The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-14

Encouraged 10y finding that they held the
balance Of power on the Army bill in the
House, and by their brilliant success in bull
DOING their fellow Democrats into COM
promise pivoting on the wants OF Texas, the
congressman from the Lone Star State are
promptly developing the remainder Of their
military programme.
The first feature Of this programme has.
however, been brought out IN the Scnate--it
being Mr.. MAXEY's resolution calling for an
elaborate system Of new defensive works on
the Rio Grande. Against what, or whom,
these forts are to defend US, II is impossible
Ia imagine. Mexico is a friendly power,
and, even were she not doing everything in
her power to dlsarm Texan wrath, IT would
be- a. prepostcrous for us TO guard against
an offensive campaign from her as for the
wolf to plead for u sheepfod against the
attacks of the lamb. II the new defensive
works are for protection against the Indians,
they can hardly be very efficient fol that
purpose. unless we can suppose that the
'Lipan cattle thieves, having river fordable
for scores OF miles. will kindly select the
noighhurhood of the forts for crossing.
There il n stretch Of a thousand miles 81
river bank between Brc wnsvilc and El Paso
"a llll' lil'HN IthtA4tstlilf 10 kNdtN ny a
Gordon Of forts alone. II the purpose be
only to add II few more forts, on general
principles Of taking care OF Texas, 1t is
worth noting that there IL no call whatever
for them from the army. which would be
prompt To point out the necessity il it cx-
isted. Gen. ORD does not speak Of any such
! new defensive system as Lcces =ary. or even
desirable
Now, there are already in Texas. Fort
Elliott, Fort Brown Fort Clark, Ringgold
| Barracks, Fort Concho, Fort Griffin Fort
| Davis, Fort Richardson, Fort Duncan Fort
Mcintosh Fort Stockton, and Fort Me-
Kavett. Five of these posts Fort Brown,
Fort Duncan, Fort Clark. Fort McIn-
to-h, and Ringgold Barracks-are on the
Rio Grande line. Mr. SCHLEICHER Of Texas
said in the House, the other day, that Gen.
ORDs only available movable force, after
| garrisoning the posts in his department,
was 500 men, which Mr.. SciILEIcHER Thought
quite too small Why, then, decrease the
movable force by building forts which the
army does not call forl
Whenever the annual army bill comes M,
as we'll as whenever an Indian war has la he
| fought, the existing number of forts rcquir-
ing garrisons becomes n serious element in
the problem Mr.. HEWITT said, during the
late debate, that there We're lone hundred
and seventy posts in this country to he
guarded, and II vast amount Of public prop
crty to be taken care OFF, and Mr.. BANNING,
correcting him, said there were 2l2 posts at
which troops were stationed. Mr. HEWITT
thought it possible to discontinue some
even of the 10; but, with or without dis
continuance, Texas seems to have its full
share of those existing. The project OF
more forts for the Rio Grande seems to be a
pure Texas invention, not originating at all
among military authorities. Such extra
forts might give the people Of western
Texas Il lift, for labor and material, In con-
structing and furnishing the works the
officers houses. the barracks, stables store
houses, hospitals, and Kitchens and after
ward in supplying the garrisOns posted AT
the forts; but in other respects their utility
does not seem to he urgent.