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Editorial
May 26, 1865
The Bedford Gazette
Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes proposed maintenance of a 160,000-man U.S. Army, including 80,000 negro troops, costing $160 million annually. Advocates for conciliatory policy toward Southern states to reduce army size and opposes negro troops in standing army.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
An Army of 160,000 Men to be Maintained.
It is said in Washington circles, that the army is only to be reduced to four corps of 40,000 men each, and that two of the corps are to be negroes. That would leave the country burdened with a standing army of 80,000 white soldiers, and 80,000 negroes, it is estimated that every soldier costs the Government $1,000 per annum to maintain him. Not in depreciated currency but at gold rates. To maintain an army of 160,000 men would involve, therefore, an annual expenditure of one hundred and sixty million dollars in gold.
Is there any reason why the people should be expected to continue to bear such an enormous burthen? We do not believe there is need of one fourth of the proposed army. A wise and conciliatory policy would bring every Southern State into the Union within less than three months, and so firmly establish all relations between them and the Federal Government that we should not need any larger army than we had before the rebellion began. To carry out the grand schemes of the radical fanatics, who are raving about extended punishment and sweeping confiscation, would necessitate the employment of large and expensive armies; but the government cannot possibly derive anything but detriment from such a course. We hope President Johnson will adopt such a policy as will enable him to reduce the army to the old peace standard before fall. He can do so if he will. Whether this is done or not, we hope no portion of the permanent standing army of the country may ever be negroes. The people will not care to have to sustain an army of negro troops with whom they can have no sympathy.
—Lancaster Intelligencer.
It is said in Washington circles, that the army is only to be reduced to four corps of 40,000 men each, and that two of the corps are to be negroes. That would leave the country burdened with a standing army of 80,000 white soldiers, and 80,000 negroes, it is estimated that every soldier costs the Government $1,000 per annum to maintain him. Not in depreciated currency but at gold rates. To maintain an army of 160,000 men would involve, therefore, an annual expenditure of one hundred and sixty million dollars in gold.
Is there any reason why the people should be expected to continue to bear such an enormous burthen? We do not believe there is need of one fourth of the proposed army. A wise and conciliatory policy would bring every Southern State into the Union within less than three months, and so firmly establish all relations between them and the Federal Government that we should not need any larger army than we had before the rebellion began. To carry out the grand schemes of the radical fanatics, who are raving about extended punishment and sweeping confiscation, would necessitate the employment of large and expensive armies; but the government cannot possibly derive anything but detriment from such a course. We hope President Johnson will adopt such a policy as will enable him to reduce the army to the old peace standard before fall. He can do so if he will. Whether this is done or not, we hope no portion of the permanent standing army of the country may ever be negroes. The people will not care to have to sustain an army of negro troops with whom they can have no sympathy.
—Lancaster Intelligencer.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military Affairs
Partisan Politics
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
Standing Army
Negro Troops
Army Reduction
President Johnson
Southern States
Reconstruction Policy
Radical Fanatics
What entities or persons were involved?
President Johnson
Radical Fanatics
Southern States
Federal Government
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Large Standing Army With Negro Troops
Stance / Tone
Strongly Against Large Army And Negro Troops, Supportive Of Conciliatory Reconstruction Policy
Key Figures
President Johnson
Radical Fanatics
Southern States
Federal Government
Key Arguments
Proposed Army Of 160,000 Men Costs $160 Million Annually In Gold.
No Need For More Than One Fourth Of Proposed Army Size.
Conciliatory Policy Would Reintegrate Southern States Quickly Without Large Army.
Radical Policies Of Punishment And Confiscation Require Large Armies But Harm The Government.
Hope President Johnson Reduces Army To Pre Rebellion Peace Standard.
Opposition To Permanent Negro Troops In Standing Army Due To Lack Of Sympathy.