The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-31

few days ago spoke OF the inefficient manner in
which our treaty obligation to keep check the Indians
nbabitng the territory coded by Mexico had been ful
filled Our readers will remember that we had fully ex-
planned this subject former occasions But our argu
ment has been continually assaed by the assertion that
democratic Congress had withheld the necessary means
from the administration Our last remarks on this point
suggested BY the publication OF official statement
in the National Intehgsneer that the War Department
had on the first OF this month uhe commencement OF
the present fiscal Year, unexpended balance OF
Ao7O.s73 52
Seeing this statement it at occurred that our
former complaints Of the in which the frontier
had been defended were met by the most disngenuous
statements and by the most groundess charges against
Congress We therefore called attention to the fact that
the large have mentioned remained unex pended,
while the presses OF the present administration were con-
tending that the democratic party urged and sgaed by
factous spirit. had tied the hands Of the wing party
that it was unable TO fulfil our treaty obligations. To
show that set down naught in malice, we copy the
following from the New Orleans Bulletin, as we find it
in the government organ of yesterday:
The Mexican minister has already notified govern
msnt il 10 said that under this article claims will be pre-
tsnsd
$50 much for the facous refusal of a ocoloco Congress
give tho administration the comply with our
treaty obligations Sixteen millions dollars is nice lit
tie pay for disc reditsble of partisan
feeling 4 desire humbug the people with idea of
retenchment."
This extract publish specimen OF the manner in
which the presses of the administration defend its
Of conduct. But to return 10 our sheep"
In our last article we made these points:
/. There was an unexpended balance in the War De-
parment on the LIST OF July Of s4.o7os7a So remaining
from the appropriations for the year beginning July
1850. and ending June 80, 1851.
O. Adding that sum TO the appropriated for the
expenses Of the War Department for the year.
stated the Of that department for the current
year At $li .9o5, 4ef ~.
g. We stated that this latter sum exceeded Mr. Con-
RAIDS estimates by So 900 900.
l. From these things we drew the inference that the
practical disorg OF Duncans famous battery by
Mr. Conrads orders-a battery which is almost
Grated in every heart which did not sympaihize with
the public enemy-had been wrong wilfu, and excused
by an untenable excuse.
These are the material points we made and for making
them we have been assaed through the columns OF the
Republic in an editorial which bears upon its face saf
Gent evidence prove that enanaed from the War
Department We will state the chief features of the
assault on the points have enumerated, and expose
their utter futlity and weakness.
| On the FIRST point told. with pert and fppant
air and in the most indirect that the appropra
tons for the army not made in gross but for separate
and specific items Then the deduction is drawn thai,
although there large unexpended balance, it could
not be applied TO the Quartermasters bureau. This de-
ducton is expressed in these words
III then there be deficiency In the prations for
any essential branch Of the service the de msnt is effect
uay crippled however literally every other object may be
p.ovded for This /. the case Mt present"
We knew very well that appropriations not made
in gross but knew that The heads OF departments,
finding that the appropriation for one branch OF ex.
penditure insufficient while for another the appro-
pration than sufficient equalized matters by
taking from the item literally provided for, TO
benefit the item which in want. Ii is unnecessary
for TO cite specific examples prove this fact for the
article in the Republic admits in the express and
explicit, ierms that Mr. Conrad has pursued this practice
in the of the Quortsrmoasr', department itself We
quote from the Republic, thus:
"Now, early the 18th Of April last the Quartenas.
ter General reported the Secretary OF War the
preparation. for these objects entirely exhausted.
How then, does The above balance appear the credit Of
that Department. And how the indispsnsabs wants
Of tina, branch OF the service supplied during tho and
half months that interviewed before the approp aons
sn BY appyf~g thereto old .~erpe~ded balance, of
former years AND SECOND. AND
orsHR prrARTxrSrs, ArrRorRiA-
ross roR cusRssr sseULD BECOME AvArLApLs
This balance Of ss7 49, 90 is the remain. Of the money
thus obtained aud the Qnsnermesefs department, In
read of having available balance It's credit the
10Th June last, was, In iact
nAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS oraKR
pxpARrmxsrs."
II the War Department cannot better than this
then Hottentot, Fausn the First OF Hayt can out.
wit ito tactics This is the Argument The unerpended
four millions could NOT be used for the Quartermaster
bscau~ appropriations oreno made gross and
then ii 10 asserted that the Quartemasters bureau wa.
permitted by Mr.. Conrad to other meaas 10 the ex
tent Of sepsroi hundred thousand dollars"
Does the administration think that the people Of TIL
United States are dos and IDIOTS 10 be duped by sucl
shallow sophistry and deceived by such conflicting state
nen,s those we have exposed But, further The de
encs Of Mr. Conrad endeavors to excuse the prachca
Reorganization of Duncan's battery by saying that J
vas necessary to do 80 in order to furnish means o
transportation TO the Quartermasiers bureau. Now, ]
We remember rightly. there is specific law which re
CURES that company Of light artillery TO each regi
nen shall be kept up but we will investigate the sub
et and give the result OF that investigation separate
article II suces for present argument TO state tina
ooncaas battery partially dscganzed the pies
mat the horses-or rather the value OF the borses--ngh
Dc turned to the Qsdytermosfsr end hen ar
'oo That one item Of appropriation cannot be used 70