Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-16
STRENGTH or ouR ARxx.

CA1&NOAh VI OOh AnA3s
In the course Of discussion which occurred in
the Senate on the 9th instant, while the bill modi-
flying the conscription act under consideration
Mr.. WILSON, of Massachusetts,, the Chairman Of
the Committee Military Affairs, referred as fol-
lows to the namber of men at present composing
the army Of the United States. He said
"As listened TO the earnest intense net to say pas
sonate words Of the Senator from California (Mr Con-
NESS almost wished that too Of courage
that too had this c0DdDce this hope and this boasifu
The Senator from California speaks Of the spasmod,c
action 81 the administrators Of the Government in raising
men during the last few months Does the Senator know
that we have raised recruited since tho 18th day OF Dc
tober last six hundred thousand men, count black
and that within the past year have put 10 the
field seven buUdred thousand men; that we have
made an exerli"n such rs few nations made and
few nations can make; that have peBt $l25 DOC, 600
in bouates that We have drafted that we have used
the whole power and influence If tho Government to
increase military forcesf Sir, we have put forth
an effort that exces the sstonishment and commands
the admiration oil the world yet the Senator from Cali
orna whose constituents not drafted called upon,
rses to day and rebukes the Administration ebukes US,
and talks gby of the md counsels OF oen who quite
~ hopeful determined, and brave as himself"
The seven hundred thousand men put in the
ield during the last year are exclusive of those
whose previous term of enlistment for three years,
dating from the summer and fall of 1861, has not
yet expired, and are, suppose, exclusive Of the
hundred days men" recently added to our
present forces. The vast aggregate of the troops
now under arms in our service, and on the pay
rolls, therefore be easily conceived, if not ac-
ourately known in the absence of official statistics.
The number can fall but little if any below mil
lion of men, and certairly touches height which
justifes the statement of Mr.. Wilson when he says
that the country has made Can exertion to iii
up the ranks of the army such as few nations
ever made and few nations can make"
Rome in the time of Augustus, with popula-
ton of l2O 900, 900, had an army of only 49, OOO
When the French Empire, in the year 1918, under
Napoleon /, embraced within its limits the terri
tory and people of Belgium, Holland, the Hanse
Towns, the Roman States &C., comprising, with
that of France population Of 100000, the
army numbered at the highest point about million
Of men, thus implying, as Allison states, the alb
sorpton of one in forty Of the whole population in
the profession of arms, whereas it has never been
found, by experience, that an empire, how power
full soever, for any length of time flourish with
more than one in q hundred engaged in such pur-
suits"
The total population Of the Loyal States can
not much exceed 23,0O0,0OO, and force of
100000 drawn from such population implies the
diversion of one in thirty-hree from the pursuits
of productive industry rate considerably higher
than that which obtained under the conscrptions for
the French army during the perioa when Napoleon
was wsgipg war against combined Europe.
We have adverted to these facts because Of the
confirmation they lend to Mr.. Wilson's statement
when be says that the "exertion" made by the
country in putting 100000 men into the field
during the last year is one few nations have ever
made"
1t may be within the recollection of our readers
that Mr.. WILSON, speaking in the Senate on the
9Th of January last, and having reference to the
then recent call of the Government for three hun
dred thousand men, held the following language
1.-THE Government has called for three hundred thousand
and presume that is the number the Government
wants either Of old vet who enlist OF new men
More Il an half Of those think shall have enlisted
within the next twenty or thirty days"
On the same day, and in the course of the same
debate, Mr. WILSON said:
"A large number Of the States will furnish volunteers
some will not think we shall have draft; but lido not
beUs Il uu be necessary TO continue drafting We hare
in the service Of the country and payi~g army
Ihnk not less Than st hundred and ffy or screen hun
drtd thousand We must hare trom for 10 foe hun
dred hOnand tee ire so, diers The fstd do be
ere a The rebellion has hund ed and toenfp
hou,and arms, and IAap, good reason so 10
beepe. Ibetisre that If do duy the mluarg poper
Of this rebellion piH be crushed out the LIST October
n,rtn
t"I want to adopt policy that shall bear lightly as
possible upon peope-up6n productive industry
and shall ell up armies That tn first question
ard want 10 the Treasury all the expense that
possibly be saved Ibeiere danger is from
Of money than from rant Of men +"