The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-19

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dent the troops, such number OF troops as may be re-
CURED but propose raise them in different manner
And know that | am likely to incur the censure OF
those who sustain the OF the Executive, and
perhaps, shall encounter the criticisms OF those who,
speaking elttedra, may find fault with the measure
which have suggested Sir, | have not brought for
ward my proposition, without consulting those who are
better acquainted with the subject than am myself nor
have brought forward for the purpose OF thwarung
the of the President But, SIR, this is con-
iuneure of affairs which calls upon every man. who
feels interest in the welfare Of the republic, to express
himself freely fearlessly and openly, upon AL matters
that come before us This not the first time that have
found II necessary to differ with the President as regards
of the which he has advised Tor carrying
on this war; and happy that did contribute at the
last session, upset some OF those measures when, IN
my opinion, would have been inconsistent with the pub
lie interests | have introduced this amendment for no
such purpose But think that this is conuncture OF
afns in which every should make his views clear
ly understood Ii time when every should pause
aud look around for solemn believe that every step
taking we are going deeper and deeper INTO the
labyrinth of a dangerous and inexIcable pollcyirom
which may find cew for an honorable and safe re-
treat.
ways and if the President had recommended that we
should put at his disposal two hundred thousand men,
believe there are men on lhtS oor anu n 9 hs ONE,
other ground than that came from the Executive who
is responsible for this war believe they would have
voted for any number of which the President might
have called for, and for all the schemes-tbe magnificent
and splendid schemes TO be carried into operation by the
Executve-that would require an army OF two hundred
|
enterprise of conquerIng and subugang the republic OF
Mexeo--either with view of absorbing the whole OF
that republic and making it part OF this c0nlederacy'
making her dependant would not be an
exavagant proposition for the President to ask Tor two
hundred thousand men to enable him to do il with secur
ty and safety There those, sir who, looking at OBJ
ects in the distant horizon, sometimes neglect to look at
the clouds which hang above our heads, and winch are
ready 10 burst upon And that is the case with some
gentlemen this occasion, who while they are lndulgng
themselves in splendid visions of revoutionizng Mexico.
and making her part of this republic, making her in
degree dependent on us, are negecng to LOOK at
the dangers which surround our Institutions therefore
have introduced this amendment, in some measure that
might have opportunity OF examining more particular
y into the tendency OF the measures that hereafter to
! be proposed. My amendment-for mean 10 address
myself more particularly in the first instance, to thai
goes only far add to the different regiments OF
Dragons although, by some unguarded omission, the
Dragons seem to have been leit out; add say 10
each of these regiments, three hundred men, BY adding
thirty to each OF the companies, 1t Will give a
regiment paper OF thirteen hundred mems and Tor this
increase only propose to add two subordinate officers
and in none at a-provded, however, there
raise seveny-fve hundred not many to be sure as
the President has asked for and the committee recon-
mended But can raise, IN ih,s way, seven n ,nou.
than very few additional officers have tins recon-
mendaon in favor oil my system: that IT VIII certainly
be the most efficient mode OF raising additional troops ol
active service think this position cannot very well be
conuoveredhat raw troops, infused and mingled with
disciplined soldiers, more readily assimated and rem
They will be better ottcered too, having those oflcers
who experienced. | know there are those who en-;
terrain the belief that officers can be selected from civil
life equal every respect for such this, to tram
ed and educated officers already IN the army believe
Mr.. President there was greater heresy but i
the truth were known, and the testimony of officers OF
the army obtained, should be entirely satisfied that
those battles which have SO signay illustrated the Anne
rican character in this war; from the battles OF Palo Alto
and Resaca de la Palma to those OF Contreras and Chu
rubusco, to be attributed to the skill and ability
which were displayed by the officers OF our army who
splendid achievements performed by the volunteer corps
but the truth is that both the soldiers and officers OF the
volunteer corps relied with abiding confidence in all
operations oil the army upon the science and skill OF those
who directed the operations.
Well, sir, raising force of this kind you put them
under Just such menno officers from civil life, but those
already trained and accustomed TO the service. The sol
er himself will be better trained, and he will be better
taken of he will have greater security; will be
measure recommended by considerations OF humanity
thnk this proposition cannot be disputed, that it will be
a efficient corps and that the transition to efficient
soldiers will be more easy and expeditions. -,
My next proposition is, that it will be cheaper We
have right to look the reyment bill which passed
Congress the last session, with view to ascertain the
true character of this bill And what the character
of that bill do to say that the President IN
tends TO ask for four brgader generals and the full com
pemen of other officers on that occasion but, wheh
e that be the or not is very certain that under the
bill before YOU there must be ten entire regiments raised
and, for the purpose of offering these regiments you
must have ten coiones ten lieutenant colonies, twenty
majors, hundred captains and three hundred lieuten
ants Now, point of cost, there is very great differ
encc between the two-the has the recommendation
of being cheaper and, when raised, more efficient
there cannot be difference OF opinion on these two
propositions But the objection to the plan have sug-
II gesed is that the President cannot raise the number OF
troops that he DESIRES the mode which have suggested
in other words that becomes necessary when the Presl
dent wishes raise body OF troops to appoint intelligent
officers in the first place, otherwise he cannot get them
That is the argument have heard it said, if you adopt
this pan the men cannot be raised, because the officers
under whom they to serve are already appointed II
does sir, however, that the men can be read
ily raised | can reason why they cannot l dc
not why will not enlist without having the
citenent of political movement every time call for
additional troops If this be the it is high time that
we should examine into the true merits OF this war; espe
ciay in regard to the character OF the troops to be
poyed in it. However, sir have submitted the amend
men for what is worth II the troops should be raised
his command about thirty thousand in the aggregate
about two thousand of whom are in garrison at Tampco
and Vera Cruz The remainder are now under his I'M
mediate command, in and near the city OF Mexico I'M
iersland from military who recently from there
that he has movable column OF twenty thousand 10
carry offensive operations do not pretend of my
own knowledge what the number of his available
force but If thousand be added TO those which
is said under his control, he will at least
have tventy-seven thousand-and there are to be re
cutet under the existing laws to fill the old regiments
six or seven thousand more add these, and he will
have at least thrty-four or five thousand-a number
sufficient not only for garrison duty but for active ope
rations at any point to which they may be directed
Why, sir Bonaparte had not more when he made
his first campaign in Italy than thirty or forty
thousand men And what il it that these troops tc
be required TO do Not TO fight battles. We told they
are not to fight battles What are they to do They arr