The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-10
REP ORT
OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
WAR DEPARrMExr. Nov. 20. lsla
Concluded


these surveys is comparatively 50 trihng that tho
can scarcely be liable to oh ion In almost sny sr,
of the Treasury. ] cannot omit 10 call attent,un
the report of Captain w iams respecting the u,g,r,
cesslty of harbor on the side OF Lake NiicI
gan, and The improvement of the navigation nj H.
mouth OF ST. Claif river. These are exceedingly a.;
portnnt to The United States TO enable us TO tuti
supplies TO the Indian tribes, and military stores md
subsis for the troops which, ia time olue,
must be maintained in that quarter, and which h.
the event OF hostililies, will afford the only b,,,
between savage lerocily aud our frontier tettema,
But TO our fellow -czeul Of that region, who h,,
purchased the public lands safe accoss to the p
kets OF the east is essential as 10 justly their cali
upon The Government for a common share of il, f,.
lection. The Commerce of the lakes comprising rt
produciil ms OF seven States and one Ternloy Will
must annually exceed tweny-f five nilons dollar,
would seem entitled to consideration and assistant
not only on account of the great Interests n,oved,
It's success, but on the ground, also, OF fair spuot
tionnent of The fostering and protecting aid Of the
Government This commerce affords tue only efac
tive means Of supplying the nation with the narinc,
who will he found indispensable in that quarter h,
The even. Of oslIliiies.
Ii will he seen that the surveys for the eiences ~
Sellers flats and OF Delaware breakwaier hatho, ~,
completed. Those for the defences of Sandy Hook
and HE harbor and town of Port, mou b, New Ham.
SHIRE, are in execution, well the military eco
noisance of the peninsula of Maryland south of tho
city. Ii Is gratifying TO learn that an expensive ami
very thorough reconnaissance of the deences of New
Orleans, embracing large extent of territory ha,
been completed
The raj which formed the obstruction to the n,v.
CATION of Red river has been removed nevent ofro
email Importance TO our fellow-c,izens in thai ouar
ter.
The Potomac aqueduct is so far completed AZ 10
warrant the confident expectation that il will be in
CONDITION TO receive ~aler IN the Of the next
season. The repairs oflhe Potomac bridge are draw.
close and believed that n v,u a., 49,.
bic in January next.
The measures taken 10 execute the law of the las,
session al proprating one hundred thousand dollars
Tor the Improvement of the Ohio, Mississippi, Mis-.
sour, and Arkansas rivers, are also stated SO on
as The application FIR an injunction by Henry NJ
Shreve Esq which has arrested the progress Of those
meas res, snail be disposed of they Will be resumed
But IT Is manifest that the present appropra on i,
wholly inadequae-that 1t can only provide the ne.
cessary snag-boas and that unless followed by Other.
the exp' ndiiurc OF the money will he but 10 waste
The proceedings Of the corps under the laws re-
speeding the construction of lighthouses are also de-
tailed in the report. 1t would seem that the expensc
Of these invaluable auxiliaries to commerce may be
much diminished 10y t adoption of Mitchell's patent
screw moorngs recent English invention and lhat
by meals of such noorings they can be placed in Do.
slllons far more adya ageous the mariner than any
that can be occupied m the present mode of building
EN-. ! he sanction Of Congress is invited 10 the
steps recommended by the Colonel of Typographical
acquire knowledge of its application
1t will be Sc, n that party of engineers is in The
field for the survey of the Arkansas and Plat rivers
and the djacent country. survey of the country
north Of the Missouri having been completed, the
map OF which, constructed by MIR. Nicallet unequal
led in the accuracy and fulness of its details is now
nearly finished and will be published in January next
II IS intended to cause similar survey of the coun-
try south OF That river, embracing the approaches 10
The Rocky mountains, their several passes, and ga-
1ually the region between them and our possessions
Oh the Pacific. These explorations and surveys are
Indispensable to such knowledge Of the country It's
and its streams as we must possess before
we can establish any communication with a region
hat Is every day becoming more important 10 US
And IT Is hoped that there will be no reluctance to
granting 'he very moderate appropriations asked for
he continuance Of the military and geographical
surveys west Of the Mississippi river"
In the last annual report OF the department, your
attention and that Of Congress was called to the great
Importance OF establishing chain Of military post,
extending from the Council bluff. 10 the month Of the
Columbia river plan and estimate of the expense
we're equently lad before the military COMMITTEE
d me House OF Representatives, by whom a very
able and interesting report was made ACCOMPANIED ty
OH. would again earnestly invite a consideration
d Inc SUBJECT. There are tvo aspects in which IT
nay be regarded. In the first place the exhibition of
military power is Indispensable To coun,cract and con.
to any hostile disposition of the Indians IN that
vast and sequeslercd region. They are now exposed
% the unresisted Influences of The traders and enssa
Iies OF ioregn nations, by whom they could 1t any
time be excited 10 devasiae that entire frontier We
Could command the avenues by which these indians
pass IRON the north It, the south in their hunting OK.
pedhions and thus make them sensible of our power
to resist and punish aggression. In The second place
w intend TO MAINTAIN cur hit to the territories on
lhe 1 acme, oeiongng'o us, which, it is supposed
Toes MOI ADMIT OF question, we must occuiy then
and We must establish q com uunico,ion with the,n
Dt her than that OF five non his VOYAGE by sea al
particular season OF the year BY extending our
avs and civil jurisdiction over the country and af
olu'os Pro'ec'oh 10 our citizens disposed To emiarae
hher have the strongest reason TO believe f ON
To the department thai \ sufficient
nunber would soon establish themselves in that ouat-
er, provided they could be assured of immunity ton
Indians on The way, and their journey could be acl-
aeo by me government To attain hese purposes ii
not supposed that continued chain of posts is i'm
nedlalely necessary. The establishment of one al
some proper point on the Missouri probably between
The great bend of that river and White river. at
which stores and supplies could be collected, and
rom which parties could be sent out would answer
Tor The present. and until the whole ground should be
Oeler known. These parties would be occupied
IN exploring and surveying, to ascertain
he best routes, in removing obstructions and fac-
atIng the passage Of such routes and in protecting
he caravans OF migrants. And il small deiachments
d hifed men, acquainted with the country were fur
lished TO the latter, upon their crossing the NOUN
aims ii is believed that nothing further would he re-
luired Every colony that passed over the mountains
would facilitate the progress of its successor and
every one that established itself beyond them would
add TO the strength and power of the Government,
and would perhaps render permanent forts unneces-
sary.
There are many indications that the time has mr.
rived Tor decided action this subject and trust
that at the ensuing session OF Congi es, there will be
such appropriations as will enable tins department to
make The necessary arrangements send on TO Ore
5on colony OF citizens inpatient to undertake the
enterprise post al or near the mouth of the Co
iumba, would certainly be desirable but il is not
deemed absolutely necessary, in the present condition
Of things
The operations in the Paymaster Generals and the
surgeon Generals departments, are detailed in the
reports oil their respective chiefs Under the autho-
liy OF 'he appropriation at the last session. for
Inrir,