Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-12-13

UBLlC " Y utC
ed to the politeness of the Hon. ASHER
ROBBINS, Senator in Congress, for the
several documents accompanying the
Presidents Message, viz.-Reports of
the Secretary of War--Secrotary of the
Navy, and Postmaster General. Ow-
ing to the crowded state of our columns
we are only enabled to make the follow
ing extracts from these Reports.
From the Report of the Secretary of War
Engineer Department.
"The report of the officer at the head
of the Engineer Department, presents a
comprehensive view oftho operations as
signed to the corps under his superinten-
dence, in its three great divisions of forti-
fcations, internal improvement, and mill
tary education.
In the construction Of the various
works Of defence upon the maritime from
tier, the progress has been as rapid as
was compatible with a proper and eco
nomicaI administration of this important
duty, and with the numerous calls upon
the officers of that Department. So
much delay and loss are experienced,
not only in this branch of the public SER
vice, but in almost all others, requiring
the disbursement of money, by the late
! period at which the appropriations are
sometimes made, that am led to intro
duce the subject here, in the hope, tina,
it will engage the attention of Congress
The pecuniary loss is net the only injury
particularly in all the works of fortifca-
tion and internal improvement. The op.
erations are necessarily discontinued
during one part of the working season
and too rapidly prosecuted during ano
ther, and the result is, consequently, ,mort
or less unlavorable.
! The numerical strength Of the engi
neer corps is not now sufficient for The
performance Of the duties required Of it
officers. They have all been actively
and zealousy engaged, and their scien
tiic and practical attainments eminentl.
. qualify them for the discharge of the va
$ rious functions they are performing, whe
f ther belonging appropriately to their pro
, fession, or assigned to them by this de
partmcnt. For the facts connected wit
= this subject, | refer to the report of tn
;, Chief Engineer, contenting myself wit
o observing, that there is no economy i
keeping this establishment below tn
;. numbers demanded by the exigcncy {
d the service. Either the duty will not b
= performed, as has happened tins scaso
d in some instances, or, as has haPpcne
! in others, it will be worse performed, an
:. at a greater expense: for II is imposslb
II to transfer, from civil life, or from oth'
= departments Of the army, persons po
IS sossing the requisite attainments, wi,ho
l. previous experience, to insure scient
/, and skill in the execution Of these dutie
- and system of iglant supervision in Il
I, administration of their fiscal concern
rs TO acquire these qualifications, time al
x experience are necessary. And the r
" sponsibility imposed by permanent &
= tachment to the department, and the {
1T prii du corps created by 1t, are both
o. vorable to n more faithful and efiicie
sc discharge Of the duties apperianing to
ch For these reasons, and from the clear'
- conviction, that such a measure is d
N manded by the public interest, ventu
ell to renew the recommended contain
to in my last annual report, for moder'
les and gradual increase of the engine
TO- corps, and to express my full concurrer
. in the views presented by the Chief /
" gincer upon that subject"
'P' Military Acddemy at Vest Point.
=" "The Military Academy, as will
'ia' seen by the report Of the board of Vi
to ers, is steadily pursuing its coulse OF u