The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-01-04
SPEECH OF GEN. LANE.
WINTER QUARTERS FOR THE TROOP

.
| The Vice President announced that the
| following resolution, offered By Mr.! Lane,
of Kansas, was now before the Senate Tor
consideration:
ssResolued, That the Secretary of War
be requested to furnish to4the Senate copies
of the orders directing the creation of bar
racks and other buildings for winter quar-
ters for the Kansas troops
Mr.. Lane said: Mr.. President, do not
desire to conceal my motive in Introducing
this resolution. AS a citizen and Senator.
/ have the right of criticising the acts of
the Government: and I mean to exercise
it with the full flush of truthful patriotism
kindly but fearlessly, cordially but search
ingly. -" y
I will waste no words. do not wish
uselessly to consume your time. But the
hour is, when truth should be spoken in
| these halls, and that plainly. / declare then,
as fact which all fnanciers will admit and
no statesman dispute. that every days de-
lay in the vigorous prosecution of this war,
is pregnant with peril to the Republic.
Sir, this is war of the people. When
Sumter fell, they became unit. Party
prejudices were scattered, personal hates
forgotten. Reused by their wrongs, they
preferred their strength and pledged their
resources to ayeuge the injustice which
Threatened to destroy the freest Govern
ment of earth. Manassas followed-afearful
reverse, and seemingly fatal defeat. But
even that did not dash the spirit nor shake
the purpose of the people. The balk of the
moment, the blood and treasure lost, only
deepened their determination to crush out
the conspiracy. Such unity, such a,dor,
kEa In
never witnessed. a7r $50 3 .
Sir, let me be not misunderstood in this
matter of delay. Ny confidence in the Adj
ministration will not permit me for mo-
ment seriously to entertain the suspicion
that this army we have created-so admir-
able in spirit and discipline, SO complete In
all its appointments-thi magnificent or
ganization, to which the country has con-
tributed its choicest spirits, and on which
it has lavished untold millions of treasure
lis destined, without one decisive blow,
to living burial in the inglorious OBJ
security Of winter quarters But should
this confidence prove to be misplaced,
should this fatal policy of inaction seize
upon the energies of our rulers, l feel, 1
KNOX, that the public announcement of the
fact will be as the fre-bell at midnight.
evils of anarchy may interpose new and
fearful obstacles to the to the restoration of
that Government whose chief peril must
always result from the loss of confidence on
the part of the people.
Fortunately, the people are as intelligent
as they are patriotic. They do not require
impossibilities, nor insist upon premature
action. And tbs we are brought to the
consideration of the questions of strength
and preparation. Why is our army inactive?
Will it be answered that it is still def
cient in discipline That reply would be
as unjust as it is illogical Ours is an army
of volunteers, who must not be judged by
the rules applied to regulars. You cannot
drill it into that mute machine which mar
tlnets consider the perfection of efficiency.
The citizen soldier is an individual no
amount of discipline can destroy his irdi-
viduality. Four months of industrious
drill is ample time to prepare such troops
for service. Prolonged inactivity will finally
discourage their zeal. The prospect Of &C
ton must ever be present as an incentive.
Inaction is the bane of the volunteer. -
These opinions express with confidence,
for have had large personal experience in
the management of volunteer soldiers. The
training of two distinct regiments during
the Mexican war, with subsequent labors in
Kansas, and the campaigns of the last
spring and summer in Missouri, have given
me a practical knowledge on this subject
entitled to consideration.
The regiments that fought and won the
battle of Buena Vista, were not as we'll pro-
vided as the army of the Potomac, and not
better drilled. Sir. I have witnessed the
drill of that army; and am satisfied that
it has reached the maximum of discipline
attainabIe by volunteers, and that every
day Of inaction now, tends to its democrat
ization.
While, also, as regards discipline. we are
as fully prepared for action as we ever shall
be. we have the advantage of superiority.
in that respect, to the enemy. Every un-
prejudiced 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 rebel
lion. Our opponents are formidable only
when their individuality can be shown while
fighting under cover = as at Manassas,
Springfield and Balls Bluff. Operating in
mass, in the open field; we can always
conquer; as at Dry Wood. where four hun
bred Kansas troops checked and drove back
ten thousand Rebels. And of these facts,
themselves are fully aware. Recently, at
Spring rver, eight hundred Kansas troops
encountered six thousand Rebels, covered
by that stream and six miles OF timber.
This handful of heroic men offered fight
on the open prairie. which was declined by
the enemy; either because they expected US
to repeat the folly of attacking them in their
timber-stronghold. or feared defeat with
out its protection. It will require on our