Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-09

seer; 10 me desirable, TeleT you 10 The report az
the Secretary OF The Treasury That report, aud he
tables which accompany il, furnish ample proof, of
the solid foundation on which the financial securv
OF the country rests, and of the saIulary influence
OF the Independent Treasury system upon CON-
merce and all monetary operations.
ARMY INCREASE
The experience of the last year furnishes adJi
tiona reasons regret TO say, Of a painful charsc
ter for the recommendation heretofore made IL
provide for increasing The military force in the er
rlory inhabited by The Indians The settlers on the
froniIers have suffered much from the incursons Of
predatory lands, and large parties oil ernigranls 10
ouG Pacific possessions have been massacred with
impnny. The recurrence of such scenes can only
be prevented by teaching these wild. tribes he
power OF. and their responsibility 10 the Unied
Sales From the GarrlsoUs OF our frontier posts
is only possible 10 detach troops IN small bodies;
and rhough these have on all occasions displayed
gaiianTy and Stern devotion 10 daly, which on
a larger held would have commanded universal al.
miration, they have usually suffered severely in
these conflicts with superior numbers and have
sometimes been entirely sacrificed Ali the dispo-
sable ioce oil The army is employed this service
and is known TO be wholly inadequate to the pro.
tee ion which should be afforded The public mind
al the country has been recently shocked ty saw
age atrocities committed upon deenceless emi.
grants AMI border settlements, and hardly less by
the unr recessary destruction OF valuable lives, where
made, uae deiachmens of troops have undertaken
10 furnish The needed aid. Without increase oithe
military force the will be repeated, It's be-
lsarel on a larger scale, and with more dlsasrous
consequences. Congress, am sure, will perceive
that the psnest duties and responsibilities OF Gov
errmen' are involved in this question, andl doubt
not that prompt action may be confdenally antci.
pa'ed when delay must be attended by such fearful
hazards.
The bill OF the last session, providing for an in
increase OF the pay of the rank and file of the army
h,i k,po .,aI nniv in fapIi
enis'nens but obvious improvement in The class
of mel who enter the service. | regret that cor.
responding consideration was not bestowed on lhe
officers who in view OF their character and services
and the expenses TO which they necessarily
suEl2Cf, receive al present what, Is my judgment,
inadequate compensation
The VARIABLE services constantly rendered by The
Army, and liz ines'imable importance. as the nu.
ceus around which the volunteer forces of the ma.
lion can promptly galher in the hour OF danger,
sufficiently alies, the wisdom of maintaining mill.
tary peace establishment but The theory Of our
system and The wise practice under it, require that
anv proposed Augmentation, in lime OF peace be
only commensurate with our extended limits and
| from ier relations. While scrupuou-y adhering TO-
this principle, find, in existing crcums ances,
necessity for increase OF our m ary force and
is believed that four new regiments, two ofnsnrv
and two oil mounted men will be sufficient 10 NEE,
the present exigency fiji were necessary care.
luliy To weigh The cost 10 case OF such urgency.
il woNd be shown that the additional expenses
would be comparatively light
ARMY REFORM
With The increase OF The numerical force of the
army should, think be combined certain meas
ures OF reform in lis organic arrangement and al.
mInIslrauon. The present organization is The re-
suit OF partial legislation often directed 70 special
objects and IneTes and The laws regulating rank
and command, having been adopted many years
ago from The Brush code, arc not always ap.
pIicable 10 our service. Il is not surprising there
/ fore, that the system should be deficient in he
! symmetry and simplicity essential TO he harmoni.
Gus working OF lis several parts, and requiie care.
! fu revision.
The present organization, by maintaining large
s;ah corps or departments, separates many officers
! from that close connection with troops, and those
active duties in the field, which deemed re-
! quisle to qualify them for The varied responsible
ties OF high command Were The duties Of Inc army
slatt mainly discharged by officers detached from
their regiments, it is believed that The special ser
vice would be equally well performed, and Ing
discipline and instruction of The army be improved.
While due regard 10 the secnTy OF he nghls OF or
ficerS, aud 10 he nice sense Of honor which should
be cultivated among them, would seem to excel
compliance with the established rule OF promotion
IN ordinary cases, still IL can hardly be doubled hat
the range OF promotion by selection, which is now
practically confined TO The grade OF general Officers
might be somewhat extended with benefit TO the
u
sometimes leads, especially in time OF peace,
to he promotion OF officers who, afer merI,
torIouS and even distinguished service NAV have
been rendered by age nfrmity incapable OF
performing active du'y, and whose advancement
| therefore, would tend 10 impair The eftCiency OF
the army. Suitable provisions for This class OF OF.
Ulcers, by The creation OF a retired s'. would RENE
dy the evil, without woundIng The jus, pride of men
who, b; past services, have established claim 10
! hIgh consideration la again commenting his
measure 10 the favorable consideration oil Congress
| would suggest that The power of placing officers
an retired hsl be limited 10 year. The prac,.
| cal operation OF the measure would thus be lesed
and II, alter The lapse Of years, there should be
casion 10 renew the provision, il can be reproduc
| ed wI'h any Improvements which experience may
indicate. The present orginizaon OF the artillery
INTO regiments is liable 10 obv vions objections The
service OF artillery is that OF bauerIes and an o.
ganZalIon OF batteries into corps of artillery would
be more consistent with The nature OF their dulies
large part of The troops now called artillery are
and nave been, on duty as infantry; The distinction
| between the TWO AIMS being nearly nominal This
nominal artillery in service is entirely di>pro
poTnonale 10 The whole force, and greater than he
wants OF the country demand. I therefore com
mend the dlscunu0uaHce OF a distinction which has
no foundation IN erhef The arms used or The char
| acer OF The service expected 10 be performed
In connection wih The proposition for the in.
GREASE OF The army, have presented these suases
uohs WIN regard 10 certain measures OF reform as
me completing OF system, which would produce
The hapPIesi results from given expenditure. and
wA'ch hope may attract the early attention. and
De deemed worthy OF the approval Of Congress.
NAVAL AFFAIRS
me recommendation of the Secretary of the Ma.
W. haVine reference tn The more ample provisions
I9r The dlc'Pne and general improvement in the
cna,ac,sf OF seamen, and Tor The reoreaniz1on and
gradual increase of The navy. I deem emipentiy
worthy oil your favorable consideration. The min
c'PIes' which have controlled our policy in rela
'oh 10 'he permanent military force, BY sea and
Iand, are sound, consistent with the theory OF our
sVs'em and should by no meaas be disregarded-