Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-15

litary frontier of at least four or five
thousand miles, depending for its de-
fence at all times not upon standing ar
mics. but upon the militia, the citizen
soldiers, dispersed throughout every
portion of the Nation, the best and most
efficient " cans of attack or defence
will always be found in the facilities
offered by good roads and canals, for
the rapid concentration, and rapid
movement of the ply steal forces wher-
ever their presence may be required,
whether to repel invasion from abroad,
or quell Instructions at home.
Nothing can so ehectually deter the
spiri. of foreign aggression, or nip do
mestic treason in the bud, as the ex-
istence every where. of those facilities by
which the whole force Of the country
can be at once concentrated and preci-
pitated upon it, crushing it in embryo,
before it can mature its plans or execute
its designs. II proof were wanting To
illustrate the advantages OF roads and
canals in time of war, the committee
would refer 10 the waste OF blood and
the waste of treasure during the late
contest produced by the want of these
facilities-flour in many instances ON
the Northern frontier, costing 500 per
barrel, and ST. 900 for the uansporta-
ton of single piece of cannon, which
on account of The delay were useless,
the eLemy having accomplished his OBJ
Top4s baf than hoI orr vol of tho Ma
ces where they were required for the
public service. But the Committee cam
not better express their views on this
branch of the subject, than by adopting
the language of the late Secretary of
War, now Vice. Pre- sident of the United
States, who, in bis very able report to
Congress in 1919, on the importance of
roads and canals, in a military point of
view, says:
"a iudicious system of roads and canals, con-
structed for the convenience of commerce, and
the transportation If the mail only, without any
reference to military operations is itself among
the most efficient nears for the more COM
plete defence Of the United States Without
adverting to the fact, that the roads and canals,
which such a system would require. are, with
few exceptions. precisely those which would
be required for the operations of war-such a
system, by consolidating our Union, increasing
our wealth and fiscal capacity, would add great
ly to our sources IN war. X IS IN state of
| war. when nauon IS compelled 10 put all Of
its resources in men, money, skill and devotion
to country, into reqnisition, that its government
ealzes, in iis security. the beneficial effects
from people made prosperous and harry by
, a wise direction ot IT'S resources IN peace. But
forbear to pursue this subject. though SO in
teresting, and uhich. the farther it Is pursued,
will the more clearly establish the intimate
connection between the defence and safety Of
the country and its Improvement and prospect.
ty, as do not conceive thai it constitutes the
immediate object of this report.
"1heTe is no country to which good system
Of military roads and canals IS more Irdlspensa-
Bile to the United States AS great our mill
ia y cap city is, when Compared with the num-
Der of our people, yet when considered in re-
lation TO the vast extent OF our country, il is
very small and if so great an extent OF terrfory
renders it very difficult TO conquer lis, as has
frequently been observed, it ought not to be-
forgotten, that it renders it no less difficult for
the government 10 afford protection to every
portion of the community"
After presenting general system of roads
and canals, including the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal now under consideration, he concludes
by saying:
/ "Many of the roads and canals which have
been suggested, ATE. no doubt, Of the first I'M
. portanCe TO he commerce, The manufacture,
tire agriculture, and political prosperity Of the
country, but not, for that reason, less use
ful or necessary for military purposes 1t is, in
fact, one Of the great advantages OF our coun.
try, e.1joying so many others. thai, whether we
repard its internal improvements in relation To-
military, civil, or political purposes, very near
" the SAM, system, in all its parts, is required
The road OF, canal can scarcely be designated,
which is highly useful tor military operations.
which is not equally required for the industry
or political proc, 7erity Of The conn unity. II
these roads or can ais had been pointed out,
which are necessary for military purposes only, 2
the list would haye bean small, indeed have
therefore rresen ed al, wnhou, regarding the
fact, that they might be employed tor oler
uses, which. in The event OF war, wculd be
necessary to give economy. certainty, and sue
cess, TO our military operations, and Which It
they had been completed before the late war,
would, by their saving IN thai Sit gle contest, IA
men, money and reputation, have more than IN.
demnihe d The try Lr tie expense OF ther
construction"
lis advantages to the Seal of G0ter't~
meM.-The effect of constructing tie
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal could not
fail to raise the City Of Washington TO
the first rank an ong the commercial ci-
ties Of the Unior. With all the tacii-
ties for importation. it would stand se-
veral hundred mites in advance of ell thes
Atlantic cities, in reference 10 the COM