The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1845-01-10


siksuld be the limit of annual promotions
lfrbm the Academy, or new appointments in
lthe Army. The Secretary thinks that the |
eject Of the reduction Of the number of
Cadets, under the act Of March I, 1913, will |
lbtto diminish the number Of graduates so
! that they will not be equal 10 the casual va
lcancies in the Army: and expresses the hope
that ga Joint committee Of Congress NAV
be appointed and enabled to visit and make
close and rigid inspection of the institu>
ton; report its condition, and such amend
ments as they might deem TO be cxpedicnt.
| IL legislative engagements render the selec-
ton Of such a Committee impracticable,
think it would then be proper to restore TO
this Department the authority to appoint an
annual Board Of Visiters."
He thinks it we'll to encourage resignaN
tons, and submits the proposition for pas
sage Of law emitting an officer, after 25
years good and faithful service. to u section
of public land, and two years furlough OH
full pay, with the condition, should he avail
himself of this privilege, that his commits
sion be vacated at the termination of his
furlough. Officers of the line, when assign
ed to staff duties, should receive the pay
of staff officers.
The system of defence is so advanced
that there is no point north of Cape Hats
teras unprotected; but in order to full secu-
rity the Secretary mentions certain promi-
nent positions at which works should be
commenced. lie recommends the erection
of permanent works on Soldiers Point Flats,
about ten miles below Baltimore; the re-
sumption of the work upon Fort Delaware;
for which the $4,000 appropriated last
year would be sufficient, if it could be rem
dered available; the purchase from New
York of the position on Staten Island op.
posite Fort Hamilton; the sale or exchange
Of Fort GansevooIt, and the renewal of Fort
Calhoun at the Rip Raps. South OF Cape
IIatteras enough has not been done. Ar
officer has been engaged in surveying the
Florida Reef, and has reported that work
should be constructed either at Key Yves
or the Tortueas Rock. The Secretary thinks
n that we can easily become the stronges
naval power on the Gulf Of Mexico, thougl
the small appropriation of $50, 900 he think
:, entirely Inadequate to the construction Q
the required work: ''a million of dollars,
he says, s'woud be moderate expenditur
for such Notifications as we should have O.
the Florida Reef" Concerning the defenc
of the Gulf, the Report further says:
"While making allusion to our possession
upon the western waters, of elements to b
employed in the defence Of the Gulf c
Mexico, | am justified, in regard to the unto
Of action of the two military powers of til
country, to suggest the expediency of form
ing, in ample time, depots Of coal for tn
supply Of such armed steam vessels as ma
be employed upon the coast.
'Pursuing this interesting subject of th
permanent defence of the commerce an
'st possessions of ouI southern fellow~citizer
upon the Gulf, it cannot escape US that Dat
: phin Island, at the mouth of Mobile Ba
e has heretofore attracted the attention
= Congress, and has always been recognise
az by engineers as necessary and fit for ii
of erection of a ratification. Whilst Fo
Morgan defends the main channel of e.
. trance, it leaves, without the means Of resi-
'm lance, free passage TO an enemy's stear
he ships through the ample depth of water u
der DauDhin Island. The introduction
SITS armed steamers into naval expeditions W
Ar expose this BAY and all our shoaler channC
der and entrances to the most serious attacks
ort a modern and noval mode of warfare re
has dering the appeal for national protection
to those southern waters the more serious a
: to imperative. This remark proceeds frc
,ost the conviction that, if we shall ever be obl
on ed by high national considerations to dep
,m> from that wise policy which leads US
and maintain peace with all the world, the CHI
the force of hostile aggression would be dire
don and made upon our southern frontier, wh'
He aimed steam vessels would not be employ
at merely as auxiliary, but would constitl
,on- the principal power of attack and annoyaI
Us. of the enemy"
tier The organization of company of S
unit pers and miners is urged, as we'll as the
re- tablishment of a National Foundry.
ith- PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio and Kentucky, pro
bar positions for Marine Hospitals have b,
is chosen and disbursement of $25, 900 e
sary is needed. The improvement Of the W
lid. tern Rivers and Lake HarbOrs has been pl
the ecuted. The Exploring Expedition of Ii
,om. Fremont, in the territory West of the Ro
lied, Mountains is mentioned with high comm
datien and the Secretary advises the org
high ization Of territorial government, to
y at called the Nebraska territory and 20 be {
fined to our undisputed possessions on
! the side of the Rocky Mountains.