Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-09
TUESDAY, DECEMBER ., 1928.
REPORTS OF THE SECRETARIES.

Our limits do not permit Us to publish ep'ire
the documents which accompany the message
Of the President. We must content ourselves
with giving such extracts as will suffice 10 put
our readers in possession Of the most material
facts conlainsd in them.
The SECRETARY OF WAN gives the most graf
living account Of The state Of the Army.
The organization aud arrangement OF every
department of the Army, not as relates 10 us
efficiency me rely, but to its admirable systems
of accountability and economy ARE worthy oil all
praise, and reflect the highest credit on my
predecessors, BY whom they have been devised
and pu, into operation.
He mentions that the hostile movements Of
rheIndians-the disturbances on the Northern
fron,ier-and the avowed design Of the British
relative to smuggling goods over the Canada
line, were the reasons for the late movements
in the Army which have been noticed.
The Secretary thus speaks Of the Academy
at West Point.
Tae Military Academy, it is believed, has
conquered all the prejudices which formerly
existed against it, and is scattering the fruits OF
its science, aud communicating, by its exam
pies, the lessons Of industry and order there
taught, not merely TO the rest of the army, but
TO the youths Of our country generally: and the
interchange OF The theoretic science OF this Ma
,ional school with the practical skill and Judg-
ment Of our citizen engineers, which Is now
going on throughout the Uuited States, Will
soou furnish every part Of the country with the
most accomplished professors in every branch
occivil engineering. The report OF the las,
A -, Lab1 Ia Fori ito
and practicle views, and herewith presented,
shows that this institution is still advancing in
usefulness; and | beg leave to recommend to
Sbe fabsFfahss sGGgsfESsst6Gs @hie6 It contains ma
The Indian Bureau is noticed and the wan,
ofsome regular system for its government in
forced The Secretary Informs Us that he has
addressed letters to Governor Cass and Gene
raj Clark, individuals alike distinguished for
general intelligence and grea! experience in In
dian affairs, nvi,ing their attendance at the Seat
If Government, for the purpose Of aiding the
Department, in preparing the contemplated sys-
lem of regulations. They have both arrived,
and are engaged or The work, which, it is con-
6dentIy expected, will be completed in time to
be submitted to, and receive the elaboration
Of Congress, during the session.
The Secretary next calls the attention of the
Government, to the expediency, ifnot absolute
necessity, Of more clearly defining, by lesisla-
tive enactmen,s, the nature of the relations by
which we are TO siand allied TO the Indian tribes;
and, especially. 10 prescribe what, as between
them aud ourselves, shall be the reciprocal
rights, both OF properly and government, over
the vast tracts Of country which they claim &
inhabit.
We shall finish our extracts from :his repor,
with the following gratifying paragraph.
The views Of the Army and i,s Staff, present
ed in the various reports herewith submitted,
cannot, apprehend, fail 10 be satisfactory 10
Congress and 10 the Nation; whether regarded
in reference 10 its military scipline; its pre-
sent employments, or It's fiscal economy
While a portion Of that able arm OF the Militia
ry Establishment, the Corps of Engineers, is
employed in constructing works OF military de-
fence, another portion, aided by scientific and
euterprising officers, detailed from the line OF
the Army, Incorporating with our citizen En-
gineers, in developing the capacities Of the
county for internal Improvement, & in build
ing up works which belong exclusively to the
department Of political economy, The Quar-
tcrmaster General, at the same time, assisted
gagged, not merely in military erections and ac-
Communications for the troBs, but in the con-
s,ruction Of roads aud bridges for the citizens
At large. And the Ordnance Department, with
the force under its control, displays cores
ponding energy and skill, iu the fabrication Of
arms aud other munitions of war, as we'll for
the militia Of the States as for the regular army.
Indeed the reports from these three Depars>
menIs exhibit the Army Of the United States,
not in the light 10 which standing armies in
time Of peace have usually been regarded, as
drones who are consuming the labor Of others,
but as body of military and civil engineers,
artihceIs, and laborers, who probably contri>
bute more than any other equal number Of ci-
tizens, not only to the Security Of the cousry,
but 10 the advancement Of its useful arts.
The report Of the SECRETARY Of the Navy, is
an interesting and important document
The Naval Hospitals TO be completed in the |
course ofthe next YEAR will be creditabe to the !