Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-09

| .s' 90 uis'huCe from the IRON
Tiers. When our military posts come 10
be extended up theMissssippi and Mrs
souri,. so lar as Is contemplated, the mill
'arN iton',er or the United States, not iu-s
ciudtpS sinhoslties, and the coasts of na-
Visahie bays and lakes opening into our
country, as Was stated in a former report.
VIII present alineof more than 5000 miles.
and, including them, of more than III 900.
ihiply scattered along so extensive a
frontier, II viii he impossible, I fear, with
oui leaving some points exposed, Ia col
iec' any considerable bodies in The inieri-
or "f The country, 10 construct roads and
| canals.
As connected with this subject. IwouIi
respectfully suggest liepropriety o. fl maxi
ing an adequate prOvisiontor the soldiers.
while regularly and continually EMPLOY
| ca III constructing works of public iitili,v.
| me present dllUwanceis tficen cents a
| day. wiIch Is considered suliicien, in o.
| casi4nal fatigue duty, s,Nil as is now done
al most o''i'e posts but if systematic
employ, on permanent works, should he
made tie regular duty OF the seh,;ers
who can be spared for that purpose. a
compensation, Taking into the estimate.
! The obligation otibe governments 10 PRO
VIDE medical Attendance and pensions 10
tile deceased and disabled soldiers. n,.r
much short oil the wages of daiiv labor.
ought to7be granted TO them. Without
such provision, which is dictated bv nus
| ice, an iscroase Ofdeseriion, and difTics,
| ~ IN obtaining recruits, oush, 10 be ex-
pecied. Among the leading Inducements
! 10 enlist, Is tie exemption from labor.
and, ifthe life OF soldier should he o.
| luaiiy subjected TO il as that al other cit
izens III Tie same grade, he viii prefer. If
the wages are much inferior, to labor for
himself. TO iiiboring fer the public. The
pay oia soldier is. sixty dollars per AM
mum and, ii he were allowed, when en-
pioyedpermanenily on fatigue, 25 cents
day and suppose him TO be employed
eco DAYS IN The year. his compensation.
including his pay, would be SiIo per an
niii--a sum, II is thought, considerable
snort OF lie average wages Cf labor. If
ihis SUM should be allowed, The greater
portion ofll ought TO he paid ar tie eypi-
| ration OF the term ofenlistmcnt. IF liz
teen cents day were so reserved. and The
soldier should be employed one thou
sand days IN the five years for whic! he
IS enlisted, II would constitute sun, of
one hundred and fifty dollars, to be paid
al Incorporation OF liis term, W lich ought.
III The same manner as Tie bounty land
he made to depend on an honorable dis
charge. This would furnish an impor-
iant hold on the fidelity of the soldier.
aGd would be powerful check TO The
great and growing crime of desertiop.
An honorable discharge is now worth buf
htlle 10 the soidier, and the consequences
IS, That deseriioas are more frequent with
hose enlisted since tile war, than those
VINO we're then enlisted, aud are entitled
10 me bounty IN land oil their honorable
discharge. The latter patiently waits The
expiration OF his term of service. while
HE forn'er treqcnlly sezes the first fayo-
rabie opportunity for desertiou
Should Congress think proper TO COM
nencc system Olroads and canals for
the more complete defence of the Uni
TED States The disbursements of fine
sums appropriated for the purpose might
be made by The Department Of War. nm
der direction Of The President. Where in
corporate companies are Already formed
or lie road or canal commenced under
HE superipfeDdence OF a slate, il pcrhaps
would be adviseableto direct snbscrin-
ton on the part OF The United States. on
such terms aud conditions IS n,ight lies
thought proper In other eases, and
where HE army cauno be made 10 exc
cute IT, lie work onghi 10 be done by CON
tract, under the superintendent and IN
spee'ion OF officers of The engineer corps.
tn be- detailed for that purpose. Ills illus
The government will be able, it is thought.
10 construct on terms at least as iay0ra-
bic as corporate companies. The sysies)
OF constructing all public works, wliicl,
admit OF II, by contract, would be attend
| ed with beneficial effects. TIE principal
works al Mobile and New Orleans lave
hccnconifacIed for on terms considera-
bly, usder tue estimates Of The engineers.
sue system, extended 10 military roads
and canals, combined with careful in
speciIon and supcriniendence by skillJ
engineers, will enable lie government TO
complete them with economy, durability.
! aud despatch.
IN the view which has beeu taken. I
have thought IL improper, uadcF tile res
'oluiIon Of the House, 10 discuss the CON
sliluiiOnal question, or hoe far the sys-
| ten Oi internal improvements which has
| been presented may bc cafried into eficef
! on The principle of our government and
| therefore, Tie whole Of Tie arguments
| which are used, and The measures prooos.
ed, must he considered as dependiIg On
the decision OF that question.
The only miIiiarg roads which have 2
| been commenced, are fron Plali3burg To
| Sackojfs Harbor, through The Chateau
| gay couDiTy from the southern bOunda-
~ OF The state Of Tennessee, and crossing
! The Tennessee river near the Muscle
| SholS, TO MadisoiyiIIe, Louisiana; ard
from Detroit 10 Fl. Meigs, al the foot OF
| the Rapids Of The SiiaDi Of The Lakes.
- Documents MAJ ked a, B, G., show HE
| progress which have been made. These
roads have bcru commenced, and ;Iiiss
far completed Us The laboroitlie soldiers.
| who, While thcy are so employ ed, receive
Eileen cpntcper ttay Will, an evgfr yif,.,.