The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-05

psnse Of this army. Now, in the name Of common
sense, did CcngIcss-did certain edtors-expect to
add. occupy, defend LIS o6l square miles Of new
ativcIy enormous addition of expensc I territory
greater than the - Oldest States by 900 square
miles!
lad they expect to raise up settlements and States
"a they are doing, all over this empire without
raging for it Without its costing enormously !"
for some few years at least until agricultural la
Dor is thoro established Have not troops boon sent
voyage Of 5000 miles, 20 occupy part OF this
land added by the war, all prices have been, and
will continue for time to be ssenormous" II is
folly to call it the "expense OF the army :" it is
theeApense OF annexing and settling nav empire
nearly six tmes large as France, with her half
q million Of soldiers)
DO they indeed expect now to protect this half
continent, whoFe chief population is deprednting In
dians without an increase Of that army, which before
was only equal to the protection Of tho old frontier
OF Arkansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin, without
adding to its mounted force, to chasise and keep in
awe these new hordes Of mounted enemies!
Does the army thank them for this increased
| Yendture9 DO they ask to be exiled thousands of
miles, to be sent into deserts, whore with every cx-
posure and prvation, they must pay treble prices
for the bare necessaries Of lifo They are over
tasked, and harrassed by ncessant warfare against
superior numbers Of savagcs while il is called peace
Without chance Of honors, they are exposed to
censure and derison, for ll-success against those
Parthians. where from their numerical weakness,
these expensive posts III the desert. roduced-by the
loss OF discipline and military spirit-to squads
of 10 men (or that is about the average Of all tho
posts Of the army)
That there have been mismana cement and extra
yagance. and some cases Of corruption, is undoubted
For the first, will show that Congress must share
he blame; ms for the rest, il was for time incy
able result OF the close of tho war, and appoint.
of the mos extraordinary temptations Tin Calfor
MIA and Oregcn). and the responsibility necessarily
attendant upon the very great distance Of some Off
GERS from the centres Of control
The rifle regiment for nearly four years has been
undergoing rcorganzations, been in useless, nef-
cicnt. and most expensive motion, across and half
round continent Who are to blame Did
not Congress, at the Close of tho war, in nm ap-
preparation bin, direct the discharge Of it's efficient
and valuable rank and file, then tho best Perhaps in
the army? Did not Congress- in the law for Great
ing the regiment, forcsta the discretion Of the exc
cutive, and require them to occupy permanently
those expensive posts in the great wilderness be-
tween Missouri and Oregon! Posts, whore grass
will scarcely grow and where all supplies to be
carried from 200 TO ], 100 miles in wagons and at
great risk from Indians, and of the starvation and
freezing to death Of teams. Did not tho Political
influence of delegate from Oregon cause their new
disarmament in Oregon, and their return to the
States, where they have just been third time re-
cruited?
If Congress suspect waste and extraya gance, would
it not be better to empower committee to investi-
gate ito send for persons and papers-instead Of
bhnd1y striking OUT in the double confusion of the
last hours of session. the half, or any portion, Of
the sum total Of estimates without indicating where
the retrencbment fright or wrongly should fall!
Oh! no ; the patriotic Congress, assiduous in it's
duties, ever ready to boast Of our magniGcence Of
boundary, Of our ocean-bounded dominion, appear
to think it should cost nothing; attribute every col
lateral expense to army extravaganza = and for all
reward for its achievements, for its loss of blood,
limbs, health. threaten il with reductions Of pay
impose on it duties increased beyond possibility Of
performance, bestow on it indiscriminate abuse for
the expense Of its exile to deserts where unnoiced
it wages winter and summer incessant war; oxpeot
infantry in wagons to Oyertake and chastise
mounted Indians on their native plains G.
Mr.. Gwin, in his speech in the Senate the 10th of
April enumeatce come 900 expended by the Quarter
master dcparm Mt fer the transportation Of collectors and
Indian agents by land TO California, escorts to Indian
commissioners there naval depot ut Benica, &c, all Of
which Of Is loose and reckless expenditure Of
public money by the army."-see telegraph report Of
speech.