The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-10

be insufficient, and no little embarrassment has
thereby been occasioned to the Department; and
if serious injury does not result from it, it will
not be due to the vigilance or providence of
Congress.
The Union cannot deny the fact that the
present Executive made the most earnest re-
Communications to Congress for an increase Of
the army, particularly of cavalry; but answers
this by showing that what had been asked by
the preceding Administration had been granted.
Messrs. RUsK, DAVIS, and HUNTER had all at
that time expressed the opinion that the in
crease then demanded was not adequate to the
protection Of the frontier, but that more was not
granted because more was not asked. But what
has that to do with the question The ques-
ton is not what was done or omitted to be done
by the last Administration, but what is done or
omitted to be done by the present Administers
ton. The present Administration did recon-
mend an additional increase of the army. They
particularly and earnestly dwet upon the ne
cessty of one or more additional regiments of
cavalry. This recommendation was entirely
disregarded; and now the Union attempts to
justify this neglect by showing-what? Why,
that distinguished Democratic Senators lin
GLIDING the chairmen of the two committees,
whose agency was necessary in the matter)
had, at the preceding session, expressed the
opinion that this increase was indispensa-
bly, necessary. 1t would have been much
more satisfactory answer to have shown
that they had said it was not necessary. II is
certainly a very poor excuse for not adopting
advice for the party to whom it is offered to
show that he had previously expressed the opin-
ion that the advice was good.
Our purpose, however, is not to arraign Con-
gress, but to defend the EXECUTIVE Depart
ments against an unfounded charge Of neglect
ing the frontier, by showing that they have
done all that is incumbent on them. We feel
bound, however, in justice to the Committees on
Military Affairs Of the two Houses, to declare
that they seconded the recommendations Of the
Executive, and did all in their power to pro-
cure their adoption by Congress. But the
Committees of Ways and Means, particularly Of
the House, strenuously opposed these measures,
and were sustained by nearly the entire Demo
cratic party in the two Houses.
1t is true that bill was introduced in the
House of Representatives, by the Committee
on Military Affairs, for the formation of regi-
ment of cavalry; and the War Department
was called upon to furnish estimates of the ad
ditional expense attending this measure. The
SECRETARY furnished the estimates according
ly, in the following letter to the Military Com
mittee of the House:
WAN DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, February 5, 1851.
Hon. AaMIsTEAD BURT, Chairman of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs, House of Representatives.
STA: In compliance with the request Of the Com
mittee Military Affairs, have the honor to sub
NIT herewith estimate of the cost of converting
a regiment of infantry into regiment of cavalry,
and estimate of the additional cost of maintain
ing the regiment in active service for one year over
and above the estimates heretofore submitted.
These estimates exhibit the cost of making the
change and employing the regiment in
three different sections ofcountry-viz: on the from
tier of Wisconsin and Iowa, in Texas, and in New
Mexico.
With or eat respect your obedient servant,
C. M. CONRAD,
Secretary of War.
Total amount to be appropriated in addition to
the estimates heretofore submitted for the first
year:
If the regiment be employed
On the frontier Of Wisconsin, Iowa, &C. $27l 03 25
In Texas ...,..r..,...,......,,. 3o4'9Oi 20
In New Mexico observation-disclosures. 495,S6S IS
What was the result2 The bill passed the
House of Representatives and went to the Sen
ate. In the latter body it was not acted upon,
and it was of little or no consequence that it
was not; for the reason that it was discovered
that though the House had very generously au
thorized the formation of the regiment, it had
omitted to appropriate single dollar for de-
fraying its expenses. Under these circum-
stances, Mr..D did not think it important
to urge the bill on the Senate, and it died on
his hands.
Now, it is no answer to all this to say that
President TAYLOR recommended inadequate
means of protection, which the Democratic
members of Congress knew to be inadequate.
II such was their conviction, it was their duty
to make the force competent to the exigencies
for which it was designed. 1t might well be
that the members from Texas, fresh from the
scene of action, knew more of the actual con-
dition of affairs on the frontier than President
TAYLOR. Be this as it may, the present Sec
RETARY OF WAR did not rely on the recon-
mendations of his predecessor, or remain con-
tent with them. He called for additional mill
tary force. 1t was withheld. He called for
an appropriation to meet an Gscertained def
cheney for the current year. 1t was withheld.
He called for appropriations decided to be indis
pensable for the next year, and they were ma
terially diminished, when he stated that they
could not be diminished " safely"
Ii the force, then, on the frontier is made
quate to its protection, the fault is not with the
EXECUTIVE, but with the Legislature, which
refused to the Executive the means for defence
which the general-in-cbief declared to be abso-
lutely and indspensably necessary.
North and South.
As this world is made up Of balances, COM