The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-18
NEW ORLEANS TUESDAY, JUNE 49, p

needed an increased force for defense. He re.
piled that Montana and Dakota Territories
needed forty times as many troops as lexae,
and that there were more depredations IN Ari-
zona and New Mexico and that more troops
were needed there than in Texas, With such
views entertained by the general OF the army,
whether correct or not, what increase OF force
can we expect for the Texas frontier, even 1t
we had an army Of $4,000 men, the present
nominal forceP
/ believe well organized army of 10000
men, properly distributed, is sufficient for all
the necessary protection OF our frontiers. l
believe, too that Gen. Ord was entirely cor
rect when he said that 10000 men could not
successfully defend the Texas frontier on our
present defensive policy against the Mexican
raids. But do at the same time believe that
two regiments of cavalry could successfully
protect that frontier under proper policy
That proper policy would be, In my iudg-
ment, to put into operation the law of repri-
sal. This we could do under the law OF ma
| tions for self-pr0teCtiOn. And such course
| Is permitted as preceding, but not necessarily
| leading to war. Let us notify the government
| of Mexico that we do not wish war with her or
| desire to violate her territory, but that we
| must protect our own people, and when her
citizens cross our border AID commit murders
and robberles we will pursue them to their
| homes or hiding places and levy reprisal on
the communities which might protect them.
| II this were done 1t would at once stop all
| marauding, and restore peace to the frontier.
| And 1t can be done by change OF policy and
as well with an army Of 10000 as with one Of
| $4,000.
The Republican members of the House
solidly opposed the reduction and re0rganiza-
| tion Of the army, but in the main, for very
| different reasons from those which influenced
the six or eight Democrats who voted with
them. These Democrats wanted more troops
| for the defense OF the frontier The most of
the Republicans wanted no reduction Of the
army because they wanted an army strong
enough to repress and COerce our own people
in case Of discomfort with our vicious and
cruel policy, which has plunged the country
into such unexampled financial distress. They
want an array large enough to do the duties
Of q local police force In the States. | have
no sympathy with this view, and prefer to
act on the theory that our people are capable
Of self-gOvernment, and that the States can
BEST and with the greatest safety to our
people and institutions, Tepress such disorders
| as may occur within them.
! / shall at all times do all can to give se-
curity and protection to our frontier, and to
protect the lives and property of our people.
And / shall, at the same time do all l can to
secure a better and more efficient organiza-
tiOn of the army, a Topping off Of its needless
supernumerary officers, and reduction of
| It's cost to reasonable sum, and to this ex-
! tent to relieve the taxpayers. 1t Is q great
mistake to suppose our sole aim was redu2.
| tiOn of the army. The main objects were to
secure better organized and more efficient
army at less expense to the people. Very
| respectfully, JOHN III. REAGAN.