Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-07-18

nected with this Depumeu and after much deber., Il
was concluded 10 adept tho French rrg1uentaI syste
Oh three nattslions 10 regiment. Each battalion
oommsnced BY q msjor, With colonel and Eeu,euo
colonel Tor the general commAni of tho regiment Tbi
Il Is believed, the best nov existing n
NUMBER oil 10 officers Is ess than under the old pl,
and therefore, much less pensive. Whether this
ganizanon may not adyantageously be extended 10 Ii
OLD Army after the passage Of Law providing for n
.reo s ~ Question which may properly erg,gs III
10 making the selection OF officers for the new req
ments two courses only seemed TO be OPEN viz 10 ns
the appointments from the regular service by seniort,
or oy selection The FIRST app ared liable 10 the o.
non that oc, and, In some instances efficient men you
be promoted to places shch ought be filled BY Young.
aud more vigorous tfcers The second was liable to b
grave objection thatfavoritism might prejudice the claim
| Of worthy tfficsrA
After the fullest consideration. 1t was determined ur
der the advice OF the Generaln Chief 10 appoint oae
half Of them from the regular simy aud the other bsl
frcm civil life. or the civilians appointed as res q
commanders all except either graduates Of IVES
Point or have before served with distinction in the field
ADD OF the lentsnantco lonas ors csptafns aud fir
heutenans, large proportion have been take from h
regular army. and the volunteers nov in service Wink
the second eutenAus have been mainly created by the
promotion Of mercrous sergean.s from the regular ser
vice. r, I
la view OF the urgent necessity Of caso tbes, pre-
ninary steps TO the augmentation Of regular
have been taken, and IL now remains for Congress
should 1t sanction what has been commenced 10 com
pete the work By such legislation the subject may re-
quire similar increase Of the Army under the cir
cumsances, made in 1912 At the close of the war
the force in service being found TOO large and costly
for peace establishment reduction ordered 70 be
made, under the supervision of board Of eli. % 3,
specially organized for the purpose At the close Of the
present struggle the reduc ion Of the present force may
be accomplished in Ike manner, If found then to be
lafgr than the public necessities require. In making
aueh afnaft a..
in'cress would mperatiyely reque that force am ply
sufficient to protect I'll the pubic property wherever It
may be found, should be retained.
cannot forbear TO speak favorably of he volunteer
system as substitute for a cumbrous and dangerous
standing army Il has heretofore by many been deem
ed unreliable and flcient sudden emergency but
actual facts have proved the contrary If it be urged
that the enemies Of order have gained slight ad
vantages at ote points, by OF the absence of
sufficient regular force, the uneKampsd rapidly Of
concentration Of volunteers already witnessed Is gu am
pie reiutaton OF the argument. A government whose
every citizen stands ready march to it, defence can
never he overthrow; for none Is strong as that
whose foundations RS. mmovably in the hearts Of the
people
The spectacle of more than quarter Of million Of
citizens rushing TO the field in defense Of the Cons
ton take rack among the most eI racrdnsry
facts Of history. ls interest is vastly heightened by the
lavish outpoufing from States aud udiyduals ofhyol.
untsiy contributions of money, reaching aggregate
thus far Of than ten million Of dollars But lew
weeks ,ace the men composing this great army were
pursuing the avocatons OF peace. They gathered from
the farm, from the workshop from q fac ory from the
mine. The min s!er from his pulpit the merchant
from bis counogroom, the professor and student from
the college, tho teacher and pupil from the common
schools. Young Of fortune left luxurious homes
for the teut and the camp Naive and foreiga-born
alike came forward with kiodred enthusiasm. That
Wei-dscipned, homogeneous aud Efficient force should
be formed out Of such heerogen mas1 appears al
most incredible. But what Is the actual factS Eyper
enced men, who have had ample Opportunity to familiar
zs themselves with the condition OF European armies
corcede that In point Of personne this patriot army is
fully equal TO the finest regular troops OF The Old World
more intelligent body Of men, or one actuated by
purer motives, before marshsed in the field
The ealing forth Of this large aud admirable force 10
vindicaton OF tho Constitution and the laws Is in srct
accordance with wise prudence and economy, aod at
the same time in perfect harmony with the uhfor prac-
toe oil Government But three years sso when the
s9SIs 2 ~ ass sss .b t ths
dignity of the Government the prompt employment
of such overwhelming force for the suppression Of
the rebellion as removed all possibility oe4ailure. IL will
hardly be credited however that the following language
10 relation 10 that period penned by John B. Floyd
then Secretary OF War, and now actively engaged 10
leading the rebel forces who have less 10 justify
their sotlcn than the Mornons:
"When a small force first sent to Irts. tia Nor
mons attacked and destroyed their RAGS, and made
ready for general attack epSn tie column. When =
sufficient power sa pat Vh foot put beyond all
doubt their huser and baVado sank into whisper Of
terror aud submission.
"Thid movement upon that Territory was deDaBdsd
by the moral sentiment Of thu county, was duo to VIC
dcaon Of It's laws and Constitution, ana We, essential
to demonstrate the power Of the 4 derai oVerpnent TO
cnastise iosuSoYd.1rton and queu lebeiion AoSevek
for;dayie igon numbers po9irion it w'sh seem 10
be. Adequate preparations and prompt advance Of
Army was sn scl Of mercy and humanity to those de-
luded people, for |. prevented the efuson q blood"
recommend the same vigorous and perciful policy
now.
The reports Of the chiefs Of the different bureaus of
this Department which are herewith submitted present
the estimates OF the probable amount ofspproprations
quired 10 addition 10 those already made for the year
ending June 80 1860 for the force ID the Reld or
which has been accepted and will be service within
the next tsenty days, as follows: