Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-05

however, some uiuereEces between the works which
are "eenicu necessary la the Gulf, aud those in other
parts oi our Union, founded on the peculiar situation
oi that part i the coast The exirn, OF the Mis-
siss'ppi, the great outlet AMI channel OF commerce.
Tor so many states, ai Of which may Le affected by
'"" sez"rc of that cay, or of any part of the river,
10 great extent above IL, one Of those striking
pecsnariuss which require particular pro, sion The
.'ness OF me population near the city making it
cessy that The lorce requisite tor is defence should
he called trom distant parts and states, is another
4 ne danger which the army assembled at New Or
'eahs would DC exposedt 10, Of bcag out in case
the enemy should throw a force on the river above
II, from the difficulty Of ASCENDING the river 10 attack
1t, and ct making retreat in any nther direction, is II
ihiri For an attack the city of New Orleans
.hoohe pay, or any part Of the Intermediate coast
sh'is oi war wend be necessary only as CONVOY 10
protect the transports against a naval force in their
pn sse, aud on t!hr approach TO the Shore for the
''ns oi Inc men, and on their return home, case
they should he repulset.
On the important subject of our defcnces general
W think proper To observe, that the system was
accepted immediately alter the late war; ly Congress
on great consideration and thorough knowledge of
TIE effects OF that war--hy the enormous expense
attending thy the waste of life, of property, aud
by the general distress OF the country The amoun,
OF uebt incurred IN that war, and due nj it's concu-
SION, Without taking INTO the estimate oiher losses
having been heretofore coma unicated need not nuw
ne repeated. The interest OF the debt thus ncuri ID
70 TOUT uhies more tnin the sum necessary, 10y
al appropriations, for the completion of our whole
system OF defence, land and naval, TO the extent
provided tor, and within the ;ime specified. When
mai 81 s'eni shan be completed, the expeuse scon-
shuc,on Will cease, and our expenditures will be pro-
Poruohaiy diminished Should another war occur
before II rs completed, the experience of the last
marks IA characters too strong 10 be mistaken, its
inevitable consequences aud should such war occur
ana Ind ms urpreparCJ icr II, what will be our iusi-
nca''nn To The cnehten body whom we renre sent,
ior MOI having completed ihese detences? That this
system Should no; have been adopted before the late
war cannot ha a Cause o surprise To any one, be-
cause all might wish 20 avoid every expense the me-
cess''y o. which might he, IN any degree doubtful
o"', with thc experience Of that l,.ore u.s. il is
uionsht there ~ no cause for hesitation. Will the
completion OF these works, and the augmentation of
our navy, 10 the point contemplated by law, require
Tie imposition of onerous burens on our leiIow-c.
-v'S, sucn as they cannot or will not bear Have
such or any burthens been imposed to advance The
system 10 ITS presen, state I, known ,a, no bur-
thens whatever have been imposed ON The contrary
That all the direct or internal taxes have been long
repeated and none paid but those which are Indirect
anu Voluntary, such rs imposed on arucle i.-
ported from foreign countries most orwbich are IN.
uries, and on the vessels employed in The transpo,-
':"o" taAeS winch some OF our most enlightened
ciuzens think ought to he imposed on many of the
"rtces Tor the encouragement of oui manufactures,
even u the revenue derived from them could he dis
pehstd with IL is known, also. thar IN al other res
pec's' our c"hcon, as nation, is in tie highest de-
gree, prosperous a'd houristing, nearly half the debt
incurred IN the laie war having already been dis
Charged and considerable progress having also been
mide IN the completion ofIhis system or defence and
in The construction of other works oil great exirb and
anu from the sale of the public lands. NAV add
also That very generous provision has hecn made
from the same Sources for the surviving off. crs and
soldiers OF our revolutionary army. The>esimporian,
idrs show that this system has been 80 Ear executed
aud may he completed, without any real inconveni,
ence TO the public. Were il, however otherwise
nave i"'i confidence that any burthens, which might
be found necessary for the completion of this system,
IN both ats branches, within the term concentrated
or much sooner, should any emergency require IT,
would he called for, rather Than complained Of by
our fellow citizens
From these views. applicable to the very important
subject OF our .eiences generally, as well az to the
woik M Daupiine Island, think i; my ,luiv TO re-
comments To Congress AN appropriation for the later
considered The Withholding the last session as
the expression only nt doubt, lay Congress of the
pIopTiey oil the position. and not as "a Iefnye op-
Mon Supposing that that question would he decided
AT the p. asent session, caused the position and such
parts OF the coast particularly connected wisn
u, tn be examined, thai all Ihe light on which the
decision, as TO che appropriation, could depend mig hi
be fully before you
In The FIRST survey, the report of which was that on
which the works intended for the defence of New
Orleans, the Mississippi, the Bay of Mobile and al,
The country dependant those waters were sane
tionedb 10y The Executive, the Commissioners were
industriousiy engaged about six months | should
have communicate ed that very able and interestins
document them but from u doubt how far the inter-
est OF our country would justify its public alton cir
cnmstance which now mention, that The attention
Of Congress may be drawn TO il.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, March &c, 1922