Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-04-07
DIR ARMY AND NAVY.

Unifed States is rmiaentiy n-eied. Never very I'M
posing in their number Of men or guns neither as
kept pace with The progress Of the country they
designed to defend. Il is trus, immense standing
army argues li,tlu for the freedom vf ihs penp!e
from wh"m it is d avn, or the lsnty and l-giti
macy of the government which 1t protocols. Where
despotsrule bayOnets nust brlstle between the popu
lace and the throne, aud staudng armies are ell
poyed as much for the pr-eerva'ion OF peace
at home as to wage war with nations abroad, or re.
pei the attacks OF f,rrign iuvsders. Among re-
publican peopls the government needs no physical
lorce 10 susain il. But while standing armies, ooh
sidered only as cOnservaturs Cf society, are super
duous and idle institutions 10 Democratic countrl-s,
'hey are Ia all ohsr respects Indispensable a., un.
der any other form Of government. Having no
double duties to perform in Republics ihsir sizs and
strength should of course, b, apportioned to the
strioty military demands OF The nation, without
reference to purposes Of police; and, therefore,
they smaller in free tha in countries.
As elements Of government, armies are to be watched
with mistrust aud apprehension. As protectors OF
national interest and honor, no country can com.
mand It's rights without them. Gunpowder and steel
aro terrible agencies in the hands uf ignorant and
msrcenary men, and under the control of ryrsn,s
and demagogaes. Armed men, insrigasd by the
sinister designs Of unprncpled aposts,es and traitors
may overturn government in day. And thus it 10
that standing armies, when necessary TO protect the
rulers, may be perverted to purposes Of revolution
In the United States every man is a sovereign, 4
citizen, and soldier when bio country cals arms.
The people ensct the. own laws, and alter them at
their will. II revolution Is needed il Is accomplish
ed quietly and peaoesbly by the ballot boz, and not
BY batteries and barrcades In the streets of the
metropolis There is no Cause for rebellion, no hed
for traitors in arms, and consequently nesd for
army to defsnd the government from popular out.
orssks But even here It is Indispensable that We
should have not only an organised rniItsry force for
nuceus Of the citizen. .od!ery, In time OF wsr bit
standing army, large enough 10 garrison our forte,
defend frontiers, and drive the hostile lndsn
tribes. The territory Of the United States is extend.
lug rapidly Westward and Sourhward. our populs.
,lon 10 multiplying s!nost incaicuiably aud yet our
army is COZ fned within contracted limits, numbering
not more than men enough to furnish single fort,
II war should be proclaimed against us to- o-uorrow -
We would lot advocate vsry large standing army,
but al present have .oldiers enough enlisted all
told, to mako much more imposing parade than a re-
gnen,a muster OF the old Virginia militia The nun.
Der Of West Point cadets should least be doubled
for however brave, patriotic and loyal the egious
send into the d, It 10 lndisputaby established that
TO be Elective in proportion 10 their strength they
must be under the direction and authority of well.
trained officers. An nnumerable host, without dis.
opline, may be easily routed by far inferior force,
.y.d pd ~, h.
arts nf war.
wooiwich and West Point belong as iegitlmsrsIy
10 Mars as well and Manchester TO manufactures,
or the medical COLI 20, of the world 10 ;he Escua.
plan science.
The Navy Of the United States is much more in
! adj qrae and dirproporrlonaie than The Army. Our
commerce ends 10 the furth-st limits Of navRa.
fion, and m5rchan!m nro increasing in NUN.
bers consanily. The land 10 bring fursnksn for
he nore ih,n nj any previous pernd in The his
tnry OF the world Aud H. increases. II 70
nightly important that the ln-an. l,r 's protection
should be Increased in c,rr--p,n!ing ratio. lu
tnes of peac-. should have nrr~G vessel. .nout
20 Ue always AT hand, III be employed al the bid.
ding Of representative .uruaL for the Lro;. c.
tion Of the interests and honor Of ire marion, wh'
The occasion celia for fprc,; and 10 lima cf to- y
Indispensable, nat only 10 convoy commerce, bG.
| 10 protect the coes, from rav.ges If The enemy.
There is All niiubIe d I'D uf ecenoe, too, nlways
open end ;avcg for the employment Uf naval cct-s
and government ves.e, Puget Sound, with 'ur the
aid Of the navy in operation with The militia y
:urcss sgsnst the Indians, nishr have been inm r.
,alizsd In sad song another Wyoming. The tee.
graph under ihs ocean, corr lining Two contiut n5s
once unknown 10 each other, and transmitting int
ligenoe through an agency, and with rapdiry hat
almost staggers the unders andng, will b- mVnu.
m-nt TO the memory of Bergman aud Brooke. a.
we'll as to tho immortal Morse. Thus ciyiIisaton
and scisncs, the arts Of peace and war; 60 hand in
hsnG ,oSs'hsr, for tho development Of the resources
uf mind and matter.
A comparison Of our commerce with that Of Eng.
land suggest. at once the proprlsy OF no inoonsde-
rable increase of the government vessel. OF the Cni
ted STATES Il Is 10 be hoped that eeciive Efforts for
liberal enlargement Of both our army and navy,
will be witnessed within the next four yesrs.-
Tho country has the means aad We have little doubt
that tbs administration will avail itself of the op-
porirnty, 10 strengthen both arms Of public pro.
teelion and defence.