Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1856-03-05
Cur Country before Party.

We trust that no tactious OppositionIin Con-
gress will be developed in relation tuanv re-
commentators the President has made, OF may |
make, Tor increasing the military efficiency of |
his country,u. Though il is true that "thfce is |
he armed that1ha his quarrel just, ''@stt the
advice of Col. Ethan Allen was slrlkingly ap-
proprlate to trust in God, but keep your pow
der dry" individuals lock and bolt their doors.
barricade their window shutters, ana take every
precautlnn against outrage, and governments
IN the saIne manner should always be prepared
toreslst aggression. We have millions Of dol
lars now idle IN the federal treasury, and no
better investment OF petition could be made
than in accedlng to the request of President
Pierce. He has asked the House of Represent
tatives 10 consider promptly and tavorably n
communication fromthe Secretary Of the Navy,
dated February 81, which states lhat improve
mentS IN arms and munitions Of war having
been recently perfected, whereby their ehicien-
cy has been much INCREASED, it is desirable that
these improvements should be applied as soon
as practicable Ia the arms on hand, both in the
gaverRmeut arSenals and in the possession of
the several States. Although our present sup
ply OF arms Is as gpod az, and probably superior
To those OF the same date and manufacture a.
any other nation, we should have in the use of
them, IN their present condition, to cope at a
disadvantage with others who may have been
beforehand with US in the actual applicatio Ia
thSlr arms of the recent improvements. The
Secretary says it has been our policy heretofore
to carry on gradually aud slowly the work Of
preparatios Tor military efficiency, both often
sve and defensive, audsin pursuance of this
policy the estimates of die. War Department
from year to year, lave been limited to the exc
cutlon Of such worss Gully rs accorded with the
ordinary means of our:armories and arsenal.
with but small iorce III operatives in employ.
ment. The regular esk1Nates last submitted /,
Congress are based on these considerations
In view, however, of the propriety OF assuring
at the earliest practicable period, military eff
cheney as regarss our armament and munitions
OF war, 1--WE have 1t abundantly as regard,
menu II seems proper that mUre active mea
sures should now be adopted; that we shout,
increase our capacity tor the production am
the force IN employment at our armorips ant
arSenals; that we should prepare more rapid,
arnmaentsand ammunition for our Notifications
that we should increase our Supplies of improv
ed small arms by the manufacture of new ones
and by the alteration of those of past dates n
fabrication, including both United States an,
, States arms, ami that we should provide ampl
, supplies of ammunition, accoutrrments aad i'm
pements tor the immediate and most rfficieu
u of the whole. To effect this, it is necessa
ry that more than ordinary means be placed a
the disposal OF the Executive, and Mr. Dobbin
I therefore, recommends the early appropriato,
OF three millions Of dollars Let the sun IN
granted promptly, and few millions more add
eli To complete our harbOr defences. An ounce
ot preventive is worth tons of cure, in view q
: the bellI%rrGnt feelings of the British arstocrd
) cy tOwar Is our cOuntry.-PhH san.