Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-12-22

1
in the ranks. Our citizen-soldiers are unlike
/ those sof any other country in other respects;
I they are armed and have been accustomed from
1 their youth up, to handle and use firearms and
q large proportion on of them, especially in the
YVeseEl and newly settled States, are expert
They Ere men who have reputation TO maintain
at hcrfe by their good conduct in the field, and
/ taey age intelligent; and there is individuality
i Of character which is found In the ranks of no
| other srmy. In battle, each private man, well
as every officer, fights not only for his country
but fol- glory and distinction among his felow-cit
i9els, hen he shall retire to civil life. The war
with lexico has demonstrated not only the abili-
/ ty of Tie Government TO organize numerous ar
nay UPON sudden call but also TO provide 1t with
AL thes munitions and necessary supplies with dis
patch convenience and ease, and to direct its ope
Tations with efficacy. The strength of our insti-
tutions has not only been displayed IN the valor
and skill of troops engaged in active service
r the field, but in organization of those eXecu-
/ tive branches which were charged with the gen
eral direction and conduct of the war.
/ While too great praise cannot be Bestowed upon
the offers and men who fought our battles, yet
it wouli be unjust to withhold from those officers
/ necessarily stationed at home, who were charged
with the duty OF furnishing the army, In proper
time, AID proper places. with all the munitions
T OF war, and other supplies necessary to make it
teEectus,l, the commentator to which they
Etfed Ahe credit due to this class of our officers
s'the gieater when it is considered that no army
u inymoddTn ancient times was ever better APP
I pointed Or provided, than army IN Mexico
/ Operating in an enemys' country-removed 1000
i miles trom the seat OF the Federal Government,
Fits different corps spread vast extent OF ter
autory, hundreds and even thousands OF miles
Eapart-, othing short of the undyng vigilance
ar,l extraordinary energy of these officers could
ehaTe enabled them to provide the army at all
Epoints aud in proper season. with all that re-
qUsred fsr the most efficient service.
It is i.at an act of justice to declare, that the
Eafscers N charge of the several executive beau
Feaus, als under the immediate eye and supervis-
iok OF tl.e Secretary of War performed their re-
Ispectlve sutes with ability, energy, and efcien-
E@ys Thy have reaped less glory of the war, not
having teen personally exposed to It's perlls IN
-baAle tLan their companions In arms; bat with
out their.forecast efficient aid. and cooperation
fhoSe in ile field would not have been provided
with the ample means they possessed OF achiev-
:IDgs for themselves, and their country unIading
donors, yson for both.
,Len these facts are considered, il may cease
10 &c matter OF so much amazen1ent how 1t
saTspene9. that our noble army IN Mexico, regu-
.ars and volunteers, were victorious upon every
bat, efes, however fearful the odds against them.
;: The p,r with Mexico has fully developed the
capacity 81 Republican Governments TO prosecute,
al7ckesstus y, necessary foreign war with all the
EEEor usually attributed to more arbitrary forms
8: ftIlaIleliJ 1t mas DGen usual IOE WHITES On
public la@- 10 inpute to republics want Of unity
aiti conce:ltration of purpose, and vigor of exc
ct2l3n, Y ich are generally admitted to belong TO
the sn0na fchial and aristocratIc forms; and this
ieat4re OF. popular government mas been suppos-
e4 t; display itself more particularly in the con-
d.'et' OF ..yar carried on IN an enemys country.
:TIa vi.r with Mexico has developed, most
sto. Ugly aid coaspicuously, another feature of
ITG utuuorS. 1t is, that without cost 10 the Gov
tn, hay IN
boioia OF our country, freenlen available II just
and necessary war particularly standing army
OF $50 millions Of armed citizen-soldiers-such
fought tie battles Of Mexico. Bat our military
st7tuSrh Goes not consist alone n our capacity
for extended and successful operations on land
3 r.t.r to me Navy-an independent arm OF the
En- 5eianaI E.eience, II the services of the navy
weEe not 50 brilliant those Of the army, in the
late war with Mexico, it was because they had
mo zlieIny 10 meet on their own element While
he,asny tad an opportunity OF performing more
conspicuous service, the navy done their whole
duty to the country. For the able and gallant
serriaes OF the officers and men of the navy, act
sng .46ependentiy as well as cooperating with our
fTcolss In the conquest of California the capture
Of ara Cruz, and the seizure and occupation OF
9tiCl, important points the Gulf and Pacific
-oas: the highest praise IS due. Their vigilance,
enerHy ans skill, rendered the most effective ser
vice "a excluding the munitions of war and other
ale .ntIan.e for abundant supplies for their own
a:my> Out extended commerce was nowhere in
t:rru?ted Ind for this immunity from the evils OF
var, Che country is indebted to the Navy:
High praise IS due to the officers of the several
Exec, tive sbeaureaus,. navy yards and stations
connected t1ith the service all under the immedi-
ate erection of the Secretary of the Navy, for
tse i.dustry, foresight and energy with which ev
eEytlEg was directed and furnished, to give eff
c:cnCt TO that branch OF the service. While this
hsrmsny existed in directing the preparation of
ts<e navy aild army, there was concert of action
a}d Purpose between the hands of the two arms of
TIE SET vice.
By ahe orders which were from time 10 time is
seed, sur vessels of war, on the Pacific and the
CALI d Mexico, We're stationed in proper time,
and Ii. proper position, 10 cooperate efficiently
with tae army. BY this means their combined
peweE was brought TO bear successfully upon the
emy6 Tie great results which have been de-
yo.optil and brought 10 light by this viii be
OF: i'm leasurable importance in the future pro-
gIess our country They viii tend powerfully
to;pre,erve us rom foreign collisions, and enable
ussto tursae unnterraptedly, cherished poll
cys-pgace with all nations, entangling alliance
with none
0cctpyin-, as we do, a more commanding po-
ton 5rnon. nations than at any former period
on: dides md our responsibilities TO ourselves
ars Oh postrity, are correspondngly increased
Tb5s VI Il he the more obvious when consider
thi. vast additions which have recently been made
sour errutrial acquisitions, and their great i'm
p0sianAe ans, value
Nitkin les than four years, the annexation of
Texas 10 thesU Union has been consummated, and
conflicting titles to the Oregon Territory south of
fof,ynte degrees of north latitude being all that
wa. fn3 sted Jon by any of my predecessors, has
beasl AZ ustef: and New Mexico and Upper Cali
foraia tave Been acquired by treaty The area OF
these stveratterritories, according TO the report
carpiulls prepared by the Commissioner OF the
Gei:era. Lan4 Office, from the most authentic IN
ioriaatisn IN his possession. and which is here
with tlansrnstted, is 1,193O61 square miles, or
76c:53e,04O heres. These estimates show, that
the tor. tories recently acanired and which