The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-07
THE INCREASE OF THE ARMY.

The Washington correspondent OF the Philadelphia North
American Is Of the few writers for the distant press
outside Of New York who delight in the reckless
sauls upon the present administration, and upon the
Of the abandoned misrepresentation
the general fairness Of the North American
we have than wondered that II had sought
careful and considerate correspondent who
before stating facts for falsehoods did take little
time to protect his employers from the dissemination of
his daily caumnes In his letter dated February 1855
be the following language reference to sng
gesons Of the Secretary Of War and the President the
increase of the army
REFER with satisfaction the ignominou defeat
Of the executive recommendations for raising volunteers and
employing renegade mercenarie from among the Indians for
the protection Of the frontiers. have regarded il from the
moment Of its first suggestion project most dscredtabe
to the country The unique and grotesque opposition
speeches Of Gen. Houston and the less original and enter
tanning but convincing, demonstration Of Gen Cass
against this scheme, probably produced its defeat in the SEN
II secuted in the House. however its arst APP
pearance and though many attempts have been made TO in
roduce bill for carrying into effect the views of the Pres
dent and Secretary of War the House has consistently
fused to allow TO blemish hs records. Mr. Edgerton,
of Ohio, has earned credit lance and persever-
ance OF his opposition to p. Th~ result is BY
far the most mortifying repN Executive ~eived
from Congress. The loss OF the ten-miion app'oprf-
on for with Spain, and the disregard up ehis
time of the suggestions ia the message OF 1921 w ted
that 1884, for the reduction of the tariff were less
ed rebukes Of the administration because they re to
subjects upon which parties commonly and naturally uvde.
But before has Congress failed respond ayorab
appeal made it for the defence the country whether
against internal external foes. The truth is, that Con-
gress has sufficient confidence in the discretion of the
President and cabinet inrut them with the control Of
larger armed force than existing laws provide for The
Greytown affair bearing bitter expected fruits
The outrage of destroying that undeended place
-. a. - ct.
spect home without which cannot command in
Congress the approval Of the country
The Senate though rejecting the volunteers and Indians
adopted the amendment to the army appropriation BILL pro-
vidng for addition Of four regiments the regular army
of Dragons and Of infantry. This of force
is undoubtedly necessary, and perhaps larger
would the present and the future
sites of the public service. But papabe that necessity
consider it beyond doubt that the amendment will be
ected by the House. and that single horse viii
be voted to the during the session. Before the scanda
ou outrage referred to- and prior the repeal the Mis-
souri, Compromise obviously necessary addition the
army would have been cheeruily voted The feelings of
moderation and fairness prevailing in those days have depart
ed when to return would be rash predict but
be safely assumed that not until the powers of government
have passed into other and very different hands"
1t is new thing an anonymous assaant like this
prosung the columns Of respectable newspaper by the
assumption that members of the American Con-
RfHss
PEOPLE murdered by the savages Of Territories
and great and growing interests retarded for of ade
quae protection and this because these members were not
in favor Of certain other measures
The truth of this matter may be briefly stated The Sec
rotary Of War with characteristic energy earnestnes
urged the increase Of the army long before the Nebraska
bill was dreamed off and has given powerful in
favor of that of wise precauton But
of which, for the honor Of countrymen arise from
the barbarous motives suggested by this correspondent
these suggestions have been cordially responded TO-
The Secretary of War; General Davis his last commune
cation Congress the necessity of increase of the
army, refers TO this fact as follows
"WAR DEPARrMESr,
q Washington, January Is, 1885,
" SlR: In the annual report from this department of
cember 1883 your attention called to the Of the
Indian tribes and the which tended bring
them into hostility with citizens The exposed condition
the settlements the frontiers and of engrans Cali
orna and Oregon passing through the Indian country with
their property presented to those wake and predatory
tribes temptations which it oreseen would lead them
acts of and plumber unless they by
the presence of a sufficient military force.
" The total inade9uacy of the present authorized military
force for the protection was shown and an in
crease of the army was urgently recommended.
" In my last annual report the subject again brought
presented the
realization in the evils which had been an
cpated and increase of the army an extent as
would enable the department to the inevitable encr-
gency urged in such terms appeared be demanded
by the occasion, and to demonstrate the of the
Since the date of that report intelligence received from
officers the frontier and through the Department of the
Interior from Indian agents. and other sources shows that
the Indians OF the western prares and
tile and defiant attitude that several of those have en-
tered into combinations for the purpose of making general
upon the whites during the approaching spring
and that those tribes bring into the field
eight thousand warriors Had the increase of the
army, which urged in my report of December 1853
BEEN early period, authorized the disposal
of the department would have been to prevent
these combinations and in all probability would have pre-
served the lives many valuable citizens Indian mas
this adv period should the bills pending in Con
gress be passed. it will be found too late organize regu
lar enlisted force, and place it in position in to pre-
vent the anticipated attack suppress it until much
mischief shall have been DONE The only now left TO
the department in anticipation Of the proposed increase
the of volunteer force cooperate such
the regular troops be collected for the present
gency and il is accordingly recommended that authority be
asked of Congress call into service 5000 voun
teer be organized into companies quadrons and baa
IONS and for period OF eighteen months unless
discharged"
II only in the last resort than year after his
first recommendation Of increase Of the regular army
and than month after his recommendation had