The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-17

apprehension need be entertained of violation
on their part of our neutral obligations.
Owing TO the expenditure of the appropria.
tons for Notifications having been suspended,
the works on this frontier have not been much
advanced, but they will, it is expected be
completed during the next season. In addition
to those already authorized, | earnestly recon-
mended the erection of barracks at Spring
Wells, near Detroit, aud at position between
Buffalo and Black Rock, in the State of New
York; ami also a strong work at the outlet Of
Lake Champlain.
On the Northeastern frontier, until the boun.
dairy question is settled, | would advise that
the works be confined TO the erection of bar
racks at the junction of the Mattawamkeag
and Penobscot rivers. During the past year, the
works on the maritime frontier have been car
ried on slowly, and they still remain in an un.
finished state. In relation to the defence of
our Atlantic and Gulfcoasts and of our harbors
and dock yards, beg leave to refer to my re-
port of last year, and 10 that made during the
last session Of Congress, in reply TO call of
the Senate for information on these subjects.
Their condition remains unaltered, and the ex
pediency of providing for their completion un-
changed. The whole coast from Passama-
quoddy bay TO the Sabine river is exposed, on
every point not defended by Nature, to be in
-
the expenses of attempting to protect this long
line by troops for one year only, would cost
more than to erect the works which have been
planned, and which are deemed sufficient to
defend the several points of attack along the
whole coast 1t is true that an enemy could
retain possession of any portion Of our terrific
ry only for a short period. But TO defend an
unfortifed point of attack or to drive an enc
my from position he might occupy, would be
attended with great expense of blood and treas
ure, and while feel confident that the stout
arms and brave hearts of our fellow citizens
would ultimately prevail and drive any enemy
from our soil, | cannot approve the policy
which would expose the best and bravest of
our artisans aud workingmen TO encounter,
without discipline and without the cover of for
tifcatons, the trains of bands of mercenary
soldiers they would be opposed to. When we
take into consideration the character of our
people, and sparseness of the population in
proportion to the extent of our soil, it is not
wise TO RELY altogether for our defence on num-
bers and untaught valor. The battalions that
must fight our battles are composed of soldiers
taken from every class of the community, and
the issue Of every contest must necessarily de-
prive the country of some ofits best and worth
lest citizens. Every effort ought, therefore,
to be made to furnish them the means of pro-
lection, and to instruct them to defend them
selves; so that the loss we must suffer on such
occasions may be as light as possible.
No appropriation having been made at the
last session of Congress for the works of inter-
nal improvement which were under the super
intendence of this Department, they have, for
the most part, ceased. adhere to the opinion
expressed in my last report, that the system
requires to be revised, both with regard to the
principle upon which such Improvements ought
to be authorized, and the manner in which they
ought to be authorized.
The report of the Chief of the Topographic
cal Engineers, submitted TO Congress at its last
session, contains an elaborate statement of the
history and progress of all the works of inter-
nal improvement carried on by the orders OF
Government, to which beg leave to refer Ii
is to be regretted that Congress neglected, at
its last session, to appropriate the small amount
asked for clearing away the timber lately accu-
INFLATED at the Red river raft, which obstructs
the navigation of that stream. The expendi-
ture necessary for thisPprpose is perfectly le-
gitimate, as all the necessary supplies for the
troops sta.ionad at Fort Towson are transport
ed up this river; and the measure is recon-
mended by its economy, the additional cost of
transportation by land for one year, when this
navigation is INSTRUCTED, being greater than the
amount required TO defray the necessary ex-
pGnse of removing the drift timber. 1t is re-
commended that provision be made for the en-
ployment of few laborers and a boas for
short time every season; and it is believed that
in few years the necessity for such precau
ton will cease, and this portion of the river re-
main permanently open.
The survey spoken ofin my last report has
been completed, and map constructed, which |
embraces that portion of the territory of the
United States lying between the Mississippi
and Missouri rivers, from their confluence 10
our northern boundary, and limited by the par
alels of latitude 80 and 40 north, and the mer- !
dams 80 and 100 west of Greenwich. 1t is |
based upon numerous astronomical obseTva- |
tons, mot less than two hundred and forty |
fve,) on actual surveys, and on the best infor
nation which the exploring party could pro-
cure of such small portions of the Indian terri
tory as they were prevented fTom examining
by the inevitable dangers attending the attempt,
or from want of means and time. A very ex-
tensive series of barometrical observations
were also made, and the Jealous cooperation
of men of science, occupying stations in the
several States VIII, observed at the same Pc
RODS of time, has enabled Mr. Nicolet 10 com
pare his own with those of others in different
quarters of the Union, and thus accurately to
determine the relative level ofthe whole region
represented by the map, as well as its elevation
above the ocean, thereby indicating the eli.
mate and face of the country. The map will
be accompanied by a report calculated to give
an accurate knowledge Of that distant country;
and it is believed that the results of this survey
will be useful both TO the Government and to
the people. and prove an acceptable accession
to geography. 1t will serve, likewise, to exhi-
bit the mannerin which future surveys of the
country are to be made, if, as it is hoped, they
should be authorized by Congress. 1t appears
to be very desirable that those remote regions
of our country should be known; and the sur
veys ought, in my opinion, to be extended by
degrees TO the sources of the Missouri, and
across the Rocky mountains to the Pacific
Ocean. Nor ought that portion of our coun-
try which is nearer and more accessible to be
neglected The existing maps do not rest on
accurate data. The true courses of our great
rivers, and the forms of the magnificent chain
Of lakes which stretch along our nothern Dor.
der. are vet to be truly defined. The interest