Increase of the Army - some pointed commentary by Thomas Hart Benton

[Todd]

"Increase of the Army" Speech of Hon. T. H. Benton, of Missouri, In the House of Representatives, February 27, 1855, On the proposition to raise four new Regiments for the Regular Army.

Increase of the Army.JPG (99.25 KiB) Viewed 1233 times

Rives, F, et al.. The Congressional Globe ...: [23d Congress to the 42d Congress, Dec. 2, 1833, to March 3, 1873]. Washington: Printed at the Globe Office for the editors [etc.], 183473. Pg. 338.

[Couvi]

It is interesting that in 1855 he is stating, ‘If we must have them, rather let them follow their true destination--furnish promotions, and wait for a chance to go to Cuba.’

I wasn’t aware that we were covetous of Cuba at that early date.

[Pat Holscher]

It is interesting that in 1855 he is stating, ‘If we must have them, rather let them follow their true destination--furnish promotions, and wait for a chance to go to Cuba.’

I wasn’t aware that we were covetous of Cuba at that early date.

It's not well remembered, but that was during the "Filibustering" era in which schemes like that were commonly thought of. One that was actually carried out was William Walker's invasion of Nicaragua in 1856 in which he was at first successful in taking over the country, and then later was very much not.

[Couvi]

I knew about Walker in Nicaragua, but not about Cuba.