The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-15
WASHINGTON CRY, THURSDAY Y. April. Is, 1858.

dependent tho action Of Congrcs. In my oinicn,
this nonstrous expenditure o the army results mainly
from practice that has grown Of aie years and which
ought % be eorreotel BY the EAecuve and thc Excc
utye fails 10 correct IT, il ought 10 be correctt by Con
gess That practice Is the allowing half dozen advcn-
tous persons ~ AT beyond the lrontlers Of the set
dement's and squat themselves down the public lands,
and then demand Of the War Department company of
troops for their protection ~ lti9 'iiS ~ " %N@''
In the early history Of the country, whcn the States
Of tennessee, kentucky, and Ohio were being set
tied, they occupied by ssvages far more fcrocors
than any now upon frontiers When our fathers
went to that country they went there with the hoe and
spade in one hand and rife IN the other, and they pro
teced themselves against their savage foes IL Is hne
the country able TO afford protection than IL
them but ask il is reasonable just and proper that
halt dozen adventurous persons should be allowed 10
and settle ia the wilderness where there is market for
the grain they can raise, and thcn 10 make market
apply to the government to send them company Of
troops most Substantial advantage Of which is, TINT
II furnishes them purchaser for their prosincei
IL you will look ut these reports from the War
Department, you will find that the greater part OF the
q xtravseant expenditures M the army are connected
with the Quarternastcrs department In consequence OF
the expense OF transportation and supplies of troops far
beyond the frontiers OF civilization submit therefore,
that the first step towards retrcnchng these enormous
expenditures should be the establishment Of Gordon Of
posts, north and south, along the frontiers from which,
occasion requires the troops can be sent out into the
Indian country 10 keep the Indians in That will
have the effect Of saving the enormous expenditure for
sending troops everywhere, when calls were made, far
beyond the frotieFs, that these enormous expenditures
in the Quartcrnasters department incurred II w
1t is said in tho newspapers do not believe IT, how
ever. that these Iudian sometimes gotten up
by the settlers for the purpose Of furnishing market and
giving them opportunity Of making speculation out Of
It, do not attach much credit to such reports but Ger
tain it is that the practice 10 which have referred is
likely to lead to mnny irregularities. ~ - aAl3 =
There is another Of these large expenditures to
which desire to call the attention Of the House
We have recently had before bill TO increase the army
Of the United States Well SIR In my simplicity im
agncd that 1t wonid be sufficient increase and the
most economical increase to add to the number Of pn
Yates in each company supposed we had officers
enough and that the proper mode Of increasing the army
would be to increase the number Of privatcs Having
always heard that peace establishment only n
''skcleton army TO be filled up in time Of war; thought
the time had arrived for filling up the skeleton without
enlarging it, A few Of the friends around me, as in
experienced in military affairs as i was, were under
the impression but were told that an Officer
could not command more men than were placed under
him under present system. ! had not definite IN
formation within possession in respect to the organi
zaton of the armies Of other nations in this respect
hnvc however, since obtained information from which
have made out table, showing the number Of pri-
Yates commanded by single officer, which will read to
the House