The daily union., 1852-12-09

maintain large military force al annual expense nearly
equal 10 half the value OF the whole real estate OF the
Territory; Would it not be better 10 induce the inhab-
ants 10 abandon country which hardly fit tor the
habitaton oil civilized man, BY remuneraing Them or
their property IN money OF IN lands situated IN more la
vored regions Even II the government paid for The
property qainupe it's value would slll merely on the
score OF economy be largely The gamer by the ransac
ton, and The roopsnow stationed IN New Mexico would
be available for the protection OF other portions OF our
own and OF the Mexican territory. Unless Ae means
have indicated, some ohe be adopted 10 relieve the
Indians from the necessity OF pundering 10 procure The
means OF subsistence. their depredatons must not only
continue but increase This would require correspond
ing increase in the means OF protection In that view
concur in the recommendation Of the geneal-in-chlef,
that additional regiment OF mounted men be author
lied. t3AtGt
Allow me to call your attention to the state Of de-
fences on the seacoast
Shortly after the termination OF the last war with Great
Britain board OF engineers was organized TO prepare
system OF coast defence. #teuEf
This hoard recommended that Notifications be con-
structed al number OF points the seacoast and on
the northern lakes Their recommendation was adopt
ed and lis execution was commenced, hrst by repairing
and enarging spah of the old works as were deemed
worthy OF PIE. on secondly. by the construction oil
new works, beginning, OF COURSE with those that We're
considered The most important.
Although doubts have been occasionally expressed
whether OF the works proposed by the board might
not be dispensed with, and whether others were not on
scale unnecessarily large, the works recommended by Y
slowly but steadily advanced, and until the year 1850
Congress failed, excepn single instance, 10 pro-
vide he necessary means for prosecuting them. ln the
enoned year no appropriations for foriihcaons
were made but The House OF Representatives adopted
resolution dire ing the Secretary OF War 10 submit al
their next session report on this subject. That report
was submitted, but action taken on ii, and
appropriation was made lu A
II is believed that this omission was caused by
opinion which seems TO prevail that the system adopted
by the board OF 1916 ii not originally loo extensive has
so IN consequence OF events that have since oc
cured and ought 10 be revised and restricted
In that opinion concur; and in the report above
mentioned expressed the opinion that many OF the works
embraced the Original might and ought
pensed with.
The subject is undoubtedly worthy OF all the consde
ralion thar Congress bestow upon and il is TO be
hoped that they will at early period adopt mode
Of revising the plan, and max any changes in it which
the present circumstances OF the country may seem TO
1 them 10 require
In the mean time, however, there are number of works
which have been commenced and in various stages
of advancement but the prosecution of which is suspend
ed Tor the want OF the necessary appropriations Most
/ OF these works are highly Important being intended for
the protection OF our principal seapors and naval stations.
| viz Boston, New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nor
| folk, Charleston, Savannah, Pensacola. Mobile, and
New Orleans or other points OF scarcely less importance
Whatever difference OF opinion may exist as TO the ex
tent TO which the system OF Notifications should be
red all must admit that expense should be spared
render points like those above mentioned absolutely m
pregnabe BY any force that may reasonably be expected
! 10 be brought against them.
hereto append statement OF these unfinished works,
showing the amounts required TO complete them, respect
lively, and the sums that could be advantageous expend
ed each Of them during the next fiscal year, and
nestly recommend that Congress be urged 10 make the
necessary appropriations with view TO the completion,
II not OF all at least OF The most important among them al
early period practicable II this be not done, the
large sums already expended on them Will IN many cases
| be lost. m
Among the works recommended by the board which
have not yet been commenced there are several which
appear 10 me OF obvons necessity IreeI particularly 10
those desgned the protection OF New Bedford, ami
San Francisco, both OF which are now entirely defence
less
1t is also the opinion OF the engineers that work at
Sandy Hook for the protection oil the outer harbor Of
a n drl nj hat
i city
Congress also omitted the last two sessions 10 make
the usual appropriations for the purchase OF the heavy
ordnance used 10 coast defence As This description Of
ordnance il generally intended for forhcations il has
been The practice TO estimate for under the head OF AR
mament of Forthcations Ii is hardly necessary OBJ
serve, however that is indispensable part OF any
system of defence that may be adopted, and that the
lever the iohcaiions The greater the quantity that will
be required
On This subject beg leave TO suboin few remarks
i contained in the report Notifications referred
to:
Whatever policy may adopted with reference to ori-
cstons IL will sul be necessary provide much larger
supply OF ordnance than we now have on hand BY refer
hereto annexed marked O. /, win be seen thar the whole
numbr OF guns Of al calbres, hand. whether in
tue forts the arena amounts only to 3535 and that
Of gun carriages, /, sul smaller The entire number Of
guns that can be mou0ed in The orts aeady completed
Glasses aud 30 amounts 10 4b72 guns aud IL the work,
now progress o. should be completed, the
total number Of hu would hea ue required 0t all
supply ordnance hand very inadequate, even
10 the present OF the service. will observe TOO
that II Congress should determine restrict the
tenn Of Qualifications, this would obyaIe the necessity
large increase the supply Of heavy ordnance some
mtans OF defence be employed, and cannon In
dispensable part OF any system that may be adoped
" fom the hereto appended that
the great Gava powers Of Europe have within few years
past greatly increased cabre OF the guns mounted on
their vessels owan This renders II obviously necessary
that the Of the batteries intended 20 resist them
should also be propoonaby Increased believe It'll the
opinion OF all oihcers bo Of the army and navy, who
have devoted much attention this snblec that Of
The guns now IN our most 1 ongh to be removed
and others OF longer range substituted glance the
port OF the Ordnance Bureau VIII show how very deficient
we IN the heavy descriptions Of ordnance particularly
in eight and ten-inch counbsd., the most effective
| uons az kstnst vessels-ofwan
Il . To manufacture Of good quality Is work that
demands considerable time and they mperiha be
when properly taken there 10 good why
the government should not At provide the REQUESTS
Il aln conneron with this snbect would venture ,ug
urs hat provision be made for diytribuo II artillery
among he fnna OF the States and Territories Our
PIE deficient Ia the knowledge OF this than OF
in = with sny Earopesn power. IL Standing sppro
priston made applicable to The dsubntlon OF artle
~, snd OF the book aey practce among the States
and Territories, would tend very much 10 pIQnoe the
knowledge OF this essential branch OF the military
among the cttlzsns OF the counuy"
One OF the most important and responsible duties which
have devoged the department during the present year
| harbor improvements,
/ The number OF works for which appropriations
made by the act recently passed is about one hundred
and The appropriated about millions and quar-.
ter The sppro,f atoms, however, will only in few io-
stances be sufficient complete the works for which they
made BY far The greater number w require addI
tions, and some OF them very large additional appropr-
4 -. 4.L.