Mr. BOYER. I offer the following amendment. In line 6 after the word “ regiments, ” strike out all the remainder of the section, as follows: of ten regiments. to be raised and olficcred as hereinafter provided for. to be called the Reservocorps: Veteran and ofeightrcgimentsofcolored men. to be raised and o the cred as hereinafter provided, to beknown as U.S. coloredtroops. This bill, as interpreted by the chairman of the Military Committee, provides for an army of 50,000 men, but with an organization capable of expansion to 82600 men. That ls, there are to be regiments organized and officers appointed sutiicieut for an army of cighty 2600 strong, and the esident is to have the authority to recruit it to its maximum strength whenever in his discretion he may decide that the exigencies of the service require it. To this large increase of the regular Army as a peace establishment I desire to record my opposition. I have great respect for the opinion of the able and patriotic chairman of the Military Committee. who hastold usthathe had been in favor of a still greaterincrease. I have also, in common with the whole country profound respect for the military judgment of the Lion tenant General, who we are told, has expressed himself in favor of the enlargement of the standing Army to the extent contemilated by this bill. Still I cannot bring myse l to see its necessity. No one, I suppose, will contend that a larger standinglarmy should be maintained in time of peace than the exigencies of the country require. Now, what exigencies do exist which require such an army as is provided by this bill as a permanent peace establishment? The rebellion is over. At least there is not a man now in arms against the Government in any part of the count. The President has proclaimed peace. the late rebellious States are submissively and patientl waiting at the doors of Congress for peaceful recognition in the reestablished Union, the authority of which none of them anylonger disputes. The Indian frontier is quiet, and likely to need less force to keep it so than was heretofore required. There is no immediate danger of a foreign war, and if such an occasion were to arise half a million of volunteers could be raised in 30 days, either for defense or invasion. During the present generation, at least, our volunteer forces would not be found wanting either in disciplined men or experienced officers. Why, then, shall we now provide for a standing army of over 80,000 men? Upon the general principle, then, that a larger standing army than the exigency de mands is not in accordance with the nature or safety of our institutions, and also upon the ground of public economy, I move the amendment which I have offered. If it should prevail it will save over 8 millions a year to the country and still leave an arm which, when raised to its maximum stan ard, will number over 60,000 men. I think the reduction can best be made by striking 06 that portion of the proposed arm which must prove the least efficient. namely, the Veteran Reserve corps and the colored regiments. As respects the Veteran Reserve corps, I agree with the remarks made on last Frida Iby the Gentfrom NewYork, [Mr. DAVISi think the country owes to the disabled Union Officers and soldiers of the late war a reason able support, but not in the Army. I shall always be found ready to vote to the maimed heroes of the war liberal provision in the shape of pensions, but I am not. in favor of providing for ten regiments of disabled soldiers as a part of the Army of the U.S. As for the colored regiments, I believe they can perform no military duties which could not better be performed by white men. They are not wanted as soldiers at the North and at the South they would prove a continual source of irritatio, complaint, and disquiet. On the Indian frontiers the would be less efficient than white soldiers, for their fear of Indians is proverbial. I maintain thatto the white men of the U.S. rightfully belongs the government of the country in peace and its defense in war and if the time should ever come when the are no longer equal to the performance of these duties the hour of our national dissolution will have arrived. I entertain no expectation that this amendment will prevail because from our past exe rience we now that when the majority of this House have once got hold of the negro upon any question they never surrender him from their embraces but have moved this amendment and I shall endeavor to get a record vote upon it. I demand the yeas&nays upon my amendment.