The southern press., 1852-06-17
"The Expense of the Army"


OF late it has become quite the vogue to
clamor at what are termed enormous ex-
penses" of the army 1t would seem, too, that
Congressional and other high officials assuming
or admitting gross evils in the existing systems
of administration, as well as extravaganza and
administration on the part ofarmy officers,
have been and are now occupied in devising a
radically new organization with additional
checks and guards on the disbursement of the
public funds. OF some of these proposed
changes the public are already Informed by n
bill which was recently submitted by the Chair,
man of the Military Committee of the Senate,
the several features Of which we may hereafter
examine; first with reference to the actual ex-
istence of the alleged vices in the present sys
tem and secondly as to the efficacy Of the pro-
posed remedies. Just now, however, our pur'
pose is TO attract the attention of the national
legislature to the following extract from an ar
tice which appeared in the New York Herald
| touching this very question, "the expenses OF
! the army" ...." .. .
! The facts and statements presented by this
writer, claim the attention and examination OF
all who desire and aim TO legislate understand
ingly and efficiently upon question of such
great public Importance and interest
! Here is the extract
! But 526,07S square miles had been added to
our national territory as slight memorial OF
| the blood shed and lives lost in this way; this,
and 666,9S3 more, Oregon and Texas) all
with infant settlements, were, at the close OF
the war, to be occupied and protected; and we
bound ourselves'by the treaty of peace to pro-
tect the 700 miles of Mexican frontier from the
habtuat ravages of several of the most iormlda-
BILE tribes of savages on the continent, whose
usual dwelling place had been annexed to our
territory, Under these circumstances, that
President actually induced Congress to reduce
the army slightly below its strength prior to the
war, before the annexation, or occupation OF
these ircipient EN- ires and when the number OF
posts was about TO be increased from So to 81.
. We next hear the cry against the enormous
expense OF the army. Now, in the name ofcon,-
mon sense, did Congress-did certain editors
expect TO add, occupy, defend l,l9S,06l square
miles Of new territory, with savage inhabitants
without comparatively enormous addition OF
expense! territory greater than the 30 old
est States, by 10000 square miles ..
Did they expect to raise up settlements and
States, as they are doing, all over this new en-
pire without paying for it !! Without its cost.
ing enormously for some few years at least
until agricultural labor is there established
Have not troops been sent a voyage of 1000
miles, to occupy part of this territory! Do
they consider that in this golden land added by
the war, all prices have been, and will continue
4, III IN ho ia al tn
call il the "expense of the army" it is the ex.
pense of annexing and settling new empire,
nearly six times as large as France, with her
half million Of soldiers"
Do they indeed expect now to protect this half
continent, whose chief population is depredst-
ing Indians without an increase of that army,
which before was only equal to the protection
of the frontier of Arkansas, Missouri, and Wis
consin, without adding to its mounted force, TO
chastise and keep in awe these new hoTdes OF
mounted enemies
Does the armv thank them for this increased
expenditure! Do they ask to be eXi.ed thous
snds of miles, 10 be sent into deserts, where,
with every exposure and privation, they must
pay treble prices for necessaries Of life ! They
are over. tasked, and barrassed by incessant war
fare against superior numbers Of savages, While
il is called peace! Without chance OF hOnors,
they are exposed 10 censure and derison, for III.
success against these Parthians, where from their
I numerical weakness, success is impossible. DO
! they ask b. be isolated al these expensive posts
in the desert, redncet-by the loss OF discipline
and military spifit-.o mere squsds Of 10 men
(for that is about the average Of all the posts Of
/ the army
That there has been management and Cx
travagrancP, and some cases Of corruption, is
undoubted. For the fret, will show that Con.
gress rust share the blame; rs for the rest, il
was for time an inevitable result Of the close
OF the war, and appointments from civil life.
through political influence, and Of the most ex
! traordinary temptations Cin California and Ore.
gon,) and the irresronsiblily necessarily atten
dan; upon the very great distance Of some off.
cers from the centres Of control.
The rife regiment for nearly four years has
been undergoing reorganizations, or been in
useless, inefficient, and most expensive motion.
across and half round q continent Who are n
blame Did not Congress. at the close Of the
var, 10 an APPROXIMATION bill. direct the discharge
Of it, efficient and valuable rank and file. then
the best perhaps, in The army Did not Con.
gress, in the law for creating the regiment, fore
stall The discretion Of the executive, and require
them 10 occupy permanently those expensive
posts in the greet wilderness between Missouri
and Oregon! Posis, where grass will scarcely
grow. and where all supplies were TO be carried
from 300 70 LOO miles in wagons, and at great
risk from Indians and &c the starvation and free.
zing 10 death Of teams. Did not the political
influence of del, gate from Oregon cause their
new disbandment 10 Oregon. and their return
TO the States, where they have just been third
! time rccru.tcdl
II Congress expect waste and cxtrava yance.
would il not be better TO empower a committee
TO investigate ito send for persons and pa
pers- instead Of blindly striking out, 10 The
double confusion Of the Last hour Of session,
the half, Or any portion, Of the sum total Of ca.
iimatea, without indicating where the retrcrch-
nent fright or wrong should fall
Oh no; the patriotic Congress, assiduous
in is dutics, ever ready 20 boast Of our mag.
nifcence Of boundary, Of our ocean bounded
dominion, appear 10 think il should cost nothing
attribute every colistcrrl expense - army sx