The Washington union., 1858-03-10
w AsHINGTON CITY.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING. MARCH 70. 1858
cDNsoLIDATION AND THE ARMY.--1HE DUTY OF
THE ADMINISTRATIONS

puhlisbes letter from Mr. Jefferson which has Juei
found iis way to light aud embraces the occasion 10
express its dissent from the opinion often epnncia-
ted that the liberties of the American peopie are
endangered by any possible consolidation % uie
government The subject is sn old one ou' sun
survives, and perhaps viii always be renewed on
,erv ccas;o,, when tI,e admins nistration shall pro-
nos. a modification Of what may be termed any or
.,.;. ,,,.,.h a t,e rubc service. The recommend
alto. ct the President his annual message TO IN
crease the army the extent OF four OF hVe regi-
,sts in ric,, Of the extraordinary service IN Utah
and other imperative duties imposed upon IL, was
met by the usual objection, that il another step
tosards the consolidation OF the government We
do not recollect TO have any refutaion hy oar
Temporary GU this occasion, of the arguments of
itsrepnblcan friends in opposition 10 the army biii,
which failed a few days ago in the Senate.
tis no part Of our purpose to undertake 10 show
that the proposed Increase of five regiments was
SIMPLY demanded by the ordinary and extraordinary
rsouistiops made upon the War Department for
general and special duties. The campaign ia ttah
is one which WAS undertaken only when the integrity
Of the United States iiaperatively called for If, TO
maintain the supremacy Of the lsws. The theocrstc
government of the Mormons had declared it's lnde-
pendeucc Submission not alone the disniem-
bcrment Of the republic; it was confession OF
weakness All exsmple Of submission to the insclent
pretensicns of community. whose political and SO
cal svsems are at war with the moral sense of the
nation Ii was impossible to consent TO install such
speope in the very centre Of the continent, TO in
+srcert communication with the Pacific States TO
stimulate the yaricns tribes Of Indians against the
advancing columns of frontier settlement and indus
try TO cut of and appropriate the trade q the hun
ter and the rapper and 10 render the maintenance
Of large military force unavoidable and ines table
Their snbiugation was then necessity imposed
upon tlis administration, and il met by the
prompt despatch Of Colonel Jehnstons command
which has succeeded in posting itself paLiB he
saemps kass. That force Was all that could be
spared from our little small 10 keep open
the communication with the States. The President,
when Congress commenced its annual session,
IN obedience tc clear Of duty ard III view Of
an unmistsksble endorsement, 81 public sentiment
throughout the country, called for additional troops
to maintain the supremacy Of the laws and to put down
insilrecfion and rebellion. Three months Of that
sympathy for the rebels, and opposition to the ef
forts Of the government to bring them TO terms
And what arc the circumstances which are relied
upon 10 Justify this conduct? We have little
army, a vast frontier infested by ,reacherous and
hostile Indians and for.ihraiions TO be gar
rsoned la addition this ordinary service, which
il more than sufficient to employ the whole military
force Of The government active and severe duty
we are in actual collision with at least ten Thousand
energetic mountain men who occupy position of
great strength, perhaps favorable for defensive
than any other portion Of the whole continent
Al supplies for the army operating in Utah must be
transported thousand miles overland through a
hostile Indian country. At least hundred provision
trains viii be required to pass over this route; and
- the force under Colonel Johnston cannot subss'
without supplies amy miscarriage OF the trains would
be fatal to all operations Of his command These
trains will occupy at least three months depart
ing al given periods. To guard them properly
viii require all the troops at the disposal of the
War Department. But these troops will be required
10 march to reinforce the Utah command at the ear
lest possible time leaving the trains unprotected to
get through the spares Of hostile Indians best
they may. In addition to these facts ii ought TO be
stated that there are bridges and ferries the Plat,
the Sweet Water, and Green rivers which, if de
stroyed--and it is believed they wholly unpro-
teeted-would cause delay Of months in the spring
and early summer before either the troops or pro-
vision trains could pass them. We speak altogether
from impressions which II requires military skill
TO understand. aud military pen TO describe,
They are the impressions Of laymen, and we address
them to laynen
II is perfectly obvious at all events that there
three ralpable requirements growing ous of our
movement upon Utah
J. That Cvl. Johnston must be reinforced;
Ii. That be and the troops sent forward for that
purpose mus, bc supplied viii, provisions; aud
I'LL. That tho provision trains must be protected
al all cpst and hazard.
II is not al all Impossible that the Mormons may
throw formidable force in the of Colouel John
ston, not n intercept the reintorce,uents but under
standing the difficulties of oar position to destroy
the provision trans which the government is bound
alike b. covenant and by neressity TO protect
These Of the facts aud circumstances
which have been addressed to Congress To Justify an
considerable augmentation Of the army Thev
have been answered by the stale and sicksning ler
sratcn, that the American people arc opposed 10
Increasing the regular military faroe of their govern