Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-13

snres 10 secure it, At the same time prosperity aid,
indeed the peace and quiet Of the large number OF ctl.
zens occupying the lands working the mines, demand
that their rights should be settled and their conflicting
! titles and cllms adjusted What may be accom-.
pshed without difficulty, may hereafter, when the par
lies interested become more numerous anu more ttha
cous be found impraciicabe. The subject is therefore
,muended 10 the attention OF Congress, who
ran alone provide the necessary means for rendering
Justice TO the Government, TO The claimants, aud TO the
miners.
These suggestions not intended to apply to The
mineral lands in the South part OF Illinois. Tie cha
racer and nature of the mines in that quarter are not
We, suffice nily ascertaned 10 enable TO ax price
them, there yet any conflict between claim
and occupants TO require the nterposltion OF the
Government strong Beliefs entertained BY the
essees that these mines contain large proportions OF si'
ver Should such expectations be realized, different
policy from that adopted i'll respect TO the lead mines
/. may be exped,ent.
In the report ul the Quartz rmastc General the ope.
atons in that branch of public service during the year
will be SEEN The additional duties caused by the act
of the last session. transferring TO that Department the
business of the Commssary of Purchases, have been
undertaken, and far successfully performed. The
termination of hostliies in Florids, relieveda large
number of assistant quartermasers from duy there,
and placed them al the disposition OF this Department,
many Of whom have been returned to their companies,
still retaining their appointments IN the staff The pro.
visions Of the ninth section of the act Of July le3S,
render il questionable whether they can be deprived OF
those appointments without actual removal from office
hy the President The same remark applies, although
not with equal force the assistant adu,ans general,
provided for by the seventh section OF The s;1ne act
1t must happen that the nunter of these officers
pointed in state OF circumstances, Will not be re
auired in another and is therefore highly e-pedent
that the President should be authorized to dispense
with their staff services, and yacae their stall lppont
me nts whenever the public exigency longer demands
them.
The best and the most agreeable evidence that could
be furnished of The economy which has prevailed in
the disbursements, will be found in the circumstance
that so much OF The appropriations made at the asst
session remain hand; that Sl3l 900 only w!llbe
required for the first bali Of the ensuing year; and he
estimates for the fiscal year commencing on the lst OF
July 1913 are much below those that have baen pre-
scented and sanctioned by Congress for several years
The measures adopted for putting in order Fort JesrP,
in Louisiana, and Fort Atkinson; for establishing tie
new posts the Marmiton river and on or near Tie
False Washta and the operations at Detroit, Flats
burg Fort Sullivan, Fort Adams, and at various othe,
posts are detailed in the accompanying report OF thu
Quartermaster. general.
crncur in his recommendation of appropriations fol-
barracks al Fort Gibson and consider the reason;
urged by him so strong as 10 require nothing more than
n reference 10 them.
deeply regret the necessity for again invoking the
| attention OF Congress the dshonored pledge given
by the QIarlcrma ster General in the and by the
authority of this nation 10 the Creek Indians 10 remu
ncrae them for their services in Florida and as con
sidsratlon for their removal The earnesiness with
which gallant soldier pleads for The faith and honor
of his country, and for justice to helpless tribe who
have resort but TO sense of right, II hoped
will not only be excused by the circumstances, but will
find hearty response in every bosom.
The report of the colonel of engineers eXhibs most
gratifying account Of the ability and fidelity of the
officers Of that corps and of the results OF their labors
Notwithstanding the state of the Treasury rendered II
indispensable to suspend Of the oper atoms du
ring the past year. yet il will be seen that many i'm
in oIe orde her N
ton to render effective service, and others very neal
completion. The arrangements, with all the requisite
coate raj preparations complete for mounting 20o
guns, points most important for the defence of the
sea coast This mag be said TO have been psieC
substantially within the Two last years
No satisfactory account Of the work performed IN the
different fors, of their present condition, can be
given, without nnueness OF detail Incompatible will
the general design Of this report For this reference
| is therefore made the very clear and ample state
ments of the Chef Engineer. 1t will be seen, witt
what cautious -cgard TO the possible state of the pnbt
revenues, the ESTIMATES have been made for continuing
and completing the works in progress and Tor The
repairs OF such require them 1t is hoped that The
moderation Of these estimates and the sound and just
views By which they sustained, will commend them
to the favorable consideration OF Congress. More
perhaps, depends the steadiness and regularity O.
the appropriations, than upon their large amount.
a time when there is so little employment for labor
and it is cheap, economy will be promoted by con
tnuing national defencrs, while the expenditures
will operate most benefcially among the ndus!ria
classes of our fellow citizens and add much 10 the
means and the spirit OF internal trade. III then
what is not supposed to admit of doubt, and what this
Department will not suffer itself to question or 10 dis
cuss, it is the determination of the Government Il
place The country in competent state of defence
against foreign aggression, the present time would
seem TO be propons for continuing The plan of FORTH
cations heretofore adopted
Although, for the reasons before given, it would bs
mpTactIcable IN notice all the works specified in The
report of the Colonel Of Engineers yet of then
seem to demand observation.
The for the delay in the construction Of ht
barracks and defensive works al Detroit and at Blu
are stated by the Chief Engineer. AS they were of
temporary character and have now been overcome
those works will be vigorously prosecuted, so
the season will admit, and ii is very satisfactory Il
know, without the necessity OF any further appropria
tons for the next eighteen months.
The conclusion of treaty with the envoy of Gren
Britain, by Which cesslon was made OF the strip o
land along the Northern boundary Of the States of New
York and Vermont, which included the site heretofore
selected at Rouse Point for fort rendered il exped
cnt TO suspend all operations in reference to the two
works on either side of the outlet OF Lake Champlan
which had been contemplated place Of that OF Rouse
Point, when 1t was ascertained that the latter did moi
fail within our boundary.
The report Of the board Of officers, in May, 1910
presenting connected plan of defences by land, est
mated Tie expense Of a permanent work at Stnny
Point, the New York side OF the outlet, 100000
and the same sum for permanent work at Windmill
Point, tue Vermont side. By the cesson referred 10
and which has become complete by the ratification
of the Treaty, these works have become unnecessary
As the existing appropriation will be sufficient for the
present, immediate will be taken to carry int
effect the design OF Congress, by commencing thu
work at Rouse's Point.
1t s believed, that the appropriation made in 1871
for the erection of defensive works at the junction
he Maawanskeag and Penobscot rivers, in the State o
Maine can be better applied in the erection Of fort
the Narrows Of the Penobscot, md it is respectf iy
recommended that authority for that purpose be gwen
Although the state Of the works for the defence O
the harLor Of New York is very gratifying, yet i
should not be forgotten that they do not complete the
system and that, wiihou. such completion, they do
afford adequate protection The Notifications on Slater
Island at the Narrows, deemed more important thar
The opposite forts, Hamilton and Lafayette The U. S
has expended than $4,000 in erecting the works