The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-11

and on the sra. lie organization OF the ArmJ
having undergone no change since ITS reduction
to TIC present Peace EsidJiIs lluent II ISL II %
nuns oaly 10 observe, that Il Is yet found AIDE
qudle tc all the purposes for whcha peimanef
armed force in time OF peace c.li be needed. OF
useful. II may be proper to add, thai, itoan 4
difference OF opinion between the late Ptesidctl
Of the Iuited states aud the Senate, with regatl
to the Consideration OF the act VI Congress % Z
March, 1871 To reduce aud fix the Military Peace
Establishment of tine United states, Il rcintiu'
hitherto 81 Tar Without execution. that no CoIone
has been appOiaied 10 Command que u the lie
glmrnts Of Artillery \ supplementary o. cK
plan tory act Of TIE Legislature Appeals to b,
he only cxpedient praclcaD.e, tor removing III,
difficulty oI this appontnicnt.
In period Of profound peace, the conduct Of
the mere military establishment forms but u yer,
incJnslderable portion OF the dute, des0lvIng up
on the administrator OF the Depat tncnt of Var
II viii be seen BY The return, from the suboTdin
ate departments Of the Army that eFcry branch
Of the service Is marked with order, regularity
aIId discipline. IHdt from the Commanding
heaeral through all the gridatlonS OF supcrineh
dcnce, the officers feel themselves 10 have been
citizens before they were soldiers, and that the
glory Of a Republican ARMY mast consist in the
splfI OF of freedom By which ii Is animated, and
oipatrlotIsm by which il is lnpelled. II may bt
confidently stated, that the moral character OF
the Army Is IN a continued state of improve
mcpt, aud that all the arrangements for the dis
posal OF Its parts have constant reference 10
thai end
But 10 the War Department are attributed o.
ther duties, having Indeed relation to future
possible condition OF war, but being purely de-
am IN MI RI.
ther to the security and permdnency Of peace
The creation ofthc fortfcatio provided for by
Congress, aud adapted to secure our shores from
hostile INVASION: The distribution OF the fund of
public gratitude and justice to the pensioners OF
the Revolutionary war The maintenance oil
our relations of peace and Of protcctlon with the
Indian Tribes: And the internal improvements
and surveys for the location of Roads and Canals,
which puring the last three sessions of Congress
have engaged 50 much of their attention, and
may cngross 50 large a share ofthei future be-
nctactions To our country.
BY the act ofthc Both Of April, 1921, suggested
andapproyed by INV predecessor, the sum thr-
y thousand dollars was appropriated for the
purpose OF causing 10 be made the necessary sur
ycSs, plans and estimates, ofthc routes Of such
roads and canals as the President OF the United
States MIGHT deem OF national importance in
sarg for the transportation OF the public mail
the surveys, plans and estimates, for each when
completed, to be lad before Congress.
In execution of this act, Board of Engineers
was immediately instituted and have been suco
most assiduously and constantly occupied, in
carry NJ il into effect The FIRST object TO which
their labors were directed, by order Of the lati'
President, Mas the examination the county be
tween The tide waters ofthe Potomac, the Ohio,
and Lake Erie, To ascertain the practicabillty Of
4 coumu ication between them 10 designate the
most suitable route for the same, and to form
plans and estimate, in detail of the expense Of
cSecntion
On the 3D. of February, 1926, they made their
hrst report which was Immediately CommunC.t-
ted 10 Congress, < in which they declared that,
Iaviug malurely considered tine circumstances
observed bythem personally, and carefully stu
'eYs as were then completed, they were decided
" OF opinion that the communication was prac.
ticahlr
Al the last session Of Congress, before the
Eoatd of Engineers we're enabled to make up
THEN second report, containing general plan,
md preparatory estimate FOR the work, the ON
mittcc of the House of Representatives upon
Roads Il Canals closed the session with a report,
expressing the hope that the plan and estimate
OF the Board OF Engineers might At this time be
prepared, aud thai the subject be referred - the
Cally aud favorable consideration ot Conal css,
At then Pre- en- session. That expected Report
Of the Board OF Engineers i, prepared, and vii
forthwith 6e laid before you
Uudrr the resolution Of Congress authorizing
the Secretary Of War 10 have prepared a com
pietc system ot Cavalry Tactics OF the United
States, to be reported to Congress at The present
session, a Board of DISTINGUISHED Officers uf the
Army and Of die Miliiil, las been con, .ntd
whose Report viii be submitted 10 YOU, with that
t the Secretary of War The occasion vas
thought favorable Ton consulting the ,amc Boald,
aided by the results ola correspondence win he
Gopetno.s of thu several States and Territories
aud other citizens of intelligence and expert
cace. upon the acknowledge defective condition
of Militia 5, stem, aud upon the improvements
OF winch 1t Is susceptible. The report OF tie
Board upon this subject Is also submittod tor our
consideration
In thr estimate Of appropriations tor the en-
SUM lraf, upwards OF five millions oil dollars
Will be submitted tor the expenditures 10 b, paid
from the Department of War. Less than two
ilths of this willb applicable to the Iaante-
nance aud support Of thu Army. \ million and
hall, in the form ofpen>ions, goes as scarcely
adequate tribute 10 the services aud sacrifices OF
D former agr aud more than equal sum, IN
vested IN Qualifications, or ior the preparations Of
internal improvement, provides Ion the quiet,
the comfort, and the happier existence Of the a
gcs To come. The appropriations 10 indemnify
those unfortunate remnants Of another race, TIL
able alike 10 10 share III the Ulioymcnts. and 10
exist in the presence Of civilization, though swell
ling in recent years TO a magnitude Cumbersome
to the Treasury. are generally not without their
equivalents, in profitable value or Selac 10 dis
charge the Union from engagements more bur
dcnsomc than debt
In ike manner the estimate of appropriations
for the Navy Department Will present an aggfe-
gate sum of upwards ofthree millions Of dollars
About one half fthcse, however, cover tie cur
rent expenditures Of the Navy in actual service,
and one hall constitutes fund of national pro-
perry, the pledge ofour future glory and defence.
II was scarcely ON short wear aitur the close of
the late wal, and when the burden of II, eXpen-
st, and charges was weighing heaviest upon the
country that Congress, by the act of the 18th
April, 1916, appropriated one million OF dollars
annually, tor eight cars, to the grdipdt increase
81 the Nary At a subsequent PERIOD thus annu.
nj appropriation WAS reduced 10 halt amiliion for