Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-16

Commanders of depai tueDis, AMI OF such posts aud
arscnals as the War Dspsrtmenr saan authorize
! Il is not presumabe, That places where mere civil
duties are required IN be performed, merit 10 be
donon,nated military posts; were 80 intend,
by the law. A different opinion and con-
struction, however. has prevailed, and the defini-
ton post has been extended TO the several bu
reau offices connected, with the War Depart.
ment, aud double rations attached and co,nuted for
The construction thus gwen has been altered il
still returned; not from belief that il was strictly
correct, but that, having been heretofore acted upon
ana sanctioned 1t was preurtcd to be lett for the de-
termination OF Congress, that, by further act
oil Legislation, AZ might better be aefped what, for
the future should be considered proper definition vt
the term; or by being passed silence, TO suffer
Tie present understanding To prevail. The rcgula
ton adopted is not conceived be in conformity
with the acts OF Congress upon this subject. These
speak an Increased admission OF ratunS officers
when commanding" evidently intending such allow
1ncc, When they should be the exercise OF militia
ry, not civil, trust. lfthen the law does not uu
thoSze IT. the regulation II the Department ainly
orgt not: Tor although authority Is conceded 10 The
Secretary of War, with the Presidents Approximations
to adopt Tor the Amy, rules aud regulations, should
not be intended as privilege exercise gslatiNe
power Such adopted regulations be Ia coufcr.
unity, not IN OPT ltiUn, 10 Xls.ing laws.
To guard agaIn all uniorccea coutln 1encies as ia
the pay OF officers would suggest, If II would not be
preferable To regulate the cuniren of the Ar
my on sotue nXed Id CERTAIN basis, so that all should
become salary officers. The facilities which suuh
course would afford the accounting officers OF the
Treasury would bc great,wh,: an essential benefit
would result 10 tie ohce,s them Gives. 10 them /.
Would prove more satisfactory. The practice, so
prevalent, OF having items oil account dsalowcd OF
Suspended rs by different DISTURBING officers different
Opinions md conclusions existing laws are en-
tertainCd, has failed truduce ulriicuti.s 10 the,
government, and of cntmes, enlDarrI IN tie
oicers lSy attaching TO each grad from hr Major
ncncra SALARY certain and sIIcCinc dependent up
no ntingcncy, IN PIPER results wuuid be .; aimed
ana greater satisfaction produced to those who
Interested. The only contingencies OF payment au.
thoTi-"d might be tor stationary postage; aud fer
tranSpOralUn, when proceeding under speslal orders
from one posi- 10 another, with the authority which
already pertains 20 the Department, OF assigning, at
particular pOsts an allowance Of increased rat!Uus,
thereby 10 eqnalize III some degree the expenses OF
living; 1t bong an item greater places than
at others, and wcI, OH principles OF iusicr should
be placed upon some ground oil cqUalry tabular
Satencnt from the Paymuster General Is annexed, ,
slrwlng the amount ct pay, brevet pay, and emuiu.
mems that are annually received by officers IN their
Tespc ctvc grades, information and aata by which
to regulate the allowance of salary, should be consid
cred eXDeuient.
From the report orthc head orthc Enrlncer CORDS,
1t viii be perceived th4t amendments and chan
gcs proposed beg leave to say that as regards
tue objects ~ H2ISaa dctruce, tie suggestions Of
tered dre worthy of high consideration. In improv-
ing the navigation Of rivers, bays, and harbors
constructing roads, and, above ALL erecting hose im
portant iUII!icatl n5 which to Constitute the flu
urc defeHceS OF The country, this corps forms an es-
cntIaireancc. lntelge and sklliu, these branch
es OF service have been confided TO them and the de
ly OF execution every where displayed is manifesto
ton oi their worth aud value to the COUNTRY; added
To Which every thing ct safety aud occounl abl-
ity for funds placed III their hands, is constantly re-
gardcd to the entire satisfaction of the Department
The remark, how ever, and In cutlul iuslice &c
applicable all the disbursDG officers connected with
The War Department, II II be the pleasure of Con-
gress that The important internal improvements Of the
Country shall con ue, and desire corrcspoEdcntly is
possessed that those au orZeL works shall PROGRESS
cFeGIaby to the spirit that projects them, there is no
plan 10 be suggested preferable an enlargement of
thus corps, to ia extent that the entire reliance Of the
Government for all such objects may be on their ex-
ertIonS. AT present, the number authorized is alto
gether insufficient to the objects requiring attention
TO cay nothing OF the numerous and frequent appca
tons from the states TO be afforded the benefit of
their services, and which the Department, owing 70
the paucIty OF their numbers, repeated instances
have been constrained refuse when every disposi-
ton was felt 10 accord to the request.
This report minutcy presents the state condition
and progress OF lie different Qualifications ,ybchave
been projected M Congress By sumo error Of rstm-
ate AMI fact, te appropriation CT laet year for the
completion OF Fort Jackson, the Mississippi River
has fallen short OF the object; and nconycnicnccs
Will be feel, unless carly appropriation can be pro-
cured. Discovering that the funds would prove III
sufficient, II was suggested To TN Department and
brought 10 your considerations II portIon OF the I'M
Expended amount sct apart "iOr the repairs and con-
tngCHcIes of forcationS," might not DC transferred
ever was refused, on the ground of authority wanted
II IS now submitted Tor the purpose OF receiving an
carly appropriation, that before the sckly season OH
the Mississippi commences, The work may BE- in pro-
gress; otherwise, INST stand deferred and be great,
ly retarded for another ycur.
The communication Of The Board Of Visitcrs,which
accompanies the report Of the head Of the Engineer
Corps, VIII show the condition and state Of the Mill
tary Academy. Towards this institution, pfciudices,
II son~ portions OF the country, have been eneTtan
ed, attributable, perhaps, TO the circumstance lIat It's
advantages Tot fully considered, nor It's benefits
duly appreciated. We are becoming numerous g.
strong people fpnoing aud extending our CONNER
ciGl connexions throughout the civilized world
From The experience afforded by other nations in
times past. 30 are warned 90 tie belief that Jealous
los. and dlsaCTeeinents and contests are 90 be OK
pccted To come upon Prudence to avoid and
preparation TO meet such state of things, when rem
dred unavoidable, is demanded by proper regard TO
our safety and orr institutions. Men can 10 more
gccoWe soldiers intuilwcly and by Instinct than thoy
can attain 90 knowledge OF any other profession ,i