also to
provide it with all the munitions and necessary
supplies with despatch, convenience, and ease,
and to direct its operations with efficiency. The
strength of our institutions has not only been
displayed in the valor and skill of our troops en-
gagged in active service in the field but in the or
ganization of those executive branches which
were charged with the general direction and con-
duct of the war. While too great praise cannot
be bestowed upon the officers and men who
fought our battles, it would be just to withhold
from those officers necessarily stationed at home,
the army, in proper time and at proper places,
with all the munitions Of war and other supplies
so necessary to make it Efficient the commcnda-
ton to which they are entitled. The credit due
to this class Of our officers is the greater, when it
is considered that no army in ancient or modern
times was ever better appointed or provided than
army in Mexico. Operating in an enemys
country, removed two thousand miles from the
seat Of the federal government ite different corps
spread over a vast extent Of territory, hundreds
and even thousands of miles apart from each
other, nothing short of the untirng vigilance and
extraordinary energy Of these officers could have
enabled them to provide the army at all points,
and in proper season, with all that was required
for the most efficient service
1t is but an act Of justice to declare, that the
officers in charge of the several executive burea-
us, all under the immediate eye and supervision
of the Secretary Of War, performed their res
pective duties with ability, energy, and efficiency.
They have reaped less of the glory of the war,
not having been personally exposed to its pcrils
in battle, than their companions in arms I; but
without their forecast efficient aid and cooper
alton, those in the field would not have been pro-
vided with the ample means, they possessed of
achieving for themselves and their country the
unfading honors which they have won for both.
When all these facts are considered it may
cease to be matter Of so much amazement a.
broad how it happened that our noble army in
Mexico, regulars and volunteers were victorious
upon every battlefield, however fearful the odds
against them
The war with Mexico has thus fully develop
ed the capacity of republican governments TO
prosecute successfully just and necessary for
eign war with the vigor usually attributed to
more arbitrary forms of government. 1t has
been usual for writers on public law to impute
10 ropub1ioe n wan Of thot ur;t1r ntroti
of purpose, and vigor of execution, which are
generally admitted to belong to the monarchcal
and aristocratic forms and this feature Of popu-
lar government has been supposed to display it.
sefmore particularly in the conduct of war
carried on in an enemy's territory The war with
Great Britain, in 1912, was to a great extent
confined within our own limits, and shed but lit
tie light on this subject. But the war which we
have just closed by an honorable peace, evinccs
beyond all doubt that popular representative
government is equal to any emergency which IS
likely TO raise in the affairs of 1. nation.
The war with Mexico has developed most strikingly
and conspcnousy another feature in our institutions.
1t is that without cost 10 the government or danger to
our liberties we have in the bosom of our society Of
freemcn, available in a just and necessary war, viz
tualIy standing Amy Of two millions of armed
citizen soldiers, such as fought the battles of Mex
leo.
But our military strength does not consist alone in
ou 0"PaVy '"' 0H'ei'." """ 'u0'o'''u ol'0'"t''" ""
land' Lne navy Is al Important arm OIL ''e 'Ilona ue
renee II he services OF '' navy were Dot 50 o.i".'
as 'hoSe OIL tie army u" ''e 'ao wa" WIZ" meH'co II
was because tnGy had no enemy 10 meet on h'r own
cement "h'e Tue army U'o "I'P"'unI9 ., Pe'"..'n'
'n5 more conspicuous SCI ''Le' ''o navy i' 61Y
P"eu III ''e oopCucl ., ule war i'o'" u'"'o'e' Ut
inc service le'ioiIheu ueT ""'e "uY 10 ue
country for ''e ape anu sa.ant services oI tTe ",
hceI an' men Vi .ne ""'y-"ol'"S '"uet ,y 40
of the CALIFORNIA;, the capture of Vera Cruz, and the
e H %,c % D. p' ", S H. H.; lL s', pi =; ,
u trv Nu'' "''l ~ , l ~ -, 81 81 lI I' "
lre, NS'o'ei e"e " ruu "n, u'o 'oS'
elect'G ii, eSouu"s anui'I1 VI ""' ,u oa' r
81 HulPi'Iro 'n 1, ! H.; , r ' y 49, " O
en.l"IoG ~. ip, w. Hu' 0"" C
e%,e''eu Nu! . e % e I,I w. 'Pu , NV
l I ''n"o,'S lo''' '' GYMS VI "''' ' '''''! " u"
uep,eG 10 ''o navy c,-l 49,.
sH praise Is uue 10 tl'e oiceIs Vi ue several eHI
uutVe ou' o'u9; navy SaiuS anu s,"''o"a o".eo'o WI"
ene seNlVe' an uIEe' ue ,hmeu,"c u,.ecuon VI '"G
SECRETARY VI uo WY 'o te inuu'' y io'e9's,' @
ene' ~ WIN VIZ" eNe,S'iins was ny i t0n " "
iSleu 10 give e'n0'o"'y " taV p!'"'n VI te
lhe S"He S'""Ve GA'steo !" u,U0'ns u'' oPe'"'o"S
OIL Tue navy as Vi ue army l"ere was co4ocrt o'
action ana oil purpose between Ine he3is OIL Inc Two
arms oil inc service by the orders Wblch We're IRON
une 10 ,I'e 'Ss"r9' our Vessels u war oil u0 l"ul
ana tne uuII OIL mexico were stationed III proper June
ana III proper positions TO co operate eHc'e'ly VIVA
the army by TINS means her como'heu power WIS
brought to bear successfully on the enemy,
lhe great results when nave peen oeveloPeu ana
liant l Ig 1