Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-19

#dered their services, that the chief diff
Guilty was in making selections, and dis
eliminating who should be disappointed and
compelled to remain at home. Our citizen.
soldiers are unlike those drawn from the
population. They are composed indiscrimi
nately. of all professions and pursuits--of
farmers, lawyers, mechanics and laborers--
and this not only among the officers, but the
private soldiers in the ranks. Our citizen
soldiers are unlike those Of any other coun.
try, in other respects; they are armed. and
have been accustomed from their youth up.
to handle and use firearms; and large
proportion Of them, especially in the west
ern and more newly settled States, are ex-
pert. They are men who have q reputa-
ton to maintain at home by their good con-
duct in the field, and they are intelligent
and there ID an individuality of character
which is found in the ranks Of no other
army. In battle, each private man, as well
as every officer, fights not only for his coun-
try, but for glory and distinction among his
fellow citizens, when he shall retire to civil
life. The war with Mexico has demonstra-
ted not only the ability Of the Government
to organize numerous army, upon q sud
den call, but also to provide it with all the
munitions and necessary supplies. with dis
patch, convenience and ease, and to direct
its operations with efficacy. The strength
of our institutions has not only been dis
played in the vulor and skill of our troops,
engaged in active service in the field, but
in an organization of those executive branch
os which were charged with the general
direction and conduct of the war.
While too great praise cannot be bestow-
ed upon the officers and men who fought our
battles, yet it would be unjust to withhold
from those officers necessarily stationed at
home, who were charged with the uty Of
furnishing the army, in proper time and ut
proper places, with nll the munitions Of war
and other supplies necessary to make it ef-
tectual, the commentator to which they
are entitled. The credit due to this class
Of our officers is the greater, when it is con-
sldered, that no army in modern or ancient
times, was ever better appointed or provi-
dcd than our army in Mexico. Operating
in an euemy's country-removed2 1000 miles
from the seat of the Federal Government
it's different corps spread over a vast extent
of territory, hundreds and even thousands
OF miles apart--nothing short Of the undying
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 repaired for the most etfi-
cient service.
1t is but an act of Justice to declare, that
the of1icera in charge of the several exccu-
tive bureaus, all under the immediate eye
performed their respective duties with abb
l'ty energy aud efficiency. They have reap
60 less glory Of the war, not having been
personally exposed to its perlls in battle,
than their companions in arms; but without
their forecast, efficient aid and cooperation.
those IN the field would NOT have been pro-
vLded with the ample means they possessed,
Of achieving for themselves. or their coun-
try unfading honors, won for both.
When these facts are considered, it may
cease to be matter Of so much ANA eel ent
how it happened that our noble army in
regulars and volunteers were VIC
torlous upon every battlefield however fear
Iul the odds against them.
The war with Mexico has fully devclo-
ped the capacity Of Republican Govern
nents to prosecute, successfully, necessa-
y foreign war, with all the vigor usually
1t has been usual for writer's On
public law to impute to republics q want If
unity and concentration OF pu rpose, and vi
COR OF execution, which are generally admit
Led to belong to the monarchial and aristo-
cratic forms; and this feature of popular 60
'ernment has been supposed to display it
self more particularly in the conduct Of
var carried on in an enemy's country.
The war with Mexico has dcvelo, ped most
strong y and conspicuously another feature
If our institutions. 1t is, that without cost
o the Government, or danger to our liber-
y, we have in the bosom Of our country,
reemen, available, in 4 just and necessary
var particularly "a standing army oftwo mil
ions of armed citizen. soldiers-such us
ought the battles of Mexico. But our mi
itary strength does not consist alone in onr
capacity for extended and successful opera
tons on land. refer to the Navy-an in
dependent arm of the National defence. If
the services o:the navy were not SO brilliant
as those OF the army, in the late war with
Mexico, it was because they had no enemy
to meet on their own element.-While the
army had an opportunity Of performing more
conspicuous service, the Navy done their
"hoAS uu1J " VIC SOuhtI J - VI LIS OUlS
and gallant services of the officers and men
If the Navy, acting independently as we'll
as CO operating with GU: troops in the con.
quest of California, the capture of Vera
Cruz, and the seizure and occ upation OF 9th
er important points on the Gulf and Pacific
coast, the highest praise is due. Thei: Vi
GLANCE, energy, und skill, rendered the
most effective service in excluding the mu-
nitions of war and other supplies from the
enemy. while they secured a cafe entrance
for abundant supplies for their own army.
Our extended commerce was nowhere inter-
rupted, and for this immunity from the evils
OF war. the country is indebted to the Ma
Wy, ..... -. -.-.. sr..t ....
High praise is due to the officers of the
several Executive bureaus. navy yards, and
stations connected with the service, all un-
der the immediate direction of the Secreta-
ry OF the Navy, for the industry, foresight,
and energy with which everything was d.
rected and furnished, to give efficiency to
that branch of the service. While this har-
mony existed in directing the preparation
OF the navy as Of the army, there was con-
cert ofaction and purpose between the hands
o: the two arms of the service.