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WRITINGS ·oF SAl\1 HousToN, 1847
515
wishes of the men had been met and their hopes gratified, being contentej at the outset they would continue contented all through the term of service. There would be no new elections, for the bill provides for promotions by regular grade. But, under the original bill, the President might, through inadvertence or mis- information, or other accidental cause, happen to appoint to an important command one of the lowest subalterns. Such a course could not but do much harm. Every provision in the amendment, or substituted bill, was made to come as near to the character and spirit of our insti- tutions as could with propriety be done. It was often said, and reechoed from one side of that chamber to the other, that the militia are the great bulwark for the defence of this country. He believed it. But to give them organization and a permanent service would not render them less so. Thus organized, they would be prepared to act in harmony with the regular army. It did not blend the two descriptions of force together, but it united them in a concert of action. A force of this description would as much constitute a part of the army as the regular troops. Congress had the same power to create both. In concluding, he observed that he could not believe but that every objection which lay against the former bill was fully met by the substitute he had prepared, and he believed it to be more complete in its details than any which had been before offered. When we took a view of the connexion of the army with our citizens, he thought it would take but a little time to organize our citizens for a state of war, and prepare them for the battle-field and all the hardships and privations of the camp; and when they should have honorably discharged the duty they owed to the country, they would return to the walks of private life with credit, and the pleasing consciousness of having given proof that they were fully worthy of the confidence of their fellow-citizens. They would show the world the volunteers could endure hardships as good soldiers; that they were no carpet knights-no holyday soldiers; but, having from choice relinquished the sweets of homebred ~ase, for the hazards of the camp and of the battle-field, they would return to their families with the glory and renown of good soldiers. February 1, 1847 Mr. Houston rose, and moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Military Affairs, ·with instructions so to amend the bill as to conform to the amendments (with some slight
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