Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-05
ggIatebman \ State gournaI.
by 4. p. WALTON.
MONTPELIER, FEBRUARY ., 1858.
FROM WASHINGTON.

Kdnsds-Tho army BW.
For the past week the Senate has listened
TO debate on the Presidents message (the
Kansas question: and the Army Bill On
the first topic, Senator Harlan delivered a
powerful argument on the free state side ;
while on the Army bill, the debate has been
general. The army now consists of nineteen
regiments it is proposed, by the Admins
tration, to add five new regiments--ths as
permanent addition. When all the regiments
are full to the highest point warranted oy
law, each regiment may be reckoncd as 1000
men. the proposition of the Administration
therefore is to increase the standing Army
! from 10000 to $4,000 men, The cost of the
Army per man is $1,000 per annum, or one
million Of dollars year for each regiment
Look at the Report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury and you will find that the cost of
the army for the last year was nineteen mill
lions the proposition of the Administration
now is to raise the annual cost of the army
! to rwENTY-FouR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
Twenty flour millions of dollars a year for a
standing army That, if am not mistaken,
was near the entire cost Of government under
John Quincy Adams aye, and the then Dem
ocratc party denounced it as an extravagant
Expenditure, and pledged itself to retrcnch-
ment and reform To-day, single depart
Of the government demands a sum which was
adequate to support all the departments in
1928 Is it not worth while to debate this mat
ter-to hesitate-aye, to denyP Well, that is
committee on Military Affairs Of the Senate
reported against an increase of regiments
thus cutting off some hundreds of Presiden-
tiol appointments. But the committee pro-
posed an increase of companies to each rcgi-
mcnt, and of men to each company-amount-
ing to an addition of over 6O0O men to the
regular army This implies an increase of
expenditure of least six millions per year
making the annual army expenditure TWEEN
TY-FryE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. The Adj
mnistraton was not satisfied with this i'm
mense addition Of men and money. it want
ed patronage also. That, Judge is the mo-
tive for the motion of Senator Gwinn to a.
mend, so as TO give new regiments. This
motion, equivalent to the original bill of the
Administration, received only votes in the
Senate SO far, good. What the result will
be, ! cannot say but it is worthy of remark
that Senator Toombs of Geo Dem and SEN
gtor Bell Of Tennessee (American,) have de-
carcd an intention to vote against the bill in
any shape
There is great question behind all this.
What is this great Standing Ar7ny wnn,ed
fort The Administration does not pretend
that 1t is for an emergency,--for any special
purpose,-for war in Utah. No, it is asked
as permanent increase and, in case of war.
the Administration will, unquestonably. de-
wand additional men and means for the pur-
pose. Why this permanent increase of the /.
Standing Army; Is it for the President to
regulate elections, as in this city last year,
where freomen fell beneath the fire of Federal
troops; Is it 10 crush The people, as in Kan
sas Is it to crush the Suites, in contingent
cies that may arise at any moment? Is it for
cira war? Rely upon it, there are men here
and they are not confined to the Repubi-
can party-who never will consent to trust
another regiment to the President, until they
know what is to be done with it. They are
men who fear military despotism; and it has
now become the duty of The people to inquire
whether they, Too, are for despotism or against
it,
Threats against The Uaiop--a Simoom--a Con-
uention.
In the House the debate has been mscella-
neous, but with few salient points The
old game of intimidation has been renewed.
A member from Georgia has announced the
ultimatum. The Republicans must admit
Kansas Nth slavery, or the Union shall be dis
solved. That was the ultmatum of the Geor-
gian. A member from Alabama has also OK
hibited the bugaboo of Disunion and mem
Der from Mississippi has assured us
THAT for every drop of blood shed on
" Southern soil, for the purpose of coorcing
" the Southern people to submit to the wrongs
" and injustice with which they are now
-" threatened, there will be visited upon the
" North a retaliation more terrible and desc
'"'AiiH man NAt oNNN VI "a oluhoohis
Now am bound to say, that nobody APP
peared to be frightened on either of these oc-
casions. These threats were addressed di-
recty to the Republicans, and in terrific tones
but it is my duty to testify that the Republi-
cans aforesaid were very obdurate There was
some misapprehension, perhaps---certainly
nothing like apprehension of any great danger
The Republicans absolutely smiled, some of
them-nay, laughed aloud The Mississippi
gentleman persisted in his threats
" Are there, then, no reasons" he asked.
" to- fear dissolution of this Union? say
" that there are"
Again
Whenever it should be attempted to strike
" down the institution of Slavery, then IN
" eritabty 0iH an attempt be made 10 seuer his
I" Union"
An attempt by the South, of course, for the
orator added
- and if it (the attempt) be not success
" full, II will be because he South is deluged