The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-09

possessed would be subject sufficiently sttests
the wisdom OF our forsfathers in not comforting it. and
must remove far from any desire to possess II. II
this view OF the subject be correct IL follows that the
Executive must look to the army regularly authorized
by Law TO preserve police among the Indian tribes and
TO give that protection to pioneer settlements which in
terest, humanity and duty alike demand. The organi-
zation Of the two Territories and the impulse given
thereby TO emigration towards the Western frontier and
the ncrease In the overland trains 10 Pacific pos
sessions, have multiplied the opportunities well as
the Of Indian depredations and hostties 1t
reasonable 10 expect that the ensuing year will be
marked by and serious Indian outrages
than the last or any preceding year.
Our border settlements extending from the Missouri
TO the West and from the Pacific ocean to the East
steadily pressing the savage tribes into limits
and unproductve region, from which result combi
nations Of bands heretofore separated from each other
producing at the time by their concentration
increase OF power and dimnuton of their ability to
live By the precarous products of the chase Hence
two fold necessity for increase of military force.
The question OF economy in the employment of the
means Tor this purpose has been frequently and fully
discussed II may not, however, be without benefit to
advert to some instructive facts in past experience
of Indian
The expenses occasoned by the war with the Sac and
Fox Indians, in 1882 amounted to than three mil
lions of dollars the definite appropriations for the sup
preston Of Indian hostlti.s from 1886 10 1884, ncu
sive, amounting to than eighteen millions of dol
lars. Within the past six years large appropriations
have been made for the same object in Texas, New
Mexico Utah, California and Oregon The aggregate of
such expenditures in the last twenty two years indie
pendent of the regular appropriations for the support
of dollars, sufficient TO have maintained for the
whole period much greater force than that recommend
Ell in report of last year This is independent
Of the expenditure for property destroyed compensation
TO suffering inhabitants and account of pensions and
bounty lands and OF course, does not include the losses
eccasioned BY the destruction OF private property nor
those consequent upon the interruption OF agriculture
and OF the progress Of settlement.
These cannot be measured by any specific sum, and,
although private in their are not limited In
their effects to individuals, but by diminishing the
sources of the country become public losses, and as
1t has been stated by those conversant with all tho
facts that II in 1881 small mounted force had been at
the disposal of the War Department the Black Hawk
might have been prevented and that in 1885, If
few additional companies had been sent to Florida the
Seminole war would not have occurred
The state Of the recruiting service is shown by the
port Of the Aduant General and the accompanying Ia
bes Since the passage Of the law of August 4, 1854
10 encourage enstments that service has progressed
very satisfactorily both regards number and character
OF the enlisted. In the months of September and
October last o05 enlistments we're made while in the
corresponding months Of 1853 the number was only 3O9
In consequence of the number Of companies that have
been placed on the maximum establishment under the
law OF June IL 1850 the little that attended the
recruiting service prior to the passage Of the law above
cited, and the greater than usual number Of casualties
that have occurred during the past year. the number of
recruits that will be required for The service of the
suing year win probably not he less than 9 900.
The estimates for the support of the army during the
next fiscal exceed those submitted at the last
sion for the current year by the sum Of 1851 668 &c.
The increase to be found in the items for the pay of
the rank and file at the higher rates fixed at the last
session of Congress and for recruiting, clothing and
subsstng the better filed ranks OF the army. In other
items there is decrease, that leaving out of view
the pay Of the army which, being fixed by law, this de-
partment in no way increase diminish the
pense Of keeping the army in active service with its
ranks thus increased during the next fiscal year. will
not according to the estimates exceed that of the
rent The item of transportation of the hea
West expenses is not increased, and is therefore rea
lively less than that for the current year-thus verify
ing the expectation stated in the last annual report that
increase of the army would not be attended with
proportonate increase of expense. In fact an undue
II suit from,
not keeping on foot sufficient force. II the force is
too small for the line it protects it must be kept NOV
ing The result is that stated in the Quartermaster
Generals report The cost of transportation comes
upon the war scale, as for armies in the field.
The means Of transportation have, in some instances,
been improved and il is hoped further and
improvements will still diminish this large item of our
army expenditure. In this connection, waving other
considerations again invite attention to the advan-
tages TO be anticipated from the OF camels and
dromedares for military and other purposes, and for
the set forth in my last annual report recon-
mend that appropriation be made TO introduce small
number Of the several varieties Of this animal to test
their adaptation TO our country.
think ii but act Of justice to the officers of the
army again to call attention to the recommendation
made in last annual report relative to increase of
their pay. The present rates OF pay established
more than forty years ago, when money had much
value measured by the price of food even as
cents, whilst the estimates Of the Commssary Genera
Tor the present based the price of 25
for ration The necessares of life generally have ha
like IL not always an equal appreciation and under
such circumstances ii would not be just that salare
should remain fixed which originally graduated to
afford the means proper to the officers support.
The Justice OF advance in the salaries OF public Of
fcers, corresponding with the increased cost OF the
Of living has been recognized by the government
in the recent laws for increasing the compensation
most Of those employed in the civil departments o
the public service These considerations apply with
greater force to the Of sicers of the army many
Of whom compelled by the nature of their duties,
to reside in parts of the country where scanty sup
plies can be obtained only at exorbtant prices.
II it was deemed necessary to offer other considera-
tons than those Of justice and equality many would
present themselves appealing alike to the prde the lib
crafty and the gratitude of the American people, to
sustain proposition which onlyi seeks to relieve the
military officers of discrimination alike and
wounding.
It can require but little reflection to convince any one
that policy which confines large body OF intelligent
and instructed men to rate Of compensation below that
given in the ordinary avocatons OF life, must tend
drive from the military service its more active and eff
cent officers. II, as doubt not there will be many
honorable exceptions to this general proposition result
ing from strong professional attachment to the army
they are exactly such exceptions would claim in
creased consideration from every who estimate
the patriotism and elevation which should characterize
the officer to whom the honor and flag of his country 10
entrusted.
In the law Of the last session Of Congress to increase
the pay Of the rank and file Of the army the terms used
TO designate the grades OF enlisted construed TO
exclude those Of the Ordnance Department At this ex
cuson is supposed to be accidental and unintentona
il is suggesed that explanatory should be
TO extend the increase of pay to all enlisted Of the
army. The pay Of ordnance laborers and mechanics
would still be much below the ordinary wages of such
employ ments.
would again call attention to the proprety of add
tionsl legislation which shall place the widows and or
pbans Of the officers and soldiers Of the army equal
ty with those Of the officers and sailors of the navy
The subject has been repeatedly recommended by the
Commanding General Of the army and it is again brought
to notice in his report Of this year.
In some important particulars military legisla
ton, in regard TO rank and command well to or
ganzation, needs revision. In armies it is essential
that il should be known under all possible circumstan-
eos who is the officer entitled to command. Doubt as
to the from which orders to eanate des
tructive of discipline and subordinaton and might on
many occasions compromise the safety Of troops On
this important point our military law is exceedingly
vague and defective. . Much Of the mischief that
otherwise would have resulted, has been prevented
by the of the department in keeping asunder
officers whose claims would come in conflict and
by the patriotic self denial OF tho officers them
selves who, in many instances, have waived claims
command which they believed to be well founded and
served under those whom they considered their
juniors. Nevertheless, many unseemly controversies
have arisen engendering jealousy and nsubor
dnation and the decisions in such cases, far from
putting at rest the questions involved present mass
OF conflicting arguments from which general priuci.
pie be educed, and which only to furnish