The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-10

Secretary Stanton's report is important
in two points of vicw-tirst as it relates to
the history of the final events of the war,
and presents some remarkable facts in re-
latlon to that history; and second, as it
shows the wonderful! capabilities of the
country for war, and indicates what We
can do II suddenly called upon to defend
our rights or assert the national dignity
In the latter view it glanccs quite directly
at tho Mexican question, and Will reassurc
all those who regret that our army has
been SO far diSbandcd while that question
has not Yet been brought to 4 definite
issue
The military history Of tie great cam
palgns that gave Us the victory is left to
General Grant; the Secretary is satisfied to
state results in that respect; but he bears
with natural emphasis on the rapid change
brought about through his department.
from war to pcace-on the noiselcss, cf-
fcctive, almost immediate obliteration OF a
vast army which the theorists of the Old
World had declared would in the hour of
victory prove more dangerous to our iibcr-
ties than the rebellion it had been required
to put down. '',The national military force"
says the report, son the first of Nav, 1865
numbered 1,00O51 men. 1t is proposed
to reduce the military establishment to
$4,000 troops, and over S0H,1G0 have al
ready been mustered out of service" The
military appropriations of the last session
of Congress were over $500. 000, 900 The
military estimates for the next wear are
less than 81, 000, 600. This is a result of
victories that the taxpayer can appreciate.
Some OF the figures given enable us to re-
to an army of LOCO 900 men. Thus a
large slce OF the national debt is well ac-
counted FOR when we learn that more than
81, ,000, 900, COO have been paid to the SOL
diers. 270,0OO 900 were taken home bv the
SOo, ,O00 men lately mustered out. Some of
how ol,N u.
interest. The number Of men asked for
by Government to put down the rebellion
was, on all calls together, 2,759 O49, and
the number of men actually brought out
was only l02, ,42G short of this. This def
clency was not from failure, but occurred
because the recruiting was stopped by the
end Of the war.
What the Secretary says as to our ability
to organize another army, if circumstances
should require it, has Il national interest
at the prescn. time. He states that the
estimate fox the army, as given above, SIS
oencVcu TO be adequate for any national
e1gcncv, if the country should be blessed
VIII peace The reduction Of the natiu ca1
military force, in its rapiC:ity and num-
bcrs, Is without example, and if there be
any alarm IN the pubic mind, because this
reduction Is made while grave questions at
home and abroad arc unsettled. a brief
consideration of the subject will show that
there is no cause for apprehension The
secretary then runs over the facts that the
troops disbandcd were volunteers, who
came out originally to support the Govern
ment; that their struggles in its cause
"a foreign war would intensity the nae
tlonal feeling, and thousands, once misled.
would rejoicc to atone their error by rally
ing to the national flag" The onIy
question relating to troops is one with
respect to how soon We could raise them.
~ F.I..l
report is significant When Lees army
surrendered, thousands OF recruits were
pouring in, and men were discharged from
stations in every State. On several oc-
oaNons, when troops were promptly need
cd to avert impending disaster, vigo, Gus
e<ertlon brought them into the field from
rem tie States with incredible speed. Of
hci.i reports show that after the disasters
on the Peninsula, i'll 1862, over eighty
thousand troops were enlisted, organized,