New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-18
XXXVIITH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE; ;..W.snISGros, Dec. II, 1861.


desperate vckedness which has this nation
sacrifice much blood and treasure Thee to breathe
Thy blast of annihson Our hope Ia Thee alone Nor
win we in any wise turn nom Thee we pray sha. in the
mighty Thou mlys vndcate before the present
and oil conlg generations of men, through Jesus Christ our
Savior. Amen.
A bill was received from the House to authorize
The rai-ing Of volunteer force for the defense OF
Kentucky.
On motion of Mr.. POWELL Opp, Ky.), it was
referred to the Military Committee.
Mr. SUMNER (Rep., Mass.) presented several pc
tiions for The emancipation of the slaves of rebels.
| Mr.. WILSON rep, Mass reported bill for an
increase ofthe number Of cadets at West Point.
Mr. FOOT Rep. VI otfsr red resolution that the
Commissioners OF Public Buildings ioiorm the Senate
by what authority portion oil the National Capitol
has been converted into bakery. Agreed TO.
Mr.. SUMNER offered resolution that the Com
mitee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire
into the expedency of providing by legislation that
the army shall not be employed IN the surrender or
fugitive slaves. Laid over.
Mr.. LATHAM Opp, Cal offered 9 re5olut m that
the Secretary OF War be requested to inform tho
Senate by virtue of what law and what reason pass
ports are required from passengers from New-York
to San Francisco, which was agreed TO.
Mr.. SHERMAN rep, Ohio offered a resou-
ton that the Secretary Of War be requested to fur
nish 10 the Senate copy of all the correspondence
between Gen. Scott and Gen. Patterson. Agreed 20.
Mr.. SUMNER introduced bill in relation to the
claims for French sp0liations.
Mr.. LANE rep, Kansas) called up the resolution
that the Secretary Of War be requested TO furnish to
the Senate copies Of the orders for the erection OF
barracks for Kansas troops. He said: Mr.. Presi-
dent, do desire 10 conceal my motive In intro.
ducng this resolution. As a citizen and Senator,
have the right Of crclsing the acts OF the Govern
ment; and mean TO exercise il with the full lush
OF truthful Enthusiastically bat fearlessy, cor
daily but searchngly. / will waste no words. l
DO not wish uselessly to consume your time. But
the hour is when truth should be spoken in these
nails, and that plainly. declare, then, az fact
which all financiors Will admit and no Statesman
dispute that every days delay in the vigorous proc
eculion Of this is pregnant with peril to the Re-
public. Sir, this il o war Of the people. When
Sumter fell, they became unit Party preludices
were scattered perfonal bates forgotten. Roused
by their WRONGS they pyofleIed their strength and
pledged all their resources TO avenge an injustice
which threatened TO destroy the treest Govern
ment Of earth. Manassas followed; fearful re-
verse, and seemingly fatal defeat. Bnt even that
did not dash the spirit nor shake the pose OF
the people. The balk of the moment, blood
and treasure lost, oDly deepened their deteInina-
ton to crush out the conspiracy Such unity, such
ardor, such sacrifices, the world has rarely or never
witnessed. Sir let me not be misunderstood IN tins
matter of delay. My confidence in the Administers
ton will not permit me for moment seriously to ell
terrain the Injurious SUSPICION that this army We
have created-so admirable in spirit and discipline,
SO complete in all its appontments-this magniieent
organization, 10 which the country has contributed
ITS choicest Spirits, on winch III mas
told millions Of treasure-is defined, without one
decisive blow struck to living burial in the ngio-
rous obscurity OF Winter quarters! But should this
confidence prove to be misplaced-should this IA al
policy Of naoti0n seize upon tue energies OF our rul-
ers--I feel, | know, that the public announcement
OF the fact will he the fre-bell at midnight Dis
may and confusion will follow; ard the evils of anar
chg may interpose and fearful obstacles TO the
restoration Of that Government whose chief peril
must always result from the loss Of confidence on
L Il L. Il. -
as intelligent as they patriotic They do not
quire impossbilities, insist upon premature
ton. And thus we are brought to the consideration
of the question OF strength and preparation. Why
is army inactive! Viii il be answered that 1t Is
etill deficient in discipline That reply would be
unjust as IL il illogical. Ours is army of yolun-
teers, who must not be judged by the rules applied
TO regulars. You cannot drill 1t into that ma
chine which martinets consider the perfection Of ef-
fcency. The cizen-sodier is an individual; no
amount of discipline can destroy his individuality.
Four months Of industrious drill is ample tine TO
prepare such troops for effective service Prolonged
inactivity will finally discourage his zeal The pros-
pect of action must be ever present an incentive.
InGction ID the bane of the volunteer. These Opin
ions express with confidence, for have had large
personal experience in the management Of
volunteer soldiers. The training of TWO dis
tinct regiments during the Mexican war,
with subsequent labors IN Kansas, and the cau-
pagns of the laet Spring and Sumner III Missouri,
nave gwen me lIhNtlNdi huOWIttSC On tulS suU-
iect entitled to consideration. The regiments thar
fought and won the battle OF Buena Vista were not
as well provided az the Army Of the Potomac, and
not better drilled. Sir, L have witnessed the drill
Of that army; and au satisfied that IL has reached
.ha maximum Of discipline atanable by volunteers,
and that every day OF inaetion tends TO its de.
moralization. While, also, as regards discipline, we
are as fully prepared for action as we ever shall be,
we have tue advantage Of superiority IN that respect
to the enemy. Every nnpreludiced observer during
the Mexican War will testify that the regiments
from the North in the excellence OF their drill far
exceeded those from the States now in rebellion
Our opponents are formidable only when their
individuality can be shown while hghting
under cover, as at Manassas, Springfield and
Balls BuH. Operating in mass on the open field,
we can ALWAYS conquer rs nc Dry Wood, where
four hundred Kansas troops checked and drove back
ten thousand rebels. Aud of these facts the Con-
feders,es are themselves fully aware. Recently, at
Spring River, eight hundred Kansas troops encoun-
tered six thousand rebels, covered by that stream
and six miles OF timber This handful of heroic
offered IA tight on the open prairie, which was de-
clined by the enemy either because they expected
us to repeat the folly OF attacking them III their
timber-stroDghold, or feared a defeat without Its
protection. II will require on our part rapdity Of
movement and boldness Of strategy to force them
into battle on the open field. so much for eff
cheney. That heroic veteran, the late Lieutenant
General of the Army, now forced by age aud in.
trinity into a retirement made glorious by the men,
cries of long life OF patriotism aud triumph an
nounced the chat the des iof October would
lis columns prepared TO move. Hence II Is imposei-
lie not to believe that they are by this time COM
plete in arms equipment, means of transport
iatou, and every other physical appliance of ser
vice Why, then, 40 they tarryi fNapoleon with
sixty thousand undisciplined recruits, scaling the
frozen Businesses OF the Alps and avoiding their hos
tile forrcaions, could, in five weeks, reach the
plains OF Lombardy, pierce the Austrian lines, and
anuihiate the army OF Melas, hundred and twenty
thousand strong, on the field of Marengo, thereby
emancpating the whole of Italy, shall it be said
that we cannot surmount the hills OF Virginia and
Kentucky in spite of their defenses, and penetrating