Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-12-27
negotiation long accordingly
r Frontier would be endangered, took i'm.


stationed at the b uffs, he successfully
attacked the Rlcarec village, and Il is
hoped that such an impression has Deen
made on them, as well as on the otner
tribes on the Missouri, as will prevent
a recurrence oil future hostility.
The report OF the Secretary oil War,
which is herewith transmitted, viii ex-
hibi', in greater detail, the CONDITION OF
the Department IN lis various branches,
and the progress winch has been made
in its administration, curing the .hree
first quarters of the year.
| transmit return OF the militia oil the
several states, according TO The las re-
ports which have been made by the pro-
per officers in each, to the Depai imept
OF War. BY reference to tins ieturn, 1t
will be seen that ii is not complete, al
though great eXerlions have been made
TO make II SO. As the defence, and even
the liberties, OF the country mus depend,
IN times OF imminent danger, on tht mi
lItla, II is OF the highest ,mpor ance, that
1t be we'll organized, armed, and dls1i-
pin d, throughout the Union. The re-
pN'' ~ VIZ oSti N'alt VI w al VIC
progress made during the three first
quarters OF the present year, by The APP
! plicalon OF the iund appropriated TOR
arming the militia Much Difficulty IS
tound in is'libuiing the arms according
TO the act OF Congress providing to- it,
from the failure OF the proper deport-
| menls in many oil the stai S, 10 make re-
q Y r,4t ~ II Il Nj
| one thous nd clgh, hundred and tweiay,
| provides that the system Of aolios add
| regulations ot the various corps III he
regular army, shall be extended 10 The
militia. This act has been very imper-
iectly executed, from tbe want OF uai-
iormiiy IN the organization OF the militia,
proceeding from the detecls Of the sys-
ten Itself, and especial, IN is appica-
ton TO that main arm oil the pubic de-
fence. Ii is thought thai this III lor,ant
subject, in all its branches, nier!l. the
attention Of Congress.
The report ofthe Secretary of Tbs Ma.
w, which is now commu.. icated, tur-
nishes an account of the admiuisra ion
loi that Department, for the three FIRST
quarters OF the present year, with the
progress made IN augmentng HE navy,
aud the manner IN which the vessels ~
commission have been employ ed.
The usual force has been maintain
ed IN the Mediterranean Sea, the Pa
cltic Ocean, and along the Atlantic
Coast, and has afforded uhe uecessary
protection to our commerce -iu those
seas.
In the Yves ladies and the Gulf of
Mexico, our naval force has been aug
mented, by the addition of several small
vessels, provided for by The I" act authori-
zlng an additional naval force for the
suppression OF piracy" passed by Con-
srcss at their las, session. That arma-
menl has been emnentty successful in
The accomplishment oil lis object, Ibc
piracles, by which Our commerce N The
neighborhood OF the Island OF Cuba had
been all cted, have been repressed, and
the confidence OF our merchants, in q
great measure, restored.
The palriptlc zeal and enterprise Of
Commodore Porter, To whom the com
nand al The expedition was confiitd, has
been toiiy So conded by the Utfit ers and
men under his command. AID, in te-
ttecthe. with high satisfaction, on the no.
horabie manner IN " hit b they have sus-
aimed the reputation OF their country, aed
is navy, the sentiment is alloyed Only by
a concern, that, in the ullilment OF That
arduous service, the disease incident to
ne season, and to the Climate in which il
was discharged, has deprived the nation
oi many useful lives, and among them of
several officers OF grea, promise.
In The month Of August, a very ma
llsnant fever made its appearance at
i'hompson's Island, which threatened
the destruction Of our station there. Ma
ny persisted, and the commanding officer
was severely attacked. Uncertain as 10
his late, and knowing tha, mos, OF the
medical officers bad been rendered in-
capable OF discharging their duties, it
was thought expedient TO send to that
post an officer of rank and experience,
with several skiliul surgeons, to ascer-
tain .he origin OF the fever, and the pro-
babllly oil its recurrence there in iuiure
seasons ; to furnish every assistance TO
those who were suffering, and, il practi-.
cable, TO avoid the necessity of abandon
ing 50 important station. Commodore
Rodgers, with promptilude which did
him honor, cheertully accepted that trust,
and has discharged it in the manner an
,ticipaled from his skill and patriotism.
Before his arrival, Commodore Porter.