Mr. RO EltS. I have not hitherto partincipatd in any manner in the debate on thisbill. EutI have been unable, by any examination I can give it, to see what necessity there is at this time for any such law at all as this. I have had no satisfacto reason shown to me that there is any insu ciency in the Army as now organized, and as it has been organized since the foundation of the Government, under the old system and by virtue of the principles upon which it has been organized. I entirel agree with the honorable Gentfrom Illinois [Mr. Ross] as to the 1m propriety at this time of keeping a large standin army. It was the wisdom of our fathers, and they gave it out to their children as a.settled axiom in American history, that large standing armies in time of peace were not only danger ous to liberty, but they involved the countryin heavy and enormous expenses and during the whole period of our political and nations, history, from the 1st formation of the Army of this country down to this time, I believe at no time, when the country was not involved in war, have we had an Army to exceed the max imum of25 or 30,000 men. Now, alter we have gone through this rebellion, and marshaled armies more gigantic and enormous, perhaps, than any that ever were marshaled upon the fields of this country, and I might say upon any other since civilization began, what necessity is there to change the organization of the Army which existed during all that period. When the 1st tocsin of war was sounded, we found men so ready through our volunteer system that it was but a short time before we had a million men in the field, able to put down the most gi antic rebellion that ever raised its hydra hes upon any continent, and to subdue any army ever marshaled on earth. Sir, when this war began, a proclamation was issued by President Lincoln, calling for 75,000 men, for the purpose of putting down the rebellion, thus illustrating the esteem and consideration with which the people of this country have regarded small standing armies. It had long been settled in the minds of the people that a large standing army was not necessary; and although when that call was made the regular Army of our nation numbered only 15 or 20,000 men, the hills and the valleys poured out like water men who were ready at a moments call to march forth in defense of their countrys cause, and assist in putting down the fearful rebellion which has so recently closed. Sir, I am satisfied from the experience of the country during the last 75 years that there never was a time in our history when the situation of this country required a smaller army than is necessa at the present time. There is no danger O any more civil commotions; there is no dangerof any further rebellion. The power of the government has been maintained. Our Government has shown itself to be formidable and omni otent. It has demonstrated that it is abun antly able to put down any rebellion. It has shown itself strong enough to cope successfully with any army which may be raised against it, whether marshaled in this country or any other. Sir, an army of such numbers as we had before the rebellion will he sufficient hereafter for all practical purposes. There is no necessity that, at a time when the people are already groaning under the onerous burden of taxation, they should be subjected to still heavier burdens to support in time of peace an army of 75 or 80,000 men. Sir, as soon as you adopt the doctrines of the monarchists of the Old World and establish in this country the system of maintaining a large standing army in time of peace, that very moment you menace liberty and destroy one of the foundation principles of our republican institutions. In reference to this question of a standing army, I am willing to stand by the doctrines of Washington and Jefferson and Madison, and the other founders of our Government, who have bequeathed to us the principle that standing armies in times of peace are danger ous to republican institutions. A republican Government must rest for its foundation upon the consent and affection of the people. Their patriotism must be relied n on as its sured e ense in the hour of peri. Large standing armies are simply a menace to popular libert.