Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-12-25

i which was specially assigned the duty of prepar
lug d general system of defence for the sea bord
IL made personal examinations of every harbor or
the whole cost excepting only a few in Eas,
FIprida) accessible to seagoilg vessels. While
The bonrd was thus employed, settling The gener
al principles Of defence and selecting posi,ione.
its number was augmented by the addition Of off
GERS of the navy, generally two post captains -
During A portion of this time the functions of the
board were extended TO embrace the selection Of
suitable sites for a great northern and southern
naval depot. Reports of progress were made ia
1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1921, and
lS25; and attwo drtfsrcnt times, namely in 1926
and 1886, n summary report was presented TO the
Executive. and sont to Congress, describing the
system briefly in lis application to the several
parts OF the coast.
The board has been comprised Of officers Of high
rank in the corpse of engineers, together with
General Bernard, during the thirteen or fourteen
years he was in this country.
In Pursuance of a resolution Of the House of
Representatives Of April 8. 1910, a report from
this ID partment was mlde on the twelfth day Of
Nay in the same year, transmitting one from a
board of officers assembled for the purpose OF con-
siderIng the subject, which contains a very full
view Of the system, in a brief compass, and geo
graphically arranged. 1t exhibits the various
works deemed necessary along the Atlantic coast.
and along that of the gulf of Mexico, and the or
der OF their relative importance, IN reference to
'h8 line Oh tlCIr CODSlfNctlOn, win eStlfDatcS OF
the expense Of each, and of the aggregate COST
The sane board also reported upon another plan
of defence snbmitrcd by a distinguished military
commander. and gave their reasons, at large, why
it ought not to be substituted for that already
mentioned, which had been presented by loint com
mission Of naval and military officers.
To the formation OF that system, the greatest
military talent and experience of the country
have been devoted, and it would I'll become one
whose pretensions to either are 50 limited to at
tempt a comparison of i, with any, or to sustain
it by any views of his own. Itmay be remarked,
however, that, so far as the Judgment of Congress
can be gathered from its acts, and so far as an in
~telligen, public opinion has been expressed, they
both seem to be decidedly In favor Of the system
which has been so deliberately considered. and SO
long rnatured; and it NAV now be regarded as
the so,,led policy of the country.
The elements Of that system are, first naval
forces; second, tortlfcatinne5 ana third, interior
communications
AS to the first, independent o. all other consi-
deratlons, It IS supposed that floating batteries of
any description that are to remain stationary at
the exposed points, cannot be expected, because
The aggregate expense of providing and maintain
ing the large force that would be required for the
numerous points on our coast. would be beyond
our means. An inconsiderable force at each
point would be wholly inadequate TO meet that
which might be brought against ii; and the de-
fence OF a few, on! y, of the most important, would
neither answer the expectations of the country,
nor fulfil the obligations of the Government. A
navy which would carry the wlr into every sea
where the enetny's m was to be found,
would efectually keep him from our coast, by
rendering his presence necessary elsewhere.-
For the defence Of inlets and harbors, whose en-
frances are shallow, a class of sfeam-vessels, Of
light draft. would doubtless form n necessary part
of our defence, and where the inlets are numer-
Gus, such vessels would be Indispensable. But
where n largo number of enemv's ships can find
Of easy access, and sufficiently ca pacious
10 contain them, they cannot be successfully me;
by an inferior force; and, as there is no probabil,
ity OF our competing with several European ma
tons in the magnitude OF their naval establish /
ments, the only resource left US, is 10 fortifyirg
our harbors and roadstends.
The second element Of defence consists, there
tore, IN permanent Qualifications. While they are
more efectual for defence, in certain positions.
than floating forces. they are less expensive in
constructions, more durable, and requiring an out
iy in repairs utterly insignificant. when compared
with the expenses Of maintaining h ips, and re-
newing them.
They are deemed indispensable for the purpo-
ses OF Covering the military and naval depo,s,
and all other public or private establishments
which would invite the enterprise or the cnpidity
of a foe. and of excluding him from strong posi-
tons. where his naval superiority might enable
him to maintain himself, and from which he might
make incursions into the interior, or assail an ex-
tensive line OF coast.
The positions deemed necessary to be occupied
by Qualifications along the whole Atlantic coast,
from Passamaqnoddy bay to Cape Florida, and
along the gulf, from that cape, TO the mouth
Of the Sabine, were Indicated in the report
before mentioned, with The reasons for their
the extent and nature Of the required
works, and their expense. As the execution of
these works could not be simultaneous, the or
1er OF succession was regulated BY reference 10
The value OF the object to be covered, TO the ma
hon, or 10 an enemy; its exposure by isolation
rs accessibility, depending on distance, time. or
the means. source, and time of obtain
nc siccor. and, finally, the condition of existing
licences. The order thus established has been
adhered 10 with a few EXCEPTIONS, occasioned By
different views on the part of Congress. Great