Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-25

,,ic the loading by opening the bfccch, or BY muiii-
plynp the chanbers OF The gum Will ia as they nave
hitherto done, after involving the government ~
c,ne,se There is h"wcv r, one Improvement, wren
becn fairly tested in the field by the ar'iies OF Eu
rome and winch presents many Grc'fta ana a"ee''
tanned advantages that am Constrained To fec"'i' u"
lie adounn liio servcc-i iu,ai the substitution
ri .,cnss.on far fin, locks. The alteration may h'
m.d,. on the nuskeis IN The "!sehas; ana inca
,,s ou.h, 10 be- adopted coasirur; all new arms,
whether riffs muskc:s, with rer',iss'on ''~s-
IIavinr repeatedly recommended, w'ihna. eiiect'
The establishment, of n nai,"nal i"undry; ahd having
reason fear the most serious consequences 70 le
vc from the want oil proper regulations To govern 'ht
contracts vh private establishments, with your con
sent | sent to Europe the board of "f1icfrs WI" ha
been Tor snn,r time employed III hNns the l'a''efh>
forms and dimensions of the artillery, IN nrdtr 'ha
,b.v ,npht ACQUIRE such information as would enabh
On. dn,r,m,n n, permanently regulate this important
branch nf the service. ] am happy I" state that
wherever they haze bten The natioini ESTABLISHMENTS
have been thrown open To them, ana, WIN prasfwor
ihy liberal every facility afforded I" Their researches
They have returned home, alter having attained All I'M
adj, nucs which were expected from irit 'nvesiian
tons. and ,h- know ledge they have acquired VIII b
ami cd 10 The practical improvr" nj {" our ordnance
co,c;s. report If their proceedings "ii!t ia Emr"p'
is he cw.th transmitted, IN roni' ction wan lhat OF t'
Officer m IN, charge OF the Ordnance Department.
l., I'm. avn, c,aion that Congress would snncon Thu
c.ni,on Of corps oi sapers and miners, ian addition
=, t.p army al necessary aiid ccon"incai) SEN
m officer If The engineer corps IN lhr SCHOOL i"r sap
MRS and miners France, In Obtain that practical n"f
mntinn TN, winch is not possessed, and cann"i
be- acquired here The French Government, with '''
accustomed Liberal Nv aud kindness, permitted IN every
instance our officers 10 attend lis schools ." praclcr
and afforded ,hrm equal means with zig own I" PURSUE
ibrr sludus there allowing them privileges mol gen"
r,y granted foreigners; thereby cvincinT, rs III
Mins,,r of War pleased I" rruiark, tie friendly dIs
oostinn II hs Male,ty's Government towards the Y
) This feeling you have III horned me I" say Is 'n.
rec proa ei aud the librr 'liy al the French Govern
men, dnly Appreciated The o;i:ccrssn' 10 the scl""
NJ cavalry mt Saumur have returned, AFTER Twelve
months instruction and are now rnpl"yrd ia man
ner which trust will enable the Department yer.
much 10 Improve the cavalry service.
The advantage Of separating the staff officers from
III, line of the army md the serious neon yrrenc
10 IN. service from tn present system, have been br
fare brought II your view hut cannot be too strongly
or Ton frequently urged The present orGan,z1t"n a.
the army does moi anw nglr supernumerary "ihcr'
n regiment and The companies arr rendered inefficient
from the ahseucs Of these officers n" are on s'af duty
The discp n. nf tie troops is IN Isl inurnusy affect
I'd by lhs arrangement; and II they are opposed IN The
field Ia regular forces such deficiency would prove
fatal.
beg leave to bring tn your notice once more the *
ped .ncy Of extending the. law ut March J, Loo, whici
provides COR The enlistment Of boys for the naval ser
v,c., soa !" embrace the army and ordnance f"rps
lis effect would lac equally beneficial To III" class q
people 10 which the boys helnng, and the Army l.
would secure la the sous Of the fnrnrr comfortable
subsistence proper moral restraint and good practical
cducalinn while II would provide for the army, we'll
instructed commissioned officers 81 difficult 10 be
procur.d by enlistment and without which, army
cannot he efiicent.
/ am happy 10 state that experience has proved the
correctness al The opinion formerly advanced, that the
INCREASE aud proper organization ot r >,aii depart
nrnt would pr. ducc economical administration
OF lis different branches in the expenditures of tn.
Qnart-rna>lcrs Department, especially, very consi-
rah!p reduction has been made during the last yrtr.
IN SOME lieasue produced by the fall "f prices, bnt
arising a much greater degree from the increased Ell
ticrncy and better administration o the department,
n consequence Of the number Of officers under thu
present organization b-aTing more due relation II
lie aborous dut,e, and hig Responsibilities OF this
unpoI tant branch Of the military service.
In consequence nf line suspension Of The application
Of funds appropriated r the prosecution Of he works
under the supervision Of the Qnatrmastrr General
office during the for operation, little pro.
nress has been made in them since my last report.
now recommend that the nllowin. works should he
commenced and completed practicable Fort
G bson Fort Wayne, and Fort Smi,h-tir two former
IS as healthy sites are determined upon. am
no, perfectly satisfied with the reports relation TO Tie
proper position for Fort Gibson and ms u ~ conten
plated erect permanent works in the vicinity ct the
old fort II Important that the site should be selected
vita great care.
Tha, on which The works cr Fort Wayne were com.
mrncpd proved 10 be 50 very unhealthlul that II be-
care necessary abandon II, and Ia the troops
to favorable position. Pursuing hal line, small
f.rs should constructed nj Spring River and Maras
d.. Cvrnc; and Of 1t, the head Of ili- naviga
Of the Kansas ri:er, and northwest of Fort LEA
venworth, Al Table Greek, on Missouri, below tho
mouth of Platte River To connect this last post with
Fort Smelling, fort nmsh he constructed at
the forks III The Dies Mnlnes. From the information
have received, bel eve the erection Of any works al
the western extremity Of Lake Superior 10 he name.
ce<sary; and r the present, advise that Fort Smelling
remain In. uusi northern post
During your administrations, nearly f,riy-one thou
sand Indians have been added 10 those already residing
near the Western boundary, while the additional Sccu
rites The boder States have not been commensurate
10 the Additional dangers which srch increase o
warlrkr and Disseminated nrghbors expose them. It
the net Of placing the Indians There, by which thu
Interior States 81 largely benefited, the Govern
ment lias CONTRACTED solemn obligation, not only Il
defend Tia, people when attacked, but To aniic palc Tho
danger, hy erecting such works as wtll ensure ihe
safety, and inspire them with confidence ia the mean.
enp.oi.d "r their protection.
IL affords great gratifcatr"n IN hP abe In rrPnr
tia; the Canada frontier has been free from any disturb
since ] had last The honor 10 address You "f
that subject Your adv;rc In our fellow cz"n> tia
border appears 10 have produced the most sanitary ct
pc, aud The excitement wh,ch rAlscd III, r. has, an
happy IL III nix, entirely sai,s,d,d; and ~ further ar
prchcn-nn need BE- entertained u violation on then
part 81! !, ulral oil CATIONS.
Owing III the expenditure 81 the appropriations &"
f'rtfca"ns having been smspcnir' the works on TN.
frontier have 40, been much advanced but they VII
expected, he completed during the next season. IL
addition those already authorized earnestly rrcnn
mend The rfrctun of barracks III SrrnI Wells, na
Detroit, aud al position hct~ecn Buif1l" and Rlarb
Rock, The State al New York; and also 4 strong
w"Ik NJ the outlet Of Lake Champa,n.
On the Northeastern frontier, until the bnnnd y
question settled, would advise thai the works Z
cnnfmed The erection nj barracks nj the junction al
the Maliawamkrag and Prn"bsc"i rivers. DURING thu
past year, the works the maritime frontier have
carried IN slowly and they still remain N an un
finished state. ia relation In The defence OF our Al
anllc and Gull coasts, and If our lIarh"rs AID dnch
yards, beg leave To refer 10 my report at last year
aud that made during the last scssun al Congress
/ II reply IL call at the Senate Tor information Ut,
these subjects. Their condition remains unhllrrrd
and the rxprdency al providing for their completion
, unchanged.
Tie whole coast from Passanaquoddy bay 10 the Sa
hIne river "Sp"sed every pant not drirnd by
Nature, IL be invaded with lmpuniiy; and The
event ct war, the rxpense oi attempting Ia protect this
lng line by troops r year only, would cost more
la work have n q