Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-08-10
S36,522.795 2I
Balance against Van Buren,

Balance against Van Buren, S36522,795 81
Am enormous baiance, certainly; and it is char
geablc upon 'relrenching' and reforming adj
minislratlon! How is this vas, increase to be ac-
counted for? Have our notifications been largely
increased by new ones and our old ones strength
ened ? We point TO Benton's description of the
depIorahe want of Notifications, made few ses-
sons ago; to the Northern frontier of Vermont,
New ork and Malne--the very "seat of war"
AS it has heer styled and yet it has been neglect
ed to the great Western honer now in danger
from savage foes,and yet it has been neglected; to
our seaporls-aso neglected. A single paragraph
from the official Report from the Engineer De.
pertinent, dated Nov 30, 1899, tells the story:
"The progress made during the year in the sys-
tenn OF iorticntious for the Fl ontcr, maratne aud
| INLAND, has been as great the means at com
maud would nilOiY, but Jy no means such as the
condition Of The frontier demands. And it is my
duty while 50 many points of great Importance
including some of our largest cities and towns
yet remain in insecure state, and WHILE with the
utmost diligence, some years must elapse, before
the necessary works can be completed, respectful
! ~ to invite your attention 10 the importance Of
early and llbera appropriations"
We have here the consolation OF learning that
while military expenditures have come 10 Il point
more than THREE TIMES as high as they
were in 26, ~ and '2S, what has been done is b,
no means what should be done--that points o
"great importance" are insecure and finally thai
Liberal" expenditures, for "some years. TO come
will he absolutely necessary But again the fol
lowing from the last Report OF The Secretary OF
War himself will probably be entirely satsfacto-
ry to the most incrcdulons:
"The solcilude felt by you at the close of the
last session of Congress on the subject of the de-
fences Of The country, on our maritime rontier,led
to still closer examination into their condition.
They were found us had been before stated, IN
finished, unarIned, and totally inadequate to pro-
fect tho harbors ;hey are Intended TO guard from
The attacks of a comparatively snail force. Thi:
con fiction forced upon my nIind by the reports o
the chi # engineer, has SINCE been confirmed by
personal inspection in every instance, where i
las been in my power to visit tie works. Ou
principal cities on the scaboard are nj this time ex
posed to be laid under contribution, and our navy
wards To he dies royed, without the possibility of de
Tending them. When the works now in progress
in Boston ilarhor finished, that place will be
periecty secure ; and small addition 10 those a
Newport will deprive an enemy of tha, fine road
stead; hut Portsmouth is entirely defenceess-
Pensacola exposed, and The inporlau, city an,
harbor of New York still very ineiiertvel,
| protected, and will remain So even after all III,
works now in progress shall he completed ant
armed. 1t is obvious Tint the entrance of tina
harbor at The nar:Ows cannot lie defended by III,
works on Long Island alone hut that the opposit,
shore on Saten Island must likewise lie fortified
The State Of New York, in hose possession III,
land still remains, has erected some works Iher,
which are so entirely inefficient, that their exist
rllce iH their present condition il calculated Il
deceive the ignorant, who might attempt their dc
leuce, aud even afford facilities TO an Invading
ioIce in ills efforts to enter the harhor. phiade
phia, Baltimore, Charleston Savannah, and th
ports in the gulf, all require further protection {,
render them safe from attack"
We TAKE ii there is enough said on this point
ana we now adver TO point whers an immense
expenditure of money under this head can b'
pointed out; we mean
The INDIAN WARS.
An the three years Of Mr.. Van Buren,, the sun
paid for The removal of the Indians md til,
wars" is $l3,7l4,3la 81
Three years of J. q. Adams ll3,2s6 OF
Balance against MIR. Van Buren, $l3,G0l 900 s.
This embraces The Florida war or raih 81 par
only of the expenses Of that war. MS the pay o
the officers and regular troops in that service il
embraced under different head. Has this eX-
penditure-ihis vastly increased expenditure -
and the expenditure of millions upon millions be
sides, in the Florida war, been necessary cconom
lca and wise i? II the answer is in the atlrma