The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-11

the information acquired by the officers who were sent
10 Europe has evlneed the wisdom Of that measufe
The danger TO the popuous places IN The vicinity
Of The stores Of gundowder belonging to the Govern
ment and the hazard 10 which those stores are e.
posed by such contguIty, suggested the pfoPfev :.
an inquiry whelhera depo. for the reserved powosi NOV
wanted Tor ordinary use might not Dc estaosheu 'n
some spot where il would be as secure ss human ar
could render IT, and where, IN case OF explosion, mo
least possible injury would be produced board o.
officers was accordingly appointed 10 MAKE sush m
ouiry; whose report Is herewith submitted, NO. loJ
All The aJoption OF the measures suggested ny them
is respectfully recommended ~
very extensive opers tons Of that department during
the past year, and The efficiency and energy WIN
which they have been prosecuted. They embrace SO
much OF detail preclude enumei alton OF them
In this paper. The various Recommendations winch
are made by the distinguished officer at the head ofthat
department will doubles receive all the consideration
which due 10 the suggestions OF great experience
and high military talent Among those when aP
pear 10 the undersigned most deserving Immaculate
attention, the following.
!, The recommendations Of a military road villain our
acknowledged limits, to supply subsistence ana o'nei
stores al Forts Kent and Fairfield, in the state oil
Maine. Circumstances of peculiar character seem
10 demand that no time should be lost In the COM
mencement OF this work
The establishment of strong fort at Fort Brady,
with comnodious barracks commanding the commo-
sable !,
And post on the Missouri frontier, south OF Fort
Leavenworth is necessary IN connexion win tue
plan Of defence for that portion OF our Tertiary.
The propr,eiy of commsneing the erection oil per-
manent works IN the Keys or on the peninsula vi rio
Ida, is strongly presented !.
OF the utility OF opening and improving some, u
not all the interior communications mentioned Ia tue
report at some time there probably can be tte uoupt
Whether that time has afnved, VIII DC ior 'no "i'"o
Of Congress 10 decide
The DELAY in the settlement of the accounts OF ON
Gers alluded to ia the report, unquesiionaniy
great and growing evil. report from the Second
Auditor has been made, pursuant to call from this
department, by which appears that there are iiS
accounts remaining in his office unsettled; OF which ~
were presented plior to 1889, 10 that year, 10 ia
1910, and ,l43 in 1871. A similar report from The
Third Auditor shows that there are Si4 accounts In
his office unsettled of which 257 were presented
prior 10 1889 1913 in that year. 436 in 1910, 73o IN
iSil Whatever may be the Of this delay,
which is believed not TO be in any want OF efficiency
ia the Auditors their clerks but rather IN the m
creased amount Of business, and the more frequent
calls for information its existence Is most injurious 70
the Government and often runous to the individuals
concerned. Ii the remedy is to be found in an IN
crease Of force in those Offices there be no doubt
Of the necessity Of It's prompt application.
The change in the mode of accounting for property
in the hands OF officers, suggested IN the same report
is earnestly recommended, equally necessary to the
protection of the Government and the security oil IT'S
agents Such change will do much to diminish the
labors Of the auditors offices.
The claims for the subsistence of the troops called
into service in Florida, in 1882 by the Governor of
that Territory seem to be Just There is difficulty,
however in directing their payment by this Depart
men in conseq Of the only appropriation on the
subect-that made by the act Of September ., 1871
being by its reference to the act OF 1880 limited 70
such militia us called into service under the au-
,hority of the War Department Although such au-
thonty was given for larger number than was actu-
ally raised yet the troops In question seem not 10 nave
been called into service under IT, but under an act OF
the Territorial Legislature, and were not mustered
into the service OF he United States. The case re-
quires the nerposi,ion of Congress, as well to deray
the charges for subsistence TO provide for the pay
Of the troops and il is hoped that no objections OF
merely technical character will prevent full justice be-
ing done TO the militia who obeyed the call the CO.
vernon.
The strong appeal made by the Quartermaster Go
neral to the Justice the country to redeem the pledge
given by him to the Greeks, as consideration tor
their removal TO the West and Of their raising re-
giment Of warriors who served faithfully In Florida
cannot be resisted consistently with any regard Tor
those principles which il is the object Of our insu
tons 10 maintain. Infdelity to engagements
and refusal rcmunerate faithful service, VIII not
increase either the confidence respect OF the lnd-
ans who have relied honor. 1t Is to be hoped
that the subject will be examined, and full justice
rendered by the competent authority
The progress v hich has been made in the construc
ton and Improvement Of the Notifications at the diff
ferent harhors the seacoast will be seen from the
report Of the Chief Engineer. The means for these
purposes having been appropriated a. the extra SEES
sion OF Congress- but little time has been gwen Tor
their employ men Still it will be seen that the works
have been vigorously prosecuted and that probably
more than was contemplated has been accomplished.
IL will be seen that some OF tho most important
works for tho defence Of the harbor OF New YORK
cannot DO continued for want OF the approf rations
tina, were recommended at the late session. IL IS OF
the utmost to tho protection OF that city,
that prompt and decisive action should be had upon
the subject.
The same report shows what has been done ward
the completion of the various improvements and tho
continuation of roads heretofore undertaken by the
Government, and in charge OF the Engineer Depart
ment. The want OF appropriations has arrested these
works and exposed some OF them to the inevitable IN
juries consequent upon Their being left IN an UNI
nished state. Every consideration of policy and JUS
tice seems TO require that these should no longer re-
main, either memorials of any improvldence IN
undertaking them, or of an instability OF purpose
which refuses TO prosecute works OF unquestioned
usefulness. If any Of them are OF such character
that they ought not to be Completed they should be
discontinued directly and unequivocay; and those
which are worthy the enterprise Of a liberal and pa
ternal Government, should be vigorously Prosecuted
and finished
The condition of the Military Academy at West
Point is hibed in the report OF the Cher Engineer
anu IN tnat O the OF Fl-iters, soieoteu
different portions Of the United States, to scrutinlze
all its affairs There Is great reason to congratulate
the country upon the which has attended the
peseyering efforts Of Congress to furnish the means
of military instruction to youth, and Of preserving
and improving that science upon which our safety IN
war must at all times depend. In an age remarkable
for the extent to which human inventions, IN all de-
partments have been carried and in which the art OF
war has undergone essential notifications, from the
introduction OF new agents and the Improvement Of
those previously existing, it would indeed be re-
proach to the ne liz, ofour country and refiec
ton upon the tendencies OF free institutions II we
refused or neglected to avail ourselves OF the only
means by which give 10 the bravery OF our CT
rens the aid Of that science which is alone necessary
TO render them equal to the skilul cohorts that may