Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-08

prNttnS the RIA ssts tsfcn ufE al. 1 ucrrn " my duff
syain to call your attention tn this important sub
ject. Tho works on many Of the hsr',ors wcreicf #
in an unfinished stnfr. aud consequently exposed 10
the action of the elements. ~hieh is fast destroying
them. Great numbers al lives aud vast amounts %
property arc annually L,-t tYr wast III safe and CON
srti~nt harbDr. On the lakes None but those wha
have been exposed to inst dangerous navigation
can fully appreciate the importaicc If this subject
The Whole northwest appeals L, YOU for relief, and
trust their apIrzi siil receive due consideration
1T your hands.
The .arss il in a measure true in regard TO some
Of the barber. a4d inle,s on the sencoast.
The unnb-,rurtcI navigation Of our large river
is at equal importance Our settlements arc now
extending To the sources OF the great rivers which
empty into. and. from n part Of the Mississippi
and the value Of the public lands IA those regions
w~nld be greatly end auccd By freeing the ravi=a'
tion of those waters from obstrnctionE. llsicw,
therefore, of this great interest, | deem il my duty
again 10 ur-c urs,h Congress tn nskc such APP ropr1-
afions for these improvements rs they may deem
necessary.
The survey 81 lLe Delta of the Mississippi
with a yiew t., the prevention OF the ~oseriisws thai
have provcI 81, disastn rs to that region Of coun.
try, have been nearly completed, and the report.
thereof arc now in Course Of preparation, aud viii
shortly be laid before you.
The projections Of our southwestern frontier, and
ofthc adjacent Mexican States, against the Indian
tribes within our border. has claimed my earnest
md constant affcnii.n. Congress having failed, al
the last session. 10 adopt my Recommendation that
an additiosa regiment OF mounted men specially n
dsptrd 10 that service should be raised, ali that re-
ni.Iaed Il, 10. dune wa. to make toe beet use Df the
means at my disposal. Accordingly. all the
troops adspt"p 10 that service that could properly
b. .yascd frt n otter quarters. have been eoDcen-
tfit Il gu that frontier, aad off aers Of high rupn,n-
ti,a el ctcI To command them. a new arrange
fn'Yt IL military posi-. bs. also been made, where
iyfle troops are ~iropslt acoscr TO the Mexican
frontier and to the tribes they are attended 10 over
awe.
isnleieAi h. nc has not yet elapsed TO realize all
liz. i.~a.iifs TINT ARE expected To result from thcse
M aux eiirojs. but | have every reason to hope that
rh~y wt,l e,i-cfiaiiy check their maraudIag expedl-
ti"n-. Ibe nature of the cuontry. which furnishes
ht1le fnr tue Support Of an army uDd abonnds Ia pia-
e.--at reis &c and c.,pccaimeBt. is remarkably well
s,isJisd ~ t,i,s pr.riit'ry warfare; and We can
scarcely i,ol'e t,at any miiiary force. combined with
III" greatest vigilance, canentirely sup res it.
oy the treaty oi Guadalupe Hidaigo We ARE bound
to l.rot-,, tho territory Of Mexico against iie incur
sip,is at TIE savage tribes within ont border with
email IcliS genre md energy" "a. II the ~amc were
made within our territory or against our citizens. |
hts- enIenvere,l 10 comply, a. far as possible, with
t..ts provision Of the treaty. Orders have been Civ
en- L. The officer commanding ON that frontier to con-
tIicf the VI kIcln tcrTltnfN ana us iniiiiittht+ as
equally with our own entitled to tbcir protccfion and
Z, make all their plans AMI arrangements with a view
to tie ntfainncut ID this object. Instructions have
also Leen given to the Indian commissioner and a.
gent Il ampng these tyibss. ia all trcntics, to make the
clauses designed lrr the pHsaciinn Of our own Cit
rcn- apply al.o to those Of Mexico. ! have no rea-
son To doubt Tat these instructions have been irlly
carried into elect. Nevertheless. il il probable thu
in spite Of al Of our efforts, some Of the neighboriag
states Of Mcxico may have suffered, as unr own
have, from dei,rcdaiion- by the lndiun'.
To the difficulties Of defending our own territory,
NJ above mentioned. IRE sUpcraided, in defending
thar Of Mexico, those that urisc from its fcmntcncss,
from the fact that we have no right 10 station our
tropps within her limit. and tlnt there is no efficient
military force On the Mcsican side To cooperate
" i'll, our own, So loag IA this shall continue TO be
the case. tie number ind activity Of our troops will
rather increase than diminish The cxii. asthc India1s
win naturally turn towards that country where the,
cirou tier The least resistance. Yet these troops
nrr necessary To sublur them, nnI compel them 10
make and Observe treaties. Until this shall have
been done, neither country will enjoy my security
from their attacks.
The Indians in California, wl,o had previously
nrprarcd oi ~ peaceful character, snd disposed to
cnltisntc the friendship Ut The whites. have recently
~mmiitcd scvrral acts ofbn-iiiity. A. n large ror-
ton ,,f the reirfncrincnts sent 10 tic A.cX,can from
tier were lriwu nom the Pacific, the military force
now stationed thrrcis considered o"tirciy inadequate
o., lis defence. Ii canuut be incrca ed, however.
sitl.,n IA INCREASE of the army: mud ] again recon-
nioad that MEASURE Us iudisrenSublr 10 Tic pro.oe-
tion of the t,unii.r. |
invite your attention totl,e suggestions on tbi.
SUBJECT. aud On otl i.r. cuunfcted with his Depari-
,ncnt, in the report Of the Secretary Of War.
The nppr"ld iati,n> for the support &c the army
during the current li~cai searrnling 30thJunc next,
we're reduced iar bciow the estimate subfnittcdLy
IiD, Department. The consequence Of this rcduc-
is u considerable deficiency, To which | invite
, our cariy a~iicaiion.
The expenditures Of that Department. for the
wear ending I0th June last, were 81, 0J0,2 PCS 55.-
estimates Tor the ycnr commencing lst July
next aud ending June 3U,h, lSj3,arc ~ ,S9S,775 81;
,irouing n reduction of 81 ,lbi, 49, -.
The Board rf commissioners to whom the man |
accmrnt oi til. affairs Of the Military Asylum created
by the act of3d Ma-rh last wn- entrusted, have So
.cotei u si;c for the cttal Ii .hmcat Vt m Asylum in
t,c %yi,ility Of thi- city, which has becn aTIrovrlhy
me, subject TO the production eta satisfactory Tito.
The report e .bc Secretary If The Navy viii cx-
li,ir the condition If Inc pnhli- service uadcr the
.ni.rvision ot that Department. Our naval force A.
Il nj Turing the present year has beer actively and
u.cfu,ly employed ia giving protection 10 orr widely
extended aud increasing commerce and interests IN
the various quarters Of he globe, and our tt- has
everywhere afforded the security and received the
respect inspired by the justice and libcm!iry ofour
Intercourse. aud the dignity and power of The nation.
The expedition commanded by Lieutenant De
Htvca, despatched in search Of the British com
manLer, Sir John frsnklin, AID his companions IN
the .Artic Seas, returned to New York ia the month
"fOctobcr, after having undergone great peril aud
sniirring from nm unknown and dangerous n1Ni gniion
anI the rigors Of u Northern climate. without any
satisfactory Information ofthe objects of,hcir search,
bu: with new contributions to science anil n%avign-
fi"n from the unircqucntc1 polar rrgions. The OH
c'rs and men Of The expedition. having been al vol
untccrs for this service. and having 81 conducted il
IL tn meet the entire appreciation of The Cavern
mrat- it il suggested. as AN act of grace and gene
rrsity. that the same allowances of extra pay and G.
m"luments be extended Ia them that were made to
t.r officers and men of like rating in the late ~cxplor- |
lug expedition to The Soutn Seas.
iearnestly recommend to your attention the ne
cr>siiy Of reurganiEing the Naval Establishment |
npTrrtinning and fixing the number uf officers IN
each grade, providing some mode &c promotion to
the higher GRADES ut the navy. having reference TO
nrtir aud capacity. rather than scnioriry OF date Of
entry into the service; and far retiring from the e
fctivc list p1on reduced ray those who may be in
c,epscHt 10 the performance Of active duty. A. tt
mca>sse OF economy As well rs OF efficiency in thi-
ar of the scrNicc. the provision last mentioned.
cmincnil, worthy If your consideration.
The dctcrmiuatiou of the questinns Of relative
rank between tas sen officers aud civil officers Of the
n1vy, and betwosa officers of the army aud navy, in
the varieus grades ufeach. viii also merit your ar
tention. The failure 10 provide any substitute,
when corporal punishment vas abolished Tor often
ccs ia ta- navy, has scca-iaaed the convcuing al
numerous CONT. martial uaon the arrival Of vessels
in port, and is believed to have had an injurious cf-
feet upon tilcdis.iriine and efficiency ufthe service.
To moderate punishment from grade to another. is
anon. the hu name RETURNS Of de age; but to abol-
i-h one OF severity. which applied so generally Ia
81 l..