Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-06-15
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, JUNE IL, 1850.

Encourage
The first question concurng in the amendment OF
the House to the second section.
Mr. RUSK hope that amendment wii not be eoncurrsd
n 1t would be expense for pc sbe benefit whatever
All those who Fave any acquaintance with military
know well that mounted infantry those who have been for
years in the service and know nothing earth about horses
and who are al age when they learn nothing with
regard to he perfectly useless more useless on horse
Dack vast deal than foot In the first place. they do
know how to take of horses and in the second when
on horseback, they do not know how ride all and yet
they must necessarily be ussd against the Indians who
the best horsemen In the world In such they would
be utterly and totally useless hope therefore, that the
amendment will not be agreed to the Senate II my pur-
pose to bring in bill authorizing the President increase
he force Of the army by cavalry for that purpose who be
drilled properly and be Of service But the amendment
oil the House OF Representatives does purpose
al all will De mere expense for earthly for am
sure ha the infantry would be utterly useless and unable
contend against the Indians if mounted. +-~'t
Mn DAVIS, Of Mississippi do not entirely approve
OF the amendment of the House. Indeed expected to
oppose is not, however, quts bad the Senator
from Texas represents II is discretionary power conferred
on the President to mount such portions Of infantry serving
on The frontier as he may think proper. In the bill which
passed the Senate, and which back from the House
with this amendment, provision is made to the
astment OF estern and may be permitted say
the Senate that the Secretary of War connected that po
sion with this amendment expecting that would be
listed In the est who would be suitable for mounted services
and do not doubt such enlsments may he made, If they
have guaranty that they to horseback. The
Senator from Texas will probably admit that this is an expec-
taion which is well founded The Secretary of War pro-
poses then, to select such from different companies
at various stations on the frontiers and conyett them into
mounted men, The companies of infantry will thus have
their muster-rolls serving horseback They
be equipped and used aouned men, and
to pursue the predatory bands of Indians. Such think ii
due to the Secretary of War state the plan propos-
ed; and it is, in my opinion, capable of execution if
consent thus disturb the organization the army Il
would require additional remuneration to the men thus to
serve on horseback They would require the pay Of cavalry,
because their expenses would be increased by such service
and unless they permanently agree with the Senator
from Texas that they would be utterly useless. You could
not detail man unacquan with his horse and unframed
riding and expect him perform the duty of soldier ocava
y He could only the horse for transportation, carry
him where he had to and the chances would be that the
man and horse would part company before they got to the
place OF destination. But il, indeed, the and horse
should together get there and back agahe having
valy nstructonno permanent interest attachment the
hose-woud by bis Ignorance and cerelessnes neglect and
abuse the animal think therefore, the whole that the
provision not entirely economical one. would my
self prefer both for efficiency and economy 10 such
mounted force requiredegulary organized Yet though
the expense would be greater for as long as it is
kept according the proposed pan much easier to
get rid OF when longer required mounted force
The infantry could be ordered again foot without
law for disbandment, and the horses could be sold
think with the increase of the army proposed by increasing
the rank and file Of the frontier companies and with the
stments which be effected with the guaranty that they
to horseback that the amendment could be made
quite useful though not so good regularly organized force
my upon the peace establishment nucleus every branch
Of the service We have in years added light artillery
and Dragons We have however light cavalry and
lancers think regiment of light cavalry, and two
squadrons of that regiment armed ancers would be pro-
per addition to the permanent organization Of The army the
peace estabihment and would be the effective force
that we could have for the protection Of the frontier
Mr. RUSK. am satisfied that this is clearly expense
for nothing The advantages which the honorable Senator
from Mississippi supposes would result from
mensuate in my opinion with the expense When we seek
to enlist they will certainly much readily enlist for
horse than for foot service But here there will be gua
ranty They will be enlisted in the infantry and at the dis
creon Of the Secretary Of War the President they may
may not be mounted You could not then, get the proper
materials from the uncertainty what kind service they
would perform Now, far infantry mounted nfan-
try are concerned, the frontiers of the country they
worse than useless speak from experience, and say that
they are worse than useless They operate defence to-
the frontier and temp alton to the Indians. The bus
ness Of these prairie Indians is to rob- steal puDder and
scalp You place, then, in their neghbohood garrison of
infantry who must necessarily have kind of property
about the garrison. The Indians are rs-rate horsenen
they tempted there because they know the infantry
not pursue them. They tempted in the first place. to
these places in the hope of une which they carry back to
their tribe evidence of chvaly and bravery and in the
second place, they catch careless soldier about the
fanty establishment they scalp him. and cay back bis scalp
mark Of great honor and bravery and dance over with
their tribe 1t is utterly impossible for the infantry to follow
them, and there great necessity of mounted force of
active character AS have before had occasion state
the people of Santa Fe protected and the In
dans commit depredatons than before and what
the reason The s that the temptation to commit
these depredaions greater Travellers ,ssng through
unprotected country, and they the temptation
attack these upguaded travellers for the sake Of punder
Some places the frontiers of Texas su ring than
they have done before, and the of is the
guarded condition Of the country and the number OF cDig1ns
passing to California by land Under these circumstances
my opinion, adopting method totally inadequate
the necessity Of the The expense OF reci-
mems the frontier should be nothing compared Wit, the
absolute obligation which rests the Government protect
IT, You cannot stop the travel to California the settlement
the frontiers Of Texas and in New Mexico and becomes
therefore the imperative duty Of Congress protect them
And sir this state Of things is allowed to continue for two
or three years. the whole tribes will Join in these wake de-
pedaons and what might now be prevented by the expen-
dture Of few thousand dollars will millions hereaf
at the proper time will introduce bill increase the cavalry
Of the army. 80.
MI. HUNTER. I have listened with sone attention 10
the gentlemen who have discussed this BILL who both
gentlemen of great military experience and although do
not profess to know much about such matters yet think L
see that the question lies in nutshell b; has passed
The Senate to increase the army onehird An amendment
has been put in by the House which designed make that
increase OF third both the increase of the Infantry
aud Of the cavalry The Senator Texas wishes to sike
out the amendment of the House. which cou the increase
OF both arms OF the within certain limits because ne
wishes to increase the army not only by onetd IN niany
but also to raise additional force of cava ihus mtkng
the increase geler than the House is willing ano
greater than the Senate willing TO au'horz lns' ere
was greater necessity for il than has yet been shown
After further debate the question was taken on the
amendment and there yeas "a, nays 10. e.a-.