Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-05-05
rRo,I THE NoRrp.
We su,join sxtrrc 8 ron lat, Yabkee journals
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TIE NATIONAL DKFEkcss
In the Y.rkse House OF Representatives on the 2Sd
plt air. Oharmin of the Committee on Military Al
f.r, presented voluminous report on the suit ct OF
the national deences Eight points are specified for the
consideration Of Congress- in order to sho" what should
be- done, namely:
The creation OF adcqla,e means to exclude from
our a-bors hostile shpa, srnored vets,s Included
Ths troyiing Of suitable means 10 detain invadiT
armies on fhipb5ard when important ports, sum
Gent ne to q able army OF the United States 70 be
transported to the point assaulted.
The construction OF channels In which to convey
eu boats from tbs Gulf OF Mexico Up the htssi pp
aud Illinois r.vers and from the Atlantic ocean up the
Hudson river into the lakes and from one lake into any
otaer.
renee or at the foot of Like Ontario, of capacity and
power fully is 10, superior 10 that at kington, on
the p,osito lhort also oThcations on the Niagara
or at TO foot of Lake E.e, OF equal cafachy. :,
O. The construction, for the protection OF the Pacific
Ocean frontier OF frat class military communication
between the river Missouri and the bay Of San Francis
CO.
8. A decided increase in our means Of building ard
repairing yessels of war; OF manufacturing, testing and
reparpg ordnance and small srms, OF all grades; aud
of making AID testing prc scties OF al kinds, aid or
every branch OF the SERVES.
The publication or enlargement of the military and
naval academic Immediately after the extinction oil the
rebellion, AID the re-e9t0Olsbmsnt OF peace anu,
Tire constitutional end permanent maintenance OF an
army aud navy sufficient in numbers and excellence 70
command respect both a; home and ahroat-a respect
b.sed on reasonable Of our physical ability to
ponp y redress domestic nturrooon and 20 rcpsl for
eigu aggression.
The rcrort aluies 20 the need OF defensive works TO
pres.rt the landing o. hostile force near important
DaFb5ra IN passes 10 a consideration Of he ms
Of IA, Nlrthe front sT, strongly rteo pmendig the
construction Of military clusl7 OF the enlargement Of
the existing canals as to rnt the passage 81 isar
y,,,sl, 10 m. Lakes and the WsSt The committee al
IN, that in order to defend Norihrn frontier We
snpud be able 10 place strong tie lakes az soon
~ an opponent and should have adtqutte meals Of
trans portal command TO De able to concentrate on
the S. Llrreuce free o. acknowledged competelct
IN tsEe oosss.oa of the canal aud Of MOH,rtG, ana
h ID hea Toe possession by the UGited States CT the
orlsts OF Like Ontario and OF ,nlreS and It's commu'
picaticps would cut of all supplies om the Canadians,
leave t5em TO unsupported sn hopeless COIN CT
vi oil our forces. Such coLhct could be neither
ntlirrc.ed or dangerous
After sludlrc to the e, qulrsments OF the Pacific coas
and 7. commencing defensive measures therefor, the
committee dwell upon the NECESSITY Of increasing the
canc,y of our naSy yards and armores and the proper
education of Cihees Of the army aud ravy, and recon
mend 20 Congress favo able consideration oil the move
faent to educate your Of promSD talents at the
dotted States Military and Naval Academies at their own
sXpm7c.
Iae report concludes ga follows
"Creigi,y, pTocrasicGion aud belpessness have
raiued many nstots well az individuals. We st
no. ony perceive aud recognize what Is proper aud "a
cious to place our system Of foniior offences in
nii,ian calculated iasuFe safety aud indepen-
dance out mast seriously aud psrSeBriHgiy Get ~ ear
nsst accordance toih mafsrsd opinions. Congress
mus; no, only make appropriations, but make them at
the suitable imes ard in sufficient amount; 70 be mos
n Give appropriations must be net OILY adequate, but
also timely AID i've; else idle hands and waste
of materials will result, heretofore, in unnecessary
l,sses Ia the construction of ships and fort d atiols
DELAYS increase their coast Fnrethougtt and prompt
tlde, fathfunesa AID integrity will a. an eary Gay, AND
a rss enable cost call ino existence admirable de.
frces OF the eIcelelos OF which our nation viii be
proud"