Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-06

''I.'NN N' |IN I.|IlrINn u| books
uui mu.u hy lhr mnHnl oUuoH, and
lho ngIIy with which mhr frauds
100 lla public uUra may h1 nrrpotulcd,
render thn u..o .'y u. new Iuual enact
mculs, iu iNu w.ntgl above referred to,
quite obvious. For other material nodi
tcalous OF the revenue laws which seem
To- me desirable, ROTOR yon to hc rcport
OF lbo Secretary of iho Treasury. That
report, md tine tables which accompany
it, furnish ample proofs OF tho solid louu.
dalIou on which the financial security of
the country rests, and Of the sluary In.
tuencc Of The independent treasury sys.
TEN upon commerce and all. monetary
operations.
The experience oflh last year furnish
cs additional reasons, ] regret 10 say, of
a painful character, for tho ,ecommenda.
ton heretofore made toproyide for increas.
ing the military force employed in the ter.
n,ory inhabited by the Indians. The set.
tiers on the frontier have suffered much
from the incursions Of predatory bands,
and large parties OF emigrants to our Pa.
chlc possessions have been massucred
with impunily. 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, il is on .
Iy possible 10 delach troops in small bod.
les; and though theseha onall occasions
displayed a gaIIantry and stern deyo.
ION to duty, which on a larger field would
have commanded universal admiration,
they have usually suffered severely in these
conflicts with superior numbers, and have
sometimes been entirely sacrificed. All
the disposable force Of the army is alrea.
dy employed in this service, and is known
10 be fully inadequate 10 the protection
which should be afforded.
The public mind of the country has
been recently shocked by savage atroci.
ties committed upon deiencoIcss emigrants
and border settlements, and hardly less
by the unnecessary destruction OF valuable
lives, where inadequate detuchments of
troops have undertaken 10 furnish the
needed aid. Without increase of the mil.
tary force, these scenes will be repeated,
II is 10 be feared, on larger scale, and
with more disastrous consequences. Con.
greSs, | am sure, will perceive that the
plainest duties and responsibilities Of gov-
ernment are involved in this question, and
| doubt not that prompt action may be
confidently anticipated 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 Of the army has had beneficial results
not only in facilitating enlistments, but in
obvious Improvement in the class of men
who enter the service. | regret cores.
pondlng consideration was not bestowed on
the officers, who, in view of their charac.
ter and services, and the expenses to which
they are necessarily subject, receive at
present what is in my judgment, made
quate compensation.
The valuable services constantly rendered
by the Army, and its ines,mable impor.
lance, as the nucleus around which the
volunteer forces Of the nation can prompt.
ly gather in the hour Of danger, and sur.
ticenty attest the wisdom of maintaining
military peace establishment but the
theory OF our system and the wise practice
under it, require that any proposed aug.
mentatlon, IN time of peace, be only com.
mensurate with our extended limits an6
frontier relations. While scrupuIousIv
adhering 10 this principle, find, 10 exist
ing circumstances, necessity for an in.
crease OF our military force, and it is be-.
lieved that four new regiments, two of in.
ianlry, and TWO of mounted men, will be
sufficient TO meet the present exgency.-
Ii It were necessary carefully to weigh the
cost in a case Of such urgency, it would
be shown that The additional cost would be
cotnparaiively y light.
With the increase Of the numerical for.
ces of our army should, | think, be com.
bined certain measures Of felorm in its or.
ganlc arrangement and administration.
The present organization is the result Of
partial legislation often directed to special
objects and interests; and laws regulating
rank and command having been adopted
many years ago from the British code,
are not always applicable to our service.
1t is not surprising therefore, that the sys.
TEN should deficient in the symmetry and
simplicity essential TO the harmonious
working of its several parts, and require a
careful revision.
The present organization, by maintain.
ing large staff corps, or departments sepa-
rates mony officers from that close con
neXlon with troops, and those active du.
ties in the field, which are deemed reoui.
site 10 qualify them for the varied respon.
sibltes Of high command. We're the du.
ties oftae army staff mainly discharged BY
officers dgatched from their regiments, il
is believed that the specia service won Id
be equally we'll performed, and the discip.
line and instruction Of the army be impro.
we'd. While due regard 10 the security Of
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