Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-04-07

United States having been referred by you to tins
Department, it Immediately referred to MaJ"r-He,
neral Scott and other officers who have been stationed
on the frontier referred to- Tor such Information on inc
subject as they possessed and could readily procure
and an examination is in progress Tor such as may
be contained in the files this Department General
Scott is the only officer yet heard from; and copy OF
his report is herewith submitted, together with copy
of thai to which he refers, made upon the resolution oil
the House of Representatives Of the 9th instant. As
soon a. the other officers who have been called upon
are heard from, and the examination oil the hles oil lhe
Department is completed, any further information
which may be thus acquired will DC hiihieontey i""
before you.
Very respectfully, your most obedeni servant,
j. r. POlNSETT.
To the President ofthe United States.
HEAD Quarters, EASTERN DrylsroN,
EF.abehtOten, v. j., March -, $40
SIR: have received from your office copies OF TWO
resolutions passed, respectively, The I'm ana u? III.
slant bv the Senate and the other by the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES.; and am asked for 'any information
on the subject Of both either of the resolutions that
may BE- in my possession.
In respec, to the naval force recently maintained
upon the American lakes by Great Britain, have Just
had the honor to report to the Secretary of War, by
whom the resolution of the House OF Representatives
! (of the 9Th nstant directly referred TO me
now coniine myself to the Senatcs resolution, re-
speeding 'military omit naval preparations OF the
/ British authorities on the Northern frontiers OF me
i
ocean, distinguishing the permanent from The tempo
rarv and field works, and particularly noting those
which are within the claimed limits OF the United
States"
| will here remark that, however well my duties
have made acquainted with the greater part vi the
line in question: have paid but Sig Int attention TO the
forts and barracks erected by the British authorities
near the borders of Maine ADORE Frederickon, IN New
Brunswick, Upper Canada, 0b0re Cornwall, being
I of the fixed opinion (Which need not here be de-
i hat all ali
ar no military value Ia either Of the parties III The
event OF a new war between the United States ana
/ Great Britain.
/ was last summer at The foot Of Lake Superior and
neither saw heard of any British fort or arraci on
/ the 81 Mary river, the outlet ot that lake
Between lakes Huron and Ers The British have "a,
roi; one at Sandwich, little lower down; and the
third at Maiden, eighteen miles from the first nj! built
OF sa wed logs strengthened by blockhouses, oopholes
&c. Maiden has long been military post, with
slight dclenccs These have been recently strength
ened The works at Sandwich and Windsor have
also think been erected within the last six or eight
months.
Near the mouth OF the Niagara the British have two
small forts, George and Messisanga. Both existed
during the last The latter may be termed per
manent work Slight barracks have been erected
within the last two years the same side, near the
Falls and at Chippewa, with breasfworks at the latter
place, hui nothing, believe, above the works first
named on The Niagara which can be termed fort.
The commencement OF recent lFoHpltS III NV
Canadas and consequent thereupon) within our limits
! Fort William Henry, at Kingston, and Fort Yelling
ton opposite OGdensburg, (od works. have both
been strengthened, within themselves, besides the ad
d,on Of dependencies These forts may be called per-
manent
/ On the ST Lawrence, below Prescott, and confront
ing orr territory know of no other military post
Twelve miles above at Brockville, there may be tenn
porary barracks and brcasworks. know that of late
Brock lc has been a military station.
In The system Of defcnccs on the apprnacc. Ia Mon
trea the Isle 4uT Soir, few miles below our line, and
in the outlet Of Lake ChamPain, stands al the head
This island contains within itself system OF perma-
ncnt works Of great strength. On them the Bri'ish
Government has, from time 10 time, since the peace oil
! l. IL, expended much skill and labor.
Odlc,own, near line, on the western side OF Lake
Champlan has been station for body OF Canadian
militia for two years, to guard the neIghhori"od from
refugee mcendiarcs from side ] think that bar.
racks have been erected there for the accommodation OF
those troops, and also al station with the like object
near Alburgh, in Vermont.
Ii is believed that there arc no important British ior's,
or extensive British barracks borders, FROM Yer
mont to Maine.
In respect TO such structures The disputed Terri
fory Gov Fair6eds published letters contain fuller IN
formation than has reached through any other chan
mel ! have heard of no military preparations ny
| the British authorities on the ST Crox or fassanla-
quoddy bay.
Among such preparations, perhaps | ought not 10
omit the fact that Great Britain, besides numerous corps
of well organized and well instructed militia, has, al
this time, within her North American Provinces more
than 10000 of her best regular troops The whole OF
those forces might be brought the verge of our ter
ritorv in few days. Twohrds of that regular force
has arrived out since til Spring of ls3e.
remain, Sir, with great respect, yomr most ohcarnt
servant, WINFIELD SCOTT.
Brig. Gen. r. IoSEs, Adj Gen. L. S. a.
DISTRICT BANKS.
| Mr. ALLEN said he wished 10 make a few remarks,
to which he invited tho attention of the chairman OF
the Committee the District of Columbia. The
Senate was aware that the charters of the various
banks in the District expired by limitation on the 4h
of July next. On the 9th of January last, memorials
presented asking for recharter of those banks,
since which nearly three months have passed; and as
there has been report from the committee indicative
of their intentions the subject, and as the session
very far advanced he desired to give the chairman
of the committee opportunity Of stating whether
not report the subject mi ht be expected at an ear
" dav or whether the committee intended to take any
action on the memorials. He would only add, that II
bill was reported TO re charter these banks it would
probably excite considerable discussion The re-char
ter of the banks of this District looking at it merely
confined TO the District, was comparatively unImpor-
tant bnt he looked at il connected with The great
struggle going OH in this country between corpo.
ratons and individuals, and orr discussions of and de-
termination the subject here, would have power
full influence the dcstines of the nation whether
for good evil. 1t with this view Of its import
he had felt it his duty to ask for information
the intentions of the committee.
| Mr.. MERRfCk stated that the committee had gi-
TO this question of rechartering the banks of the
District all the attention il in their power to be-
stow; and he would inform the Senator from Ohio,
and the Senate generally that the committee had
bill in advanced state of preparation 10 renew,
extend at least, the charters of the banks Of the Dis
tric and report mi ht he expected in two three
days at urhest The delay adverted TO by the Sena-
tor from Ohio occasioned by the anxiety Of the
committee to have full and perfect understand
ing Of the condition and resources of the banks as it
was possible Obtain and TO have the advantage of all
the developments that might occur He would repeat
that the Senate would in the course Of two or three
davs have the views of the committee presented TO
them, and would have full opportunity Of discussing
their propriety.
Mr.. DAVIS moved to take up the bill 10 cancel the
bonds given, and remit the penalties paid by vessels
engaged in the whale fishery, as amended by the