Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-15
p;8LiC DOCUMENTS.
;ErORr OF me SECRETARY OF WAR CONCLUDED


II will be perceived that considerable progress has
been made in the Snfrcy q. the Northwestern lakes,
and that preparations FIR is continuance, The next sea
SON. have been made, which ~" ENABLE those IN charne
of The work accomp ISL more than practicable
during the last year. The expense Of these surveys,
comparatively, ,fias, that they can scarcely be
liable objection, almost any state OF the Treasury
cannot call attention 10 the report Of Captain
Williams, respecting the urgent necessity OF a harbor
on the West side Of Lake Michigan, md the improve
lnent of the the mouth Of 81. Clair river
These exceedingly important 10 the United States,
10 enable furnish supplies 10 the Indian tribes and
military Stores and subsistence for the troops, which,
even IN time of peace, must be maintained in tha,
quarter and which, the event Of a0stlii;les will at
ford the only barrer between savage erocly and
frontier settlements. But, 10 oar fellow citizens OF
that region, who have purchased the public lands
safe the markets Of tho Els is essential
10 Justify their calls upon The Government 10.
mon share OF It's protection. The commerce OF the
lakes comprising the productions OF States and
one territory, which must, annually, exceed twenty
five millions cf dollars, would entitled TO
pderaton and assistance, not only account OF the
great interests involved in zig success, but, the
ground also, Of far appotonment of the fostering
and protecting aid Of The Government. This commerce
affords the onv effective means ot supplying the
lion with The mariners, who will be found indspen
sable in that quarter, IN he event Of hos.li,ies.
Il will be tina, the surveys for the defences Of
Sellers FATS ard Of Delaware breakwaer harhor
completed Those Tor the de!enccs o. Sandy Hook,
and the harbar ard town Of Portsmouth, New Hamp.
shire are in execution well rs the military recon
nojssance of the peninsula of Maryland, South Of the
city. Il is gratifying 10 learn that expensive and
very thorough reconnaissance Of the deiences Of New
Orleans embracing largc extent Of territory, has been
completed
The raft whic: formed tho obstruction 10 the ma
v;patioa Of Red river has been removed; event OF
no small importance 20 our fellow citizens in that
quarter.
The Potomac aqoeduc is far completed TO
warrant the confident expectation that il wIll be in
condition 10 receive water in the Of the next
season. The repairs Of tie Potomac bridge draw
inr to close and believed that it will be passabe
IN January next.
The measures taken TO execute the law of tie last
session ppropra.ig hundred thousand dn.las for
the improvement, the Ohio, Mississippi Missouri and
Arkansas rivers are also stated So the eppli-
cation for al injunction by Henry NJ ShTeve, E.q.,
which has arrested the progress Of those measures shall
be disposed Of they w! be resumed Bat il is manifest
that the present appropriation IS wholly inadequate
that i, can only provide the necessary snng boats, and
that unless followed hy oters, the expenditure OF the
money will be but Ia aisle K,
The proceedings of the corps under the laws respect
ing the construction o' h@il houses also detailed
in the report IL woCd that Tie expense of these
Invaluable auSafIes 10 Commerce may he much d.
minshed ny the adoption Of Ml,chelis patent screw
,.oor,ncs, . recent English invention, aud that by
means OF such riooriucs they be placed III posi-
lions far ad"GntG reous 10 The mariner than any
tina, be occupied II lie present mote Of building
Them The sanction IL: Congress invited to the steps
recommcr ded by the Colonel OF Typographical Eng.
neers procure the necessary apparatus, and acquire
a knoNlst dye 81 lis applicatson
IL will be seen that pe'ir oi engineers IS in the
field for the survey of the Arkansas and Plat, rivers
and the adjacent country. survey Of the con"'ry
North of the hl,ssour, having been Completed the map
Of which, constructed by MIR Nlcalie,, rne1ualltd in
The accuracy and fitness offs details, is nearly
finished and Will be Published n January next. Ii Is
intended TO smi!5r survey OF the country South
of that RIVER embracing The approaches 20 the Rocky
Mountains their several passes aud gradually the re-
gion between them and possessions the Pacific.
These explorations and surveys indispensable Ia
such knowed,n Of the country It's and liz
streams, mast possess heio!c we can establish
nny communication w!;h rcriCn that is every day
becoming more important 10 us. And u is hoped al
there viii 10 reluctance TO granting the very mo-
derae appropriations asked for the continuance of the
"military and geographical surveys Yves, OF The Mis-
sieeippi river.
In the last annual rcror, or tie department, your at
ten,ion and that OF Congress called 70 the grea
importance OF establishing chain Of military pos''
extending from the Council bluffs to the mouth Of The
Columbia river plan and estimate of the expense
were subsequently laid before the military committee
of the House of Representatives, by whom very
cbe and interesting rcp9rt made, accompanied by
bill would eghin earnestly invite considerable;
of the suhject. There two aspects in which !
NAV be regarded In the fist pace, the exhibition q
military power is Indispensable to couuterac, and
troll any hostile disposition Of The Indians IN tha
vast end seGnesteted region. They ere now expose
10 the unressed nineGccs Of the traders AID
ries of foreign nations, by whom they could nj any
time be excited TO deyas:ale that entire ironter. W.
could command the avenues by which these Indiana
pass from the North 10 the South in their hunting ex
petitions, and thus make ;hctn sensible OF our powe
resist and punish aggression. In the second place
if intend To nain right TO the territories o.
the Pacific, belonging 10 U.s. which, It is supposed
does not admit OF question, We must occupy them
and we must establish communication with then
other than that Of fre months voyage by at
NJ .Ep Br cytc IN ON
laws and civil jurisdiction ;hc country aud at
fordng protection TO citizens disposed 10 emig'n:,
thilher have Tie strongest reason to believe, iron
communications 10 tie department, that suiicen
number would soun establish themselves in tia, Guar
ter, provided they could he assured Of immunity from
Indians Tie way, end their journey could be iacili
tated BY the Governme mt To attain these purposes
IT is not supposed thata continued chain OF posts Is
imme diate!y necessary. The establishment of on,
at some proper point on the Missouri, probably be
tween the great bend of that river and White river
NJ which stores and supplies could be collected, ane
from which parties could te sent out, would ansmei
for the present, and until TIE whole ground should be
better known. The parties would BE- occupied prna
ry in exploring and Surveying, TO ascertain The tes
routes, in removing distractions and Facilitating III,
passage of such roGi9s, ard IN protecting the
of immigrants. And il small G.tachncns OF hirec
men, acquainted with the county, furnished t.
the latter, upon tler crossing the mountains il is he
lieved that nothing further would he required Every
colony that passed over The mountn!ns, would iaci
tate the progress at rs successor ana; every one tha
established itself beyond them would add TO The strength
and power Of The Government, and would perhaps
der permanent forts unnecessary.
There arc many indications that the time has arrived
Cor decided aclinn this subject and trust that at
the ensuing of Congress, there will be such
appropriations vii! enable this department 10 make
the necessary arrangements to send on TO Oregon
colony of citizens i'm patient undertake the enterprise
a post a, or near The mouth OF the Columbia, would
certainly be Desirable but ii is not deemed absolutely
necessary, in the present condition Of things
The operations IN the P9ymasier Generals and the
Surgeon Generals departments detailed IN The re-
ports of their respective chefs. Under tho authority
of the appropriation at the last session. for extending
and rendering more complete the meteorological obser.
yat;ons conducted al tie military posts, Professor EPsy