The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-11-21

folk, Charleston and Niagara, have been III
part repaired; and the coast Of North Caroli-
ma, extending south 10 Cape Fear, has been
examined, as have likewise other parts Of the
coast eastward of Boston. Great exsrtioas
have been made TO push forward these works
with the utmost dispatch possible bu, when
their extent is considered, with the important
purposes for which they are Intended, The de.
fence OF the whole coast, and, in consequence,
OF the whole interior, and that they are 10 last
for ages, IT will be manifest that weiidiges-
ted plan, founded on military principles. con-
Meeting the whole together, combining security
with economy, could not be prepared without
repeated examinations Of The most exposed
and difficult parts, and HAT it would also take
considerable time TO collect the materials at
the several points where they would be requir
ed. From all the light that has been shed
on this subject, am satisfied that every favour
able anticipation which has been formed OF
this great undertaking, will be verified, and
that, when completed, il will afford very
great, if not complete, protection 10 our Allan
protection sufficient 10 counterbslance, in a
single campaign, with an enemy powerful al
sea the exrence cfall these works. without Ia
king into the estimate the saving of the lives Of
SO many of our citizens, the protection Of our
towns and other property, or the tendency Of
such works TO prevent war
Ourmilary positions have been maintained
at Belle Point, on the Arkansas, al Council
Bluff, on the Missouri, a, St. Peters on The
Mississippi, and at Green Bay, on The Upper
Lakes Commodious barracks have already
been erected at most Of these posts, with such
works as were necessary for their defence. -
Progress has also been made in opening con-.
muncalons between them, and in raising
supplies at each for the support OF the troops.
by their own labor---particularly those most
remote.
With The Indians. peace has been preserved.
and progress made IN carrying into effect
The aci Of Congress, stalking an appropriation
for their civilization, with the prospect OF "a
soIable results. As Connected equally with
both these objects. our trade with those tribes
is thought to merit the aIlenlion Of Congress.
In their original stale, game IS their susie
nance, and war their occupation; aud, if they
find NO employment from civilized powers.
they destroy each other. Lei, to themselves, I
their extirpstion is inevitable. BY iudiciyus
regulation OF our trade with them, we supply !
their wants, administer 10 their comforts. aud
gradually, as The game retires draw tl3m to
US. BY maintaining posts far in the interior. !
we acquire more thorough aud direct con
trout over them; without which il is confident. |
~ believed tina, complete change in their |
manners cas never be accomplished By
such posts, aided by proper regulation OF
our trade with them, and judicious civil ad |
minisiration over thsm, 10 be provided for b, |
law. we shall, il is presumed, be enabled not /
only 10 protect our own settlements from then |
savage incursions, and preserve peace among
the several tribes, but accomplish also thu
grea, purpose oil their civilization.
Considerable progress has also been made |
in the construction OF ships OF war, some OF
which have been launched in The course OF the
pfesen, year.
Our peace with the powers on the coast oil
Barbafy has been preserved, but we owe
altogether TO the presence Of cur squadron II
the Mediterranean |, has been found equally |
necessary 10 employ some Of oar .esse,s fosI
the protection OF oar commerce IN the lacial
sea, the Pacific, aud along the Atlantic coast
The interests which we have depending ~
those quarters, which have been much improy-
ed Of late, are fgreat extent, and OF high i'm
porlance 10 the nation, as well as 10 iAe parties
concerned, and would undoubtedly suffer. if
such projection was not extended TO them. In
the execution OF the law Of The last session, for
The suppression Of The Slase Trade, some OF
our public ships have also been employed on
the coast OF Africa where several captures have
already bean made Of vessels engaged in that
dsgracefui traffic.
-. JAMES MONROE.
washington, Nov. IA, 1920.