Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-12

RADIO Of the West The exhibition Of this military force
among the Indian tribes those distant regions and The
councils held with them by The commanders Of the expe
srainnr them from Institutes among themselves, and
maintaining friendly relations ieiween them and the Uni
ted States An interesting account Of one Of these exur
eons accompanied the report Uf the Secretary Of War
Under the directions If tie War Department, Brevet
Captain Fremont Of the corps Of typographical enein-
ny ives. Of the Mississippi and beyond The Rocky noun.
t9ins The expeditions have already been brought TO a
Close and the reports Of that scientific and enterprsng
officer have furnished much interesting and valuable in:
formation.
He is now engaged in third expedition but Il
Is not expected that this arduous service will be
completed in season 10 enable me to communicate
the result to Congress at the present session.
refer you TO the report Of the Secretary Of the
Navy for the present condition Of that branch Of the
national defence and for grave suggestions, having
for their object the increase Of it's efficiency, and
greater economy in it's management. During the
past year the officers and men have performed their
duty in a satisfactory manner The orders which
have been given, have been executed with prompt.
ness and fidelity. A larger force than has often
formed one squadron under our flag, was readily
concentrated in the Gulf Of Merico, and, apparent.
ly without unusual effort 1t is especially TO be OBJ
served, that, notwiths' andng the union of so con-
siderable force no act has been committed that
even the jealousy Of an rritated power could con.
strue as an act Of aggression and that the com.
mander Of the squadron and his officers, in strict
conformity with their instructions, holding them.
selves ever ready for the most active duty, have
achieved the still purer glory Of contributing to the
preservation Of peace. II is believed that at all
foreign stations the honor Of our flag has been
maintained, and that, generally our ships Of war
have been distinguished for their good discipline
maritime force which was required by the events Of
the summer, has been made wholly within the usual
appropriations for the service Of the year. 90 that no
additional appropriations are required
The commerce Of the United States, and with it
the navigating interest, have steadily and rapidly
increased since the organization of government,
until, it is believed. we are now second TO but one
power in the world, and at defiant day we shall
probably be inferior to none. Exposed as they must
be. it has been wise policy TO afford to these im-
portant interests protection with ships Of war,
distributed in the great highways Of trade through.
out the world. For more than thirty years appro.
prations have been made, and annually expended,
for the gradual increase Of our naval forces. In
peace our navy performs the important duty OF pro.
tecting our commerce and, in The event OF war,
will be, as il has been, most efficient means Of
defence.
The successful use of steam navigation on the
ocean has been followed by the Introduction Of war
steamers in great and increasing numbers, into
the naves Of the principal maritime powers Of the
world.
due regard to our own safety and to an efficient
protect on to our large and increasing commerce.
demands a corresponding increase on our part. No
country has greater facilities for the construction of
vessels OF this description than ours, can promise
itself greater advantages from their employment.-
They are admirably adapted to the protection Of
our commerce, 10 the rapid transmission Of inte-
gence and 10 the coast defence. In pursuance Of
the wise policy Of gradual increase of our navy,
large supplies of live oak timber, and the other
materials for ship building, have been collected and
pto ali and in ctato nf
walton, while iron steamers can be built with great
facility in various parts Of the Union.
The use Of iron as material especially to the
construction OF steamers which enter with
safety many Of the harbors along coast now
inaccessible to vessels of greater draught, and the
prac,cability of constructing them in the interior.
strongly recommends that liberal appropriations
should he made for this important object.
Whatever may have been our policy in the EARL.
er stages of the gove rnnent, when the ma ion was
in its infancy, our shipping interests and cnmmerce
comparatively small, our resources limited, our pop
uatlon sparse and scarcely extending beyond the
limits Of the original thirteen states, that policy must
be essentially dinerent ruw that we nave grown
from three to more than twenty millions Of people.
That our commerce, carried in our ships, is
found in every sea, and that our territorial bounda-
and settlements have been greatly erpand.
ed Neither our commerce, nor our long line OF
coast on the ocean and on the lakes, be sue.
crs.iully defended against foreign aggression bv
means Qualifications al me. These are essential
at Important commercial and military points, but
our chief reliance for this object must be on a
weIl.org,nized efficient navy. The benefits re.
sultlng from such a navy are not confined to the
Atlantic States The productions of the interior,
winch seek market abroad, are directly depen-
dent on the safety and freedom of oar commerce.
The occupation Of the Balize below New Orleans,
by hostile force, would embarrass, if moi stag
nate, the whole export trade of The Mississippi,
and affect the value Of the agricultural products
of iha cpt tire valley of that mighty river and tie
tributaries.
1t has never been our policy to maintain large
standing armies in time of peace. They are
contrary to the genius Of our free institutions,
would impose heavy burdens on the reople,
and be dangerous to public liberty. Our re-
lance for protection and defence on the land
must be mainly on our citizen soldiers, who
will be ever ready, as they ever have been
ready in times past, to rush with alacrity, at
the call of their country, in her defence. This
description Of force, however, cannot defend
our coasts, harbors, and inland seas, nor pro-
mote our commerce on the ocean or the lakes
These must be protected by our navy.
Considering an increasednava force, and es-
pecially of steam vessels, corresponding with
our growth and importance a nation, and
proportional to the increasing naval power of
other nations, of vast importance as regards
our safety, and the great and growing interests
to be protected by it, recommend the sub
ject to the favorable consideration of congress.
The report of the Post Master General here
with communicated, contains detailed state
ment of the operations of his department dur
ing the past year. 1t will be seen that the in
come from hostages will fall short of the ex-
penditures tor the year between one and two
millions of dollars. This deficiency has been
caused by the reduction Of the rates of postage,
which was made by the act of Sd ofNlarch last
No principle has been more generally acquies-