The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-01
The Economics OF War.

a lew Gays ago, the AOJutaut 0cnerai OF the
State of Missouri, in calling for more men,
said at has been officially intimated, by the
highest authority, that, 300, 900 more troops
will be required by the General Government"
The National IntelHgencer regards the state
ment with surprise, coming so soon after the
recent assertion of Senator Wilson, Chairman
of the Military Committee), that the country
try has within eight months put zoo, 900
troops in the field, and that we have about
million of men at present in the service.
It appears from the report of Secretary Cam.
eron. made on the 1st of December. 1861 that
n. 1875 men were raised during that year under
the first call made by the President for 81 three
months men," Immediately after the attack on
Fort Sumter. And under the legislation of
Congress at the extra session. which opened on
the 4th of July in that year, the number of
$50, 972 men had at the date of his report been
enlisted for three years.
On the LIST of July, 1862, after the repulse of
Gen Mctlellan's attack On Richmond, new
call for 800 900 more volunteers to serve three
years, was made by the President and answered
by the people.
Then, on the 4th of August following. under
an order of the President, 100000 militia were
summoned to the field for nine months. The
summons received prompt response from all
the loyal States.
On the 18th of June, 1863, shortly before the
invasion OF Pennsylvania by Gen. Lee, q call
was made upon the militia of Certain States for
100, 600 men. which number was afterwards in
creased to 120 600 men.
In the month of July, 1868. a draft for 3OO,-
600 men, to serve years, was enforced. We
have never learned how many men it yielded.
Under the calls that have been made since
the 18th of October last, and which are fresh in
the memory of all, by reason of the exertions
made to meet them, we are informed that
about 700. 600 men, exclusive of negro soldiers
and exclusive of tone hundred days. men,
have been put in the field.
In view Ofsuch statistics, it becomes q mat
ter of curious interest to know what DISPOSE
ton has been made of the forces not actively
engaged in the armies of Generals Grant and
Sherman, the two armies which are doing
most towards the suppression OF the rebellion
We showed a few days ago that force of
zoe, 600 drawn from the population of the loyal
States implies diversion of one in thirty
three from the pursuits of productive industry
"a rate considerably higher than that which
obtained under the cOnscriptions for the
French army during the period when Napole-
on was waging war against combined Europe
and was held to be such an overdraught on the
energies of the people that Allison directly at
tributes the overthrow of Napoleon to the viO-
lation OF the physical laws which regulate the
bounds of prudence in this as in all other mat
tiers of human conduct And if Napoleons alb
sorption of one in forty ofthe whole population
in the profession of arms was judged to be so
injurious TO the vital powers of the French
people, in view of the fact that it has never
been found. by experience, that an empire, how
powerful sOever, can for any length Of time
flourish with more than one in hundred en-
gageI in such pursuits, we may surely begin
TO profit by the lessons of history ON this score
Nothing so tends to impair the strength of a
nation as any excessive strain on its powers ;
and if Mr.. Wilson could justly say, as he did,
in the month of January, that we had more
to fer from want of money than want of men, u
the tine has now come when it behoves the
people to consider as well the distates of pOlt-
ical economy in the wise expenditure of their
blood as of their money. 1t is not a question
whether the men or money which the govern
ment needs shall be furnished or not, but achat
these needs really are, and hoao they shall be
most availably met.
We know it is considered by certain class
of persons very "dsloyal" to cite the laws of
Congress or the irjunctions of the Constitution
in opposition to anything which seems expe-
dent or necessary for the military power to
do, but we hope it may be permitted us to cite
the laws of nature and the injunctiOns of pO-
litical economy for the instruction of our au-
thorities without coming under any such re-
proach. The following prudential maXims un-
out fear of successful contradiction:
1. As in the case of individuals, so in the
case of nations, nothing so effectually exhausts
the physical power of a nation as q spasmodic
overstraining of its energies.
2. That from population of $4,000, 900 not
more than 500. 0C0 can be advantageously di
verified from the pursuits of productive indus
try to the profession of arms, and that even
this proportion was found excessive during the
NapOleonic wars.
g. That nothing so speedily tends to exhaust
the military strength and depress the military
spirit OF a people as successive calls for men
in exaggerated numbers under the promise
that each will be the last.
4. That when the maximum number of men
who can be proftably diverted from the pur-
suits of productive industry has been reached,
the secret of military efficiency must be sought
in wise generaiship, in the careful outstanding
OF resources and in the concentration of forces
rather than in the multiDlicaf ion of trOons