The Big blue union. [volume] (Marysville, Kan.) 1862-1866, 1864-07-02

| StrenStn CT our Army.
In the course of discussion which oc-
Cured in the Senate on the 9Th instant,
while the bill modifying the conscription
act was under consideration, Mr. Wilson,
of Massachusetts,, the Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs. referred as
follows to the number of men at present
composing the Army Of the United States.
He said:
AS l listened to the earnest, intense,
not to say passionate words of the Senator
from California, (Mr Conness,) l amos,
wish that [ too was a man of courage-that
l too had this confidence, this hope, and
this boastfulness. The Senator from
California, speaks of the ..spasmodc
action of the administration of the Gov
ernment in raising men during the last
few months. Does the Senate know that
we have raised or,recruitsd since the 17lh
of October last six hundred thousand
men, not to count black men, and that
within the past year we have put in the
field seven hundred thousand that we
have made an exertion such as few ma
tions ever made and few nations can make
that we have spent $125 900, 900 in boun.
ties; that we have drafted that we have
used the whole power and influence of the
Government to increase our military for
ces'? Sir, we have put forth an effort
that exeites the astonishment and COM
mands the admiration of the world; vet
the Senator from California, whose
constituents are not drafted nor called
upon, rises today and rebukeS the Admin.
istration, rebukes US, and talks glibly of
the timid counsels of men who are quite
as hopeful, determined, and brave as him.
self"
The seven hundred thousand men nut
In the fed during the last year are ex-
elusive of those whose previous term of
enlistment for three years, dating from
the summer and fall of 1861, has no, vet
expired: and are, we suppose, exclusive of
he hundred days men recently added TO
our present forces. The vast aggregate
'f the troops now under arms in our ser.
vice, and on the pay rolls, can therefore
'e easily conceived, if not accurately
inoWn In the absence Of official statistics.
The number can fall but little if anv be.
ow million of men, and certainly touches
highthss which justifes the statement Of
dr. Wilson when he says that the country
las made Gan exertion" to fill up the
anks OF the army "such as few nations
yer made and few nations can make" !
Rome, in the time of Augustus, with a '
opulation of 20,0OO,OO0, had an army Of 8
My $50 GOO. When the French Ernnire
the year 1913. under Napoleon 1, EN-. !
raced within its limits, the TERRITORY and
eople of Belgium, Holland, the Hanse
owns, the Roman States. Sc, comprising s
18th that of Fra population Of A. D
OV,ooo, the army numbered at the high a
st point million of men, thus implying.
Allison States, the absorption of one in
rty OF the whole population in the pro-, te
ssion OF arms, whereas it has never been
und, by experience, tina, an empire. how ~
'Wertul soever, can for any length of Z
me flourish with more than one in bpn.
ed engaged in such pursuits. &C.
The total population Of the loyaI States q
nnot much exceed $4,000 0O0, ard II
rec OF 100000 drawn from such ponp- "
zion implies the diversion of one in tbir.
three from tae pursuits of productive
1ust!y-a rate considerably hi CHER than da
At which obtained under the conscr;n. bu
ms tor the French army during the pe. tn
ID when Napoleon was wasins war pc
alnst combined Europe. tw
we have adverted to these facts because Oh
the confirmation they lend to Mr.. VIII co
is statement when he says that the "ex- re
i ION made by the country in putting alb
O,Ooo men into the field during the last eff
IT Is one 'tew nations have ever made . ast
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