The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-11


tected frontiers of Texas than in Oregon. He
read from the Secretary OF Wars report to this
effect
Mr.. BROOKS, of New York, spoke in defence
Of the action of the government in the matter
The resolution, as II now stands, he objected to.
1t made Congress the commander and chief of the
army, instead of the President Ii was the Exc
cutives province, and his alone, to direct the OPP
erations of the amy, while Congress has the Gus
tody only of the treasury The army, Mr.. B.
argued, small for the protection OF all our
new frontiers beyond the Rocky Mountains and
on the Pacific coast. Besides, the last Congress
having cut down the army estimates from four
millions to two millions--only one-half the sum
recommended by the Execative-the responsible
ty Of an insufficient force should properly rest
upon Congress, and not on the Executive. How
ever the mounted rifle regiment might have been
originally designed. he (Mr. 3D. did not believe
that any particular State territory, could claim
exclusively that, or any other portion OF the
army.
Mr.. CARTIER, OF Ohio, replied, and believed
that the doctrines of the gentleman from New
York (Mr. BRooKs) and Virginia (Mr. BAYLY)
tended towards placing the purse and the sword
in the hands Of the Executive. He commented
on the course Of the administration in calling for
five millions Of dollars, at the last session, to make
up for deficiencies in the quartermaster general s
department, considering that the country was then
peace with all nations, this was, IN his opinion,
an extravagent demand
Mr.. MARSHALL, OF Kentucky, opposed the
resolution, and spoke in defence OF the quarter
masters department. He thought that although
Congress might have the power to establish mill
tary posts it should not be done without full
and proper inveslig
Mr.. DUNHAM, of Indiana, protested against
the doctrine that the President at all times had tn
entire control Of the troops. His duty, by the
No. ,ch Ia 10,
gress might make in regard to the army and navy,
in the same way that he would carry out civil
laws
MIR. BROOKS Gin reply to Mr.. CARrTER) ex-
planned the position he had taken He had not
laid down the doctrine that the legislative power
could not control the army. His position was
that Congress alone could not do so, as proposed
by the resolution.
Mr.. DUNHAM did not understand the resolu-
ton to convey that meaning.
Mr.. BAYLY replied to Mr.. CARTIER, and eX-
planned the ground he had taken yesterday. He
believed that the two branches of Congress had
no power to take command Of the army, but tina,
they might establish posts, and decide the charac
ter of the troops 70 be stationed at them. Then
it devoIyed on the Executive to direct the charge
Of these troops.
Mr.. DUNHAM thought that this view of the
case did not conflict with the spirit Of the resolu
ton.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, said the subject had
been discussed enough, and moved the previous
question, but the motion was not sustained.
Mr.. EVANS, Of Maryland, spoke to show that
the bill raising the mounted rifle regiment did not
contemplate its being stationed exclusively in Or
egon. There was nothing in that act binding the
Secretary Of War to place such construction
upon it, He went on to show that the regiment
moreover, was not needed there, but that 1t was
required on the frontiers of Texas and Mexico.
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo expressly stip
ulated for the defence Of the Mexican frontier
against Indian incurslons. He also objected TO
the resolution because it does not define any time
when the troops shall be Withdrawn from Oregon
before this could be done the resolution would
have to be repealed. Mr.. Z. spoke at length in
defence of the course pursued by the Secretary of
War
Mr. LANE followed in reply, and said that the
regiment OF mounted rihemen had been expressly
raised for Oregon, and originally ordered there by
President Polk. 1t was then ordered back to the
States, and now it is again required in Oregon.
Would it not be good economy to make 1t per-
manent, and thus save the expense of marching
and countermarching He asked nothing for Ore
gon to which she was not justly entitled. The
depredations of the Indians demanded the protec-
ton Of government for emiSrants. The interests
of California and Oregon in this respect we're iden-
teal, and if the rfemen were stationed as pro-
posed, they would protect emigration to both
against some Of the worst tribes in the Western
country, except the Snake Indians. Men, women
and children had been unfortunately murdered
in Oregon--tommahawked; the details were horri-
BILE. The evil could not be remeded, except
through the action Of the general government.
The authorities of Or gon had not the power to
suppress it. The course of the government in re-
moving the regiment Of riflemen, as the event full
ly proved, had been mpoitic.
Mr.. HOWARD, of Texas, advocated the ne
cessty Of retaining the regiment on the frontiers
ofthat State. In his opinion the population Of
Oregon and California, being largely composed Of
young men, could better protect themselves by
forming corps ofmounted rangers.
At the suggestion of Mr.. LANE the motion to
recor slider the resolution was agreed to, and on
his motion it was laid on hetable.
At 20 minutes past 3 o'clock, the House ad-
journed.
PETITION REFERRED UNDER THE RULES, &c.
By Mr.. NCE-Petition of John G.
Moore, John N Henderson, Lacey & Phillips,
and other citizens of Philadelphia, praying for an
appropriation to the executive committee Of the
London Industrial Exhibition, to relieve those
who have borne the expenses Of the transportation
and display Of goods at the Worlds Fair. "
Referred to the Committee on Manufactures.