Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-31
The Army BilI-FOreigners, and the
SsBIOOdy Know NOtbings.''

Our readers are aware that early in the
session of the present Congress, the Admins
tration brought forward measure for an
increase of the standing Army. This mea-
sure was promptly killed, and mainly by tho
friends of the Administration. Gen. QUTMAN
then introduced an independent proposition
Into the House. providing for the employment
OF volunteers, when the eXigencies OF State
shall require greater military force. During
the discussion of this bill, the statement of
the Secretary of War, that "tco-thirds Of The
rink and file Of our present stano'ng 0rn'y are
f,reiqaeys," has been reiterated and used as a
powerful argument against the administration
policy, and in support of the volunteer pol
icy. One of the Union and Americaas numer-
oIs Washington correspondents, thus speaks
of the effort of Mr.. SAVAGE, of Tenn, in sup
port of Mrs. QUIrMAN's bill:
HE handled the admissions of the Secretary
of War who SAYS that 'two-thirds of our
rank and file are foreigners" and that the
Mormons were also Foreigners" as to
show that we should rely upon our own citi-
Zens and not upon such materials foreign
ers against foreigners He traced the origin
of the Administration bill, to Mr.. Poinsett's
recommendation in 1889, to divide the country
into eight military districts, with two hun
bred and eighty thousand men and depicted
the evils which would follow its enactment
that it would overturn the military policy of
the country, and for the future do away with
those gallant volunteers whose deeds are I'M
diving in our records-whOse valor achieved
our liberties at first, and will protect them
till the last"
The sham democracy have been so per-
sistent and shameless in their praise of for
eigners, that we scarcely could have looked
for such lampoon upon their Integrity and
patriotism from that source. 1t will not do
to trust foreigners against Foreigners at
least as soldiers. We are to infer that they
would either fly the field or so over bodily 10
the enemy. But we should like to know il
foreigners are unfit to he made food for pow
der" how much worthier are they to be made
citizens and Legislators! If they cannot be
relied on TO fight in time of war, how much
better are they to declare war? Ought any
man TO be made citizen of this country who |
cannot be relied on TO protect and defend the |
rights and interests, and honor of the coun- |
try? There has been great deal also said |
about the insignificance of the foreign popu-
lation of the United States, in point of num-
bers, and their inability 10 do any great harm,
if they were so disposed. But it is now OIL |
cially admitted that they already compose
two-thirds of the rank and file of the Army, !
and it is insisted that they are unreliable. |
Here we have a most complete and unauswer- |
able vindcation of the doctrines, and justifi- |
cation for the apprehcnsions, entertained aud |
expressed by the Bloody Know Nothings', |
by the very men who have been most bitter
and slcepless in opposition to them. 1t is
furthermore fiat denial of much that they /
have written and spoken against the Ameri-
can party. viii not such facts arrest the at
tention aud enlist the sober reflection of the /
m eonipy