The Washington union., 1858-03-14
INCREASE OF THE ARMY.
REMARKS OF HON. CHAs. j. FAULKNER

Va Ahh iAIsNl
REMARKS OF HON CHAs. J. FAULKNER,
or VIRGINIA.
In fnor of ar increase of the Regular Ary and against the en-.
psoy,uaa of Volunteers Utah delivered The House Of Rep
ysscaatres, Oh Of March, 1858,
Mr.. FAULKNER 7, would at any, time, and under
any circumstances be matter of regret to to find
myself compelled to differ question of military pol
icy with the distinguished gentleman from Missssii
Mr.. QUnMAN, and with that committee over which he
has the honor to preside; and OF which both mem
uers 1t is especially at this juncture wneh believe
that the necessities of the puc sefvice demand some in
crease Of our Iafy force when observe only the
apathy, but, might almost say the aversion that has
been shown by Congress to yield to these necessities
the public service, and when it becomes all who believe
that the interest and honor of the country demand some
increase of the military establishment to harnonize
| their views and not frustrate common object by
divisions among ourselves. say therefore sir that If
could conscienousy support the bill that has been re
ported by the Committee Military Affairs, would
do So butt cannot give my support do not believe
sir that this bill comes up to the full ideas of the chair
Of that committee of what the interests of the con
try at this uncture demand en- very certain that there
at least members of that committee who cast
the weight of their influence in of the recommended
tons of that committee and in opposition to the opposing
scheme of policy who will be found, upon this floor
when they come to record their votes hostile to the
one they were to the Other.
Sir believe that the interests of public service at
this time demand an increase of military force In
all that the gentleman from Mississippi Mr. QuIrMAN
has said upon that aspect of the question entirely
cur do In the view that there is power vested in
the President of the United States under the act of 1895
at all adequate to the present emergency in affairs
But, sir dissent wholly from that gentleman in the con-
cuson which he has announced to this House. that the
description of force which is neither regular nor militia
but which partakes of of the qualities OF boththe
volunteers the description Of force which is most proper
for our present service.
Mr. Speaker, do not stand here to make any dspar-
ap reflection the yolunteers Nv kpoy al ,f
them and my feelings would forbid such course
The annals of our country have been often illustrated
by their vaor and their patriotism, and, will say by
their efficient action in the field, to Justify in any gen
era denuncation of them occasional resort of
military policy. For the purpose of national defence
they invaluable They have intelligence patriotism
spirit and ardor For quick brilliant, rapid campaign
they surpass any other description Of force Yet sir
they liable to all the objections which, in the very
nature of things, must apply to unframed, undise
plincd inexperienced soldery There exgences of
to which the volunteer is the best adapted There
are other eXgcnces to which he is not suited and there
sir, is the point of separation between the gentleman
from Mississippi and myself do not regard the voun.
eer the proper description of force for the cxgency
which has now arisen in the Territory of Utah. do not
look upon him as tho proper force to send to that Terri
tory. think that no inexperienced soldiery should be
sent there. 1t never designed purposcd in my
conception of things that volunteers should be sent
such service that contemplated In that Territory
No military authority in this country has called upon
you for volunteer force and much question whether
you place them at the disposal of the Executive he will
find use or occasion for them Nay, sir may hazard the
opinion, perhaps with didence that the prominence
which the idea of volunteers has in this country and
before Congress is to be ascrbed to some outside
popular pressure than to the dictates of sound military
policy.
Sir, believe that the exigencies of the country re-
qure the addition of FIVE regiments your regular army
presented that proposition to the Committee Military
Affairs, and, sorry to say, il there met but lit
tie favor encouragement am still of that opinion
/ tn th.v Hath
been expressed in the other branch of Congress- so far
least to modify my proposition to bring it within the
range OF its possible passage by Congress know
gentlemen will say that should legisIato without ref
erence to the views and action of coordinate branch
the Legislature admit that in every question involv-
ing principle VIC should do but in mere matters of
expediency am not prepared to assert that such posi-
ton IL proper go for something practicable go for
that which the best get under the circumstances
find that body has voted down the fveIegiment bill
find that it has, with almost equal unanimty, voted
down the volunteer bill. have, therefore, sought
obtain proposition that might combine md harmon
Se the views of those who believe that increase of
the present military force of the country necessary
But, sir mean to throw upon this body its proper
responsibility in regard to that shall bring
forward that bill and shall ask this body to vote upon
the recommendation of the Executive in regard to the
five additional regiments II that is voted down. will
then ask that the bill which l have presented and
which has been printed, may be adopted substi
tute for the bill presented by the Committee Military
Affairs
MI. r.Speaker, there is very extensive msconception
as to the true actual strength of army That mis-
conception arises from confounding tho authorized
strength of the army with its actual real strength and
from the failure to consider the large size of staff
which, under an idea suggested by Mr. Calhoun, is
adapted for an army of greater magnitude than any
may expect shortly to have.
br the authorized strength of army is seventeen
thousand nine hundred and eighty men Its actual
strength is fifteen thousand hundred From these
you are to deduct the staff embracing large number of
ordnance men, and the result is an actual strength of
thirteen thousand five hundred and seventy five men
Ii you deduct from that number those who according 10
the statistics of the sanitary condition of our army are
unfit for active service you will have left less than thr
teen thousand for all the purposes for which we
want this force in the field
Now, sir, what is the field of operation of this little
army of thirteen thousand men What are the duties
which imposed upon them They scattered over
of three million square miles II is military
police upon which you depend to guard your two Indian
frontiers, the extending east of the Rocky mountains
from the Lake of the Woods TO the Rio Grande and the
other extending the western slope of those mountains
from the British possessions the north to the Gulf of
California, embracing within that limit, according the
report of the Secretary Of the Interior two hundred and
iorty three thousand hostile Indians those who at
any moment, may become such, and who are in
dion and temper Of feeling to become such whenever
any prospect OF advantage may tempt them to aggression
ms force Is also your military police 10 guard your