The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-14
THE ARMY BILL.

suggestions Of the Secretary 81 War favor Of increase
Of the army The subject has attracted much attention in
the country large. The frequent intelligence otIndian
ravages and murders On the frontiers aud the danger
the overland emigration contrast painfully with the mad
equate military provided for such emergencies The
Philadelphia North American whig paper Of very high
standing has several occasions insisted upon ample ie
gsation this subject As early the Cd Of November
last that Journal declared.
" THE PROSPECT .--For two three years
past the Indians upon frontiers Of
rious and injury the whites residing
passing through their country Settlements been in
vaded and disturbed emgrant attacked
and children masacod carried captivity cattle have
been stolen killed the mails seized appropriated and
the peace and security Of that whole region complete
" destroyed OF late these depredatons been growing
frequent and strocous the spirit Of hostility sctuang
them sensiby increasing in erceness audacity and
the time has, think, nearly, IL quite, approached.
when il will be impossible TO tolerate longer alarming aud
perncious state OF affairs The Cumanches in the South,
and other tribes in the West be engaged
organized general and vnctive warfare upon the people
Of the Territories, and they constantly committing
ges which call loudly for defence and punishment.
The government evidently getting to be considerably
concerned about these outrages and nmosiiies
There certainly very just occasion for such socade The
military forces hitherto despatched to the OF difficulty
have been inadequate to the emergency Detachmens Of
troops have been met repeatedly Of late by superior parties
oil the and alter desperate engagements have been
either massacred to overpowered and driven from
the field Reniorcements have been demanded and these
though furnished suced check temporarily
the ncusons destructive fury OF the Indians AT this cr
stage Of the exgency the War Department finds its
exhausted Secretary Davis is represented decar
ing with the present strength the army he do
more, very little for the protection Of western
territories against the pagng and numbering hordes which
everywhere infest and aliict them.
This rather serious state of things. IL is not only
perpexing but humiating. That the administration should
be reduced acknowledge i inability make adequate
sstance against the bands OF hostile which
laying waste the soil of the nation tomahawkng its c,
gems, and destroying carrying or their property fact
which is indeed dsgraceful The fault course Is
with the Executive, because he may have done and
disposed take for granted has DONE all that the at
his command would admit Of The evil is really attributable
the meage proportions of the regular army which do at
all equal the ordinary necessities of the country We have
much of frontier defend than have troops
properly fort and protect without leaving all other mil
ary stations unnamed or but partially occupied This cir
cumsance has been long patent the least agacous obcr
vaon 1t has been urged upon the attention of Congress by
successive administrations and though additions to the
rank and file Of sodiery have from time to time
been reluctantly made yet the establishment has been
rendered completely effective in point Of numerical strength
The Journal has since made other strong comments
its number of the goth of January utmo the following
passages
'sTHE Aamy.--We are about to have
long ago by every intelligent person who has
all observant Of the hostes which have occurred at fire.
quent intervals all along western frontier for the last two
three years The fact, however, is taking shape
clearly and papaby that fail to discern it. The
administration is growing alarmed and is evidently appre
of the dreadful consequences from the utterly
unprepared state OF the country for the emergency that
vbly approaching. The War Department is in Hutter
excitement Secretary Davis who in his late report
nesy called upon Congress the regular forces Of
the service under his charge has renewed the appca
ton in the most urgent Gen. Scot whose expe
and sagaciy in such matters should give weight
his opinion has perceive recently expressed the
belief that the fears of the Secretary but too well found
ed He thinks desperate and sangunary conflict with the
savage beyond the Mississippi is imminent all the tribes
that regon whose violence and dcpredations for
time past but eby resisted have acquired the
idea that the United States not able to contend successfully
against their united strength ard that upon this conviction
the various bands are planning confederation for the
pose wagng rioHs and mpacabe crusade against the
whites.
months ago we predicted this very trouble which now
gathering rapidly head and creating such pnfegned
and intense soctude in high military circles. We urged
then dny immediate and energetic preparation meet
merely that might be able encounter the actual
strife which be impending but that obvious and
complete eadnes for whenever it should might avail
altogether But Congress has thus far Disregard
ed the appeals which have been made it in this exgency
and the probabilities that shall find ourselves
the midst terrible contest with most willy vindictve,
any suitable condition for the This sort Of IMPROVE
dence marked the conduct OF the every
previous crisis of the kind and the results of it have nya
bly, been disastrous that they should have taught the
wisdom of taking better Of peace and security Sec
rotary Davis tells Congress that 1T has been stated by those
with all the facand have doubt opn-
Is entirely reliabethat if in 1881 small
had been the disposal OF the War Department Black
Hawk might have been prevened and that in 1885, If
a few additional companies had been sent Florida the
Seminole would not have occurred"
The present strength the army shamefuy and dan
gerousy dsproportonate that which required for the
public defence The very latest official estimates exhibit this
deficiency in most striking Ii is shown we
have seaboard and foreign frontier of than ten thou
sand miles, Indian frontier and through the Indian
country requiring constant protection of than eight
thousand miles, and Indian population of than four
hundred thousand Of whom probably oneha forty thou
sand warriors nmca and only wait opportunity to
become active enemies and yet with all this Of
exposed line to garrison and guard and this neigh
boring community Of hostile barbarans keep check we
told that If army should be expanded
limit il would have force only OF H. 49, officers and men
but that, large allowance always be made for alb
scntees invads, c the actual effective would proba
bly, exceed eleven thousand This statement reveals
condition Of national weakness for the purposes Of repenu
external enemies which certainly dcrcd
liable and humliatng There s community in the
world, Of any professions political dignity power
which has not respectable military armament Our
whole establishment Is much If any greater than that
with which powers fortf petty colonies
and it is illustrative of spirit psrnony degree Of
folly which emnenty unworthy Of
ghteued State, which 9th to-