Washington sentinel., 1853-12-16

Our Indian frontier requiring troops for its pro-
lection which in 1908 was less than 1000 miles
in extent, has now increased to more than 5000
miles, and is traversed annually by thousands
of our citizens, who require constant protection
We have $500 miles of Mexican frontier, along
which, with the double duty of guarding our
citizens and of protecting, under a solemn
treaty, the inhabitants of Mexico from the wild
and savage Indian tribes, within our limits. BY
the extension of our territory, our Indian popu-
lation has increased from 100000 to more than
400, 900; among whom are constantly occurring
disturbances that cannot be repressed without
military force. Our small army is necessarily
SO scattered that the troops have to be trans
ported at vast expense to meet snch emergen-
cies as they arise-and leaving, too, the points
from which they are removed entirely unpro-
tected. In view of these and other facts, and
to meet the necessities of the service, the Sec
retary proposes an increase of the army in this
manner-the addition to the military establish
ment of one regiment of dragons and two
regiments of rifemen. This would give
minimum force Of 1928, rank and file which,
by continuance of the law of June I, 1850,
could be expanded to l7,4l4. The Secretary
also recommends an additional company of
sappers and miners. Our acquaintance, we
confess, with military affairs, is very limited.
But common sense, under the circumstances
stated, it seems to us, would teach the impor-
tance of SO moderately increasing and organ
izing our army as to enable it to answer the
ends of its institution.
Intimately connected with this subject is the
recommendation of the Secretary in favor of
increasing the pay of officers and men.
The pay Of soldiers in the service Of the
country is so low, compared with the prices
commanded by labor in all industrial pursuits,
that it is almost impossible for the recruiting
service to enlist suitable men for the army.
Indeed the service is deprived of the better
class of men. The same consideration prompts
those soldiers, whose terms Of service have
expired, to quit the army and resort to employ
ments in which labor and skill are better COM
pensated. An increase of pay, so as to make
the emoluments of military service in some
sort correlative and correspondent to those of
ordinary industrial pursuits, would obviate
the difficulties experienced by the recruit
ing service. With sufficient compensation the
army could be almost recruited by re-enlist-
ment This would secure the continuance in
the army of experienced, well-disciplined, and
reliable soldiers, and it would, at the same
time, save the vast expense of enlisting and
transporting new and raw recruits to their
regiments on the frontiers. We do not doubt
that more would be saved in this way than
would be sufficient to meet the additional pay
of the soldier. There would be real economy in
carrying out the recommendation Of the Secre-
tary. The country would make by it.
Superadded to these arguments, there are
considerations of humanity which ought not to
be dsregarded. The soldier who dedicates his
life to his countrywide quits his home, his
family, his companions, and goes on the from
tiers to live among wild beasts, and wilder In
dians-who is liable at any moment to peril
his life in the service of his country-who is
subjected to all the rigors and hardships of a
frontier life-deserves for his services and his
sacrifices proper compensation. The Secre-
tary has not proposed any specific increase Of
pay. We would not propose any specific in
crease. An increase, however, we regard as
necessary and proper, and we hope that Con-
gress will not forget what is due to the defend
ers Of their country.
While the Secretary, moved alike by COM
mendable regard for the public service, and by
considerations of benevolence and humanity,
an increase Of the pay of soldiers, he
is not unmindful of the claims of the officers
upon the justice and the generosity of their
country. We believe that the pay of the Off
GERS Of the army is entirely and altogether in
adequate. The commonest pursuits of life are
more remunerative than offices in the army.
When their pay was fixed, many years ago, it |
was sufficient.
But every thing has changed since then. A
dollar would buy more then than three dollars will
purchase now The value of nearly all the
articles of necessity and luxury has increased. |
Why, then, should the army officer be left un- |
cared and unprovided fora victim to his
service in the cause of parsimonious and nm |
requiting country. He should be remembered.
1t is just that he should. With what gallantry |
our accomplished officers have borne them |
selves in the field, we leave for the battles of |
our three wars to tell. A truer, more cult |
vated, more gallant and chivalrous class of
men cannot be found on earth. They deserve
we'll at the hands of their country. They have,
many of them, particularly those who are
married, to confine themselves within the limits
of the most rigid economy. They have to
stint themselves, when others in base employ
ments can live in luxury and ease. We COM
mend to our readers the following brief extract
from the Secretary's report:
"The pay of officers of the army was estab-
ished many years ago, when the value of money