Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-12-04

ana proSsesstvei ane IN q few wars
more will be so completed as to leave mo
cause for apprehension that our SEA.
coast will ever again offer a theatre az
hostile invasion.
The next of these cardinal measures
Of policy, is the preliminary to great and
lasting works of public improve ment. in
the surveys of roads, examination for the
course al canals, and labors for the "a :.
moval OF the distractions of rivers and
harboHrs, first commenced by the act Of
Congress of soth April, 1924.
The report exhibits IN one table the fund
appropriated az the last and preceding sessions
Of Congress, for all these Notifications. surveys
and works of public improvement; the mannay
in which these funds have been applied. the
noun expended upon the several works nnder
construction, and the further sums which may he
necessary 10 complete them. In second. the
works projected by the Board of Engineers.
which have not been commenced. and TN. es.
innate of their csst.
ln a third, the report of the annual Board of
VisIters at the Military Academy at West Point
Ror thirteen Notifications erected on various
points OF our Atls"tc coast from Rhode Island
to Louisiana. the aggregate expenditure OF tue
year mas fallen little short of one million of
dollars.
Foe The preparation Of FIVE additional reports
a reconnaissance and surveys since the last
session OF Congress, for the civil constructions
upon thirty seven dltferen, public works COM
menced, eight others for which specific appro
pr'stions have been made by Acts of Congress.
ADD twenty other incipient surveys under the
authority given BY the Act Of 30th April, 1924,
about one million more of dollars have been
drawn from the Treasury
10 these two millions of dollars, are to be
added the appropriation OF $3.50, 600, to CON-
nence the erection Of Breakwater near the
mouth OF the Delaware river; the subscriptions
to he Delaware and Chesapeake, the Louisville
and Portland, the Dismal Swamp, and the Chesa-
peake and ono Canals, the large donations OF
lands to the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
Alabama, for objects of improvements within
those states, and the sums approp rated for
Light Houses, Buoys, and Piers. on the coast.
and full view viii be taken of The munlfcence
OF the nation in the application of us resources
sothe Improve msnt of It's own condition.
On these great nationa, undertakings. the
Academy at West Point is ameag the most
important in itself. aud the most comorehen
sive IN ITS consequences, In that Institution. a
part OF the revenue OF the nation is applied TO
defray the expense of educating competent
portion of her youth, chiefly to the knowledge
snd duties OF military life. /; is the living ar
mory of the nation. While the other works OF
improvement enumerated in the reports nov
presented TO the attention of Congress, are des-
tined & ameiiorste tRe lace Of nAture--to mui.
tpiy me facilities Of communication between
the different parts OF the Uni0n--,o assist the
ishors. increase the comforts and enhance the
enloyments OF indivduals-the instruction &C
CURED at West Point enlarges the dominion and
expands the capacities OF the mind Its benefi
cial results are already experienced in the com.
position of the army, and their Influence is felt
IN the intellectual progress of society. The
institution IS susceptible still of great improve
ment from benefactions proposed by several
successive Boards of Visitors, to whose earnest
and repeated recommendations cheerfn,ly add
my own.
With the usual annual reports from the Sc.
cretary OF the Navy and the Board of Commits.
soners. will be exhibited to the view of Con.
Gsess tho execution OF the laws relating 10 that
department of the public service. The ,epres
sion OF piracy in the West Indian, and in the
Greclan Seas, has been effectuslly maintaiued
with scarcely any exception. During the wsv
between the governments of 8uenos ayres and
or Brazil, frequent collisions between 5e!hge-
rent acts oF power and the rights Of neutral
commerce occurred. Licentious blockades
irregularly enlisted or impressed sesmep. and
the property OF honest commerce seized with
violence, and even plundered under legal pre-
sences, are disorders neyer separabe from the
conflict OF wars upon The ocean. With nor.
ton OF them, the correspondence of our COM
manders on the Eastern aspect of The South A.
me'ican coast, and among the islsnds OF Greece.
discover how far we have been Involved In
these, the honor OF our country, and the rights
OF our citizens. have been asserted and vindlca-
ted. The appearance of new seuadrons in the
Mediterranean, and the blockade Of the Dards
neiles, Indicate the danger of other obstacles TO
the freedom of commerce, and the necessit, OF
keeping our naval force IN those seas. To the
suggestions repeated in the report of the Secre-
ssry of the Navy, aud tending 10 the perma
nent improvement of tins Institution, | in vite
the favorable consideration of Congress.
resolution of the House of Representatives
requesting that one Of our small public vessels
should he sent to the Pac fc Ocean and South
sea, TO examine the coasts, islands, hsrbors,
shoals, and reefs, in those seas and 10 ascertain
their true situation and description, has been
pun 'n train of execution. The vessel is nearly
10 depart; the successful accomplishment of the
expedition may be greatly facilitated by suitable
Legislative provisions; and particularly by an
appropriation to deiray its necessary expense.
The addition of a second. and, perhaps. third
VeSsei, with slight sggravation of the cost,
would contribute much to the safety of the ci-
uzens embarked on this undertaking, the re-
SUITS OF which may be OF the deepest interest to