The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-28

WORK OF Chasusemenl have not all lndlan wArs OF
late upon the Missouri and the Platte been provoked by the
military stations there The agents have complained and
have said that without the army the Indians would have
been harmless but the ndiscretion Of officers placed in
command, without experience ambitious to distinguish
themselves In the piping times Of peace and make glorious
war honorable such that they commit ouages and pro-
woke wars that fall upon the head Of Innocence the moth
and the babe alike becoming the victims OF exasperaed
savage feeling provoked by the conduct of the military
of country In this remark do not embrace all
army officers but aude to the inudcous selections Of
whose habits perhsp involve them in excess Of conduct
Sir, know the army appreciate IT 1t Is now pre-
sumo, as it was Of DID, composed Of gallant and generous
and noble spirismen of the highest tome of sposss rep
uiaton, and peerless honors. This character, however
only applies to them class 1t does not apply to them
all as individuals have much respect and riuth sympa
thy for the army Having served In the army OF the Uni
ted States with diminished pay for five years of the most
valuable portion of my life forget the associa
onu Of former Tines was once clsssed and considered
army. We must however, look at things practically II
you withdrew your troops from the frontier and expended
less than half the sum now spent in transporta ion Of
their baggage independent of their supplies we should
have peace With every Indian in America. We do not
want the troops for totders becauoe they are
ery pointed Indian will come and scalp soldier il
he is little BEYOND the range of musket shot, shake the
scalp in the face of the fortress and away unhpr and
have gala day with his tribe inducing Others TO Initiate
his example These posts provocaon to the Indians
invitation to aggression. Spend only the amount which
yoa devote transportation and you will have peace
with every Indian our borders.
Mr. Presiden should not have made these remarks but
that heard principles anhouhced by older minds than
mne mature in thoughts clearer in perceptions wiser
In the range of the great practical Of the
meut to which cannot consent have felt it my duty
this occasion to express with all possible Difference my
dissent from those opinions will for this bill
here from the House of Representatives pre-
pared sustain the army the fullest extent required by
the necessities conveniences or comforts OF the officers
but will subscribe to the doctrine that citizen
can be taken from private life and placed in the army
say n
sve privileged order All but graduates Of that iusit
ton shut out from the army matter how noble their
aspraons how commanding their genius, how peerless
their honor. maintain that the boy at his ploughhan-
die he have superior qualities we'll entitled the
man who has undergone a training at West Point The
who has manufactured military feeling by training
there may go into the walks of private life which just
open him as they to the youth who lives by tolls
and industry and who spends his year alternateya por
ton of 1t at academy college, country school, and
the ia oing aboiousy with his hands store his
mind with useful practical knowledge. He is excluded
while the who is pampered in and adence be-
he has political inueace s preferred in this
try Ia contrary the genius of institutions and to
the principles Of liberty have protested shall continue
to protest against il.
of the United States Out of nearly two hundred officers
appointed there halt dozen dozen taken from
the walks of private life and they selected through
political influence say every officer should have been
taken from the citizens who could have been transformed
into efficient soldiers Then the time to exemplify
principle correct in ITSELF that the country is made for all
and every who bears share in its Defence who tolls
TO sustain its glory and its renown aud contributes to its
resources, is entitled TO equal share in its avors and
its honors
Mr. WELLER desire simply to call the attention of
the Senate the real question which is presented for
consideration There various questions which have
been fully and might say ably discussed by senator's on
this hoor which may possibly up future day
for our determination they not before Wheth
er ii would be polite not 10 abolish the Military Acad
emy 81 West Point is question which can be determined
Nor do think that ths time of the Senate should be
sumed with euogzing army Their deeds of gaantry
are written on every page OF our countrys history am
willing leave them there Our army though small has
excited the admiration of the world their deeds Of daring
unparalleled in the history of will not follow
tempting to add anything to the brilliant usre that has
been shed the American by the gallant deeds of
our soldiers in the Mexican war.
Thus far agree that it necessary and proper to in
crease the pay of the army; that the compensation al
lowed them by existing laws is wholly inadequate; and
that unless the compensation be increased shall
sary lose the service of many of the most gallant and
useful in that army. Thus far say the whole Sem
ate agree and the only question is whether shall abol
sh the sysem of double ratons far to place it with
in the power of the President of the United States allow
hem under special circumstances where he may deem it
proper?
This system of double rations had its origin in the
1797 The act of 1902 gave commanding officers such
additional rations the President of the United States
might from time to time dec having respect to the spe
cia of the This is the exact PROPOSE
tion which is pending before the Senate II this
amendment be adopted you virtually thrown back
the act OF 1902 which gives double raons n such cases
only shall justify in the discretion of the constitution
al commanderinchief Is the Senate willing to trust IL
there2 As said before, there may be circumstances
which would Justify the allowance of additional ratons
of these posts such Newport Carlisle and Fort
Monroe and other posts visited by travellers through
country who desire the operations Of system
There the President doubtless would allow double raons
for the purpose of defayipg the expenses thus incurred
but in your army the frontier in Kansas Nebraska and
New Mexico where they called upon to incur
expenses the President take it for granted under my
amendment would direct the allowance of double
tons.
The whole question, then resolves itself into this
you willing vote for necessary amendment to this bill
will you reject it because any amendment will hazard
the bill in the other house of Congress Sir will do my
duty here and the House of Representatives do
their duty will vote for amendment which deem
necessary aud proper, although senators may tell me that
il will hazard the BILL matter what the action of the
other branch of Congress may be. However willing am
increase the pay OF our army officers am equally anx-
ious to abolish that which consider great abuse in the
public service.
said short time ago. that desired to get rid of many
of these military posts think, examination, you will
find that in the State ably represented by my friend
from Texas Mr.. RUsK they have military posts within
very few miles of other cannot see why they
double ration am in favor of abolshng multitude Of
military posts that you have established extending from
this The Pacific sde You could give to your Inhabitants
and to travellers and emgrans far greater degree OF pro-
lection by marching regiment annually through that
country than by retaining enormous EXPENSE these MIL
iary posts In other words do not want these little mil
itary poss with men, where you are compelled
pay five dollars bushe for corn and where the cost OF
Transporting supplies them is exiravagan would
abolish them but get rid Of them In my Judgment
in any other way than by aboshing double aons That
have insisted on before.
. e