The daily gazette., 1877-10-08
CUT DOWN THE ARMY (!
A SOUND VIEW OF THIS GREAT
QUESTION-WHAT CON-
GRE.SS MAY DO.
From the Journal Of Commerce


One of the bulwarks of our liberties is
the supreme power of Congress over The
army. Congress alone can fix the numbers
OF aud appropriate the money for the nation
al war establishment. This, with mauy
other wise provisions OF our political sys-
tenn, was copied from England. The old
Bill OF Rights In that country forbade the
maintenance OF standing army in time of
peace without 90 nsent of Parliament, and
that body has for nearly two hundred years
declared what would be the strength Of the
army and how mach il should cost. W . 81,
The Congressional control of the army
has worked admirably as principle, until
at the last session the House refused TO ap.
propriate funds for the War Department
unless the troops which then menaccd the
South and the peace of the country were
withdrawn As neither the Senate nor the
Executive would accept this condition the
money was not forthcoming. Since then
the retirement of the regulars from the
South and their gallant conduct in the late
labor riots has put the House in more con-
hdlng and amiable frame OF mind and at
the extra session this month the army will
be generously treated, we doubt not. But
any attempt to increase 1t much will meet
with resistance.
No favor, we trust, will be shown to
the recommendation which, it is said
Secretary McCrary will make, that au-
thority be conferred ON the President to
enlarge the army at his discretion to 40,-
600 men. The President cannot aug
ment the army without running up its
expenses. Will Congress cede these
powers to the Executive? The House of
Commons would regard such PROPOSE
ton from the Crown with the greatest
suspicion, and Indignantly reject It. Con-
gress, if it respects itself, will spurn such
a suggestion as insulting. 1t will insist
on fixing the number and the cost of the
army from year to year.
If Congress authorizes the President to
raise the army to 40 1000 men, he will be
continually and sorely tempted to do it.
The pressure upon HIM from army Off
GERS, contractors and formenters of bor-
der quarrels would be irresistible unless
he were as firm as granite. We would
spare the President this conflict and an
noyance, and probably save the nation
from an added financial burden and the
aggravated dangers of war with Mexico,
by keeping the management of the army
in its present hands. 1t is not likely
Congress will increase the army by a
single man; and the War Secretary may
think himself lucky .if the roster and the
appropriations are not cut down to-
gether.
One enlargement of an army leads to
another. In Great Britain the standing
force has more than doubled, with the
consent of Parliament, since 1926, though
we see no reason for this in the foreign
or domestic relations of that country. If
Congress adds 5000 or 10000 men to our
army now, there will be a request from
the Var Department for as many more
in two years. A standing army, even the
smallest, has in it the seeds of peril to
free government.
A militia composed of volunteers, in
each State, we'll disciplined, is, on the
contrary, the best of guarantees that our
liberties will not be attacked or subvert-
ed; and, as the civil war and the recent
riots triumphantly prove, a citizen SOL
diery is equal to any emergency in State
or national affairs.