Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-12-22

sor. The provision IN the CONSTITUTION
Il hat renders it necessary to adopt an uni.
form organization for the militia throughout
the United States, presents an nsurmount,
able obstacle TO an efficient arrangement
by the classification heretofore proposed
and | invite your attention to the plan
which will be submitted by the Secretary
of War. for the organization OF volunteer
CORPS, and the instruction of militia off.
GERS, as more simple and practicable, IT
not equally advantageous, as a general
arrangement, of the whole militia OF the
United States.
A moderate increase Of the corps, both
of military and Typographical eng lneers,
has been more than once recommended by
my predecessor; and my conviction of the
proprle,y, not to say necessity, OF the
measure, in order to enable them to perform
tho various and important duties imposed
upon them induces me to repeat the rec.
concentration.
The Military Academy continues 10
answer all the purposes Of its establishment,
and not only furnishes well educated Off
GERS TO the Army, but serves to d!fIuse
throughout The mass of our citizens indi-
viduas possessed Of military knowledge,
and scientific attalnments Of civil and
military engineering. AT present the cadet
is bound, with consent of his parents or
guardians, to remain in service five years
from the time Of his enlistment. unless
sooner discharged; thus exac,lDg only one
years service in the Army after his educa-
lion is COMPLETED rhls does not appear
to me sufficient. Government ought to
command for longer period the services
Of those who nre educated az the public
expense; and recommend that the term
Of enlistment be extended to seven years,
and the terms of the engagement strictly
enforced.
The creation OF national foundery tot
cannon, TO be common to the service of the
army and navy OF the United States has
been heretofore recommended, and appears
to be required in order to place our orda
hence on all equal footing with that of othelI
countries. and to enable that branch Of III,
service to control the prices Of those artl
ces, and graduate the supplies to th'
wants of the government as well as .
regulate their quality and their unform'tN
The snme reasons induced me to recop
mend the erection of manutactorp It
gunpowder. TO b. under the direction of
tho ordnance office. The establishment Of
n mandatory Of small arms west of tDe
Allegheny lnonn'ans, upon the plan pro.
posed by the Secretary of War, will cen.
'ribnre to extend throughout that country
the improvements which ex,s, 10 the es,sb
lishwenis of n similar description IN the
Atlantic States, and tend to a much more
economical distribution Of the armament
required in the western portion Of our
Union.
lay before Congress copies Of reports
submitted in pursuance af a call made wv
me upon the heads OF The departments, toT
such suggestions a. their experience might
enable to make as TO what further legs
latlve provisions may be advantageous
adopted to secure The faithful application
~ to" public mnnpya 10 The objects jor
which they are appropriated; TO prevent
their mlsnppIIcatIon or embeZzemebt ~
those entrusted with the expenditure, IT
| them; and generally to increase the se,I-
rity Of The government against losses N
! their disbursement II is needless to N.
ate on the Importance of providing sth
new safeguards as are within the po'tr
of Legislation 10 promote these ends; nd
| have little to add TO the recommenda, ms
subnlttcd IN the accompanying papers.
BY law. the terms of service Of uur INST
important collecting and drsbursmp I'll
Gers in ID" civil departments are hm ed
10 tour ycars, and when rcappoln,et, tieir
bonds are required to b" renewed.
The safety Of the public is mucl in
crrnsrd by tins feature Of the law, md
there con be no doubt that its upplction
TO all officers entrusted with the Ul.
lection of disbursement of tho public nan.
ev, whatever may BE- tho tenure Of leir
oices, would be equally beneficial 4
therefore recommended, in addition 10
such OF the suggestions presented BY h.
heads Of Departments as you may think
useful. general provision, that all ii
GERS Of the army or Navy, or in the C,
WI Department, entrusted with the re-
cept aud payment of public money. and
whose term Of service is either unlimited
or for longer time than four years, be
required to give bonds, with good and
sufficient sureles, at the expiration of ev'
every such period,
A change in the period Of Terminating
! the fiscal year, from the frs, of April. has
/ been trequntly recommended and ap
pears to be desirable
The distressing casualties in STEAMBOATS,
which have so frequently happened du.
ring the year, seem to evInce the ne@s-
, sl'y OF attempting TO prevent them, by
means Of severe provisions connected wrh
their custom house papers. This subject
was submitted to he attention of Con
I gress by the Secretary of the Treasury
IN his last annual report, and will be again
the present session, with additional de,
tails. 1t will doubtless receive that early
and careful consideration which its pres
: sing importance appears to require.
: Your attention has heretofore been fire.