Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-14


and 1928. There is scarcely doubt, that the
remaining sixteen millions. might, within lev
months, be discharged by loan at not ex
ceeding five per cent. redeem&oie IN the years
1899 and 1880. BY this operation, sum Oh
nearly halfa million of dollars may be saved 10
the na,ieu: and the discharge OF the whole
tlUrty-on: millions within the four years, may
be greatly facilitated, il not wholly accomplish
ed
BY an act Of Congress Of Cd March, 1925,
! a loan. for the purpose nov referred to, or a
Subscription to stock, was authorized at an in
terest not exceeding four and half per cent
But, at that time, so large aportlon OF the tioat
ing capital Of the country was absorbed IN com.
merc,al sPecalatioas, and SO little was left tor
investment in the stocks, that the measure was
but partially successful. At the last Session OF
Congress, the condition OF the funds was
still unpropitious TO the measure; but the change
50 soon afterwards occurred, that, had the au-
I thority ex sted 10 redeem the nine millions now
| redeemabe by an exchange of stocks, or a
loan at five per cent IL is morally Certain that 1t
might have been effected, and with Il a yearly
saving of ninety thousand dellsrs.
With regard to the collection of Revenue OF
Tmpost, certain occurrences have, within the
! last year, been disclosed in one or two OF our
| principal nnrts. which engaged the attention OF
| Congress al their last Session, and may hereaf
ter require further consideration. Until within
| a very few years, the execution OF the laws for
raising the revenue, like that of all our other
laws, has been ensured more by the moral sense
1 of the community. than by the rIgors of jeai-
| Gus precs9tion, or by fensl sanctions Conf
ding in the exemplary Punc.usllty and unsuh.
ed integrity Of our importing merchants = grad.
! eal rels < alton from the provisions of The Col.
lection Laws, close adherence to which would
have caused Inconvenience aud expense to
them; had long become habtual, and induI
gences had been extended universally, because
they had never been abused. II may be Yor.
thy of your serious consideration, whether
some further Legislative proyTIon may not be
necessary to come in aid Of this state of ungusr
ded security.
From the. reports here with communicated
of the Secretary of War and Of the Navy, with
the subsidiary documents annexed 10 them
viii be discovered the present condition and
administration OF our Military establishment on
the land and IN the sea. The organization Of
the Army having undergone no change since
ITS reduction to the present Peace Establishment
in 1921, it remains only to observe, that it is
yet found adequate to all the purposes for which
a permanent armed force in time of peace can
be needed or useful. IL may be proper to add,
that, from difference Of opinion between the
late President Of the United States and the Sc
nate, with regard TO the construction of the act
of Congress of ID March, 1891, 10 reduce and
fix the Military Peace Establishment Of the Uni.
ted States, it remains hitherto so far without
execu ION, that no Col has been appointed to
command one of the Regiments of Artillery. 4
supplementary, or explanatory act OF the lie.
gislature, appears to be the only expedient
practi able for removing the difficulty OF this
appointment.
In period of profound peace. the conduct
of the mere IA litary establishment forms but a.
very inconslderabie portion of the duties de
volving upon the administration OF the Depart.
ment of War. 1t viii be seen by the returns
from the subordinate department of the Army,
that every branch Of the service is marked With
order, regularity and discipline. That from
the Commanding General through all the grada
tons of supenhtendence, the officers feel them
selves to have been citizens before they were
soldiers, and that the glory of Republican
Army must consist in the spirit OF freedom by
which it is animated, and OF patriotisP by
which it is impelled. 1t may be confidently
stated that the moral character of the Army is
in state of continual improvement, and that
all the arrangements for the disposal OF its
parts have a constant reference to that end.
But to the War Department are attributed
other duties, having indeed relation to future
possible condition OF war, but being purely de-
fensive. and in their tendency contributing ra-
Their to the security and permanency of peace.
The erection of the fortIfication provided for
by Congress and adapted to secure shores from
hostile INVASION; The distribution Of the fund
of public gratitude and justice TO the pensioners
of The Revolutionary War; The maintenance OF
our relations of peace and of protection with
the Indian Tribes; And the internal improve.
menis and surveys for the location OF Roads
and Canals, which during the last three ses-
slons of Congress have engaged so much OF
their attention, and may engrosS so large a
share of their future benefsctions to our coun-
try.
BY the get of the SOth Of April, 1929, sug-
gested and approved by my predecessor the
sum of thirty thousand dollars was sppropria.
ted for the purpose OF causing 10 be made the
necessary surveys, plans, and estimates, ofthe
routes Of such roads and canals as the Presi-
dent of the United States might deem OF ma.
tional Importance, in commercial or military
point of view, or necessary for the Transports
ton of the public maih-the surveys, plans, and
estimates, fer each. when completed, TO be
laid be fore Congress.
In execution OF this act, board Of Engineers
was Immediately instituted and have been since
most asslduously and constantly occupied, in
carrying it into effect. The first object to which
their shors were directed, by order of the late
President, was the examination OF the country
between the tide waters of the Potomac, the
Ohio, and Lake Erie, to ascertain the pracu-
cability of accommodation between them, to
designate the most suitable route for the same,
and to form plans and estimates in detail of the
expense of execution.
On the Cd OF February, 1925, they made