Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-25

. few days sinoe, caused the large VOTE against |
Il On the question Of its final passage. This is
very natural. Honorable members who have
to 30 before the people for reelection. approach
heavy appropriation bills as rats approach |
tossted cheese In trap. Nought but the-
strongest necessity for their enactment, viii |
induce lsrgs class Of members to vote for
them. It Is pity that such necessity should |
exist, II but because It places honorable msm.
bers, who hare rivals after them at home,
with sharp sticks in hand, in hoe, as it were.
In this case, the necessity was simply the
result of the failure Of Congress for many
years past To lsgislats with reference to the
army, In keeping with the clear and plain re-
quiremsnts Of the public interest The party
who have been in favor Of keeping our military
system precisely on the pattern which answered
we'll enough twenty five years ago, have car
risd the day on such questions almost invaria-
bly,. In the mean time, we have acquired
California, TSxas and New Mexico, and have
also become charged with the duty of protect
ing Oregon, Warrington and Utah Territories
with United States troops. On the east side
Of the Alleghanies, and upon the lakes, com.
msEos has 50 developed our resources in the
meanwhile, as to require heavy expenditures
for preparation for military defence there, in
case it may be needed hereafter. Every dol.
lar appropriated for the military branch Of
the Governments expenses seems to have been
grudged, only because the idea Of q standing
army Is very naturally unpopular among us.
Now, in twenty-five years, the services alb.
solutely required Of the army Of the United
States, has increased faurfod at least. Stern
necessity has carried through the army ap-
pfopristion bills, but usually Invested Of some
feature which they should contain, the absence
Of which has sooner or later made necessary
the appropriation Of double as much for that
purpose, As would have originally suficed.
Thus, We were bound by every consideration
to accord protection to California against In
dams. Horror Of heavy army appropriation
bills prevented it from being done at the proper
time. So, on Saturday Of the week before
last, the House had to foot California's bill
for protecting herself, which is probably
twice As largo as would have sufhced 70
have secured for her much better protec.
ton than she obtained, had the disburse
nsnt Of the money been devolved, at the right
time, on the War Department In the matter
Of our general Indian relations, the system of
legislation carried out almost since the forma-
tior1 Of the Government, has generated large
portion Of the expense of the protection of our
nod ,1ok,
the Indian territory and their attornies, have
always Influenced the action of Congress on
such matters to far too great an extent, and
the consequence has been an infnity of trou-
bic with them which would not otherwise have
occurred, costing the treasury millions of dol
lars, from first to last, in extra frontier mill.
tary expenses. Just now, the rank and file of
the army is some i've thousand short Of its
proper complement owing to the fact that
Congress do not allow sufficient pay. 1t is
also essentially foreign, rather than American;
ct least eight-tenths Of all the enlisted men
being foreigners, and most of the enlisted
Americans being Of q class whose indiscre.
tions, want Of Thrift, and, in some instances,
Grimes, have driusn them to enter the service
| to keep body and soul together. This is almost
entirely the result of too poor pay, the remedy
having always been in the hands Of Congress.
With such material 30 scantily supplied, as
matter of course, the army has failed to
afford all the protection, which its nominal
force caused tho country to expect from it.
We lived many years on the Chem extreme
Western frontier, and know that from the gulf,
almost to the frozen region of the North, there
ID Asating population of Americans who will
mako the best frontier soldiers in the world.
and would gladly enter our army for frontier
service, if proper inducements were held out
to them. Annually, for many years past, Con.
gress has been appealed to to legislate with
view Of making that class the basis of the
rank and file Of the army, in lieu of its pres
emit basis Of wholly unfit foreigners; but 50
far, in vain. 1. -.... go. l..
We do not feel at liberty to close these re-
marks Without advertiDg to the singular pro-
judice which has always existed in Congress
against the West Point Institution, although
every member has realized the importance of
constantly keeping on hand q supply Of prop.
erly educated and trained military men; and
although those turned ont by West Point have
VIGOROUSLY amply Gin the aggregated repaid
their country, in various ways, for the expend.
iture upon their training, still the cry has
been, "Down with that aristocratic hot bed
West Point" a a# f--. s..,--...-
Now, If there is q single aristocratic asso.
citation connected with ii, it is the fault Of
Congress only. The law vests tho appointment
| Of cadets in the President Tho latter very
properly devolves that duty on the members
Of Congress, each in his turn naming one.
He reserves few cadetships which he annu-
ally fills with the sons Of persons who have
fallen in battle or worn out their lives in their
country's military or naval service. This dis
position of his reservations is the same under
all Presidents, and is most praiseworthy. If
scions Of a.istocratic stocks get to West Point,
1t is almost invariably on the nomination of
honorable members themselves, more or less
Of whom send their own sons or other young
relatives there upon their privilege, instead
Of the worthy sons Of the worthy poor.
This custom, though by no means general,
Is too often followed. When they get there,
however, their influential connections are of