The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-01 00:00:00

actually added to the defensive means of the nation,
without any expense to the General Government
other than the subscriptions it has authorized
to a few of them ; and it may be affirmed,
without exaggeration, that the aggregate of saving,
in any future war in which we may be engaged,
in the comparative small amount of military force
that will be necessary for defence, and in the cheap-
ness of transportation afforded by railroads: and
canals now in existence, will be equal to the cost
of their construction. If, then, the making of
these works has been premature or improvident,
in reference to the means of the States that undertook
them, and has involved them in pecuniary embarrass-
ments, the National Government should not complain
of an enterprise that has placed these incalculable ad-
vantages in its hands ; and,, if it cannot relieve, will
at least sympathise in the misfortunes which have re-
stilted from such efforts.
The Report from the Ordnance Office exhibits the
measures which have • been taken for the armament
of fortifications, and the forts which have been
wholly or partially armed. This object will be
steadily and vigorously pursued, to the extent of
the means provided by Congress. The estimate
for that purpose is the amount originally contemplated
as being necessary to the completion of the armaments as
rapidly as the nature of the service would permit. It
is to be hoped that, in view of the great importance of
the object, no reduction of the estimate will be made.
The attention of Congress has, for the last ten years,
been repeatedly invoked to the necessity of a foundry for
cannon, belonging to, and under the charge of the Govern-
ment; but, from an apprehension of the great expense
which it was supposed would be incurred by such an
an establishment, or from a doubt of its necessity, nothing
has yet been done towards its accomplishment. I cannot
hesitate earnestly to.recommend its execution. It is known
that there are some hundreds of different kinds of iron pro-
duced from our mines, of various qualities, and adapted
to different uses. The foundry may be connected with
one of our arsenals, so as to be under the charge of
officers already in the public service, by which the cost
of its construction and supervision may be essentially
diminished. Admonished, as we are, by the efforts
of other nations to improve the weapons of destruc-
tion, it would seem that no time should be lost in the
necessary incipient measures to select and purchase a site
for a foundry, on the limited scale suggested, but capable
of expansion according to future exigencies ; and it is
therefore hoped that the sum estimated for that purpose
will be appropriated at the coming session of Congress.
The Quartermaster-General's Report exhibits the very
extensive operations of that department during the past
year, and the efficiency and energy with which they
have been prosecuted. The various recommendations
which are made by the distinguished officer at the head
of that department, will doubtless receive all the consi-
deration which is due to the suggestions of great ex-
perience and high .military talent. Among those which
appear to the undersigned as most deserving immediate
attention are the following:—
The recommendations of a military road within our
acknowledged limits, to supply subsistence and other
stores at Forts Kent and Fairfield, in the State of Maine.
Circumstances of a peculiar character seem to demand
that no time should be lost in the commencement of
this work.

The establishment of a strong fort at Fort Brady, with
commodious barracks, commanding the communication
with Lake Superior, seems also indispenv.ble.
And a post on the Missouri frontier, south of Fort
Leavenworth, is necessary, in connection with the plan
of defence for that portion of our territory. •
The propriety of commencing the erection of perma-
nent works in the keys or on the peninsula of Florida, is
strongly represented.

The Condition of the Military Academy at West Point
is exhibited in the Report of the Chief Engineer, and
in that of the Board of Visiters, selected from the dif-
ferent portions of the United States, to scrutinize all its
affairs. There is great reason to congratulate the coun-
try upon the success which has attended the persever-
ing efforts of Congress to furnish the means of
military instruction to our youth, and of preserving
and improving that science upon which our safety in war
must at all times depend. In an age-remarkable for the
extent to which human inventions, in all departments,
have been carried, and in which the art of war has under-
gone essential modifications, from the introduction of
now agents and the improvement of those pre-
viously existing, it would indeed be a reproach to
the intelligence of our country, and a reflec-
tion upon the tendencies of our free institutions,
if we refused or neglected to avail ourselves of the
only means by which we can give to the bravery of our
citizens the aid of that science which is alone necessary
to render them equal to the skill of the cohorts that may
be sent to our shores by a European nation. The time has
long since passed, if it ever existed, when mere valour
could compete with discipline and science. If education
be necessary to prepare for any profession, surely that
of arms cannot be an exception. As it is, in its nature,
one that cannot derive any support from private interests
or individual employment, but is wholly public in its
uses, the provision for acquiring it must be made by the
Government, or it will not be made at all, or hot in a
manner, and to an extent adequate to the exigency.
It will be perceived that the works for the improve-
ment of harbours already authorized have been arranged
into two classes—first, those of great importance and im-
mediate necessity ; and, second, those of perhaps equal
importance, but in respect to which there are no pecu-
liar circumstances so urgent for speedy action as in the
first class. The plan of proceeding gradually, with a
due regard to economy and the conition of the Trea-
sury, and with reference to the just and equal claims of
the different portions of the country, will, it is believed,
be more likely to accomplish a greater amount of the
desired improvement than any other mode.
The total estimates for the works of the first class are
$575,000, while the very moderate sum of $30,000 is
asked to preserve those of the second class from decay.
It should not be inferred that any intention exists of
abandoning many most valuable and important works for
which no specific estimates are submitted. On the con-
trare, the very recommendation to preserve them, pro-
ceeds from a desire for their completion at the proper
time, and in due course, in reference to the principles be-
fore stated.

I cannot refrain from calling attention to the case of
the wounded Cherokee Indians, to whom the faith of
the nation was pledged by the 14th article of the treaty
with the Cherokees, of the 29th of December, 1835, to
provide pensions to such as were engaged on the side of
the United States,„in the late war with Great Britain
the southern tribes of Indians, and who were
wounded in such service. The few who remain have ap-
plied in vain to the Pension Officer for the promised' re-
muneration; but it is to be hoped that justice, although
tardy, will now be rendered to thent

Since the adjournment of Congress a' Treaty has been
concluded with some of the bandy of the Sioux for lands
not included in any previous negotiation, and another
has been made with the half breeds of the Sioux, for a
cession of the lands set apart to them by the 9th article
of the. Treaty held at,Prairie. du Chicu on the 15th of
July,-1830. • • .

A treaty i, now 1:ego tiatiug. with the Wyandots for
their larnl4. in the State of Ohio, which, it is believed,

will soon be brought to a cOnclusion*. The attempts to
negotiate with the, Sacs and Foxes have utterly failed.
As the causes of this failure are believed to be tempo-
rary, or such as may be removed by arrangements with
other Cribs, renewed efforts will be made when a pro-
pitious occasion will offer. •

Measures have been taken to execute the Act of 1834,
in relation to intrusions o►n Indian hinds, for the purpose
of preventing the sale of liquor and unlicensed trading,
which it is hoped may prove successful.
Respectfully submitted, 'TWIN C. SPENCER.
To the President.