Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-18

yerinu efforts Of Congress ~ furnish the means oil mi,
l,arr instruction 10 cur yoN and OF preserving and
imuroyng that science ufca which our saie'y ~ VA
must at all times depend In an age remarkable LOT
,hs ex,ent 10 which hum4f Inventions IN all depart
mens have been carried. rd in which the art Of war
has UNDERGONE essential notifications, from the intro
dnct;on Of new agents. and the Improvement oil tose
previously existing, II would indeed De fep!od'" ~
The intelligence of our country, ana rehecich uPon
Tho tendencies of free Institutions We leuseu VI
Neglected TO avail ourselves Of the only means by winch
700 rive TO the bravery &C our citizens The aid OF ina,
science which is alone necessary 10 render thein fu
10 the skltul cohorts that may be sent 10 our SHORES
n European nation The time has long since passed
f it ever existed, when mere vnlor couin compete
discipline and science. education be necessary 10
nreoare for any profession urey that of arms cannot
he nm execution As il, in lis nature, one that can
not derive any support from private interests OF hu
vidual emplovmen but is wholly public IN It's uses, lhe
nrov;son for acquiring il must be made by the Govern
men or will not be made at nii, or no. IN 'a""''
and to an extern, adequate TO the eS'gency
Bv mpar,inG the highest degree oil military science
q, ,ba vonnr men who are annually sent forth from the
acaden,Y the country ga''s not large huniuei =. ~
compshed individuals, NJ the information which Inc
possess becomes dnse mong ,ne O ,hn al
low-citizens, and iurnlsh'' a'l''eh. ~. ~. -
ne tho militia Indeed that sure, ultimate resource IN
anu conflict in which wc may be engaged Will be IN
deb,ed for its adyanceuep more to the establishment
nm institution in whc ABE military knowledge Oh Tue
world is collected preserved and taught than 10 ahy one
o,her c,nse The spirit which would denounce such =
eryo;r NJ science and seminary Of instruction, would
nroscribe the books lhc maps, charts mathematical IN
sruments and all other means and appliances ny "n'c
The re,,est amount of efficiency is given to phys'ai
force and intellectual strength I'd or VI;
The improvements rccomlnendedby the Bohfu " y
;,o,s ,rhch are within the competency OF 'hs DeP sh
ment will receive the carstul consideration W neni
tie b;ch source from which they epanate e'.s il is
Those which depend on tha action Oh RE sugres.
boped will meet the favor If that b9y instructor
ton that provision he madS cr az rom OF his pre-
who NAV relieve The chTlaln no time TO the moral
VIZ a,,ss ,b,, no NAV deyte NOR ~, sc -, go,
in struc,on of the pupils i 10 which they are
mind that reflects on Of her being separated from
exposed in of friends and kindred, and de-
the wholesome al s'' rudance"
prIved oil psss ofthe Visitors the Indispensable ne
Inc rem ew and enlarged barracks, as well Tor The
cesstIs the intellectual Improvement OF The cadets,
heal the subject strongly at not 10 admit OF any
Eher observations in their support, except the ex-
of the decided of this Department
in recommendation thai has already been slrenuousy
urged upon the attention oil Congress
The course of instruction at West Point IS, however
imperfect in one essential particuar-the means OF
practical knowledge of the duties OF sappers
miners, and ponloners Although 1t is not probabie
that in any war in which this country may be engaged
we shall have occasion to attack many other iorthca-
my; vet while the knowledge referred to would be m
for such purpose the defence oil such
places equally requires that should understand the
means BY which they totlJ be assailed, that we may
be prepared to counterfeit them. But IN any warfare
which should be carried. upon cur territory, the
most ef!ectra means ~ crossing streams by the con-
struction of bridges, otherwise, with The greatest
expedition of embarrassing an enemy IN his narch or
retreat and Of protecting our own forces, would DC
elements of the greatest Importance and ike oil oter
81 q, ha Inn n
and pereced only by the combination OF science with
nractical experience 1t earnestly hoped that these
considerations with those powerfully stated III The
report Of the Chief Engineer and those repeatedly
URGED by my predecessors, will induce Congress 10
make the necessary appropriation Tor the establish
ment at West Point; OF corps OF sappers, miners,
and pontoners.
The report of the officer having charge of the Bureau
of Typographical Engineers affords the most sastac-
tory evidence of the grent ability and usefulness OF that
corps Having been very recently organized, and not
being furnished with for any extensive operations
until within The past year. its capacity and utility are
now, for the first time fully developed. Tie surveys
of the mouth Of the Suwanee, of the boundary line be
tween us and Texas, from the mouth of the Sabine 10
Red river and Of the Des Aloines and Iowa rivers,
have been completed, while the most dncnlt part OF
Tho boundary between Michigan md Wisconsin has
hem finished The surveys of the lakes and that Of
the Northeastern boundary arc in progress The ren
sures ureparatory to active operations for the removal oil
The Red river raft are detailed i'll the report, and thai
important work will be prosecuted with vgor.
twill be perceived that tue works Tor The improve
nent Of harbors already authorized have been arranged
into two classes first those OF great importance and
immediate neccssity md second those of perhaps equal
importance hut in respect to which there are no Pecu
liar circumstances urgent Tor speedy action as IN the
first class The plan ofproceedng gradually, with due
regard to economy and the condition OF the Treasury
and with reference to the just aud equal claims OF the
different portions Of the country, WILL IT Is believed be
more likely accomplish greater amount OF the desir
ed improvement than any other mode
The total estimates for the works of the first class Is
1915 600 while the very moderate Of 100000 is
asked 10 preserve those the second class from decay
4, should not he inferred tina. any intention exists Of
abandoning many most valuable and important works
for which no specific estimates are submitted On The
contrary the very communication To preserve them
proceeds from desire Ter their completion at the pro
per time, and III due course IN reference 10 Tue primer
Piles before stated.
The works for Which specific estimates are submitted
are upon The Atlantic aud lake coasts Of which by ia
the largest amount - for the former.
While justice is thus done to the maritime frontier
in the Improvement oil liz harbors and in the provisions
for lis military and naval defences, the exceedingly i'm
portant ard rapid Embarrassing commerce on the lakes
is fairly entitled consideration and assistance by rem
derng accessible the harbors universally obstructed by
natural impedncuts, and by aording light houses fol
hazardous navigation Atihc present time, this com
one Territory, must Annually exceed S250O0,G00; anc
il expands and increases, il will give additional va
ue 10 the public domain, which will soon add lis tribu
ary streams the great tide OF internal trade tina
flows from Lake Superior 10 the Atlantic.
Having now two corps of officers, composed of gen
tlenen of the highest scientific acqnlremenls combined
with much experience there longer be any rea
son for making appropriations TO improve harhors o.
rivers, in the absence Of full and accurate information
from those equally competent and disnterested
81 oIa h,,o
decessor in 1880. that the whole listen may be brought
deserved dsrcpue, unless examinations are direct
ed and reports had previous to any appropriations FOL
sUch purposes.
The reports offhc raymasler- General and the act
ing Surgeon CD eral, show the operations Of those
departments anGihc octvity that prevails in them.
The report Of ahc Commissary General Of Subsist
ence exhibits several gratifying results The expense
for subsistence will be considerably diminished the en-
suing year There has been great prOmpness in the
rendering Of their accounts by tile discussing officers
aud in the settlement OF those Of the army and special
contractors and not cent has been lost during the