The Evansville daily journal., 1854-12-07

four ports. namely, Oswego, Toledo, Sandus'
ky and Milwaukie, the Treasury had, by
false entries, been deirauded, within the
four years next preceding March, 1853, OF
the sum Of Sl98.OOO.
The great difficulty with which the detec.
ton Of these frauds has been attended, in
Of the abstraction of books and
papers by The retiring officers, and the faci-
lity with which similar frauds in the public
service may be perpetrated, render the neces-
sity of new legal enactments, in the respects
above referred TO, quite obvious. For other
material notifications of the revenue laws
which seem to me desirable, | refer you TO
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
That report, and the tables which accom-
pany il. furnish ample proofs Of the solid
foundation on which the financial security
OF the conntry rests, and Of the salutary in
fuence Of the independent treasury system
upon commerce and all monetary operations.
The experience of the last year, furnish
es additional reasons, regret to say, Of a
painful character. for the recommendation
heretofore made, to provide for increasing
the military force employed in the territory
inhabited by the Indians. The settlers on
the frontier have suffered much from the
incursions of predatory bands, and large
parties of emigrants 10 our Pacific posses
sions have been massacred with impunity.
The recurrence of such scenes can only be
prevented by teaching these wild tribes
the power OF, and their responsibility to-.
the United States. From the garrisons of
our frontier posts, it is only possible to de-
tach troops in small bodies, and though
these have on all occasions displayed a
gallantry, and a stern devotion to duty,
which on large field would have COM
manded universal admiration, they have
usually suffered severely in these conflicts
with superior numbers, and have some-
times been entirely sacrificed.
All the disposable force of the army is al
ready employed on this service, aud 10 known
to be wholly inadequate to the protection
which should he afforded. The public mind
of the county has been recently shocked
by savage atrocities committed upor defence.
less emigrants and border settleme nis, and
hardly less by the destruction Of valuable
lives, where inadequate detachments Of
troops have undertaken to furnish the need
ed laid. Without increase Of the military
force, these scenes will be repeated, il is to
be feared, on larger scale, and with more
disastrous consequences. Congress, l am
and responsibilities oi government are in
volved in this question, and doubt not that
prompt action msy be confidently anticipat-
ed when delay must be attended by such
fearful hazards.
The bill Of the last session providing for
an increase OF the pay OF the rank and file o.
the army has had beneficial results. not only
in facilitating enlistments. but in obvious
improvement in the class Of men " no enter
service. regret that corresponding con.
sideration was not bestowed on the officers,
who in view Of their character and services.
and the expensrs, to which they are neces.
sarily submitted, receive at present what is. in
my judgment, inadequate compensation.
The "aluabie services constantly rendered
by the Army, aud its inestimsble impor.
tance, os the nucleus around which the vol
unteer forces Of the nation can promptly
gather in the hour Of danger, sufficiently at
test the wisdom Of maintaining q military
peace establishment; but The theory Of our
system and the wise practice under il require
.hat any proposed augmentation. in time OF
peace, be only conmc nsurate with our ex-
tended limits and frontier relations. While
scrupulously ndhering to this principle, find
in existing circumstances, u necessity for in
crease Of our military force, and il is believ-
ed, that four new regiments, two OF infantry
! and two Of mounted men, will be sufficient to
meet the present exigency. II il were ne
cessary carefully to weigh the cost in case
81 4 ho h0u a hat a
additional expense would be comparatively
light
With the increase of the numerical force
of the army should, think. be combined
certain measures of reform in its organic
arrangement and administration. The
present organization is the result of partial
legislation often directed to special objects
and interests; and the laws regulating
rank and command, having been adopted
many years ago from the British code, are
not always applicable to our service. 1t i:
not surprising, therefore, that the system
should be deficient in the symmetry and
simplicity essential to the harmonious
working of its several parts, and require
careful revision.
Were the duties Of the army staff mai nly
discharged by Officers detached from their
regiments, it 10 believed that the specia
service would be equally " ell performed, and
the discipline and instruction Of t.e army b
improved. While due regard to the security
1f the rights Of officers, and to the nice sense
Of honor which should be cultivated among
them, would seem to exact compliance with
the established rule Of promotion in ordinary
cases, still il can hardly be doubted that the
RAM OF promotion by selection, which il
now practically confined to the grade OF ge
neral officers. might be somwhat extended
with benefit 10 the public service. Obser
vance Of the rule Of seniority sometime
leads, especially in time Of peace. to the pro
motion Of officers who, after mertorious ant
euen distinguished service. may have beer
Il 4 L.. IL C -. l.