Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-07-18

under like circumstances, was made in 1918.
At the close Of the war, the forces in SER
vice being found too large a,d too costly fer
o peace establishment, a reduction was Or
dered to be made, under the supervision Of a
board Of officers specially organized for the
purpose. AT the close Of the present strug-
gle, the reduction of the present force may
be accomplished in like manner, if found
then to be larger than the public necessities
require. In making any such reduction,
however, ajust regard to the public interests
would imperatively require that force amply
sufficient to project all the public property
wherever it may be found, should be retain
ed. rs
! cannot forbear to speak favorably of the
volunteer system, as substitute for cum
brous and dangerous standing army. 1t has,
heretofore, by many been deemed unreliable
and inefficient in sudden emergency, but
actuqliaots :. .s in have yroyS the contrary; II
1t be urged that the Cfefhies OF order have
gained some slight advantages at remote
points, by reason of the absence of a sufficient
regular force, the unexampled rapidity of
concentration ofvolunteers already witnessed
is an ample refutation of the argument. A
Government whose every citizen stands ready
to march to its defense can never be over
thrown for none is so strong as that whose
foundations rest immovably in the hearts of
the people.
The spectacle of more than quarter of
million of citizens rushing to the field in de-
fense Of the Constitution, must ever take
rank among the most extraordinary facts of
history: Its interest is vastly hisa.:,een-u py
the laws. oa.lvurlng from States and ndi
viduals Of voluntary contributions of money,
isa Al. r.. Al.
ten millions Of dollars. But few weeks
since the men composing this great army
were pursuing the avocations of peace
They gatheredfr from the farm, from the work
shop, from the factory, from the mine. The
| from his counting-room, the professor and
pupil from the common schools. Young
men Of fortune left luxurious homes for the
tent and the camp Native and foreign born
alike came forward with kindred enthusi-
asm. That well-disciplned, homogene-
Gus, and efficient force should be formed out
of such seemingly heterogeneous mass
appears almost incredible. But what is the
actual fact? Experienced men who have
had ample opportunity to familiarize them
selves with the condition of European armies,
concede that, in point Of personel, this pa
triot army is fully equal to the finest regular
troops of the Old World. A more inteli-
gent body of men, or one actuated by purer
motives, was never before marshalled in the
field.
| The calling forth of this large and admir-
able force, in vindicaton of the Constitution
and the laws, is in strict accordance with a
wise prudence and economy, and at the same
time IN perfect harmony with the uniform
practice OF the Government. But three
/ years ago when the authority of the nation
was contemptuously deted by the Mormons
in Utah, the only safe policy consistent with
the dignity of the Government was the
prompt employment of such an overwhelm-
ing force for the suppression Of the rebellion
as removed all possibility of failure. 1t will
hardly be credited, however, that the follow
ing language in relation to that period was
penned by John B. Floyd, then Secretary
Of War, and nowactivey engaged in leading
the rebel forces, who have even less to JUST
fly their action than the Mormons:
when small force was sent to Utah,
the Mormons attacked and destroyed their
trains, and made ready for general attack
upon the column. When a sufficient pow.
er was put on foot to put success beyond @
doubt, their bluster and bravado sank into
whispers Of terror and submission. Thi.
movement upon that Territory was demand
ed by the moral sentiment of the country
was due to vindication ofits laws and Con
stitution, and was essential to demonstrate
the power of the Federal Government, t.
chastise insubordinatioE and quell rebellion
however formidable from numbers or posi-
ton it might seem to be. Adequate pre-
parations and a prompt advance ofthe army
was an act of mercy and humanity to thos
deluded people, for it prevented the effusiol
of blood"
;, / recommend the same vigorous and mer
ciful policy now,
The reports of the chiefs of the differen
bureaus Of this Department, which are here
I with submitted, present the estimates of tn
, probable amount ofappropriations required
in addition to those already made for tn
year ending June 80, 1860 for the fore
: now in the field, or which had been accep
, ted and will be in service within the mex
: twenty days, as follows:
n Quarter ernasters Department $40 $50 200
Subsistence Department .',....,.,.... 27,27S,7e1
Ordnance Department ''''.''''''.''''. Ll9s, ,i72
PAY Department. 67S454trl
, Adiuisnt Generals Department. 40sOoJ
Engineer Department. ................ 6S5,O0O
s Topo9 raphical Engineer Department.. 5000
Surgeon Generals Department. ."...... 1,27l, ,e4l
, Due States which have made advances for
: troops. 10000 900
Total, Sls5 1907
The resistance to the passage of troop
+ through Baltimore, fastening to the relic
Of the Federal Capital, and the destructio
a of bridges of the Wilmington & Baltimore
n and the Northern Central Railroads, togett
q er, with tho refusal of the Baltimore & Obi
Railroad Company to transport the Govern
n ment forces and supplies, involved the ne
/ cessity, at an early stage Of the preseI
h troubles, ON the part Of this Department,
= take possession, Of SO much of railway line
a as was required to form connection wit
) the States from which troops and supple
were expected. A military route was az
> cordipgly opened from Perryville, on tn
J. Chesapeake, by steamers, to Annapolis, an
q thence by railroad to Washington. In vie
Il of the necessities Of the crisis, Congress, it
|. mot doubted, will Justify the steps taken.
,r AS the movements of the United Statt
q forces are continued the supervision
IF railroad and telegraph lines will remain
d necessity to be met BY the Department.
"a would, therefore, recommend the prophet
,e Of an appropriation to be made by Congress
i to be applied when thepublic exigencies d
,e mand, to the reconstruction and equipmel
,e ofrailroads, and for the expense of mali
. 4 - Al u \ ~