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

.h'ssag, qte presLleginf lte Unfipi ss.,,, 10 Can,
gess "Po" the Subject Of lie Eortiacdiions on Dqsl.
ipti1s ISii',i dai 1iabie Point.
10 he Senate aaJ House of Rrpresen,ut;vcs of ,Ia
United States
Gon5ress having suspended Tie npnrnnria,;on =,
,he i'si srNSion for the ratification y, Dnrphi,e Ia
I'n'' - ',n equence Of doubt which was euter-
FAMED oi the propreiy of that po.ition tho ia,
Pc e 'ion of the work was suspended and an n, de
gwen, rs ini!mated in the message Of the Sd of Dec to
the bard of Engineers and Naval Co,nm;. ;onoS
~ r"'mie mat paif OF the coast, and particularly
'h.u position, as also The position nj Mobile Point
VIZ, """" Is connected. and TO iepstt tleir opni-
on III reon which has been done and ,y,cL rn,o,
IS herewith communicated
pf inns report, happeas TO lie still the opiuion of
.he o"'i', th"' me construction of works at both
'Se positions IS oil great mpo tance 10 the defence
of ,Ncw oIIcas and of all that portion Of our Onion
winch IS connected with, and dependant an the M;s
s,ssppi, ana on The other waters which emmy milo
we We u,b' OF DleXco, between that river and Cane
p'd'' That the subject may he fully before Cnn
efe*s, transmit, also, copy Of the former ,eno If
me b"'r heins Thai OH which the work was under
tdHen' ana h's nen IN part, executed. Approyino
u,' u,e opinion ol the Board, consider it my
t''y I" state the reasons which adopt ed the first
report especially rs they in p,rt SUGGESTED hv
Tie occurrences OftIe late war
the policy which induced CONGRESS tn ,Icc;,la ~,
anu provide tor the defence of the coast n,ue,l;,to
~ ailer the war, was founded on the m rk 4 eyon,s
OF ihal interesting epoch. The vast body of men
m.i'h " was FOUND necessary 10 call in o tie field
'hfpuah The whole extent of our martia,e Gonter
and Ihe numler who persisted hy exposrc viii, ,,e
ihme Sc expenditure ot money and waste of proner
", winch followed, were to he traced in an eminent
ocEree TO The delenceess condition of Tie coast II
was 10 mitigate these eVils, in future wars and even
'tI Lie higher purpose OF preventing war Itself thai
e decision was formed, make the coast so FAR nc
u m'snC "e practicable, Impregmabe !; and that The
measures necessary TO that great ohiect have bcen
pursued with so much zeal since.
i''s KNOWN mat no part Of our Union is more ex-
SEQ 10 lnyaslon by iho numerous avenues leading
u IT, or more def ncelcss by tho ibinness of he ne;gh
nor'nS population or offers greater tenu,tion in
Vason, Gather as permanent acqu isition or rs a
pr'ze TO The cupdiiy Of grasping invaders, from the
ihWehSe amount on produce deposited there Than
the cry of New Orleans. IL is Known. also ,3,, ,hs
seizure ut no part OF our Union could fFcct co deen
" ana vitality the immediate interests Of en- NAVY
states, ana OF SO many OF our fellow citizens, com.
Pf,znS ai tbat extensive territory and numerous no
p"iaiion which are connected vith, and ,Jependppt
Oh 'he MISSISSIPPI rs the seizure Of thai civ STRONG
WoIks, wen posted, were therefore deemed absolute.
~ necessary Tor IFS protection.
Ii rs not, however, by the MssissipDi only mr. the
~'lcrS which communicate directly with or ipproarL
ne "est to New Orleans, that ihe Town is assainbic
II WI be recolecied that in the late war tIr nI;c
snIciiudc was excited not 50 much l,v ,be dance,
winch mtnacedit, Ia ID directions rs ,y the AN.
pruurps'on ihaf, while ieiut might bc n,nde there
e"S nn loIoe landing either IN The bay of Mobile or
eiher waters Letwecn that bay add the Rioolc,s
Wo"id nc tlTOwD above the town in The rear a. the
ANN winch bad been collected there for It's defence
Rb" cGnn lrhee was entertained iat that gallant ar
my, Ied by the gallant aud able chief who comn,au
eu would repei any Sulck to which IL mi, n lie
exposed ~ front ButtNl such force hecn ,5eo,
ahove The io~n, apd position taken on fbe bank n
we tiYer TIE dsidvnntage TO which our toops would
awe oech SUBJECTED, attacked in trout and rear as
uieY mig have been, MY easily br conceived A.
t'rir s'd Plies would have been cut of, they could
MOI lsn2 blve remained in the CITY and yid,ir,vins
ifVw II, II must have fallen imne,lintely INFO the
hah'ls oi The force below. iu ascending die riysr
." aliAck TIE force above, the attack mis-. have been
mace 10 great disadvantage since il inusl have Lee
o sneh 2TUu1d and ~ such tine rs the enemy pre
bIred these considerations show, that tcCences
o'n'r ihhn sueb rs aie Immediately connece led win
t"r cIh' irc oi great Importance to lis salety
y" IiteHpi 10 seize New OrcaHs aud The lower
Phr " hc Mississippi will be made onIy by great
p'"eT' OF continuation Of sCSeral powers with a
i0h2 aH'a asd and force, the lntter Of which n,us
20 h'"uIhtSh transports which may sail in sb,llo,y
"htr. ~ TIC Jritncrs around New Orleans are
%eI po-ed and Of sufficient strength 10 repe anv A.
Hi"k "hch may be made them, tho clty ran le
asN"'ed 0dy ny Lad force, which mast pas In the
a'fccii0n above suggested between the Hirolrts aud
81 by ~ Mobile. Ifbecomes, therefore ap chico,
"' h.gh nnp"rfance Ia present surh Az obstacle to
S"Fn NJ aiiempt, US would defeat H. should IL be
m'de. f"ruhcaiiOns are useful fof the defence oC
P'SS 10 prevent tue approach cities and the mas
sag OF rivers; but Us wnfks, their effect cannot he
ieit hryond 'he reach of their Gamma They are
Fdiia 10 ~ Other respects, y the body Of Mon
"ihin q ca, which uay be removed and applied TO
Oiher p.G poscs
Briwe|a IN Reolcts -. 81 tho Bay Of Mobile hero
'sF e'iua OF ;pls1dS, tie e3escn,,s Of mtah Is