Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-04
ORR ARMY AND NAVY.

The American people are particularly Pres'ee'i'9'
Tbey extend the area of their country Win astonishing
r.oidi,y; level forests and rear cities as Il oy magic
y.yolu,ionizs the personnel and the poicy OF their
government by q peaceful expression OF the popular
will, in a single day; aud, in fact, in almost every
thing their peculiarly enterprising epirlt IL stri'
kingly manifested. But our army aud navy are
sxceptions. Al our territory expands and our from
tiers are widened, the army of the United States
sbould be enlarged. As our sea'coast Increases ana
our commerce extends, so should there be a CORES
bonding addition to the Navy. But IN either ins'""'o
II 10 not 90. Notwithstanding our immense emp"e'
extending from the Csnsdas TO the Gun Oh eA''o
one direction, and from the Atlantic 10 the ae'H
Ooean In the other, the regular army VI IA o"N
States is not more than enough 10 garrison fo'"oe
Monroe with a full complement OF NEIL III lux VI
war. And although our commercial re'a''onS NV
multiplying daily with all parts OF the world ana our
mayohan: marine is already CO extensive with the
limit. of navigation, the United States navy is made
ou.,s, 10 it's number of vessels, even TO times OF peace.
Republics are prover5ialy jealous OF standing ar
mics and the doctrine of State rights warns US
against sntrusting the Federal government with 100
mach power. But the interests OF each indiviaual
State, and of the whole Union, not less than our ma
tionsl pride demand that the army and navy-the
,ioht and left arms of the country-should be strong
enough 70 defend our national honor, and guard our
rights. by enforcing the federal laws, and adording
nro,sctiou to the persons and property OF American
ci,ixsns in every port and on every sea. There is an
adsre. too, that in times Of peace We should prepare
for war; and there is surely no better preventive OF
b,s,,l,,;s, than a demonstration Of readiness as well
a.. willingness to meet them. It is true, we are a
.,..-- al oni in anph pmprpAnclAg AZ n
great national war, the country may always
look with confidence to the courage and patriotism
of the oitizsu-soldiery. The regular army, it may be
said, 10 large enough for a nucleus around which the
volunteers can, aud always will gather when the ne4
esssiiies of the nation demand their services. But
that view Of the question relates entirely to times of
var. And singular as it may seem, 1t Is evident that
vs are now IS much or more in need of a larger re-
Pular army, than it we were engaged IN active hostll'
lilies with Frsnce or England. Then tie people
would be 10 arms. But now, the army slone
u looked to for the performance OF the soldiers work
And every man and officer from every military post
in the country, 80 far as We are enabled to judge
would be no supelduous force, for the suppression OF
tbe revolt In Utah. The Mormons are we'll supplied
With all the appointments of war. They muster
Thousands Of hardy men. Their inhospitable coun
sy h full of fastnssses. Their courage is the inspi-
rIou Of religious fsna,icism; and, under such cir.
sun.tanoes, II is not to be expected that they will be
easily brought to terms. This single instance affords
an opposite illustration Of the inefficiency Of the size
o! our army. And in war, even American valor 10
rendered doubly effective by the discipline of militia
~ education. II is o fact almost too plain, TO re-
ou!re the support OF any other argument than
it, own eloquent necessity, that the United
States army is sadly disproportionate TO the duties
Il 10 expected to perform. in peEce as we'll as in war.
Tas aniiq listed idea that a large standing army in this
country would be threatening 20 the rights Of the
psopie ia altogether out of date. There is no class Of
American ct. ems which more proudly cherishes thu
principles Of our government than our naval aud mi
iitsry of csrs aud men. And it must bo remembered
that Federal authority hsre is no. ci.he. arbitrary or
supreme. 1t is borrowed from the people. And in
the event OF an effort at oppression. the same shock
which would announce TO the world a dissolution Of
tb. Union, would brssk up the unity OF the army aud
nsvy, aud the men vino compose it would be ranged
respectively on the sides they might Individually es.
2orse. We would not, however, BE- understood as
advocating a regular army at all comparable in size
60 toe standing armies OF those countries, in which the
rr!ers rely upon The military arm of the government
20 protect them in their usurpations. We need only
regular troops enough 10 suppress such rebeliions as
that now in Utah, to subdus the hostile Indian tribes,
and form q sufficient nucleus for the citizer-soldiery
10 time Of war. An army fully adequate to all these
purposes might be maintained, without, presenting to
the mos, morbid Imagination the slightest semblance
OF q dangerous military force under the authority Of
the Federal Government.
The number of cadets at West Point should be inn
mediately increased, or perhaps it would be- better
that another national school, of similar character
ehouid be established in the South. For present
emergencies, regiments should be raised, and officers
appointed from the numbers of ambitious, brave and
educated young men Of the country. There are thou,
sands .uch who would chsssHully accept commissions
We trust that this subject will engage the early and
earnest attention of Congress.
An increase of the navy cannot be 30 speedily ef.
fsced. Blu, it is also highly desirable. and immediate
measures should be taken towards ii.