Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-05-15

po!eon The shades of all these heroes, 10
doubt stand in shivering awe ofthe coming fame
of His Excellency' gentlemen of experience in
military affairs - But it is just that the historic
glories of those great generals should "pale
their Intellectual rays" before the blaze of modern
discovery They believed that cavalry was a ne
cessary complement to "a well organized army
In the Mexican war, our small army was, on
more than one occasion, saved from humiliation
by the cavalry and the artillery. Yet the Gov
enor has determined under the advice of "gen-
temen OF experience in military affairs, " to reject
the cavalry regiment from the service Of the
State
The second reason the Governor assigns is, that
"the very decided refusal of the General Govern
ment under the advice of Gen. Scott, to accept
a cavalry regiment of Indiana" has influenced
his conduct To this it may be answered that
the refusal of the Secretary of War was, to ac-
cept any more cavalry at all. Yet it Is under
stood that His Excellency has organized some
cavalry companies under the six regiment-law.
If the argument is good as to a regiment it is
good to squadron. Besides, His Excellency
seems to have forgotten that, under the instruc
tons of the Secretary Of War, the volunteers
raised to fill requisition of the General Govern
ment, must be enlisted for three years: and mas b.
much as the militia called into the service of the
State under the six regiment-act, enlisted for
one year only, it is fair to presume that either
the advice of the Secretary OF Warner of General
Scott was essential to the proper classification of
those regiments, as they can not be mustered
into the service of the United States under any
requistiOn yet made.
do not pretend to say that either cavalry or
infantry are really required for State service by
she exigences of the times. 1t is in fact, fair 20
presume that, while Indiana responds, in men. to
/ the calls made upon her by the General Govern
ment for carrying on the war, the Government
will discharge her obligations to the State by
protecting our borders against the aggreSsiOns o.
/ an enemy. If this is not true, then, after as
Stunning to prepare for war and regulate com
merce, as the Legislature has already done, in
violation of the National Constitution, Indiana
may as well take one step more, secede from the
/ Union and set up for herself Under the six
regiment act we have already standing army,
and under the general militia law, the Governor
NAV increase its dimensions to any extent, ap-
/ pointing his own officers and call into service
whOmsoever he or his agents may designate.
/ With vigilance committees around us everywhere,
under the cOuntenance of men in power, as
suming to control our business and establishing a
censorship over the freedom of speech and of the
press, it is evident that we have but one further
step to make to find ourselves in as good des-
potism as that of France of Austria.
But to return from this DEPRESSION. The troops
provided i'm the six regiment bill should have
been enlisted for three years service, unless
sooner discharged. They could have been placed
very Justly and humanely by the State under a
course of military education, ard when called
upon by the General Gov ernment, the State could
have rendered soldiers fit for service, and if cav
airy regiment had been among the number, the
General Government, if there Is to be war, would
be glad to avail herself Of its services. On the
contrary however, if any troops are actually re-
CURED for the service of the State no intelligent
man can truthfuly say that cavalry regiment
would not be much more available and valuable
than any one regiment of infantry. The truth IS,
when man in power determines to pursue GER
tain course or adopt peculiar policy, 1t Is an easy
matter for him to fortify himself with the opinions
of men dependent on him for favor and promo
ton. The Governor could have no doubt, if he
desired it. still further sustain the attitude he has
assumed, by the opinions even of occasional
Democrats in the Legislature who have fayOrite
companies desiring service, the interest of which
might he promoted by such course If no regi-
ment of cavalry should be called into service I'M
der the late act Of the Legislature, the Com
mander-in- Chief Of the Indiana Militia ana his
Adiutant General should have understood that
fact before they encouraged the organization of
such neutrality-suspicious. before the Governor
should have accepted the regiment, subject to
any law, or legislative regulation, that may be
passed" Without pursuing this subject further,
| will simply say to the gentlemen who have
been associated with me in the cavalry regiment,
that believe the Governor started out intending,
in good faith, to cOnsummate the organization OF
that regiment by receiving it into service, but
that partisan pressure has driven him to the as
sumption of another position.
may be wrong, however, in this. Perhaps l
am to blame for the loss of time, loss of money
and disappointment which has overtaken the seve-
raj hundred gentlemen who have formed them
selves into cavalry companies, by the refusal of
the Governor to call the regiment into service.
Somebody has trhed with those gentlemen. If
am the man, | deserve their detestatiOn-should
be the recipient of their continuous anathemas.
hold myself personally responsible for the truth
funess of the statements herein made, and leave
it for the gentlemen with whom have been assO-
ciated TO place due for the failure of the
regiment wherever it belongs.
One word more had intended, upon entering
military service, to indulge in the luxury of a
little free speech" by placing myself, for the
benefit of friends, on the record in regard to the
impending war-thnking the exercise of that
right, which fathers, in their antiquated no
tons, supposed to be sacred, would be tolerated
in one who was willing to incur the hazards
of the battle field As the matter now rests, l
shall postpone this duty to the ebay of reckoning"
when the msts which envelOp society shall have
passed away and the intoxicatiOn of the public
mind sufficiently sobered to enjoy dispassiOnate
reflection and pass a verdict unbiased by the con
tagious influence of civil disorder.
J. C. WALLER.