Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-20
PRooEEpINes IN ooNeRRss.


OF ssEnons,t 50 cents each. nonyll-6s
| ----.-----.- ------=--.---
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS-.
tspseehss or Gensral jim Lane and
Hon. John s. carliIe, in the Senate.
Mr.. Lame, treP,l of KansHs, called up the
resolution That ihe Secretary OF Whr he re-
fQuested 10 fnrnish 10 the Senate copies OF
the orders for the erection of barracks for
Kansas troops Mr Lane said MIR. Pre-
sident, | do not desire 10 conceal my mo-
tfte in introducing this resolution. AS u
citizen and Senator have the right Of
-crilicising the acts of the government; aud
l mean to exercise 1t With the full flush OF
| a truthful patriotism-kindly but fearless
lyi cordially but searchingiy. lwiil WHste
no words. do not wish uselrssly 10 con-
sumr your time. But the hour is al hand
when truth should be spoken ia these hNlls,
and tLdt plhinly. declare, then, MS a fact
which Hll 6nRncters will admit and no
Statesman dispute, that c cry days delay
inlhe vigorous prosecution of This war is
pregnant with peril TO the republics Sir,
this isaw war of the people When Sumter
fell they became uuit. Party preju,ltces
were scattered, personal hMtes forgotten.
ROused by their wrongs, they protfered
their strength and pledged all their re-
sources TO avcnge an injustice which threat
/ ened to destroy the fresst government of
earth. Manassas f0ll6wedAh7 fearful re-
verse, and. seemingly . l.tnl dsfyaF Bnt
even ihHt did NOT dash the spirit nor sI'1ke
the purpose of the people. Tue 6alk Of the
moment, the blood and treasure lost, only
deepeHtdtneir determination t0crnsh out
the conspiracy. Such unity, sucli ardor.
such sacrifices, the world has rarely OF
never Witnessed. Sir, let me not be mis-
understood in this matter of delay. Ny
confidence in the administration will not
permit me for Il moment seriously TO enter
Jainithe inturions suspicion that this army
we have creatsd-so admirable in srifit.
and disrinline, so. plats in all
| pointments-tliis magnificent Organization,
TO which the country has contTioutedits
choicest spirits, and on which itshUs Law
ished untold millions of treasnre-is des-
tined, without one decisive blow struck, TO q
living burial in the inglorious obscuritysof
winter quArtersl Bntshonli this confidence
prove 10 be misplAced-should this fatal
policy of fsiuartion seize upon the energies
ofeour rulers, j feel, i know that the pub
lie announcement of The fact will be As
the FIRE bell at midnight. sDismAy and
confusion will follow hndiIhe evils oflan-
drchy may inteFpose new and fearful ob-
stacirs to the restoration OF that Gpveru-
\ from the loss of confidence on the part of
the people, 5Fortnnntelyi the peSple are
asinlelligeut as they are patriotic. They
do not require impOssi6ilities, nor insist
upon premature actiOn, And thus We are
brought to the reconsideration Of the ques-
tious of strength aud preparation! Why
is our Irmys inactive? Will it be answer
| Ell that il is still deficient in discipline 2
That reply would be ms upinstns il is IL
lOgteai9 Ours is M army of volunteers,
4 who must not be judged by the rules ap'
piled 10 regulars. q Youg cannot driltit into
that mere machine which martinets con-
slider the perfection OF efficiency. Tie
citizen soldier is an individual; u0inmount
of discipline can destroy his t1dtViduRlity
| -Four months of industrious drill is5nmPie
time to prepare such troops for ettsctise
service Prolonged inactivity will hnally
ldiscourage his zeal! The prospect of ac-
| tiOn must be ever present as an incentive
lI0action is the baue of the volunteer. =
These opinions express with contilence,
! forI have had a large personal experiences
lin the management of volunteer soldiers.
The training OF two dtstinet regiments dur
ling the Mexican war, with subsequent la
bors in Kansas, and the campaigns ofthe
i last spring and summeraiu MtsSQnri, have
given me a practical knowlt dye On this sub
feet entitled to consideration. Thereginents
that fought aud wonthe battle of Buena Yis-
taiwere not as ellproIided as the army oil
1 the Potomac, aud not better drilled. Sir,
4 l have witnessed the drill Of that army ;
| and am satisfied that it has reached the
maximum Of discipline attainable by vols
uuteers; and that every day of iuactinn now
teuds TO its disqualification. While, also,
as regards discipline, We are as fully pre-
pared for action as we ever shall be, We
IhaYRthr advantage Of fsuperiority, 10 thai
slrespect, to the enemy! Byeryunprelndiced
| Observer duringthe Mexican war will les
| tify that the regiments from the North, in
/ the excellence Of their dali far exceeded
|, those from the aStBtes now in rebellion.-
-four opponents are formidable only when
their i6diyiddality can be shown while
j fighting under coYer-as at Manassas
4 Springfield aud Balls Blntf, Operating in
mass, on the open ,tield, we can always
( couquer-as at Dry Wood, where four hun
dred Kansas troopseheeked and drove back
Ten THOUSAND rebels. Aad of these facts
the Coatederates are themselves; fully
aware. RegeplIy, at Spring river, eight
hundred Kansas troops encountered slx
/ thousand rebels. covered bS that stream
I and SIX miles of timber. This h'tndfal OF
| ., .r1 =, iftylt on the ODen DEli-