Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-05-20
OUR NATIONAL DEFENSES.



menl OF National defense. II would he
pleasure trcbly TO iortIiy our ronclu-
sions rs to their utility and The necessi-
~ ol continuing To nurture and support
them, out of the abundant materials IL
be drawn from the experience Of each
successive year. But the events oi the
late Mexican war have placed the evil
dences which support them Oh such
conspicuous light before the country,
that it seems to be unnecessary.
The 4th element of national defense
was laid down TO be the necessary arms,
materials and organization Tor sudden
increase of both these arms to enable
them with fair chances Of success to
meet any force which war 'miglt bring
against them"
We have already seen the utter mad
equacy Of our army 10 answer the just
wants OF the country in time for profound
peace. We have seen the insuilicien3y
of our navy, perhaps even, TO ailord the
simplest pf,tecton of its flag and ap-
pearancc with the requisite frequency in
distant regions into which our commerce
penetrates-c certainly the necessity OF lis
early increase to afford our commerce
or itself any guaranty against the dan
ger of utter ahnlhilation in case of war
with first rate Maritime power
We come now to consider what pre-
parations are made for their increase to
meet the emergencies Of the future
The limits we have prescribed will COM
pei US to contine ourselves TO the merest
outline Of them.
The policy Of our government, hither-
to, has been to rely on national militia
to meet the first emergencies OF insur-
rection or invasion. and TO Increase the
regular army TO relieve them, as soon
as practicable. Into the consistency and
energy with which this policy has been
hitherto followed, we avoid entering;
content with stating that this has been
the general idea aimed at. The Const-
tuition gives the President Of the United
States power to call out the militia, Ito
execute the laws, to suppress insurrcc-
ton and repel invasion" To further
this, Conglcss is empowered ''to pro-
vide for organizing and discipllning the
militia OF the country for governing such
part of it as may be employed in the
service Of the United States" BY an
aci OF Congress dated Apri! lsOS $780,
cooper annum was appropriated ior
the manufacture or purchase of arms,
and euuirments "ior the whole body oi
the Militia Of the United States
To effect this, arsenaIs and manulac'
tories were at the discretion of The Pres
ident of the United States to be erected /;
| and the AIMS and ,qull nthi. wtre to
J be forwarded 10 the several States in
proper ton to the number of their militia;
in 1925 this provision was extended TO
/ the district of Columbia, aud has been
in force ever since. To provide for the
manufacture of these arms and equip
ments, and to ensure others in sufficient
quantity for the armament OF such forces
as The nation may require. Arscnals
and Armorles COR the safe keeping OF
military stores and for the manufacture
OF arms and equipments were authoriz-
ed by an act OF Congress approved
/ April 2, 1894.
\ The number Of those establishments
have since been increased. AID we have
at present in charge oil the Ordnance
Corps
/. Springfield Armory,
at Springfield Mass.
9. Harpers Ferry Arsenal,
at Harpers Ferry Md.
3. WatervIet Arsenal,
at WaIervliet \. Y.
A. Allegheny Arsenal,
at Pittsburgh Pa.
s. Washington Arsenal,
at Washington ID. &.
6. Fort Monroe Arsenal
at Old Point Comfort, Va
7. ST. LOUIS Arsenal,
at ST.. Louis, Mo.
s. North Carolina Arsenal.
8. Water,own Arsenal,
at Watertown, Mass.
AT these are WORKSHOPS, in which en-
listed men are employed under the di-
! rection of able and scientific officers. as
artiticers. are constructed various arms,
accounlrcments, tools and implements OF
war, upon system so admirable Tor its
perfection and uniformity OF workman.
ship, that tie parts of a musket or gun
carriage manufactured at any one, will
fit those of the parts OF the article made
at any other,
To give some idea OF these operations
it may be well TO state that during the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, the ex-
rendilures in this Department were
Armament olFortiiications of S77 53l %
Ordnance Stores and sup
plies 237,773,S6
Arms and Ammunition 10
Oregon emigrants 2,S54,7l
National Armories 377,5So,7l
Aiming and equlpping Mi
litia l9l ,2O9,l3
Arsenals and Depots llO,656,5o
Total for 1850 $997,6l5,73
This suflices TO give some idea OF the