Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-12-17

: =, her control from the United States than such
as T.1y be necessary to preserve peace on
the f,as. tier, and between the several tribes
There fhe benevolent NAV endcavor 80 teach
them the art. Of fertilization; and, by promo
ting union anS /, armony among them, to raise
nm an interesting commonwealth, destined to
perpetuate the race, aud to attest the human
ity and Justice of this Government.
Thu. emigration would be voluntary; for 1t
would be as cruel as unjust to compel the
aborigines to abandon the graves OF their
fathers, and seek home III distant land
But they should be distinctly informed that,
ifthey remain within the limits of the states
they must be subject to their laws. In return
for their obedience, as individuals, they VIII,
without doubt, be protected IN the enjoyment
Of those possessions which they have improv-
ed by their industry. But it seems to me vi
sionary to suppose that, in this state of Things,
claims can be allowed on tracts of country on
which they have neither dEeit nor made inn
Provements, merely because they have seen
them from the mountain, or passed them IN
I the cnace. Submitting to the laws of the
states and receiving like other citizens, pro-
| lection in their persons and property, they
will ere long, become merged in the mass of
our population.
The accompanying report Of the Secretary
Of the Navy will make you acquainted with
condition and useful employment of that
branch of our service, during the present
year Constituting, as it does, the best stand
ing security Of this country against foreign
aggression, it claims the especial attention of
Government. In this spirit, the measures
which, since the termination of the last war,
have been ia operation for its gradual enlarge
meat, were adopted; and it should continue
to be cherished as the offspring Of our nation
al experience. 1t will be seen, however, that,
notwithstanding the great solicitude which
has been manifested for the perfect organiZa-
ton Of this arm, and the libcrality of the ap
preparations which that soiicitude has sugges-
ted, this object has, in many important res
| poets, not been secured.
| In time Of peace, we have need of no more
| ships eff war than are requisite to the protec-
! ton of our commerce Those not wanted for
| this object must lay in the harbors, where,
without the proper covering, they rapidly de-
cay; and, even under the best precautions for
| their preservation, mast soon become useless
Such is already the case with many of our
finest vessels; which, though, unfinished, will
now require immense saEas of money to be
| restored to the condition in which they were,
when committed TO their proper clement On
this subject there can be but little doubt that
our best policy would be, to discontinue the
building Of ships of the first and second class,
and look rather to the possession Of ample
materials, prepared for the emergencies of
war, than to the number of vessels which we
can float ia a season Of peace, as The index
of our naval pawer. judcious deposites in
! Navy Yards, of timber and other materials,
fashioned under the hands Of skhful work
men, and fitted for prompt application to their
| various purposes, would enable US, ut all
b., - l. Il Al
be, manned, and save the heavy expense OF
repairs, except to such vessels as must be
employed in guarding our commerce The
proper points for the establishment Of these
yards are indicated with SO much force, in
the report Of the Navy Board, that, ia re-
commenting 1t to your attention, / deem it
! unnecessary to do more than express nav
hearty concurrence IN their views. The Yard
in this District being already furnished with
most of the machinery necessary for ship
! building, viii be competent TO the supply Of
the two selected by the Board as the best for
the concentration of materials; and, from the
facility and certainty Of communication be-
tween them, it will be useless to incur, at
these depots, the expense of similar machine
ry, especially that used in preparing the usual
metallic and wooden furniture Of vessels.
Another improvement would be effected by
u,
as now CONSTITUTED, and Substituting, in its
stead, bureaus similar to those already exist
ing IN the War Department. Each member
OF the Board, transierrcdto the head of Sc
parate bureau, charged with specific duties,
would feel, in ITS highest degree, that whole
some responsibility, which cannot be divided,
without far more than propor6onate dimi-
mutton Of its force. Their valuable services
would become still more so when separately
appropriated to distinct portions Of the great
Interests of the Navy, TO the prosperity of
which each would be impelled to devote him
self, by the strongest motives Under such
an arrangement, every branch of this impor-
tant service would assume more simple and
precise character: its efficiency would be in
creased, and scrupulous economy in the ex-
penditurc of public money promoted
would also recommend that the marine
corps be merged in the artillery or infantry,
as the best mode OF curing the many defects
IN its organization. But little exceeding in
number any Of the regiments Of infantry, that
corps has, bcsldeslts Lieutenant Colonel Com
mandant, five Brevet Lieutenant Colonies.
who receive the full pay and emoluments of
their brevet rank, without rendering proper
Tomato service. Details for marine service
could as well be made from the infantry or
artillery, there bong no peculiar training re-
quisite for it.
| Nlth these improvements, and such Others
as jealous watchtuiness and mature conside-
ration may suggest, there can be little doubt
that, under an energetic administration of its
| affairs the Navy NAV COO, bo nod, a,or,