The Washington union., 1858-02-10
rHE INcREAsE oF THE ARMY.


THE INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
Il is now over two months since the executive
documents required by the constitution to I've annu-
ally laid before Congress by the President have been
ON the tables of every member Of both houses
Among the recommendations most urgently pressed
on the immediate attention Of the Legislative depart
lnent of the government an increase Of the army
by five regiments, necessary for the protection Of
our expanded frontier, its lines Of communication,
and to suppress the rebellion and treason Of the
population of Utah. Were it possible to lay before
the country clearer manifestation Of the necessity
Of this increase than was made ia the message and
reports Of the War Secretary and Generalin-C Chief
we would diligently labor to that end. But AS the
array Of facts set forth in these papers fully and
completely concludes the subject we can do no more
than to appeal to every member of either house, of
whatever party, to rc-read those documents, and to
give their recommendations his goodwill and con
cnrrence, without longer hesitation.
Strange this delay is, its causes yet stranger
The increase recommended was by regiments. That
recommendation came first from the Lieutenant Gen
eral commanding the army. endorsed by the Secre-
tary Of War; and finally approved by the President.
1t can scarcely be doubted had the military commit
tees without delay reported bill in conformity with
these suggestions, it would at this moment have been
the law of the land, the regiments in forward state
of recruiting and arrangements in progress for their
early march to their places Of destination The rec
concentrations came from the constitutionally y-ap-
pointed authorities, and independent Of the conclu
carry er odeio weghty reasons for ompliance with
out material change in form reduction in numbers
for the whole theory of government presnpposes
that the executive departments, in the very nature
of things, possess the most reliable information on
whatever matters Congress and the constitution have
placed them to preside over.
The War Office keeps the history Of the army, and
the country looks to the Secretary Of that department
for reliable information in all military matters The
responsibility of that officer is peculiarly delicate,
and calculated to enoin in its suggestions
because of that peculiarly. A standing army tours
is anything but Standing one being dispersed in
squads over whole domain, and necessarily in
motion) is foreign to the nature of our government,
and in anagonsm with the tastes Of the people, who
watch with extreme jealousy every expansion Of mil
itary power and patronage. Thcse very jcalousies
of the country should be, with rejecting minds the
best that no administration would venture
to suggest an increase Of the army without ustifca
ton in the emergencies of the day. the expansion of
frontier, the acquisition Of territory other plain
and sufficient reason, permanent in it's nature aud
demanded for the common defence and general
welfare" The occasional necessity of an increased
military force to aid the President in executing the
laws supprcssing insurrection &c., transient in the
nature Of things, would justify Executive in urg
ing permanent increase of a standing army"
And yet. with these grave reasons for conforming
to the suggestions Of the report Of the Secretary at
War to Increase the army by additional regiments
il would seem that there but few members With
out plans Of their own patent for the occasion and
not without the merit Of novelty. To mind this
il all unwise, all wrong, and all 1impsactcabls. The
whole plan and theory of our government are OPP
posed to it, and heretofore they have not been alto
gether abandoned. In pursuance Of them the Pres-
dent, in his annual message, has recommended adj
ditional rsginenis, demanded by pressing emer
gencies admitting of no delay. Congress, after two
months is now debating the question of giving him
companies, II is not questioned that the whole army
is under the control of Congress- and they may add
to it they please but the policy Of that form q
legislation, regardless Of erecce Information, may DC
Of equivocal expediency and doubtful wisdom d
the theory of our government is right, that kind Oh
Legislation is certainly wrong
The inference is irresistible that the theory or
ganizaton, and efficiency of the army are better
known OF the War Office than at any other depart
ment, and when that Office asks increase by resT
ments, in the nature Of things Congress must niV'
there is good reason and sound policy in thai fe'
quest as far the form of increase is concerned e8
pecialy There is then, manifest wrong in the pres,
cnt bill before the Senate to add companies ins'ea'
Of regiments. We probably safe in the asser'
tion that not one in twenty members has reflected
carefully upon army organization or the theories on
which it is based The Register shows MS regmen'a'
organizations of artillery cavalry Dragons mounted