Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-09
FROM THE WAR DEPARTMENT.

,nfenUrnce % T1cpaftrlCHt
nature or pressing emergency, or from 'he genera
;,,erext they excite, you may deem proper 10 COM
mnnic,,e Tor the information Of Congress and the
public
Although the inspections directed since the adj
i,urnment OF Congress have been made with inc
,,,e,,cst promp,ness and furnish extensive body
of information in regard to the state oil the public
delcnccs, MS well TO the discipline and efheiency
of the army and bear full and satisfactory tcsti-
mony TO the Importance OF the Inspectors Depart
,n.,i v., from the limited time allowed, and the
immense extent Of territory over which the nnmer-
ons establishments connected with the mil'ory scr
vice are distributed, the inspections are necessarily
incomplete: and il is therefore not designed 10 no.
tce ali the considerations suggested by the informal
ton they afford until future occasion.
In the general condition and disposition OF the
army there has been no material change since the
last annual repor: from this Department Inc re-
ular force stationed in Florida, consisting of eight
Remnants and numbering, IN the aggregate, Ivy the
last returns, five thousand and hty-sevcn, 1t mas
hecn found expcdent to continue in service IN that
Territory.
few incursons by small attachments Of our
troops into the Businesses OF tho enemy, by wh'ch
their atrocities have been ssnay visited upon their
own heads have been the only exceptions to the
general cessation Of hostiltics which took place last
fall after the regiments, reinforced by new re-
crafts and provided with every necessary supply,
were prepared for active operations; nor have they
been renewed since that time. Offers to negotiate
from several ch els the device by which those crafty
warriors have often baiilrd our arms at the pc
Rod propitious TO success were renewei under
such circumstances rs induced the commanding ge-
neral once more to embrace them. The strongest
confidence appears TO have been felt that, wi'h the
NH of suitable amount OF fumes, applicable 10 that
object, the whole OF the hostile bands nSht soon oe
persu ,dcd TO sndcr, and abandon the country.
This line Of policy, though ardy IN IT'S results con-
tInucd TO hold out such hopes oil complete success
n. to encourage the late Administration IN the be-
lief that this protracied had At last been brought
rln tn he LONGER n
iicular interest anxiety. For these reasons n
was not thought expcdlen to check or interrupt the
negotiations in progress on the 4h OF March last,
Ivy 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 ono hun
bred warriors, oil Of whom have been transported
to the country assigned them, west OF the Missls-
sippi. Some expectation is still INDUCED by the
officer in command that the remaining bands
which have so long infested the upper and north
crn districts Of the peninsula, will surrender IN n
short time: but regret TO state that but little hope
can he Justly cherished that tins unhappy and
wastefu war, which has already cost 50 great q
number Of valuable lives, and so many millions OF
public treasure, will be terminated without still
further sacrifices IL appears that, inter SIX months
Of negotiation, no access has been hhd 10 the primer
pal and most powerful chiei, or TO any OF his to-
lowers. Directions have accordingly been given for
the most energetic and effective prosecution of the
war the moment further negotiations shall appear
To- I've useless. Steps have also been taken TO IN
crease this efficiency OF the means now at the dspo
sal OF the officer in command; and in the mean time,
the retrenchment of every expenditure connected
with the service, for purposes not essential IN In
dian warfare, has been earnestly enjoined.
The many weishty considerations which invite
the immediate attention OF Congress TO the suhject
Of the public dcences generally, and particularly 10
the works absolutely necessary TO the security OF
our great commercial emporiums, and the keys 10
our most valuable resources oil every KIND, must be
i ataIf MT h
ing this Department can urge could add any Thing
their force and concuslveness. To say nothing
Of the destruction of property, and our weakened
condition in military point of view, attendant up
the carrying of any OF our most assaable points,
the penetration OF our territory and the seizure oil
even one of stronghods by powerful enemy
upon the sudden outbreak OF war, II would seem 10
lie equally the dictate of patriotism and wisdom to
make due provision against the infection oisuch IN
suits the national honor and character.
IL has been urged an objection 10 the further
progress of the works heretofore projected for the
defence Of our extensive coast, that tile recent
experiments in the Of steam power in ocean
navigation and the ready application OF the same
powerfu agent TO the defence Of our principal har-
bors together with the late inventions IN the means
Of increasing the desiructIveness OF shells, must soon
introduce an entire change IN the system oil coast
defence, as well as of maritime war IN general. IL
- true that the mental activity, characteristic OF the
age in every other art and science has not been less
fruitful IN suggesting Improvements IN the art of
war the value of some OF which has already been
tested IN practice, and doubtless others will in time
prove equally successful. In no department OF pub
lie affairs may the natural connexIon and depend
cnce between all the sciences and inventions OF art
be more benefcialy illustrated than in the improve
ment Of the means OF natlona! defence. That !he
cause Of humanity will be promoted IN proportion
as the existing systems and means OF defensive
warfare arc perfected by new Improvements, IN at
lordlnG oil nations greater security TO the indie
pendent enjoyment Of their own acquisitions and
forms nt society and government IN putting the
weak upon a more cqua footing with the strong; in
rendering wars less frequent, and allowing all the
arts Of peace to flourish IN uninterrupted ysor, can
not he doubted. It's source OF much qualification
TO observe that several gentlemen OF high protes-
sonal distinction in the army are employing them
selves IN these appropriate studies. But, WHILE IN
carrying forward the plans devised in former years,
due regard should be had to the improvements al
ready introduced in the means of defence, and as
Ear as practicable, 10 such notifications as may be
rendered necessary 10y future discoveries, we must
take care by the most efficient application OF the
means already known and approved, not to lose the
advantage Of present security.
The array OF well-authenucated facts and results
Of past experience, and the we-sustalned reasoning
founded upon them, exhibited IN the report Of The
board Of officers referred to in the accompanying let
ter OF the Chief OF the Corps OF Engineers, appear
to be conclusive in favor Of completing the system
of defence therein recommended, so far at least ms
10 pace the country in what is denomnated good
occurrence OF war. To this extent the completion
of the works heretofore projected may be regarded
as Indispensable however defective they may be Ms
n perfect system OF national defence. Ii will he seen
from the estimates stated in the report alluded TO-
that to effect that object will require nppropra
ton OF Sq,Gg3, 517 upon the ioricatlOns, and go.
ig3, 900 for the armaments; making together Oh,
sum Of SI2, IsG, 5i7. The obligation Of the Gov
crnment to apply this sum 10 the objects cOntempia
ted as speedily ns,the nature and due permanence o
the several constructions will admit, is rendered i'm
peraiyo and absolute by every consideration o
public safety and public honor.
1t IS estimated by the Chief Engineer that the sun
Of s1,i3J, 500 can be judicously and most bene'
Gcially applied upon these essential works Of do
fence during the remainder Of the present year
in addition to the appropriations horooior,
made for the same objects The expenditures IT.
this branch Of the service have been conydcrd.
bic in the current quarter than usual, and hence The
additional appropriations asked for uro larger thar
they would have been under ordinary circumstances
How this has happened will he explained by the fic
that after the accession Of your immediate anc
l1mented predecessor M the means at the dspota
tins Department we're directed TO be employed upOr
the Notifications and other works for the protection
Of the Atlantic frontier, in the manner deemed bes
calculated produce the greatest possible efficiency
IN the shortest time. This course appeared to bC
called for by the unsettled and threatening aspect oil
our foreign relations. While the whole Of the re.
at the disposal Of this Department for this
service were thus ordered 10 he applied 10 such
finished works MS could be made available, IN whole
or IN part, m reasonable time, Il is proper TO state,
m this eonncIon, that directions at the same
time given Iosuppy, without delay, the works al.
ready completed with their appropriate armament.
The prompttuIe md LberaItv with yybirb the