Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-24

thev selves have declared tfat
.err;torv az This Union - III RntAtasof sebelfop
IS turn. round - furnish ths President he
means d supp thit rebellion q
causes Of s very sSaEe 4xpenditare fe ON army 10
which will briefly call the attention Of the House,
and those causes are dependent on the action OF
Congress I'm my opinion, this monstrous expendi-
ture Of the army results mainly from practice that
has grown of late years, and which ought to De
corrected by the Executive, and il the Executive
fails 10 correct it. it ought to be corrected by Con-
aresz That Practice is the allowing hall 4 dozeA
adyenturous persons to 60 far beyond the frontiers
Of the settlements and squat themselves down on
the public lands, and then demand Of the War De-
partmenta company Of troops Tor their protection.
In the early history of the country, when the
Stsaes of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Onio were be-
ina settled they were occupied by savages far more
fer6cious than any now upon our frontiers. When
ourathers went to that country they went there with
the hoe and spade in one band ard rifle in the
oth}r and they protected themselves against their
savage foes. 1t is trde, the country is more able to
afbrd profession low than it then; but ask if
it reasonable, Just and proper that half dozen
adventurous persons should be allowed to 60 and
4ettle in tue wilderness, where there is no market
tor the grain they can raise, and then, to make
market, apply to the government to send them
company of troops-the most substantial advantage
Of which is that it furnishes them purchaser Tor
their produce
If you will look at these reports from the War
Department you will find that the creator part oil
the extravagant expenditures of the army are con-
nected with the Quartermasers department, in con-
sequence of the expense of transportation ana sup
plies of troops far beyond the renters OF civ''za'
tiop submit therefore, that the first step towards
retrenching these enormous expenditures shouu os
the establishment of q Gordon OF posts, nortn ana
SOUTH along the frontiers, from which, as occasion
reouires the troops be sent out into the Indian
country to keep the Indians in ave. That will have
the effect of saving the enormous expenditure Tor
TRANSPORTATION 1t was not until this late practice OF
sending troops everywhere, when calls were made,
far beyond the frontiers that these enormous expen'
ditures in the Quartermasters department were in
Cured
It is said in the newspapers do not believe it,
however-that these Indian wars are somt'mes got
ten up by the settlers for the purpose of furnishing
a market and giving them an opportunity of making
a speculation out of it. do not attach much cred
it to such reports but certain is that the practice
to which have referred is likely to lead to many
irregularities.
There is another cause of these large expenditures
to which now 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, imagined that it would be suffi
cient increase and the most economical increase, to
add to the number Of privates in each company.
supposed we had officers enough and that the prop
er mode of increasing the army moud be to increase
the number of privates. Having always heard that
our peace establishment only skeleton" army,
to be filed up in time Of war, thought the time
had arrived for filling up the skeleton without en-
larging it. A few of the friends around ME, as in
experienced in military affairs as was, were under
the same impression but were told that an off.
Ger could not command more men than were placed
under him under our present system. l had not de.
finite information within my possession in respect to
the organization of the armies of other nations in
this respect. have, however, since obstained infor-
nation, from which have made out table, show
ing the number of privates commanded BY single
officer, which I will read to the House.