The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-01-16
NEW YORK HERALD.
New York, Thursday, january 10, Is4o'
EP @ RsT
OF THE
SECRETARY OF WAR.
[coScLUpEp.l

70 the attention OF Congress- and has AWAY
engineers and fit for the
erection Of fertilization. Whilst Fort Morgan defends
the main channel Of entrance 1t leaves without
my,s ste amshps ample depth water under
Dauphn Island The introduction OF armed steamers into
ditions will expose this bay and all shoa
or channels and the most serious attacksa
modern novel mode Of warfare ing the appeal
national protection to those southern waters the more
the conviction that il we shall ever be obliged by high
national considerations to depart from that wise policy
hch leads mantan peace with all the world the
chefforce OF hostile aggression would be directed and
made upon southern frontier, where armed steam
vessels would not be employed merely as auxiliary but
would constitute the principal power OF attack and an
noy ance
small force of engineer troop one company q ssppsrs
mners and for that purpose can do nothing better
then refer to reports from ,ns
Gated Congress- They are species OF troops essential
sieges and other military operations during war ARE
necessary in time OF peace for the preservation OF the
wo ks Of fertilization and their employment repairs
Of the and construction Of engineers would DO the
means of much economy Ia public expenditure.
The CORPS which not only prepares the arms
for the regular service Of the United States but also those
for arming the militia, is usefully and efficiently organ
connected with great ar skill 10 tn manufacture
alone u confidence ..r in their
ons, to them efficiently national foundry, II
established would sord means for try ing and testing all
sections OF the country and entering in the fabrication
Of for making model guns and further ex
best forms and of ordnance for both land and
service I DO not propose lie establishment with the
view Of breaking of the connection between the govern
ment and private workshops but of regulating and
ectng that economical system Of performing the public
to the lowest limit and carrie mechanical skill 10 the
highest may be observed, too, that nstionsi foundry
tie manufacture Of cannon, would exercise beneficial
control respects all private contractors
done IN the h ;%s ARM Dy means
would likewise derive important collateral advan-
tagesrom the national because the results
all its trials and improvements would be thrown open
to the public national foundry is necessary to the
| military service national armory and Its use and
antages equally by and applicable
to- the service the navy Of the army Every days
experience renders the expedeDcy of the establishment
the more obvious. recent resort by tthe ordnance
bureau to private founries in Boston, under order OF
my predecessor, issued fer the purpose Of making
anG Of drent metals and Of seeed i'm
provements in the proportions and the art of fabrcang
cannon been attended with much expense but with
such practical and useful results to Bord additional
for my concurrng in opinion with the numerous
reports upon this subject and expressing the hope thai
appropriation be made Of the funds requisite for
purchsse Of site and the erection of the necessary
buildings limited in the first instance to simple model
oundry but capable extension ofhe establishment
The enlisted in the ordnance corps, limited to 2tO
should placed the footing with other enlisted
men Of the army with regard pensions allowed for
| disability occurring in public servics These men are
employed artfcers mechanics and laborers, but
enlisted by the rules of war and drilled
and exercised soldiers cannot perceive the Justice Of
the discrimination which excludes them from the benefits
/ the pension laws.
On the 18th Of last at the close of the session Of
Congress- act passed to continue for four years the
pensions ocerton widows of the revolutionary officers
and soldiers without making the necessary appropriation
effect the benev client purpose of the law The pensions
due the 4th of September last could not therefore, be
paid II is only necessary refer this accidental om
sion insure provision by Congress to enable the
ny 70 Of p
the Sd Of March, 1887 which impose certain measures
on this department. in reference 70 the selection OF sites
hOupi The
duty remark and invite the attention OF Congress
tothe subject that in Pennsylvania Ohio and Kentucky
the local positions have been chosen and the land
purchased and psid for by the general government In
each of these it only requires an authorized dis
erection Of the buildings to the humane purposes of the
Legislature.
18th April lsls which created the ONCE ofa commssary
general of and the duty Of that officer
to supply the army BY contracts unless in particular
direct" would be entitled to but little weight they
nerusaned by the long experience OF the present CON-
msary general, whose zeal for the public interest
him to press upon my attention the expedency
of modifying that act of Congress as TO introduce
system of subsisng the troops either by purchases in
en- market by the present mode by contracts, may
be deemed most conducive to public economy and the in
teress Of the service it shall be the pleasure Of Con-
gres make the alteration and confde the trust to the
hands of the appropriate officer feel well assured that
tine S os
ceive its prompt paymentfrom the government There
would be no liability Of an excess Of supplies, or Of
the articles pectedy increase alter the execution Of
the contract; and the soldier would rarely ever, be ex
posed the necessity Of using rations deteorated by
having been kept under contracts which provide for
their delivery in anticipation OF the time when they
be required for use
1t frequently happens that troops removed and
occasionally posts abandoned and in all such
losses and expenses thrown upon the government
and sometimes the necessity make double purchases
forced upon it. All the articles OF soldiers ration
being il great Oelec. that the supply as
mand nearly practicable and thus save expense to
the government The period which eapsss between the
giving out of contract and it's fulfment, which
times is protracted in sixteen eighteen months
other my urging the purchase Of supplies at
such times as they may be required
These justified and fully sustained by the
persnce gained in the South during the late Seminole
war; when purchases made in open market, being
urgent cases. at cheaper rate. and Of
better quality, than they had been obtained by
tract The proposed change would require additional
officers clerks the officer of the commissary general
ofsubsistence
should be the pleasure Of Congress into the
consideration of the policy which produced the law Of
i4h Of May, 1890 limiting the duration Of the conn.,
sons officers Of the government to the period
OF four years. may well be paid to the view taken
Of this subject the report of he general of
the army l shall merely remark that paymasters are
the only military officers whose appointments are limited
by Of years and amply are the interests Of
protected that in no instance
ound necessary to resort provisions in refusing
renewal Of the commission for the purpose Of relieving
that branch of the servce OF an or unfahfu
officer.
public notice disclosing their great extent aod
their important and valuable treasure would recon
mend the removal of all special restriction from the sale
Of lands leaving them under the same regulations
with other public lands being salts fed thst the true OBJ
cct the policy of the Government will be best accom-
pshed by indivdu enterprise and energg which so
distinctly mark the American character and the fruitful
and happy influences OF which manifested every
where around the region ofores should this course be
adopted Congress would take to guard the interests
OF those who have made locations, received leases
sgreeably to the established rules OF the bureau to
which the superintendence OF those lands has been in
trusted Would not the fair acquisition and distribution
those lands by purchase, amongst individuals, be the
means Of CARRYING this country, capital, popular
ton and improv emens calculated readily to bring into
market the rich products Of the mnes-hghly vsuaole
the Government q great and Improbable monopoly,
eudai in its character and at variance with ell our
legislation and institutionsl
The official report submitted by the chief Of the corps