The Washington union., 1858-03-14
MR. FAULKNER ON THE MODE OF INCREASING
TTFE ARMY.

MR. FAULKNER ON THE MODE OF INCREASING
TfFE ARMY.
The views of Mr. Faulkner, on the subject of army
increase are important, representing that port on
Of tie Military Committee Of the popular branch of
Congress which .grees with tho Executive and Gen
eraln-chicf on the mods of sugmenting our mill
tary force. His views have been unsupported in
gs-eral leading northern journals, and it is import
ant that VIC should lay them correctly before the
public. which VIC do in publishing his late speech
in the House, to-day,
II will be found TO present strong, and, what
seems to onr mind a conclusive argument against an
Increase of the army by volunteers, and in behalf of
an increase by regulars. For immediate and active
service in face of the enemy, well-ohcercd and oler
aiar disciplined volunteers undoubtedly very
formidable arm Of military power for offensive
operations The history OF our country has also
shown volunteer corps Of eharpshooters and pic-
neers to be often even efficient in active opera
tons against Indian savages on the immediate frontier
Of civilization than regulars. Better used to the sad
die and better skilled with the rifle, they very nau
ra.ls prove themselves admirable scouts and very
efficient pfytecton against the predatory and rreg
ular incursions Of ,tndisciplined savages The his
tory Of volunteers however, from the foundation Of
the government to the present moment has proved
thsm to be, with all their admirable illness Tor spe
c;,l purposcs far tcrs expensive under all crcuh.
stances and far less reabs in aropous' Prouacted,
and difficult service, than regulass.
1t seems to us that the case of Utsas ID precisely
one which presents all the circumstances snd cond-
tions which imperatively forbid the use OF yohn-
teers There is first, long march over vast VII
deress of twelve hundred miles to be accomplished,
before they reach tho theatre Of active operations
Jndscplned at the outset, it is impossible that the
government eau afford the delay or that they can
cnsounter the fagues, Of drill during an exhaustng
and expensive iousaey. Arrived on the field OF op-
erations they are rot ten to be led to the onset Of
battle; but they are to be subjected to the most
strict subordnation, with view OF Withholding and
outstanding every blow that can possibly be spared
the enemy. The object of their preseHce IN Utah s
to awe that rebellious people into obcdeNce to the
laws by their numbers, and not if possible t' CON-
pei them to obedience by sanguinary attack.
If there ever was service which required the
thorough discipline and stolid impassibility of
regular corps, this Of Utah is that one. If there
ever was service which, in the extreme delcacy Of
the responsibilities resting upon the invading force
and the distressing results which might ensue from
the rashness or impulsiveness Of troops impatient Of
restraint and unused to the rigor Of discipline, this
is that service. We trust that all right-tbnkng
and rightfeeling men in Congress will ponder this
subject well before they determine to force upon the
administration class of troops which, however vii
lingly they might accept them for other kinds OF
service, they could not employ in Utah without vio'
lating all their convictions Of military and political
propriety.