The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-06

nav When otfccfe az the HUG arc ssseuou '" eVAr
duiies, they exposed to the same causes oil III
ss..d expense. bui do not receive the increased
O,y II is therefore suggested as an act OF justice
HI provision should DO made by law. granting L
Ulcers of the line the same pay, emoluments, ant
sDowances now given 10 officers OF the same grad,
THE staff corps m which those officers Of the line
mas be detailed for service
fbe construction of the Notifications or perms-
,snt defences of the country is essential branch
n the military profession. In all countries II is the
0seuliar function of the engineers OF the army =
these works costing great sums and requiring many
Years for their completion, ought, therefore, TO be
malurely devised with view 10 the future as well
., the present state of The country. Some of the
larger works on the north Atlantic seacoast have
bsen completed; and at this moment the system OF
defence is SO advanced that there is no important
post north OF Cape Hatteras uDproyided with the
means OF vigorous resistance against any insult from
merely naval force. Troops are not likely to be
tempted TO debark any OF the densey settled parts
Of our coast If they were, do not doubt that their
first efforts would be directed to regain their ships
Bu in natiosal matter of this kind where such i'm
mense interests are at stake, we should not desist
short of the achievement of full security should
we be directed into any course which Is without the
.ancton of experience. The policy of this system
Of defence by permanent fortihcatons is every day
more impressivey brought TO the public mind by our
rapid advancement IN population and all the means
Ot
towns and cities, which everywhere, upon our from
ter and the gulf and sea coast, display the vigor OF
the country, and al the same time its exposure To for
sirn aggression. therefore invite attention to some
monument positions in this system of national defence
more senialy demanding the means of commenc-
ng the works
Whilst Fort McHenry-a work Of inferior force
is available to resist particular kind of hostile at
tack upon Baltimore, it forms the only defence by
ratification to that important city The true defence
and safety of Baltimore will it is believed, be found
in the erection of permanent works on Sellers Point
Flats about ten miles below the city. Let the pro-
posed fort upon those fats be completed and the in
hablans Of that city will no longer have occasion to
spprehepd second battle Of North Point
The resumption Of the work upon Fort Delaware,
A, the Pea Patch anxiousy desired by all those in
.erested in the and the country OF the Del
aware, in the defence Of Philadelphia Wilmington,
and Newcastle, of the Delaware and Chesapeake ca
nal and of the Baltimore and Philadelphia railroad.
The sum of twenty thousand dollars, reappropri-
sed at the last session of Congress, if it be
ered available, would be sufficient for this important
object for the ensuing year. But, upon tuning to
the phraseology Of that appropriation, it will be found
that its is prohibited unless the title to the Pea
Patch island shall be deeidd 10 be in the U. States"
Al the question now stands, the presumption-rest-
ing upon the positive opinion of the Solicitor OF the
Treasury, strengthened by judgment by default in
the circuit court for the district of Delaware, and
possession accordingly deliver ed to the authorities OF
the general government-larly arises that the title
is vested in the United States But still there has no,
vet been trial upon the merits, and OF course no final
judicial decision pronounced upon the title, to
be bar to renewal of the controversy by second
ejecment.
II therefore rests with Congress TO say whether
the government shall continue satisfied with the pre-
sumption of title in its favor, and will remove the
restriction upon the expenditure Of the appropna
ton
renew the proposition for the general government
TO purchase from the State OF New York, upon the
terms literally profered by her. the important posi-
ton upon Staten Island, Immediately opposite &c
Fort Hamilton and essential to the command of the
main channel Of approach to the city of New York
The occupation of this post should not remain witt
the State, but should be placed under the authority
OF the United States, because the military works 10
dispensaby required there essentially national
This has already been recognised by the eXpendt
iure of the money of the general government IN re
pairs of the batteries With a TO effect thi
purchase, ] concur in the suggestions made by Thu
chief of the corps Of engineers, for the sale or ex
change Of Fort Gansevoort, now rendered useless a
a national work by the growth and encroachments o
the city of New York
The subsdence Of the vast and expensive ma lie
ials collected at the Rip Raps, for The construction
| Of Fort Calhoun, having ceased, or nearly so, tn
present may be deemed favorable time f9r Con
gress TO encourage the renewal OF that ImPortan
work, designed TO comp lete the defence OF Hampton
Roads, and 10 cover the entrance into the Chesa
peake.
South of Cape Hatteras, sufficient has not beef
done Some point on the southern shore of the Stat
of Georgia if fortified, would seem TO afford an al
vantageous position for a refuge for own vessel
and cruisers at the outlet of the Florida gulf, ant
would prevent its for the purpose by an enc
my and we would thereby gain slso-p hat IS a mat
"a ,k.s
influence which might be exercised the blacl
| population by hostile occupation
Congress, by their act of the 18th June last, de
cared their intention, and appropriated funds for h
commencement of the works, to erect fertilization
90 the Florida reef. Notwithstanding your promp
Instructions to this department, the lateness of tn
passage of the law the season of the year, and th
necessity Of preliminary reconnaissance, If not OF
very minute and detailed survey, would of cours
occasion some delay 10 the actual commencement o
The work, under the appropriation oil hfty thousan
dollars. All the positions in the entire range Of III
Reef, including the Dry Tortugas group, hsyin
been thrown open by the law 10 the examination
Of this department, 1t imposes a duty Of much OF
fetal responsibility to select the proper site for TIA
first work in this extensive scheme Of Notification.
For the purpose of obtaining the necessary pre-
iminsry Information, officer Of the engineer corp
was ordered 10 proceed TO the Reef and the Tor
tugas and to enter upon the proper examinations
asar a. his time would permit, OF the more prom
ineut positions within the limits prescribed by tn
act OF Congress A report, submitting the result
Of his labor and personal surveys, has been receive
within the last few days The information thus com
INUNDATED leads 10 the opinion that the hrst wor
should be constructed either at the harbor of Ne
West or The Tortugss rock. Unless more detslle
surrey, or future views Of public utility, shout
produce a change Of opinion, time shall be lost j
de7Eing the plans and arranging the preparator
an for M. .uaan Fc pt nfL al
former island Those plans shall be formed wi
view to harmony ia the general scheme Of de
fence Indicated by the language of the appropriation
lnd so designed as ultimately to include the DIR
Tortugas.
hher Of these points, il its ratification shall b
Completed, will be Of vast advantage in a comics
Euh naval peweI, # our own naval force coul
lsep command Of the gulf. But whilst this latte
vas ptoblemalical, lit would only have been build
ING Malta, or erecting Gibraltar add to th
'apenoriiy of an enemy who, u master Of the gull
YOU'D easily starye the most devoted garrison