The Wilmingtonian., 1823-12-04

1.-The country must depend, IN uIhes ol ln'
mincnt danger, on the militia, it is OF the
highest Importance, that it be we'll organ
ised, armed, and disciplined. throughout
the Union. The report OF the Secretary
of War shcws the progress made during
the three first quarters OF the present year
by the application of the fund apProppr'att-
ed for arming the militia. Much ditiieui-
ty is found in distributing the arms ac-
cording to the act of Congress provided
for it, from the failure of the proper de-
partments in many of the states, to make
regular returns. The act of May the 18TH
one thousand eight hundred and twenty,
provides that the system of tactics and re-
gulations of the various corps in the regu-
liar army, shall be extended to the militia
This act has been very inperfectly execu-
ted, from the want of uniformity in the Or
ganization of the militia. proceeding from
the defects of the system itself, and espe-
Icially in its application to that man arm
|of the public defence. 1t is thought that
: this important subject in all its branches,
merits the attention of Congress.
! The report Of the Secretary OF the Navy
which is now communicated, furnishes an
account of the administration of that de-
partment, for the three first quarters ol
the present year, with the progress made
IN augmenting the navy, and the manner
in which the vessels in commission have
been employed.
Il The usual force has been maintained mi
the Mediterranean Sea. Pacific Ocean,
and along the Atlantic Coast, and has al
forded the necessary protection to Out
commerce in those seas.
! In the West Indies and the Gull OF
Mexico, our naval force has been augmen-
ted, by the addition of several small ves-
sells, provided for by the "act authorizing
an additional naval force for the suppress
sion of piracy" passed by Congress at
their last session. That armament has
been eminentIy successful in the the ac-
accomplishment of its object The piracles
10y which our commerce in the neighbour
hood of the Island af Cuba had been at
|fcted, have been repressed, and the con-
fdcncc of our merchants, in great mea-
sure restored.
4 The patriotic zeal and enterprise OF
Commodore Porter, to whom the command
,lof the expedition was contided, has been
fully seconded by the officers and men,
under his command. And, in rejecting
with high satisfaction, ON the honorable
!manRer in which they have sustained the
reputation Of their country and its navy
: the sentiment is alloyed only by concern,
: that, in the fulfiment of that arduous SER
vice, the diseases incident to the season,
and the climate in which it was discharg-
ed. have deprived the nation of many use,
full lives, and among them Of several ofti-
: GERS of great promise.
u In the month of August, very malig-
uant fever made its appearance at Thomp
-son's Island, which threatened the des-
I truction Of our station there. Many per.
!, |ished, and the commanding officer was Sc
S verely attacked. Uncertain as to his fate
and knowing that most of the medical ofii
a GERS had been rendered incapable Of dis
i charging their duties, it was thought ex
yIpedient to send to that post an officer o.
rank and experience, with several skllfu
,fsurgeons to ascertain the origin of the fe.
: yer, and the probability of its recurrence
C There in future seasons; to furnish every
j. assistance to those who were suffering
land if practicable to avoid the necessity
v of abandoning SO important a station
ir commodore Rodgers. with promptitud'
: which did him honor, cheerfully accepted
that trust, and has discharged it in tn
IS manner anticipated from his skill and pa
,e triotism. Before his arrival, Commodore
,e Porter with the greater part of the squad
IS ron, had removed from the Island, and re
turned to the United States, in conse
d quence of the prevailing sickness. Mucl
S useful information has however been OBJ
n tanned, as to the state of the Island, an,
! great relief afforded to those who had beel
e, necessarily left there.
= Although our expedition, cO-operatin,
,e with an invigorated administration OF tn
a. government of the island of Cuba, AM
,e with the corresponding active exertions o
,e a British naval force in the same seas
have almost entirely destroyed the unli
a. |censed piracies from that Island, the sue
70 cess of our exertions has not been equal
re |eifectual to suppress the same crime, IN
" der other pretences and colors, in tn
t. .|neighbouring island of Porto Rico. The
n-| have been committed there under the abu
ID |sive issue Of Spanish commissions. A
ID an early period Of the present year. re
,e monstrances were made to the gOverno
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