The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-04-02

II the dsbt thus insufTsI. is four lines
more Than the sum eces>a,y BY annual
appropriations for the completion OF OUT
whole system of defence, land ana nasai,
70 tho eytent provided ii, and within the
time specified. When that system s.:an
be completed the expen OF cons,t ue'lon
will cease, and our e. enditures pe plo.
portronaly diminished. Should ano'Ier
war occur before it is compile ted, ting eApe-
rience of the last marks in characters 100
strong to be mistaken, its inevitable conse,
ouences-and should such war occrf ana
find us unprepared for it, what will bs our
justification to the enlightened body whom,
we represent, for not having comprteG,
these defences, That this system shrld
not have been adopted before the late var
cannot be cause of surprize to any oee,
because all might wish to avoid every
pense the necessity o. witch might De y
any degree dou btful. But with the expf
rence of the war before u. it Is though
there is no cause for hesitation. VIII tht
completion of these works and the aug
mentation OF our navy to the point contem :,
plated by law, require the imposition OF
onerous burthens on oar fellow citizens,
such as they cannot or will not bear? Have
such or any such burthens been imposed
to advance he system to its present state
1t is known II at no burthens whatever
have been imposed--on the contrary, that
all the direct or internal taxes have been
long repealed, and none paid but those
which are indirect and voluntary. such as
are imposed on articles importe i from 10
reign countries, most of which are Injuries.
and on the vessels employed in the tram
sportation-taxes which some of our most
enlightened citizens think ought to be i'm
posed on man, OF the articles for the en-
enlargement of our manufactures, even If
the revenue derived from them could be
dispensed with It's known also, that in
all other respects our condition as nation
is, in the highest degree, prosperous and
Furnishing nearly half the debt incurred in
the late war having already been discharg-
ed, and considerable progress having also
been made in the completion of this sys.
tenn of defence, and IN the construction Of
other works of great extent and utility. by
the revenue derived from these sources and
frou. the sale of public lands. may add
also, that very generous provision has
been made fsom the same sources tor the
surviving officers and soldiers OF cur revo-
lutionary army. These important facts
| shew that this system has been so tar exc
cued, and may be completed without any
real inconvenience to the public. We're il.
however otherwise, have full confidence
that any burthens which might be found
necessary for the completion OF this system
in both its branches, within the term con
templated, or much sooner should any g.
Emergency require il would be called for
rather thar complained OF by our fellow
citizens.
From these views, applicable TO the very
! important subject OF our delences general
| ly, as we'll as to The work at Dauphne ISL
think It my duty to recommend to Congress
an appropriation for the latter. consi-
dered the Withholding it at the last session
as the expression only of a doubt, ty Con.
gress, of the propriety of the position. and
not as a de6nitive opinion. Surprising
that that question would be decided at the
present session, caused the position, and
| such parts of the coast as are particularly
connected with it, to be re examined, that
all the light on which the decision. as to
the appropriation, could depend, might 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 Missls-
sippi the Bay Of Mobile, and all the coun-
try dependant on those waters, we're sane
| oned by the Executive. tue Commission
ers were industriously engaged about six
months. should have communicated
that very able and interesting document
then, but from doubt how far the interest
OF our country would justify its publica-
ton, circumstance which now mention,
that the attention of Congress may be
drawn 10 it.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington. March &c.