The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-05-19
BY LAST NIGHTS MAIL.
WASHINGTON.
Regular Army-An Increase Urgently
Demanded-Viewso of Gen. Grant.

The President has sent a message to
the House inclosing a communication
from Gen. Grant asking for the Imme-
date passage of an army bill, assigning
as a reason for this request the fact
that more troops are needed on the
frontier and at the South. be also eX
presses the opinion that the troops can
not be Withdrawn from the South with
safety for some time to come.
Ali classes disposed to obey the laws
of the country will feel this alike.
To maintain order the Government
has been compelled to retain volun-
teers all the while. Volunteers have
become dissatisfied, and claim that the
contract with them has been violated
by retaining them after the war was
over. By reason Of dissatisfaction they
are no longer of use, and every one
now remaining in the service might as
we'll be discharged at once.
The California volunteers have an
equal right to claim discharge, but IS
yet have not done So How long will
existing laws authorize the detention
of this force even if they are content
to remain
The United States Senate passed an
act, which, in my opinion, is as free
from objection as any great measure
could possibly be, and it would supply
the minimum requisite force 1t gives
but a few thousand additional men
over the present organization. 1t gives
a large number of additional battalions
and companies to the public service,
guarding routes over the plains, and
giving protection in the Southern
| States. 1t demands the occupation of
a great number of posts For many of
them small company is Just as eff
fcient as one with more men would be.
The bill before Congress, or the one
that has passed the Senate, gives an in
creased number of companies by di-
minishing the number of rank and file
of each. 1t is an exceedingly appro-
pirate measure in this particular, for it
provides for the increase when occa-
sion requires Of more men. The COM
pany is the smallest unit of organiza-
ton that can be used without mate
rally injuring discipline and efficiency.
The belief that Congress will act
promptly in the matter, if their atten-
ton is called to it. has induced me to
respectfully ask your atten ton TO 1t.
Headquarters ARMIES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., May Is, 1866. !
To Hon. Z. n. Stanton, Secretary of War;
SIR: In view of the long delay in the
lower House of Congress in agreeing
upon plan for the reorganization Of
the army suitable to our present re-
quirements and the urgent necessity
for action, am induced to refer the
matter to you officially, and ask the
attention of Congress, believing that
when they have matters fairly before
them they will do what ought to be
done, speedily.
At the present time, settlements are
springing up with unusual rapidity in
the district and country between Mis-
souri, river and the Pacific ocean,
where heretofore the Indian was left
indisputed possession. Emigrants are
pushing to these settlements and to
the gold fields of the Rocky Noun
tains, by every available highway.
The people of these regions are citi-
zens of the United States, and are en-
titled to the protection of the Govern
ment They are developing the re-
sources of the country to its great adj
vantage, thus making it the interest, as
well as the duty, of the Government to
give them military protection.
This makes a much greater force
west of the Mississippi necessary than
was ever heretofore required.
A small military force is required in
all the States lately in rebellion, and it
cannot be foreseen that the force will
not be required for some time to come
1t is to be hoped this force will not be
necessary to inforce the laws of State
or nation. But the difference of senti-
ment engendered by the great war
which has been waged for four years,
will make the presence of a military
force necessary to give a feeling of Sc
curity. If you agree with me in this
matter l would also ask you, if you
deem proper, that this, with such in
dorsement as you may be pleased to
make, be laid before Congress through
the Speaker of the House.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient serv't,
L. S. GRANT,
Tieutent General