Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-27

relations abroad, continue the true, perma-
nent policy Of our country. War-the
scourge of nations sometimes becomes
inevitable, but is always to be avoided
when it can be done consistently with the
rights and honor of the nation. One Of
the most important results Of the war into
which we were recently brought with a
neighboring nation, is the demonstration it
has afforded for the military strength Of
our country. Before the late war with
Mexico, European and other sareign pow
ers, entertained imperfect 4 erroneous
views Of our physical strengthas a nation,
and Of our ability to prosecute war, and a
war out Of our country. They saw that
orr standing army on the peace establish
ment did not exceed 10000 men. Accus-
toned, themselves, to maintain in peace
large standing armies, for the protection of
thrones against their own subjects, as well
as against foreign enemies, they had not
conceived that it was possible for nation
without such an army, well disciplined
and of long service, TO wage war success
fully. They held in low repute our mill
tia, and were far from regarding them as
an effective force, unless it might be for
temporary defensive operations, when in
vaded on our own soil. The events of
the late war with Mexico have not only
undeceived them, bat have removed erro-
neous impressions which prevailed, to
some extent, even among a portion of our
own ccuntrymen. Bet this war has de-
monstrated that, upon the breaking out of
hustilities, not anticipated, and for which
no previous preparations had been made,
a volunteer army Of citizen-soldiers, equal
to veteran troops, and in numbers equaIto
any emergency, can, IN short period, be
brought into the field. Unlike W hat would
have occurred in any other country, we
were under TO necessity Of rescrting to
drafts or conscriptions on the contrary,
such was the number of volunteers who
periodically rendered their services, that
the chief difficulty was in making selec-
tons, and discriminating who should be
disappointed and compelled to remaii at
home. Our citizen soldiers are unlike
those drawn from the population. They
are composed indiscriminatelv, Of all pro-
fessions and pursuits-of farmers, law
yers, physicians, merchants, manufactu-
rers, mechanics and laborers-and this
not only among the officers, BIT the pri-
vate soldiers in the ranks. Our citizen
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 newly settled
States, are expert. They are men who
have reputation to maintain at home by
their good conduct in the field, and they
are intelligent /; and there is an indiviGu-
atty Of character which is found in The
ranks of no other army. In battle, each
private man, as we'll as every officer,
fights not only for his country, but for glo-
ry and distinction among his iellow-citi
zens, when he shall return to civil life.
The war with Mexico has demonstr.-
led not only the ability of the Government
to organize numerous army, VI OH a sud-
den call, but also to provide it with Ill the
and necessary supplies, with
dispatch, convenience and ease, and to di-
rect its operations with efficiency. The
strength Of our institutions has not only
been dis played in the ralor and skill Of our
troops engaged in active service in the
field, but in an organization OF those ex-
ecutive branches which were charged
with the general direction and conduct OF
The war.
While too great praise cannot he be-
bestowed upon the officers and men who
fought our battles, yet it would he unjust
TO withhold from those officers necessari-
ly stationed at home, who were charged
with the duty of furnishing the army in
proper time and at proper places, with all
The munitions Of war and other supplies
necessary to make it eiiectual, the common
dation 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 ey-
er better appointed or provided than our
army in Mexico. Operating IN an enc
my's country removed two thousand
miles from the seat Of the Federal Gov
its different corps spread over a
vast extent Of territory, hundreds and even
thousands Of miles apart from each other
nothing short of the undying vigilance
and extraordinary energy Of these officers
could have enabled them TO provide the ar
my at all points, and in proper seasons,
with all that was required for the most cf
icient service.
1t is but an act Of justice to declare,
hat the officers in charge of the several
executive bureaus, all under the imhedi-
ate eye and supervision of the Secretary
IF War performed their respective duties
with ability, energy, and efficiency.
They have reaped less Of the glory Of
he war, not having been personally eS-
posed to its perils in battle, than their
in arms but without their
'orecast, efficient aid and cooperation,
hose in the fieldwould not have been pro-
vided with the ample means they possess
I'd, Of achieving for themselves, and their
country. unfading honors, won for both.
When all these facts are considered, il
nav cease 10 be matter OF so much a
nazement, kow it happened that our no
Die army in Mexico, regulars and volun-
GERS. were victorious upon every battle