New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-03-08
THE ARMY BILL.

The present session OF the Federal Congress has
lasted three months and to very little purpose, in
deed. The business actually transacted thus far has
been triing in character and insignificant In amount,
and matters Of the grayest importance have been
thrust aside and almost lost sight of in the senseess
and interminable wraDge the question of refer
ring the Presidents message 10 particular committees
and over the Kansas troubles generally, while the
present prospect IS for an indefinite prolongation Of
| this wasting and fruitless dispute. Among the
measures which most urgently demanded the atten-
ton and immediate action Of Congress was the
increase Of the army, either by adding to the regular
force, or providing for volunteer contingent. The
necessity Of increasing the military establishment Of
the country, at least temporarily, cannot be denied
With any show Of reason. Besides the necessity Of
protecting vast frontier upon some part of which
continual hostiitcs with intractable savares give
constant employment to all the forces that can be
spared, we have the renewed war in the everglades
OF Florida, the smoulderng embers of rebellion in
Kansas, ready at any moment to burst forth into the
flames Of civil war, and open hostties and defiance
from the pestilent horde Of yagabond squatters in
Utah.
Notwithstanding these emergencies the Senate has
shown most unaccountabIe relsctance to take action
in the premises, or most cupabe negligence, which
may in the future be productive of very disastrous
results The command of Colonel johnson, now in
the Territory Of Utah. is In hopeless condition, and
unless reinforced and well supplied can do nothing
towards carrying out the objects of the expedition
should the Mormons fulfil their threats of resisting by
force Of arms the further advance Of the troops
That they will do SO, unless efficient force be sent
against them, there can hardly be reasonable doubt
Fanaticism never reasons and the Mormon character
il made up Of fanatcism and villainy in such pro
portions that it is difficult to say which predominates
The time is rapidly drawing near when it will be
too late to start force upon the long weary march
across the vast plains and deserts with any chance of
reaching Utah in time to be Of the least service or
even to escape the losses and disasters which beell
the command Of Colonel johnson. We learn from
Washington that the Administration propose to
withdraw the troops from Kansas and send them on
this SERVICE but this cannot be done without an ap.
preparation and Congress shows no disposition TO
trouble itself about the matter even to that extent
1t Is already too late to raise and organize new
force, as, according to the opinions of men who
should be good authority upon the subject May, or
even April, will be too late for the commencement of
the march, Capt Van Vliet and other officers de-
clare that the new expedition should start during the
present month and in that case it is certain that
there is time to be lost The dispatch Of the new
expedition, therefore, depends altogether 1t seems,
upon the appropriation Of a sum Of money by Com
gress.
Never, within our recollection has the sentiment of
the nation been more unanimous upon any subject
than upon this Mormon question: and the people will
hold their representatives to q strict account it,
through Indifference. neglect or an unaccountable