The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-06-01

! Mr.. THOMPSON then asked the Chair
il the morning hour had not expired
The SPEAKER replied in the afirma-
tive.
Mr.. THOMPSON moved that the bus,-
ness on the Speakers table be taken up.
The question being TAX, n on this motion
it was decided IN the negative.
MIR. EVANS resumed The only ques-
ton which ought to be regarded by the
House was:1s the passage OF this bill re-
emred? lI'the answer can beE satisfacto-
r,ly given in the negative, why then let
it be defeated. But ifthe condition OF our
frontier renders it necessary for its pro-
lection that the increase OF the army should
be authorized, we cannot too soon dis
charge the duty which is thus devolved
upon us. He certainly would not refer
the bill to the Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union, which would be to
prevent its passage, and leave our frontier
still exposed to outrage and depreciation.
DIR. COBB, OF Alabama, Mr.. Evans
yielding, stated that he did not mean 10
be understood as offering any opposition
to the protection of our frontier; but lie
did object TO the mode OF doing it which
was provided in this bill. He desired
that the frontier should be defended; but
he did not admit the necessity of any in
crease OF the army for the purpose O. de-
tending it. He believed that we had al
ready regular troops enough for this and
every other service, and he WIS always
opposed to any increase of the army in
time Of peace. He thought that the from
tier could be defended by transferring to
that station some of the troops who were
now on other stations.
Mr.. BURT asked If he understood the
gentleman from Alabama as stating that
there were thousand men ia the army
unemployeds
MIR. COBB replied, no matter what the
number may be, if there were any more
than were necessary it was sufficient for
his argument.
Mr.. BURT asserted that no one could
say with truth that thousand men were
unemployed, or that there were even five
men who were not employed. He chal-
lenged airy gentleman to come forward
and make such charge on this floor. He
did not like to see the bill assailed by
statements such as these.
Mr.. POTTER desired to ask how many
regular troops were employed on the Can
ada frontierl
Mr.. EVANS said he did not know, nor
did he suppose any other gentleman knew.
The companies now in service were not
filled up to their proper compliments.
And it had been found very difficult to
keep them full.
Mr.. POTTER asked If the gentleman
from Maryland could inform HIM how
many regular troops were stationed at the
Island of Mackinaw!
Mr.. EVANS said, these questions about
the number of troops on the Canada from.
tier, and the number on the Island of
were not before the Commit
tee on Military Affairs The disposition
of the troops was regulated by the Secre-
tary of War; and not by that committee,
and, no doubt, that regulation looked to
the public interest at all points. The gen.
lleman from Alabama Mr. Cobb charges,
and the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Potter]
that we have already more
troops than can be kept employed, These
gentlemen were laboring under great
error. 1t was not The lac, that any OF the
troops were unemployed Wherever
they were stationed, they were kept fully
The troops OH the ir,ntler
were now insufficient. for its protection.
Nor can any Of the troops be transferred
thither from other stations. II, instead OF
asking these questions-how many men
are on the Canada frontier, and how many
at Mackinaw, they would be good enough
to point out where there are too many
troops Stationed, and whence they can be
transferred to the frontier, there would be
something in their course OF discussion
which NIGH: be beneficial.
He had now said almost all he had in
tended to say. We may send this bill to
the Committee of the Whole on the state
Of the Union. and thus defeat its passage;
we may induce ourselves to believe that
we have now more troops than can be
kept in employment, and, under the innu-
ence OF these decisions, and the idea Of a
false economy, we may prevent legislation
on the subject, while our citizens on the
frontier, with their wives. their children,
and their property ale exposed to outrage
and plumber. While we are amusing our
selves with putting these frivolous ques-
tions, we are only aggrava,ing the danger
which we ought to guard against, and
withholding from our own citizens, who
have right to look to us for protection,
those means of defence with which we
are bound by every pledge Of duty and
humanity TO furnish them a, a moment
when they are menaced with all the afro
cities Of an Indian war
Henry CLAY-The following in ref