The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-09
From the nichmo. Enquirer.
OUR ARMY AND NAVY.

An increase OF both the army -ani navy OF the United
States emneny needed Never yery imposing In their
number of guns, neither has kept pace with the
progress OF the country they designed to defend 1t is
true immense standing army argues little for the
dom OF the people from whom ii Is drawn, the enty aud
legitimacy Of The government which il protects Where
despoa rule bayone must bris.le between the popnlact
and the throne and standing armies employed much
for the preservation of peace home wage
with nations abroad repei the attacks of foreign
vadera Among republican people the government needs
physical force to sustain it. Bat while standing srmes
considered only conservaors ct ciey supefuous
aud idle institutions in democratic counte they in all
other resi- ects indispensable under any other form
government Having double duties TO perform in re-
publics their ze and strength should Of course be appor-
toned to the strictly military demands Of the nation with
out reference to purposes Of police and therefore, they
smaller in free than in monarchca conn,riee elements
Of armies to be watched with mstrust
apprehension As pro ecors of national interest and honor
country command its rights without them. Gun
powder and steel terrible agencies in the hands Of
and mecenBry men, aud under The control of ty-
rants aud demagogues Armed men, instigaied by the
sinister designs Of unprncped aposaes and traitors may
overturn government In day. Aud thus ii is that
standing armies when necessary protect the rulers may
be perverted to purposes of revolution. as
la the United States every sovereign citizen
and soldier when his country calls 10 Tbs people
enact their laws, and alter them at their will
revolution il needed it is accomplished quietly and peace
ably The baot-box and by batteries and barcades
in the streets of this metropolis There is for
beion field for traitors in arms and consequently no
need for army defend the government from popular
outbreaks. But here il is Indispensable that we
should have not only organized military force for nu
cus Of the citzen-soldery in time of war; but standing
army, large enough to garrison forts defend our from
tiers and drive the hostile Indian tribes The territory
of the United States is extending rapidly westward and
southwark population is muiplJin almost incacua-
bly, and yet army is coRfned within contracted limits
numbering not than men enough 10 furnish single
fort If should be proclaimed against tomorrow
We would not advocate very large standing army but
present have soldiers enough enlisted all told
make much more imposing parade than a regimental
Of the old Virginia militia. The number of West
Point cadets shond at least b, doubled for however brave
patriotic aud loyal the legons send into the field is
indsputably established that to be effective 10 proportion
their strength they must be under tho direction and au-
thority Of well-rained officers An innumerable host
without discipline may be easily routed by far inferior
force arayed and in accordance with the arts
of war.
Woolwich and West Point beloxg as legtmately 10
Mars Lowell and Manchester manufactures or the
medical colleges Of the world to the E,cuapan science
The navy of the United States Is much more
and disproportionae than the army Our ex-
tends to the furthest limits Of navigation and our mer
chantmen increasing in numbers constantly The land
il being oraken for the than at any previous pc
Rod in the history Of the world And commerce in
creases highly important that the for lis pro-
lection should be increased in corresponding ratio In
times OF peace should have armed vessels enough to be
always hand be employed at the bidding of rep
resenaves abroad for the protection of the interests and
honor Of the nation when the occasion calls force
in time Of they Indispensable only convey
commerce. but to protect the coast from ravages of the
envy. ~ ~ 80. $3.50 -
There ia an imitsbe field of science too always open
and iuvng for the employment of naval officers and gov
eminent vessels Puget Sound, without the aid Of the
navy in cooperation with the military forces syaus the
Indians, might have been mmortalized in sad song
another Wyoming The telegraph under the ocean,
joining continents unknown TO each other and
transmitting intelligence through agency and with
rapdity that almost staggers the understanding will be
monument TO the memory of Bergman and Brooke well
the immortal Morse Thus civilization and science
the arts Of peace and go hand in hand together for
the development OF the of mind and matter
comparison Of our commerce with that of England
suggests at the propriety Of inconsderabe In
of the government vessels of the United States II
is to be hoped that effective efforts for liberal enlarge
ment of both army and navy will be witnessed within
the four years The country has the mcans and
have little doubt that the administration will avail itself
Of the opportunity to strengthen both Of public pro-
lection aud defence