Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-14
walls during many months oil The year, II sec

| is No authority 10 sancuon tleiI ci''"' =" 80, -,
| allowance / respectfully fccomnend 'ha' oo ll
qress should be asked 10 allow 10 oii'.is eas.seu
a, the Mexican ports in collecting con'f'G''ion''
| per cen,ae e on the sums ieceired, ant 'ha' au'
| thority should be given 10 regulate the E''ihpe'
a nd determine the pay Of The several persons e!h-
| nj wed ia this business. There is no oii'c'ai III.
| formation in This departing nj showing Inc dh""'
OF revenue or contributions "hicn Has Deti 'es.'0
at he ports in our occupancy On the "..e
but il Is understood that collections nave 'heIt
been made, and the amount applied 'oMa,us lux
support oil The civil government es'ao'iSne' ~
| California.
The despatch Of Gel Mason, TO which have
before alluded, refers 10 the unsettled cialHis VI
that country against the U. S and recommend;
that immediate measures should be taken ~ as
certain the amount OF such as are well fonhden
and that provision be made for immediate pay
ment. These claims are principally Tor proper
~ OF various descriptions furnished TO, or taken
by 'cur forces in The course oil The military ope'
"a lions in tha. county. The de!av to pay them
has already produced much dissatisfaction, ana
is pref judicial 10 the interests OF Inc Oniied STATS
| Some OF the officers engaged IN tins distant ss..
vice have become personally responsible lot ueo''
contracted for The use and IN The service VI '"e
United States; i, is also doe 10 them mat PROVE
sion should be made for paying these deo's.
The resolution OF the Sd of March last pfoVid-
ing for the PAYNE nj ofexpenses incurred by States
and individuals in organizing suhslslins, ana
transporting VOLUNTEERS previous 10 iheif pcihS
mustered and received into the service OF 'he
United States, had reference To soch Hoois
ONLY as had been mustered before thai Petioa'
Like claims OF subsequent dale nave oeen
presented, which could not be pad Tor "ant u,
authority recommend that Congress De ASKED
10 provide by law for The adjustment oil lhese
4
,I,o recommend thu, luvvlsiUu be made for
the payment Of regiment OF volunteers from
Texas which eDlered the service in Ftofuaiy
last, in compliance with call by the command
ing officer a, CamaI 60, under what he deemed 10
be a pressing emergency. The regiment, aler
being mustered, proceeded 10 The Rio Grahae,
where they were discharged, pursuant to an ofasr
of Mai General Taylor. AS thus call was h,aue
without authority from either this department or
the commanding general, an appropriation VIII DC
necessary to pay The volunteers Tor The Time 'ney
were in service.
respectfully repeat The recommendation IN my
last annual report on The subject OF clothing IN
kind for volunteers, in lieu OF the money which
is at present paid 10 them as communication
The experience of the past year has shown Inc
necessity for this change. The clothing Prov,
ded by the volunteers themselves. both in kind ana
qualify, is generally unsuted for the service and
often proves 10 be deficient in quantity. Serving
in an enemy's country, and a, a distance from me
ordinary sources OF supply, ii can Seidohi De re.
placed when lost or worn out, anu always at 'in
exorbant price. Much of The suffering when
has been experienced by these troops may he al
,r;outed 10 The want OF proper clothing. lfaniho-
rily were given to supply the volunteers in the
manner provided for the regular troops, IL is be-
lieved lhev would be better clothed and al less
cost 10 themselves and 10 the Government, than
by The present mode. II IS understood i1a:, II
such provision is made, The arrangements OF me
QuariermasIer's Department are such 10 relation
10 providing clothing, that it can readily 'ninish
a supply TO the volunteers.
| also repeat The recommendations III my last
report in regard 10 retired list OF tfflcers Oh me
army, who, by age or nhrnities, have become
unable to perform active duties. Inc experience
Of the past wear has added force 10 the considera-
lions in favor of such a measure. For The de-
tails of The plan, as well as for reasons IN FAVOR
of il invite your attention to the report oil Inc
Adiuant General
Besides the reports of the AdJu.ant General and
the Quartermasler General, before particularly
referred to, also herewith submit Tor yonr coEs-
dera.ion others from The Commissary General, The
Paymasler General, the Chief Engineer, the Chief
OF the Topogra phical Engineers, The clhceF III
charge OF The Ordnance Department, Inc surgeon
General, the Commissioner Of Pensions: ana me
Commissioner of Indian Affairs These sevS
"a, reporls are presented in the fullest confidence
that their examination will afford mos. crafty
inc proofs ina, the public duties devolved upon
each though unusually arduons, have been,
throughout The past year, faithfully and ably chs
charged.
The repnr, Of The Chief Engineer exhibits the
condition OF The permanent defences, unfer con:
slrucion and repair along our seaboard and
northern frontier. Owing 10 The small amount
OF means placed within the control OF the depart
menl for this purpose, but little progress during
The last year has boon made in these "V'hS. III
preceding years, The system oil defence mas Deeh
prosecuted with considerable success. Important
points have been placed in comparative secutiyi
but there are Others having strong claims 10 pro-
lection. that We, renal in in deiencelfss STATE IL
is no, deemed wise under presen; circumstances,
II Withdraw all attention from our system CT e.
terror defence.
The estimate which has been submitted for cx-
pendi,urc upou those works is moderate. IL is
below tina, OF last year. and much less thah Inc
average grants in former years.
Congress. having provided for board OF visi-
lcrs 10 attend The general examination al Inc MI
litary Academy at West Point, hummer Of eG''-
men, citizens from various States were 'nV'teu 10
form snch board with view to inquire into The
lion police administration. financial affairs and
o,her!concerns, and TO report thereon for The nior-
nation of Congress Their report will oe found
.rono the papers herewith, from the Engineer
Oenar,menl. IL presents the institution in all re-
spec,s in very favorable ligh,; and uusl that,
besides the appropriations required ior us mamie
nance and efficiency, provision will ce made i'r
an annual board of visitors.
The company OF engineer soldiers, authorized
L nj al
been more than year on active duty in Mexico,
and has rendered efficient service again sub
NIT. with approval, The proposition oil The Chirl
Eneiner for an increase oil this description OF
force as REQUIRED to meet the wants OF ouI armies
in the field.
The surgeons and assistant surgeons cons'Hu.
ting The medical staff of The army are all required
for the troops in The field and il is hscerained by
experience thai they are scarcely sufficient ioF Inc
exjgencies of the service The wants OF the ser
vice have rendered it necessary 10 employ physi'
clans in civil life, 10 assist in The duties OF the
medical staff. This deficiency OF medical assist
ance has been owing, in part, 10 the nnmher o.
surgeons and assistants who have been de'ached
from the troops TO take charge OF The several hos.
pi,als which the proper care and treatment OF The
sick and wounded have rendered Indispensable
Annie provision for the cure and comfort ol mo
officers and soIticfs suffering by wounds or dis.
case, i. demanded by justice and humanity. l
therefore earnestly commend 10 your approval lhe
proposition foI authority 10 appoint six hospital
surgeons to b. con,i, ucG IN Office only 10 lhe end
of the present war
do not doubt, however much it is 10 be la.
menled, that many soldics who have faithfully
served their country in the army will retire rom
/; worn out 10 service, disabled by wounds, or per.
manenly impaired in health, by exposure and
hardships, without the means OF comfortable sup
port or The ability 10 earn it. In this situation,
they will look with reasonable expectation 10
their country Tor provision better s"ed TO
their condition Than that which les now made by
our pension laws. This would be afforded To
them by an army asylum or retreat The con-
forts OF such public institution are due 10 this
unfortunate and merilorious class oil oar fellow
citizens, from grateful aud palerna government
concur in The acting Surgeon Generals recon-
mendaion OF such an establishment, AMI submit
il 10 your favorable consideration.
The number OF pensioners Of all classes on The