Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-21

the progress that is making in the construction OF
said road, and the cost and manner of its execu-
ton; and which has not heretofore been communi-
Gated to this House"
On motto. of Mr.. dayton it was
Resogeed, That the Committee ON the Judicial
~ be instructed to inquire into the expediency OF
50 amending the Judiciary System of the United
States, as that the benefits resulting from il be
equally extended TO al the States in the Union.
Mr.. Buchanan, agreesbly to promise, called up
the resolution submitted by MIR. Bartlett, of New
Hampshire, in April last, and yesterday modified
Sha amended. which, after some debate, was adopt
ed in the following form:
Resolved, That the committee of the whole
House, be discharged from the further considers
ton of the bill to authorize the settlement and
payment of the State of Massachusetts, for certain
services rendered during the late war; that the
same, with the claim of Massachusetts for military
services, be referred to the Secretary of War; and
that he be instructed to report to this House what
classes and what amount of said claim may be al
lowed and paid Upon the principle and rules which
have been applied to the adjustment OF claims OF
the other States, for military services during the
late uar; and to which the assumed authority of
the Governor of that State, to control the militia,
and to Judge of the necessity Of ordering them into
service, does not apply; and also, if any parts of
said claim are disallowed, to state the reasons for
which the same are rejected.
REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF
WAR,
accompanying the Presidents JMessge.
OEPARrMENr OF WAR,
November 18th, 1926.
Sir: submit report on the administration Of
this Department for the current year. The docu-
ments from A TO Fl, communicate information
SO fully, and in detail, upon the measures which
have been pursued in the various branches of the
public service, that shall content myself with
very cursory view Of the most important objects
The document marked A is a report of Major Gen.
Blown on the state of the army. The dispersed
situation of the Infantry of the army in various
garrsons, and frequently so reduced rarely to
exceed captains command & any one place, was
attended with great Inconvenience and irjury 10
the service land their utility bad in many iEsau-
ces been superseded by our rapidly extending set
Elements. II was desirable TO alter this state OF
thinss-to effect it, concentration of the army,
as far practicable, was ordered on the right
bank OF the Mississippi a fewemiles below St.
Louis, at the Cantonment, Jefferson. The sdvan-
tages of this position are obvious. The troops can
be easily transported to the easan or western
frontier, whenever the public exigencies may re-
quire their presence.
In a salubrious and fertile region, their health
will be preserved aud their supplies may be cheap
1y obtained, and delivered with facility But the
leading consideration remains 10 be noiced-the
effect of the movement on the discipline and good
of the army. 1t il admitted b. the mos,
Intelligent, that both these desirable qualities ar
more generally found in large masses of troops
than in small detached commands. Profi,ing by
the presence of officers of superior grade, and
greater professional skill, emulation is excited by
the presence and rivalry of 30 many aspirants for
reputation, and subjected TO the wholesome control
OF the opinion OF an increased number of brother
officers, to whose eye the conduct Of each is ex-
posed, their discipline and morality must be greatly
improved.
Reports from the Quarter Master General, Com
missary General of Subsistence, Pay Master Cen
eral, Surgeon General, Commissary General OF
Purchases, and Ordnance Department b, G., d, Z,
+, and G., disclose all the Information needful to
be communicated the administrator of these
branches Of the public service. add with pleasure
my testimony to the fidelity of all the officers,
superior and inferior, connected with these
among whom not single delinquency has oc-
CURED.
From the report of the Visitors at West Point.
that establishment continues to equal the public
expectation by annually presenting TO its country
a large number OF youths prepared to defend it in
war, or to adorn 1t IN peace. Legislative aid is
still necessary to the improvement, OF this estab-
lishment. Its wants are presented, and an esti-
mate Tor the necessary appropriations furnished by
the Chief Engineer is submitted in the annual esli-
mates Of this Department.
The document Fl. il the Report of the Engineer
Department. The duties performed by both Corps
will at once ascertain that grea efforts have been
made to perform. far practicable, the services
expected Of them. From the present number,
more could not be accomplished; and yet, from the
various calls made upon the Department for re-
it has been utterly mpracticable to
comply with the wishes of many of our citizens;
and such must continue TO be the case without an
increase of the Corps. beg leave to refer you TO
this report, and TO that of the Quarter Master
General, showing the measures which have
been pursued in execution If the special Acts oil
Congress at their last and former Sessions, in re-
laon TO Roads, Harbours, and Canals.
In executing the resolution OF Congress assign
ing to this department the duty Of having prepared
a system of Cavalry Tactics, and a system OF in
structon for Artillery, fo the use of the Cavalry
and Artillery the militia, thought could not
fulfil the wishes OF Congress more effectuay than
by converting Board composed of officers Of the
militia and Of the army whose various experience
united would enable it to digest the best and most
practical system. The occasion was too favorable
TO- be lost, and was, therefore, eagerly seized, of
profitng by this collection Of talent and experience
TO review our present detective Militia System :,
and it possible, by an entirely new organization,
to place it on footing which would realize he ex-
pecstions and wishes of every patriot in relation
to this great of national defence. If there be
any one maxim in our political creed which chal
lenges universal appreciation, it is that we'll Or
ganized militia is the natural depository of our
protection against foreigR invasion, or intestine
violence. This maxim has been consecrated by
the Bill OF Rights of all the States; and yet the
opinion is universal that the present organiza-
ton is both defective aid onerous. Imporsn,