Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-06-21


of Congress and the public.
Although the inspections directed since inc an-
iournmont of Congress havo nceh hauo WIN 'pe
greatest prcmptness, and furnish an extensive Douy
of information in regard TO the state oi the pubic
,lcfcncos ms well ms to tho discipline and clicien- |
cv of tho army, and be Ir full and satisfactory os-
iimony to the importance Of the Inspectors Dc
partmont, yet from the limited time allowed, and
the immense extent Of territory over whlch the
numerous establishments connected with the mil
itary service are distributed, the inspections arc
necessarily incomplete; and it is therefore not
designed 10 notice all the considerations suggested
Ivy the information they afford, until future oc-
casion
In the general condition and dispositions OF the
army there has been no material change since the
last annual report from this Department. The
regular force, stationed in Florida, consisting oil
eight regiments, and numbering in the aggregate
Ivy the last returns five thousand and fifty seven
it has been found oxpedent TO continue in service
in that Territory.
few incursions by small detachments OF on
troops into the Businesses of the enemy, ny which
their atrocities have been signaly visltcd upon
their own heads, have been the only exceptions !"
the general cessation OF hosilliues "h'ch 'ooh
place last fall after the regiments, relnloTcc"
hy new recruits and provided with every ncccssa
nv SUNNY. were prepared for active operations
nor have they been renewed sincc that time
Offers to negotiate from several chiefs, the device
by which these crafty warriors have so often bat
fed our arms at the period most propltous TO
SUCCESS were renewed under such circumstances
as induced the commanding General once more
to embrace them. The strongest confidence ap
pears TO have been felt that, with the aid OF suit
able amount of funds, applicable 10 that object,
the whole of the hostile bands might soon he per
suadcd to surrender, and abandon the country
This limo of policy, though tartly IN us rcsuIis,
continued TO hold ont such hopes OF complete
success as TO encourage the late administration in
the beliefhat this proracted war bad AT last been
brought so near a close, as 10 be no longer sub
iect of particular interest or anxiety. For these
reasons it was not thought cxpedent to chccS
interrupt tic negotiations in progress on the 4th
of March last, by directing different mode of
operations.
The result so far, since The negotiations were
renewed in the fall, has been The surrender of four
hundred and thirty one Indians, including about
one hundred warriors, all of whom have been
transported TO the country assigned them, west Of
the Mississippi. Some expectation is still ndulg-
ed by the officer in command ,lat the remaining
bands which have so long infested the upper and
northern districts of The peninsula will surrender
in q short time but | regret to state that h,lt lit
tic hope can be Justly cherished that this unhappy
and wastciul war, which has already cost great
number Of valuable lives, and SO many millions
of public treasure, will he terminated without
still further sacrifices. 1t appears that, after SIN
months of negotiation, no access has been had
TO the principal aud most powerful chief, or to amy
of his followers, Directions have accordingly
been given for the most energetic aud effective
prosecution of the the moment further ne
sotiations shall appear to be useless. Steps have
also been taken to increase the efficiency of the
means now ut the disposal of the officer in com
tnand aud, in the mean time the retrcnclmcIi
of every expenditure connected with the vice,
for purposes not essential in Indian warfare, has
been earnestly enjoincd.
The many weghty considerations which Invite
the attention of Congress to the subject OF th'
public deiunces generally, and particularly TO The
works absolutely necessary to the security of on
great commercial cmporiums and the keys t,
most valuable resources of every kind, mus, b,
so generally understood and appreciated, Ma
nothing this department can urge could add an
thing to their force and concuslveness. 10 sa
nothing Of the destruction of property, and on
weakened condition in II military poiul Of view
attendant upon tho carrying of any of our mos
asJaablG points, the penetration of our terTItor
and The seizure OF even one OF our strong holds II
powerful enemy upon the sudden outbreak {
war il would seem to be equally the dictate
patriotism and wisdom 10 make due provision
golnst the iuhicon of such insults to the naioni
honor aud character.
1t has been urged as an objection 10 the firiht
progress of the works heretofore projected for tn
defence OF our extensive coast that the recel
experiments in the use Of steam power in ocea
navigation, and the ready application OF the sam
powerful agent TO the defence of our principe
hnrhors, together with the late inventions in til
means of increasing the destructiveDcss in shell
must soon introduce an entire change in the sys
ten Of coast defence, as well as of mnratme va
in general. 1t is true that tho mental aciivill
characteristic Of the age in every other AIT an
science, has not been less fruitful in suggestin
improvements in the art Of war, the value Of SOU
of which has already been tested in practice a'
doubtless others will, in time, provo equally sue
cessiu'. In no department OF public affairs, ma
the natural connection and dependence betwee
al tho cr,n and OE nj In mn
bcneficalIy Illustrated than in the imprOveine
Of the means ofnaonal defence. That the caus
OF humanity will be promoted in proportion as tt
existing systems aud means of defensive warin
are perfected by new improvements, in affnrln
10 all nations greater security to the indcpende
enjoyment OF their own acquisitions and forms
society and government ; in putting the weak u
on more equal footing with the strong in re
derlng wars less frequent, and allowing all u
arls Of peace to flourish in uninterrupted vist
cannot he doubled IL is source of much gra
ficaton TO observe that several gentlemen of lIi!
professional distinction in the army are einpoyil
themselves in these appropriate studies Ii
while, in carrying forward the plans devised
former years, due regard should be had to Il
improvements already introduced i'll the means
defence, and, rs far as practicable, to such MOI
fcations rs may be rendered necessary by futu
discoveries, we must take care, by the most Ell
cicnt application of the means already known a
approved, not 10 lose the advantage of prest
security.
The array of well authenticated facts and
suits OF past experience, and the well sustain
reasoning founded upon them, exhibited in
report of the board of officers referred TO in
accompanying letter Of the Chief of the Corps
Engineers, appear to he conclusive in favor
completing the system OF defence ,hurein rocu
mended, so far, AT least, as to place the countr,
what is dtnominated a good state of dcfenS
preparation against any sudden occurrence Of "
TO this extent the completion of the works he
tofoe projected may be regarded as indispensa
however defective they may he as a perfect {
= TEN of national defence. It will be seen from
estimates stated in the report alluded to, that
effect that object will ranuira nm anDronrnt OI