Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-01
THURSDAY, FEBRuARY q, 1851.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.

On motion Of Mr.. BAYLY, the House went into Com
mit,ee Of the Whole the of the Union, (Mr Borp
Of kentucky, in the chair and resumed the consideration
the bill making appropriations for the support of the army for
the year ending the 30th of June, 1852.
Mr.. HOWARD resumed his remarks, maintaining that il
the duty of the Government protect its citizens by an
adequate military force, and conendng that the resources Of
the acquired territories could not be developed without
such protection. He willing to vote for whatever
was necessary and though in his opinion, mounted rangers
the best troops the service required yet he was
willing TO vote for the recommendation of the Executive and
with 1t leave the responsibility He argued that under the
treaty with Mexico this Government bound protect
her citizens from the hostile bands of Indians which hover
about the frontiers and these treaty obligations and the die
tates of humanity required that they should do it. He thought
the bill from the Military Committee authorize Of the
regiments OF infantry to be converted into additional reg
ment Of mounted aemen, entirely inadequate, and
that three regiments of mounted troops necessary the
protection OF the frontier. economy meet this thing
now, and to assign the Indians country, and keep them
within ii. Humanity and civilization required that steps
should be taken to destroy their predatory habits but
first necessary to overawe them by military force He
ferred to the insecurity life and property arising from the
ncuons Of the Indians and be thought that prompt steps
should be taken this Government would avert series Of
like that Of Florida.
Mr.. TOOMBS stated, in reply to the remarks Of Mr..
HowaRD that the Committee Of Ways and Means did
wish to shrink from the responsibility the Government had
assumed by public trusts and public treaties The appropria-
lions for the army Of the United States had been increased
several alarming extent while there had been no
corresponding increase in the army itself He did pretend
to say that the Government able pay millions Of
dollars for the national defence for ii able pay ten,
twenty fifty, hundred millions Of doers for that purpose,
il were necessary, and ought do il if such Necessity should
be shown He did not propose weaken any branch Of the
public service as to impair any public obligation for the
mere saving Of money but desired the money expended
according to the wants Of the public Their duty
American representatives, guard the public Treasury
and to that the money properly expended He be-
evcd that the expenditures for the army large, and
ought 10 be reduced, and be should II the
desire Of tue Committee Of Ways and Means to obtain the
cooperation OF the proper officers Of the army enable them
to act in this matter ntegeny but in this they had wholly
failed the unanimous opinion Of the officers of the
department. that Of the millions Of dollars could be
spared They intended to spare sny of IT, but would
ask increase OF il. They either have to throw the public
treasury into the hands OF those who make the estimates fol
the army and navy, strike the in The gross. He
then referred TO the increased expenditures for support
The Quartermaers Department. and the enormous expense
Of maintaining armed force in California stating every
man that country the quartermasters department
900 per year. He believed that the troops should be with
drawn from Caornis, Oregon, and New Mexico and tha