be in error bul I know on Lhis same qucslion Lhinking precisely as I now do, I was right once before and if J ere now I have Lhc consolation th.al 1 am on the safest side of Lhe question and it will be found much easier lo disband an army if we should not need lhcm than il will be lo raise one if we should. I urge Lhis upon the Cabincl by their attachment to the sacred name of liberty by their paLriotism ,ind by aU the sympathies they must feel for starving women and children who wiU unless prompt measures be taken be again suhjected Lo the same dislress they have before suffered. I urge these things from an honesl conviction of duty and noL from a11y desire on my part to figure in an army. I have already come in for a larger share of abuse Lhan is al all palalable lo my taste but all these things were anticipated beforehand and if 1 can sec the necessary means using Lo place Lhe Country in an altitude to meet its enemies, all my troubles would be cheerfully borne. We have now many men of character repulation and standing who have espoused our cause from lhe United States. It is important that we not only acclaim all such but Lhal we place our service upon such a rcspcclahle footing as Lo hold out inducements to men of talents and rcspcclability to engage in it this should be done by the selection lo office of men of known reputation and military abilities. I understand that Genl Felix Houston is a military man a man of great reputation in the United Slates. Such a man at such a crisis is invaluable to us and although l am much opposed to the multiplying of offices unnecessarily still in our present situation we clearly need an energelic man at the head of our army and any vanity which any citizen or the coun{ry might feel ought to give place to his desire for the advancr.menl of the public welfare and it seems clear Lo me that considering our present silualion delib- erately, a nutjor Gen! charged with the proper organization or an army ought to be appointed, with Genl. Houslo11 l have no personal acquaintance bul have been led lo the remarks I have made by what 1 have heard from those who were well acquainted wilh him. We are at present in relation Lo Lhe head of an army a Lillie awkwardly situated it seems t.o be the de.sire of the Cabinet from their last communication to us that l .should be Commandant Genl. Green is the Senior Brigader Genl. and by the laws it seems lo me entitleq lo the command. This would be placi11g me in thl~ situation of assuming more that I was entitled to & requiring of Genl. Green what is ,nulual in military discipline to be com-
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