Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-15

n;re al many thousands. These immense s'ruc-
Understanding along their fine docks and mighty
basins n single warehouse OF EN- covering many
acres OF ground, and sloring throughout me year
ASSORTED carsoss Of several hundred mii'ions oi
dollars in yalue-invite IN these mars Inc llleT-
chants and commeice oil the World. Indeed, Tins
is one of The great means ~ winch England has
built IN her vdsl commerce; anu lur obS series
Of wears her whole people, whether lar OF agalns'
protection acknowledged the Important ucneilis
Of this system. Here, the advantages would III
lima'ely he sill greater lnaslnrch Is our ch'el
commercial cities are already nearer than those
I'll Europe 10 The centre o. The territory, poPuia,
lion and commerce of The world, aud are destined
Al no distant day 10 be brought still nearer, when
the waters OF he Atlantic and Pacific shall be
united al The Mexican slhlnns, which. combined
with our possessions on The Pacific, would reyolu-
tionize in our favor the commerce of The world,
and more rapidly advance our greatness, wealth
and power. Than any event thai has occurred
since The adoption of The constitution.
Ii is deemed important that our revenue laws
should he extended 10 Oregon, not only as
means of collecting duties there, but also TO de-
feat any effort that might be made from Asia, or
elsewhere 10 introduce foreign merchandise Tree
of duty into Oregon, (now acknowledged 10 be
mar, Of the Union,) and then claim the right I'M
Oregon. exempt from duty, into any other pal OF
The Union. Two collection districts might, per-
hans, he conveniently esabished-lhe one near
,hemoulh of the Oregon river, and The other al or
near Pugel's Sound. With system Of liberal
donations OF tracts of land in Oregon, sufficient
Tor farms, 10 settlers and enigranIs, this highly
interesting portion of the Union would soon con-
tain a considerable population, and, near and
convenient as il is to Asia, its commerce would
rapidly increase, and large revenues accrue tothe
Government.
Much time and attention have been given by
this department 10 the highly important subject OF
our lighthouse system, placed by Congress under
lis supervision. In The month al June, lS45,
Lieuis Thorn'on A. Jenkins and Richard Bache
OF The navy, wee detailed by The Navy Depart
ment 10 visit, under instructions from The Irea-
suly, 50 re nj he principal i:uioI can lighthouses
as we'll as our own llayn. completed their ex-
animation before he close Of The last session OF
Congress, they communicated The result 10 this
department, in most able an, Interesting report
| containing full and valuable information upon
this subject. Accompanying This report was
most able paper from Mr.. Leonor Fresnel, The
distinguished secretary OF The board OF lighthouses
in France. That paper, together with the report
| from this department, were communicated 10
| Congress on The 9Th OF August last. Having
examined with great care the relative advantages
Of The rejecting lights, and Of the reracting or
lens apparatus no doubt is entertained of the vast
superiority oil The latter, as furnishing light
more brilliant, as we'll as mere economical In
The report of this department on this subject on
the 5lh of August last, the organization OF a
board, without any expense 10 The Government,
10 consist OF the Fifth Auditor, The superintendent
OF the coast survey, Two naval officers, Two engi-
neer officers, Zone military the other n topoara-
/ nh ;cal moi nd w hp iuhf ho a
junior officerof the navy, was recommended as
the most efficient means of combining that nlor-
nation possessed BY no one person, in regard 10
coasts and channels, the warts oil viyalion The
location and construction OF The lighthouses, and
The mechanical principles involved in lighting,
which wond ena be this department 10 render the
whole system more useful and economical
The coast survey and The Itch, house system,
The warehouse bill ard the al yaorcm revenue
tariff, are ali great, efficient and cooperative in
strunenis in giving 10 our own country adyan-
tases over all Others as competitors for the COM
merce OF the world.
The survey OF the coast OF The United States
has made rapid and satisfactory progress during
the past year. This department has watched
| with giea interest the sradua development OF The
| plan for extending The survey 10 all sections OF
the coast and il has in successive years sanction
ed The eslim les for this important object Those
now presented BY the superintendent are in pur-
suancc Of The policy which has received the an.
proval of the department and Of two successive
Congresses. The plan is recommended by econo-
my, and The rapidly with which The fruits Of The
work are realized in he production and circua-
ton ofmaps and coats of different parts OF The
Cult Stream uhich Las proved so important and
successful pat ~ H. Wu'k, has been attended
with ihr -, II u.c a. The NOS, valuable assis-
tanis III IL >'ttcy, II II ~ ornament IL he pro-
ics.ion L. w,ic. hr belonged.
Lieutenant Ge,rse ~. Bache, of Tic navy,
commanding the coast survey brig Washington,
was, with ten Ut The petty officers and scainrn Of
The vessel, swcp from The deck in the hurricane
Of the 9Th Of September, never TO regain The ship
The sarvivin. tlli"eis h pe borne chez iul Iesli-
monv 20 The corlhcss ana ability which lie dis
played thi" ~; uccas ion, AID ,'e ,nlOn
aiiec lie bad rrst.d, I'll The i;s, oder which lie
had gwen, MS III. means, nLder Providence Of
saving The lives ol those under his command.
This department has united with that OF The
Navy in recording these opinions, as also in ex.
pressing a strong approval If the conduct Of The
surviving officers and crew Of the Washington,
who, in The midst Of the most extreme danger,
preserved peIec, GOODNESS and ri, Give discipline,
and finally succeeded in bringing The wreck into
port.
Having now presented in regard TO the sui jecls
intrusled TO its supervision by The two houses Of
Congress the views of this department. il is grail
tying 10 know that TO them belongs The power TO
correct all its erroIs and, under The guidance Of
an all-wise and gracious Providence, 10 advance
all The great interests, The honor, welfare, and
glory Of our beloved country.
RI WALKER,
Secretary of the Treasury.
VI