Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-06
Increase Of the Army---The MormOns
..HOD. John Bell.

The bill to increase the regular Army was
before the Senate of the United States on the
9th ult. Mr.. BELL took occasion to give his
views in opposition to the increase, and to
make some remarks respecting the policy of
the government towards the Mormonp. which
are very interesting. We present below ex-
tracts from his remarks, from which the read
er will learn his positions:
Mr.. BELL. 1 confess. Mr. President, that
when this bill was first taken up, | suppos, d it
would be my duty on public accounts to vote
for it; or, if not for that, at least for such
proposition as has Just been voted down by
the Senate. L supposed from the earnest re-
commentator of the Government, that there
was really such demand existing for add-
tional troops, that we were bound by consid-
erations of the public interest connected with
the exigencies existing on the frontiers. and in
the Territory of Utah. to vote, as indispensa-
BILE, an addition to the present military force
of the country.
But, sir, before the debate closed yesterday.
/ found that had been laboring under a con-
siderable misapprehension as to the real state
of the question and the exigencies of the case.
My opinion now is, unless / shall be better in
formed before the discussion finally closes, that
there is no absolute necessity for any such adj
dition to the Army. 1t was considerably in
creased two or three years ago. Our force
authorized by law, is admitted to be about
eighteen thousand men, rank and file, at pres
emit; and the addition of four, or five, or seven
thousand men, according to the exigencies of
the case, as provided by this bill, seems to me
u lcalled for at this time. | am of opinion
however, that some increase-say two or three
thousand or perhaps even four or five thous-
and-may not at some early period, be an I'M
necessary addition to the military establish
ment of the United States. ] think there is
great deal of force in the argument which has
been made, founded upon the low condition Of
our finances. Although it might be desirable
on many accounts to have some additional
regiments authorized by law, yet at the pres
ent moment there is no such exigency makes
it absolutely necessary; and We may as well
afford to wait two years at least before We
enter upon such an increase of the standing
Army.
had supposed that the exigency now cal
ling on us to act was really the Mormon war.
The statement of facts ELECTED yesterday,
and the opinions of gentlemen better acquain-
ted by far than am with the forces which
may be ordered properly by the Government
to increase those of Col. Johnson, who is now
il command of the detachment which is ar
rested by the SHOWS of the Rocky Mountains
show clearly, il seems to me, that there Is Il
sufficient force at the disposition of the Gov
eminent to reinforce them adequately. five
or ten regiments Were necessary to rescue
those gallant officers and soldiers from the
condition in which they are now placed,
should feel myself constrained to vote them.
Whatever l might think Of the indiscreton
and the imprudence of the Government in pre-
cipitating those men into these difficulties, or
dering them to enter upon the expedition at a
season of the year when it was known to be
almost impossible that they could pass the gorG-
es of the Rocky Mountains until next spring
thus, of course, in the mean time exposing
them to all the hardships and privatons, and
seventies of Rocky Mountain winter, | would
vote for the force demanded. if it was neces-
sary, to rescue them. Whatever | might be
disposed to say in reference to this indiscre-
tion and want of foresight, and though as it
seems to me, Notwithstanding the fact | do
not pretend to have a sagacity or Judgment
superior to the military gentlemen who may
have advised the eXpcdtion,) il was i'll adj
vised, and was entered upon with spirit of
temerity for which cannot imagine any rea.-
son, in the existing state of things in Utah,
shall be willing to vote for any Increase of
force demanded ut the hands of Congress to
rescue these brave men.
But from the debate yesterday am led 10
believe that no such eXigency exists, and that
there is an adequate and all-suiiicient force
ready to be sent in aid of that command, and
at a time anterior to the probable enlistment
of the men provided by this bill
All this, however, is rather apart from the
subject on which / rose to speak. | meant to
say that a country with such very extensive
frontier as ours, exposed, at so many various
points, to sudden internal outbreaks, aud eX-
ternal attacks, with such vast Indian frontier
i need not enumerate all the causes-need-
ed larger army than we have at this time !;
but, before providing for any increase, think
we can afford to wait until we see what is to
be the condition of our finances, especially az
there is no particular demand for the Mormon
war as was stated yesterday, and pretty well
exhibited. l think we may wait a year or two
before we add to the expenditure of the Gov
ernment eight or ten or twelve million dollars,
"a the case may be. which viii result from the
adoption of this bill.
| asked what was the ordinary average ac-
tual strength of the Army, under the present
authorized establishment, in order to show
that perhaps twenty thousand of an effective
average sufficient force was not too much for
this great country, with all our exposed
points. j should have asked the honorable
Senator from Mississippi for further iniorma-
ton on this point, but for the fact that he in
ssts that ought to be so familiar with these
subjects as not to be called upon to ask him for
additional information. / once knew. accord
ing to the number of Qualifications ard our in
ternal posts how many men it required really
to keep our Notifications in a proper coEdi-
ton, to prevent dilapidation where that gocs
on, and how many meu were required TO pre-
vent sudden surprise from any quarter. |
formerly had some knowledge of an average
estimate or calculation that was form d "A To
the number of troops that were required to
preserve them from dilapidation, keep them
clean, keep them from the decay that takes
place when there is neglect of such service,
and prevent them from sudden surprises. |
think now that we ought to have some esti-
mates from the War Department of the number
of troops that will be required to man these
different posts and Notifications to an extent
to answer these objects and purposes. We
have had none such. The honorable Secretary
of War, | suppose, would have stated it, il his
attention had been called to il.
Then asked for information in regard to
the probable average number of the Army. 1t
has been a great deal below the present point,
as 1 find by the statement of the Senator from
Mississippi. had supposed, according to the
,xperience of the last fifteen or eighteen years,
that out of eighteen thousand In the Army.
some twelve or fourteen thousand would he
about the average effective strength OF the
Army. He states-and am glad 10 hear il
that it is greater now, and therefore feel
greater assurance in the propriety Of at pr, s.
cut rejecting this proposition TO add 10 the
sanding Army.
Now. sir, with regard to the Mormon war.
/ do not care about lugging in that question
here. The only point in reference 10 II that
attracted my attention particularly, Was that
this increase seemed yesterday not Ia be ~
,raried as necessary for that purpose. II
struck me on reflection, also, that We could
not possibly, after the period when this bill
shall pass both Houses of Congress, r''ire any
considerable portion of this additional force
before they would be needed, IL they were "a
start over the plains TO take the advantage ol
the first spring grasses, IL struck me- also
1nat the War Department has men enough al
its command. if il has fifteen thousand eli, c
tive troops, Notwithstanding ali this array o.
difficulties, and the warlike disposition OF The
Indians on the frontier Of Texas. and else
where at all events 10 add ...lnnmalrlN 20 lhe