The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-30

directed to furnish the Government with the in
formation il desired There was hope OF obtain
ing the desired information from him ii retained,
| and but little ii he were removed.
tie then proceeded to reply to the remarks by
the Senator from Virginia. He thought the Sem
ator had been unjust to the Secretary OF War. in
stating that the reforms commenced by him arose
out OF the criticisms the estimates last year. and
from the action Of Congress.
lie referred to the present establishment OF the
army, and compared it with the peace establish
ment oi lS45. Since then, the general staff, the
Dragons artillery, infantry, and recruits had
greatly been increased. The mounted rfemen
were not known to the peace establishment of
| 1915. The mounted forces had been greatly aug
mented. These increased the expenditures large
! ~ In addition To this, there were many incl
dental expenses of the army which did not exist in
1913. These have arisen In consequence OF annex
alton, war, and Mexican cession. The territory Of
the United STATE. now doubled what 1t was then
Ii Is Tor the most part remote without population,
and has no natural products. II is infested by
lnwleas bands OF terocious, predatory Indians
The frontier settlements, and the scattered in
babitants of those Territories, are as entitled TO
our protection as any others, and must be protected.
Military posts in remote places have become ne
ccssary, and all the increased expenditures pro-
duced by this condition OF the country have be-
come necessary. Formerly there WAS but one poet 1,
which was ninety miles from steamboat naviga-
ton; the most part were greatly ess distant tina n
that Now these are many thousand miles dis
! tant and in u country which produced none OF the
sons and supplies have to be carried, at great
pensc for transportation, &C. Hence no estimate
Of the expenses Of the army at this time, based
upon The demands Of the service as it existed in
lSi5, could be Just.
The present Secretary of War came into office in
August, 1850 Congress and the country were then
in:alarm and agitation upon another subject. Every
department OF the Government had It's share of
business. Congress adjourned on the first of Oc-
tobcr and met again in December. The Secretary
Of War had but these two months in which to be-
come familiar with the duties OF his Office and with
| the widely extended operations of the service,
and 10 ferret out the abuses and errors which
had escaped the vigilance OF his predecessors.
He then read from the first annual report to Con-
gress made by the present Secretary of War, and
from orders and regulations issued by him, to show
that the reforms and remedial measures of making
the soldiers at the several posts cultivate and raise,
when practicable, supplies for themselves and
horses; OF employing the troops in the construction
and erection Of their quarters &c; OF abolish
| ing far possible all combinations OF ratons;
OF dispensing with forage when possible to obtain
| grazing, and several others, had all been com
nenced and put in operation, many Of them before
the criticisms upon the estimates last year, and all
of hem before the speech of the Senator from Vir-
! ginia delivered, in which many of them were
suggested as measures which proper admins
trative talent woold have adopted. He thought
the Senator had been ust to the Secretary, in not
giving him credit for having already commenced
and put into operation these several reforms.
He read from orders issued by the Secretary of
War, directing the discharge from the Quarter
masters Department Of all civil employees, fast
they could be dispensed WITH and said that, in
pursuance of these orders, over one thousand per-
had been discharged, thereby saving large
annual expenditure.
There were now over ten thousand animals In the
service Of the Quartermastcrs Depar used for
transportation and other purposes. The forage for
these was immense. The full estimates for forage
would be two millions Of dollars. The Depart
rnent estimated only half that amount, looking to
grazing and other sources for the remainder.
Congress, last year, ''sriking in the dark" had
reduced thesc c-half. and had appropriated only
100000.
Without concluding, Mr.. P. here yielded the
floor to a motion to adjourn.
And the Senate adjourned.