Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-08

oflhe State are exposed 10 constant inroads from
the Indians of Mexico and the plains. The force
in that Department AT the date Of the last returns
was 2,SS6 officers and men. I
!. The Department Of Neic Meaico.-This De-
paftment has an Indian and foreign fronterof 500
mnes, communications through the Indian coun-
try of more than thousand miles and an Indian
population OF $4,000, great proportion of whom
are bands who do not acknowledge the authority
ofthe United States. The force in this Depart
mfnt al the date ofthe last returns, was 1854 off,
cefs and men.
THE Department Of the Pacific, embracing the
State of California and the Territories of Oregon
Washington, and Utah, and part of the Terri
tory of New Mexico. This Department has a
sea aboard frontier Of $500 miles entirely unpro-
tected by Publications, except the works in pro-
gress at San Francisco, an Indian and foreign
frontier OF 500 miles, and more than 2,0L miles
of communications through the Indian country.
Ah Indian population of $4,000 who are becom-
ing formidable from concentration, from the ac-
QUESTION OF firearms and knowledge of their
use. The force In this Department is only 1865
officers and men, but, as heretofore mentioned,
they will be increased by an additional regiment
ordered there.
TO recapitulate. We have sea-board and
foreign frontier Of more than 10000 miles, an In
dian frontier, and routes through the Indian country
requiring constant protection, OF more than 5000
miles, and an Indian population of more than
100000 of whom probably, one-halE or 10000
nifty 10 become active enemies. If our army
should be expanded 10 its greatest limit, il would
have force Of Ia, 731 officers and men, but as a
large allowance must always be made for abb
ssntees, invalids, &c, the effective force would
probably never exceed 1000.
That this force is entirely inadequate 10 the
purposes for which we maintain any standing
army, needs no demonstration; and take occa-
sion again 10 urge the necessity of such immedi-
date increase as will at least give some degree Of
fIrIfu IN mr. Indla La az.
purpose, regular force is not only the efficient
and cheap, but the proper and constitutional
means seems to me demonstrable il not obvious
The President is authorized 10 call out the militia
y repel invasion, and suppress insurrection.
These are the emergencies for which il was
deemed proper 10 confer upon the Executive the
power 10 call citizens from their homes and ordi-
nary avocations, and these The great occasions
on which they may be Justly expected TO make all
personal sacrifices which the safety of the coun-
try may require. II 3 in this view that we habi-
tually and securely look TO the militia as our
reliance for national defence. II was not the
design of the Constitution and laws to enable the
President TO raise and maintain a standing army,
but this would be the practicable effect OF power,
al his discretion TO call the militia into service
and employ them for the ordinary duty of pre-
serving order in the Indian territory. The abuse
10 which such power, if il We're possessed,
would be subject, sufficiently attests the wisdom
of our forefatheIs in not comforting il, and must
| III. III
this view of the subject be correct il follows that
the Executive must look TO the army regularly
authorized by law 10 preserve police among the
Indian tribes, and 10 give that protection 10
pioneer settlements, which interest, humanity,
and duty alike demand The organization of the two
new territories, and the impulse given thereby to
emigration towards the Western frontier, and The
increase in the overland trains 10 our Pacific DOS
sessions have multiplied The opportunities as well
as the causes OF Indian depredaions and host
II. !. ll-..
year will be marked by more numerous and serious
Indian ourrages than the last or any preceding
| year.
| Our border settlements extending from the Mis-
| souri, TO the West and from the Pacific ocean TO
the East, are steadily pressing the savage tribes
into narrower limits and an unproductive region,
from which result combinations ofbands heretofore
separated from each other, producing, al the same
time, by their concentration, an increase of power
and deminution of their ability to live by the
precarious products Of the chase. Hence, two
fold necessity for an increase OF our military
force.
The question Of economy in the employment
Of the means for this purpose has been frequently
and fully discussed. IL may not, however be
without benefit to advert TO some instructive facts
| in our past experience Of Indian wars.
The expenses occasioned by the war with the
Sac and Fox Indians, in 1892, amounted TO more
than three millions of dollars; the definite appro.
priaiions for the suppression Of Indian hostlties
| from 1886 10 lS4l, inclusive, amounting TO more
| than eighteen millions Of dollars. 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-five years,
independent OF the regular appropriations for the
support ofthe army, is estimated more than thirty
| millions OF dollars, sum sufficient TO have main
| tanned for the whole period much greater force
| than that recommended in my report OF last wear
! This sum is independent the expenditure for
property destroyed, compensation TO suffering in
habitants and on account of pensions and bounty
lands, and, Of course, does notinclude the losses
occasioned BY the destruction of private property
nor those consequent upon the interruption of aQri
culture and Of the progress Of settlement
| These cannot be measured by any specific sum,
and, although private in their character, are NOT
limited in their effects 10 individuals, but by di.
minishing the resources Of the country, become
| public losses and, as such, are widely felt
| II has been stated by those conversant with all
| the facts that, il in 1891 small mounted force
had been 81 the disposal Of the War Department.
the Black Hawk war might have been prevented
and that in 1885, il a few additional companies
had been sent 10 Florida, the Seminole war would
| not have occurred.
The slate OF the recruiting service is shown by
the report OF the Adjutant General, and the ac-
companyng tables. Since the passage Of the law
Of August e. 1854, 10 encourge enlistments, thar
service has progressed very satisfactorily both as
regards the number and the character of the men
enlisted. In the months Of September and Octo-
Der last, ,00J enlisfmenfs were made while in the
corresponding m onihs Of 1883, the number was
only 300. In consequences Of the number OF CON-
panies that have been placed on the maximum
establishment under the law Of June H. 1850 the
little success that attended the recruiting service
prior 10 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 eusuring year will probably not be less than
6,000.
The estimates for the support Of the army dur.
ing the next fiscal year, exceed those submitted
at the last session, for the current year, by the
sum Of 1851 Cos 30. The increase Is TO be found
in the items for pay Of the rank and file al the
higher rates fixed at the last session Of Congress,
and for recruiting, clothing, and subsisiing the
better filed ranks OF the army. In other items
there is decrease, so that, leaving out Of view
the pay Of the army, which, being fixed by law,
this department can In no way increase or az
minish, the expense Of keeping the army in active
service, with its ranks thus increased during the
next fiscal year, will not, according 10 the esti.
mates, exceed that ofthe current year. The item
of transportation, one Of the heaviest xpenses is
not INCREASED, and IL, therefore, relatively less
than that for the current year. Thus verifying
the expectation stated in the last annual report.
tk.e. -. n -. a.