, 1870-02-09
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
Tho fact Of reculnr nrtifIerY tranr,s hainl


stationed along the eeaboard as far as the
hyperborean regions Of Alaska, where they
can be Of no possible benefit, can render
no public service whatsoever (uuleGs tbs
consumption Of the public subsistence,
pay, and clothing be SO regarded), is, OF
itself, good and sufficient reason for re-
duchon of the amy OF course such re-
ducion must be made upon tho principles
Of justice and equity. It is not just or
equitable to dismiss officers from the army
or navy after they have given the best years
Of their life to the military aud naval ser
vice, aud are, therefore, untitled for other
pursuits. Nor is it fair TO reduce their COM
put to shifts to support themselves and
their families respectfully. Nevertheless,
there is wide field for the exercise Of
economy, without violating any OF these
principles.
II there Was any one important lesson
taught by the late rebellion, it Was that our
country can confidently rely rr'n her
,,otriotic ,.r,lr~A-.-.-<t <tlo uouf OF need. In
truth, but for onr volunteer so1dicrs, the ze-
beliou would hare resulted in a successful
revolution.
In what particular we're the artillery,
cavalry, and infantry regulars superior to
our volunteers, except in the matter Of
trained officers? In what we're the regular
Qua1te1mAstere, Commissaries Of 6ubsist-
ence, and pn5masters superior to those Of
our volunteers In nothing,-in neither
capacity, courage, nor honesty. Why not,
then, reduce the arm57 Civil life having
furnished efficient Quarte1masters, subsist-
eneo officers, and paymasters, Why graduate Q
men ut the National Military Academy for
these tluhes? The Commissary Of Sub
| sistence purchases, from large wholesale
grocery houses, the component parts Of the
army ration, ard transtera them, while thus
stored, to the Quarteruastet for transporta'
ton to the different supply depots and Mill
ta1y posts, from which they arc issued by
| Assistant, Commisaasies funder bonds) and
Acting Assistant Commlssa1ies {genernlly
Lieutenant Of the line under no bonds
to the troops Can any public duty be
moro agreeable and easy than this? Arc
there not thousands Of ex. grocery merchants
in our country capable Of satisfa,to-
zily and promptly discbarging these duties
What is the use, then, Of putting msu
through four years COURSE OF drawing
astronomy, optics, triangulation, hydraulics
chemistry, geology, mineralogy, englneer
ing, and infantry tactics at West Point K
mike Commissary Of Subsistence Of him
Had he not better serve an apprenticeship
in some grocery and provision house, 81
that be can know and distinguish between
the different grades Of coffee, sugar, tea
-four, and bacous
The same argument applies to the Pay
master, whose duties are the simplest Of al
duties such ss any intelligent boy can pei
form, and requiring only knowledge 0
tho elementary rules Of arithmetic and book
keeping. There is, IN faet, no necessity for
Pay Department, as the Quarte1u,astezs O
cen1nisssties could pay the troops The
had rolls Of Thousands Of men to pay du1
ing the rebellion. Tho same argument wi
: ho'd good with the Qaar.e1rnaste1, but nc
!. in go sen-esident degree as with the sui
= Rastence end pay officers. Why moi, the1
:, appoint these ssaf-foeaing, paying, IN
clothing officers from civil life when and .
they are wanted? Is it not absurd to o.
- point, Q. transfer, graduate Of West Poi
- to any ono Of these departments, tho duti
- - Of which are purely civil, and can BE- pe
~ formed BY any Intelligent and honest ms1
:. BY reducing the army it is practicable
" decrease one very henry item of natior
expense. How effect this reduction Il
n still maintain an efficient nucleus1
ID We suggest: First. All graduates OF W
10 Point in the Qna1ternastera, snssisten
ke and Pay Departments should be return
in 10 the regiments or corps from which It
$, were takcn.
OF Second. The Subsistence and Pay Deps
he rncnts should be consolidated, al they
he to-doy in our nary, and this cousolidat
he should be called the Commtssariat Of
to Army, as is the case in the principal Eu
for peau armies. Besides their duties OF fe
as ing and paying the army, they should h
no The clothing Of it.
s nst TLira. The lumber Of artillery regime