The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-26

Iotal.. xE 4Io,ol1
Besides these, there were subsequent appropEia
tons for arrears, and for paying the claims o
States for services Of militia, SC.
The regular force in service in the United State;
during that period averaged 7 500; the total mill
tia force about sc. .0O0 averaging three months
service-that is. equal to 1900 men for the year
or 5000 for three years; that force added to the
army would give about 10, 500 men, at an ave-
rage expense Of 600, or $3.50 per man. The
least possible estimates that can be mnde oil
the cost of the Florida war wac S i'll ,0O0,O 900 or
$l3,OO0,000O.
The average force of the army for the three years
succeeding the war with Mexico has been ten
thousand five hundred, with few hundred volun-
teers. The estimates have been under Z 900 ,0OO
per annum, and the appropriation still less. The
actual expenses probably have not exceeded 8S,-
500, 200 per annom, or not &SOO per man Now,
l know there was extravagance in the Florida war
| know volunteers were called out when they were
not needed. know hrewood was brought from
the levee Of New Orleans to Florida, where fire.
wood abounded. challenge comparison with
such expenditures. justified even by a Democratic
administration and Democratic Congress; but
what do challenge is comparison OF the geo
graphical position of Florida, in the heart Of our
settled country almost, accessible by sea and by
steam, with comparatively little or no land trans
portation within the reach Of the great markets OF
New Orleans and the norther cites-with the geo.
graphical position Of New Mexico, of Utah, Of Tex
as the Upper Rio Grande and the Texas northern
boundary-with the costly. golden prices OF Oregon
ing in immigrating colonists. enhancing by their
numbers the value Of every thing enormously
The naval expenses of the Florida war, the coat o
revenue cutters in service thcre-all such charges
! throw out Of account, for the challenged point
Of comparison il accessibility by water and steam
and the expenses OF land transportation. Now,
we have overland wagon routes across whole
continent, from Fort Leavenworth IN Missouri
to Puget's Sound on the Pacific ocean. The rife
regiment made the march across a continent, ane
sadnrsd more and aufiered more, and cost more
than II they had been in the campaign in Mexico
Troops, flying squadrons OF Dragons, arc all th'
while securing and Overcoming what may cal
the innermost part Of the country. The service !.
with them all a service Of war; and yet they exhibit
no suoh expenditures these incurred here Al
home in subduing only eleven hundred Indians in
Florida.
auAnrEnMAsrsa's ExpEKpIrvnEs.
The expenses OF transportation, Of forage, and
In fact every thing ia California, often ten times
greater than in other parts OF this country; but
California Is not less part OF the United States
and it is not less duty to protect her people
In each and every quarter, from the Indians, al
much as II these indiana were in Tennessee, New
York, or Alabama. have before me paper, too
long TO read containing all tho expenditures OF the
quartermaster's department for q large number o
years. Tbosc expenditures have been larger for
a long time than they have shown upon their face
in the estimates, especially during, and in consc-
qucnce OF, the Mexican war, from a system toe
complicated for me here TO explain, because I have
not time to do 30. But the actual expenditures oI
the quartermaster's department, for the year end
ing 30th June, iss9-thc closing year Of Mr.
Mr.. Polks ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 96.090. .976. Mr.
Polk estimated fpcacc estimates, June 30, ls45)
81 t,S30, 900. Congress (August IS. ls<s) appro-
priatcd only 1880, 900 The next year. Decem-
Der, ls4S, the estimates made by Mr.. Polk for
only 1000 900; cut down largely by Mr.. Polk
again, from General Jesups estimate, as ] am
prepared to substsntAte, and as I fear, because
there was an incoming Wbig administration. The
estimates, December, is4s, were for $4,000 900
and the expenditures were S.. .33s, ,969. Such
the legaoics Of debt in the qusrtcrmaster's de
partment, which have been left US by preceding
administration. The following table OF actual ex
pcndtures in the qunrtermaster's department vii
explain itself;