The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-07-08


prove equally successful. In 20 depar
ment u public affairs may the natural cor
nexlUE aud dependence between all the SC
ences and inventions Of art be more beneiC
lally illustrated than in the improvement {
the means OF the national defence. The
the caUse OF humanity will be promoted /
: proportion as the existing systems en
means oil defensive warfare are periecte
, by lev Improvements, 10 alinrdpg 10 a
nations greater security To the Independent
enjoyment OF their own acquisitions Hn
ioEms OF society and government; IN put
ting The weak upon more equal iooiinI
With the strong Ia rendering wars less fire.
qaeut, and allowing all the arts OF peace t,
flourish in uninterrupted Slgor, cannot b
doubted. IL is source Of Wuch grallicg
ton 10 observe that several gentlemen Q
high professional dlsiluctiGn 10 The arml
are employing themselves in these appro
PIRATE studies. But while. in carrying for
ward the plau. devised in former cars, due
regard shsuId be bad to the improvements
already introduced in tho means Of lie
ieuee, and, as far as practicable, TO such
notifications as may BE- rendered necessary
by future discoveries, We must take care,
by tho most efficient application Of the
means already known az approved, no! 10
lose the advantage Of present security.
The array OF well authenticated facts
aud results Of pact experience, and the sus
tuned reasoning founded upon them, exhlb
ned 10 he report Of the board Of officers re.
fcrred to IN the accompanying letter Of the
Chef of tho Corps of Eugiaecrs, appear to
DO conclusive in favor OF completing tho
s. stem OF defence therein recommended, so
far, al least, as to place the couutry 10 what
is denouInated good state Of defensive
preparation against any sudden occurrence
Of war. To this exteot the completion OF
the works heretofore projected may be re,
gardsd as Indispensable, however defective
tboy may be as perfect system Of national
jeleacc. It will be seen from the est
rates stated 10 the report alluded to, that
to effect that object viii require an appro.
pflaiion Of 50,633,J 4I upon the lortitica
uoos, and 81, 403,o 900 fof the armanenls i;
making together the sum Of 9l2,lsG, j4T
The obligation Of the government to apply
this sum 10 The objects contemplated as
speedily as the nature and due permauenee
OF the several constructions viii admit, IS
rendered imperative and absolute by every
consideration Of public safety and honor.
Il is estimated by the Chief Engineer
that the SUN Of 81, 435, 500 can be Jude
lously and most benedciaIly applied upon
these essential works Of defence during the
remainder Of the present veur, 10 addition
to tie appropriations heretofore made for
the same objects. The expenditures u
this braUca Of the service have been more
considerable IN tho current quarter than Us
uai, and hence the additional appropriations
asked for arc larger than they would have
been under ordinary circumstances. How
this has happened will he explained BY the
fact that soon after the accession of your
immediate aud lamentcd predecessor, all
the means a, the disposal Of this Depart.
men, were directed to be employed upon
the Notifications and other works for the
Atlantic frontier, IN the manner deemed
best calculatedto produce the greatest posi-.
bic efficiency in the shortest time. This
courec appeared to DO called Tor By the IN
settled aud threatening aspect Of our for
81 90 relations. While tie whole Of the re
sources at the disposal Of this Department
for this service we're thus ordered to be ap /.
pied 10 such unfinished works as could be !
made available, in whole or in part, in a
reasonable tine, 1t Is proper to state, IA
this connection, that directions were at the .
same time given 10 supply, without delay, |
the works already completed with their up. /.
proprlate armament.
The promplilude and literally with .
u htch the Governor Of New York aud the
Commissioner ofpubiic lands IN that State re,
,pordrd to the recent application Of the De. !
pRrtmcut to be pui 10 possession ofthe works /
on Staten Island, under the su
7eryson and at the expense OF that State, !
for the defence Of the New York har5or, de- /
serve the thanks of the country, and should !
be further acknowledged by the immediate /
,nnropriation Of the sum demanded as a
for the ground upon which /
hey are situated. The works are regard. .
I'd as Of great importance 10 TIE obiec, for
which they were Designed, and they are
,ow in n course Of repair and improvement,
iu3er the direction of q competent officer
# the corps Of engineers. The corrcspoa,
ieuco between this Department and the
Governor Of New York, and the report
If the Chief Englnoer, will show the terms
lpon which The title to this property viii
De vested N the United States,
Il will be seen from the accompanying
export from the Ordnance Department,
hat some additional appropriations for that
service are believed 10 be important 10 the
,ahlc interest, The amount called for is
1920 600. The importance Of the opera
ions of this Department, and It's immediate
,onnexion With the national defence, IN pro
riding guns, gun carriages, and other mu
llions, will at once be perceived.
1t is necessary that tue attention OF Con
yress should be called to the fblicg recent
y adopted in he management of the pub !
ic armorles. The duty of increasing, by
,very practicable means, The deficiency OF