The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-13
From the ~ o. Advertiser.
DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS, NEGLECT
ED BY CONGRESS-

ED BY CONGRESS.
Mr. Spencer in his report from the War Depart
ment, dated December lst lS4i, urged upon the
President the absolute necessity Of placing the exist
ing orks comm nding the avenues to New Orleans,
in state Of perfect efficiency in the shortest possible
time and estimates of the for eecng that iin-
porlanl object, were submitted TO Congress. What
Is the course of the House Of Representatives in this
important matter They strike out of the Appro-
priaion Bill nearly all these estimates and thus the
works in question suffered TO remain uncompleted,
TO the great detment OF interests in the event OF
trouble with England
| Again, Mr.. Spencer recommends the building i'm
medately of five steamships of war for the protec-
ton of the Gulf Coast, but neither House OF Com
gress has regarded the recommendation and thus the
valuable time has been lost during which those
vessels might have been constructed and instead OF
having ouI Gulf ports protected by efficient steamers,
we are now at the mercy of the English steam force
which can be, at moments warning, congregated
on our coast Mr.. Upshurs recommendations, too,
on this point have been utterly neglected 1t is trus,
on the receipt of the late news from England, MI.
Barrow in the Senate, moved to look into the erpe-
diency of erecting one steamship to protect New of-
leans and somebody in the House brought in bill to
actually build such vessel Tor our defence but no
thing more has been heard of the thing.
The Congress told IN December, from the Ord
nance Department, that million of dollars were
required as early February, To complete the arDa-
ment OF The Atlantic and Cuff forts, but nothing has
The Chief Engineer informed the Secretary OF
Var in December that funds were required to finish
and completely equip the United States oIts 10 Louis
lana, and his estimates We're duly submitted, lie
pressed the Department the necessity of early ap-
propriaons say at least, before February, IN order
that the work In this latitude might be done IN the
healthy season The Secretary especially called the
attention of Congress this request hut nothing has
vet been done. The Appropriation Bill is dragging
heavily through the House of Pactionsts, and our
forts suffered to lie unfinished tor want OF few
dollars.
Last year military reconnaissance of the vicinity
| of New Orleans made by he Government and
| Col Albert informs the Department of War, when il
is completed, it will form basis for surveys of points
necessary be fortified Estimates of these forica-
| lions laid before Congress- but they have mol
| been allowed, and in the mean time we are exposed
| to the unsparing and violent attacks of any enemy
who may make his appearance of our coast, all be-
cause he President makers resolved TO reach Mr.
| Tyler and PROSTATE him, if possible.
This shameful neglect Of the interests of Louisi-
ana by the Congress- ought be demonstrated against
by people of all parties. Where is E. ID. Whltei-
Where is John b. Dawson Where is John +.
| Moorei Where is Alexander Barrow? They are
ntrused with the interests Of the State and yet then
voices as silent as the voices of the grave Not
of them rises in his place and protests against the
moved to ask for and insist upon appropriations to
finish the forts of louisiana to build new iortlhca
tions at vulnerable and exposed points, and to
provide for defence fleet of steamships. Let
the people rise up and instruct these gentlemen to do
their duty If things go much longer in the way
they have been going on at Washington the fate OF
the Rump Clay Congress of lS42, will prove to be
quite as signal that of the Council of Five Hundred
with this difference people will turn them neck
and heels, out of doors at the next election. Let
them take warning in time, leave off their chdren's
Iay, bury the Ratchet of party, provide for the ex-
penses of the Government vote permanent meas
Of by increasing the tariff pass the Ma
Mr. Cushing, give with liberal hand, money for the
increase of the Army and Navy and the erection OF
ample Notifications, and stand by the Administration
and the country, right wrong, in our negotiations
with England and Mexico. Let this be done, and
the people will forget and forgive the past II
not > God help the 9th Congress, for the people
will not!