The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
STANDING ARMY.

tits not often (says the Journal of Commerce.
that We are able to concur with the Albany
Euening Journal on any political topic but
for once we are with it, only we do not believe
that our troops now in Utah are in any danger.
On the contrary, We think they are able to take
care of themselves and the Mormons too. Still
it is well to guard against contingencies, and,
moreover, it may be mercy to the Mormoua
to let them know that resistance d utterly
hopeless. Our frontier is 80 extensive, and
the calls in one way and another for military
services are liable to be 30 numerous among q
population of thirty millions, that, without ref.
erence to the Utah affair, which may yet be-
come q serious business, or it may not, we
doubt if the proposed increase of the army is
any too large.
From the Albany Evening Journal.
Our little army now lying on the confines oil
the Great Salt Lake must be in imminent peril
The various expeditions from the Atlantic to
the Pacific are exposed to constant danger OF
destruction and the Indians, melted by the
Mormons, are every day committing depreda-
tons upon the pioneers of the Great West. No
man and no party could survive the stigma of
having opposed granting relief and protection
to these our imperilled countrymen.
The Euening Journal is for increasing the
army for the sake of the soldiers in the Utah
country, who, it says, are exposed to imminent
peril The Journal of Commerce thinks they
are safe enough, but an increase of the army is
demanded by the general wants Of the country.
Be it remembered, too, that this is the ground
on which the Administration rests its demand.
1t is ashamed to say anything of the peril of
the little army in Utah, for, at any time, it can
despatch to its aid the two thousand troops in
Kansas but this would compel it to abandon
its criminal policy of forcing a fraudulent Con.
stitution upon the freemeu of that Territory.
Should any evil happen to our soldiers in Utah,
from their small numerical force, not those who
vote against an augmentation of the standing
army, but James Buchanan alone, will be re-
sponsible.
Even admitting that the Utah soldiers may
be in some danger, and that Congress ought to
provide for their safety, let bill be passed for
raising volunteers. Thousands are waiting for
but hint, and they would fly to arms. For any
such emergency as the Utah difficulty, = citizen.
soldiery will suffice. For one, we cannot bear
the idea of increasing the Standing Army-it is
expensive, dangerous, and denoralizing, and, it
seems to us, utterly useless. Nor do we care
what may be the party complexion of the Ad.
ministration. We would not trust even q Re.
publican President with such an army as the
Senate bill proposes to establish as permanent
1t is marvellous, after all the lessons Europe
has furnished US on this subject, that We will
learn nothing.
p6 The committee appointed by the House
of Representatives, to investigate into the Kan.
sas frauds, met on Monday evening, and
the majority (so unfairly given by the Speaker
to the Lecomptonites) voted down nearly all
propositions to make the investigation which
they were instructed to do by the House. The
majority also intimated that they would report
to the House next week. 1t remains to be seen
whether this attempt to disobey the Hoose and
stife investigation will be acquiesced in by that
body.
The Volksblatt, German Democratic paper,
published in Indiana, says:
"Let the Democrats of Indiana, on the 23d
of February, make such demonstration az
cannot or viii not be disregarded by our. Repre-.
sentatives in Congress. We owe it TO ourselves.
to our candidates, to our party, and our coun.
try, to declare in thunder tones that the De-
mocracy of Indiana is inAexibly opposed to the
Lecompton Constitution, and eli the ubiquitous
frauds connected Herewith. Let us force our
Representatives to strangle it, and all may vet
be WE'LL Let every Democrat come up to the
meeting on the 23d. Let Them devote but one
day to their country let them lend their voices
to swell the protest against this iniquity, before
it is perpetrated. As yet We may prevent it
and ell its fatal consequences. Come one, come
all, then
The Democratic ofice-holders of New York
city are making arrangements for q public
meeting, to endorse the Kansas policy Of the
President.