Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-04-02
spz soa OF HON. BENZ. sTANToN

House of Rep esentatives Mar. II /, '5S.-0n the
Bill to raise Volunteers, for the U. S. Ser
vice.
Mr.. STANTON. Mr.. Speaker, as a MEM
ber of the Committee on Military Afrirs, it
is perhaps, my duty to state to the House my
reasons for opposing the propositions of both
the majority and minority of that committee.
If the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Faulk.
ner referred to the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts Mr.. Bufington] and myself when
he said that the proposition of the majority
of the committee received votes in the COM
mi:tee whichit will not receive in the House
have only to say in reply that he is entirely
mistaken. II he will take the trouble to read
the minutes of the committee, he will find
our names recorded, with his own, against the
bill reported by the chairman of the commit
tee from the majority. 1t is true we voted
for volunteers in preference to regulars, but
we also voted against any increase whatcv-
er.
Mr.. FAULKNER. That is precisely what
stated. | said shat you would be found
opposed to both bills; that although you vo-
ted for the bill proposed by the chairman in
committee you would oppose it here.
Mr.. STANTON. l voted against the vol
unteer proposition in the Committee; against
reporting the bill; and my record here will
be precisely what it was in the committee.
Can the gentleman from Virginia say as
muchl
desire to say in the outset that, if it is
the pleasure of Congress to make any addi-
ton to the present military force of the
| country. | have very strong and decided
| preference for the plan reported by the chair
uian OF the committee Mr.. Quitmanl from
the majority, over that reported by the gen.
man from Virginia Mr.. Faulkner from the
minority of the committee.
In the first place, if it can be claimed that
any increase Of the military force of the
country is required. it can only arise out o!
the disturbances in Utah, which | think il
may be assumed may be settled in a single
campaigni and hence the increase ehould be
only temporary.
In the next place, regulars who enlist
permanently in the service as refuge fr'asl
starvation, will consist mainly of the refuse
population OF your cities and large towns,
who have no knowledge of border life Oh
border warfare, and therefore will be pecull-
arly unfit for the service which will be re-
quircd of them. On the other hand if vol
unteers are called into service, they will be
taken mainly from the border States, accus-
toned to border life and border warfare, enc
therefore peculiarly fitted for that kind Of
service.
But there is still stronger reason for my
preference OF the proposition offered by the
chirman OF the committee. By this bill, vol
] o,,I tr
the laws of the State from which they come
: It gives the President the appointment of NJ
} officer from colonel to a corporal. By prop
: ostion of the gentleman from Virginia th'
officers are all to be appointed by the Presi
dent, and will amount to about Que hundred
and eighty five in number. | am at al
times opposed to any increase of Executive
patronage. ] am especially opposed to i
at this time because / have conddenc,
in the President, and believe that any pat
ronage we may confer upon him will b.
prosttuted TO base and unworthy purposes
7 may add the bill reported by the majorit!
has been we'll considered by the committee
and will be found to be We'll adapted to th
i object which il proposes TO accomplish.
But | am opposed to any increase Of tn
military IOrce OF tne country eltler pprtb1
: nently or temporary, because do not be
: leve the exigencies of the service requir
, it,. The power to &" raise and support ar
T; mics" is vested in Congress, it'therefore, i
c responsible not only for the unnecessary ex
penditure which will be required for the sup
i port OF the increased force, but fUr tie in,
\ proper and authorized use which may b
t made of them by the President, under who's
e command they are to be placed. is ou
d duty, therefore. carefully TO scrutinIze Tn
exicencies of the service. that we may b
able to judge whether any increase Is re
= CURED.
: The Army now consists. in round nun
n bers, OF eighteen thousand men. That
). the President is authorized to call that mum
: Der of men into service. The question be
a fore US, therefore, is, whether the public sci
n vice requires larger number. I confes
II myself wholly at loss 10 imagidc wht
i purpose of safety or utility Can require
n larger force. II seems to be generally cor
. ceded that eight thousand men is oil that
necessary, and, indeed, all that cnn be a'