The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-12-20
NUMBER Is.

market. we thus. increase the balance of
trade against us to this amount. The
report is one worthy Of your serious con-
sideration.
Cheap transportation is subject that
has attracted the attention OF both pro-
ducers and consumers for the past few
years. and has contributed to, II 1t has not
been the direct cause of the recent panic
and stringency. and Congress at its last
session appointed a special committee to
investigate this whole subject during. the
vacation and report at this session. have
nothing to recommend until their report
is ready,
There is one work, however, of national
character in which the greater portion OF
the East and West, the North and South
are equally interested, TO which will in
yite YOUR attention. The State of New
York has canal connecting Lake Erie
with tide water ON the Hudson river. The
State of Illinois has a similar one connect
inc Lake Michigan with navigable water
in the Illinois river, thus making water
communication inland between the East
and the West and South. These great
artificial water courses are the property OF
the States through which they pass, and
pay toll to those States. Would it not be
wise craftsmanship to pledge these. States
that if they will open these canals for the
carriage of large vessels the government
will look after and keep in navigable con-
dition the great public highways with
which they connect, to wit: The over
slough in the Hudson, the st. Clair flats
and theIllinois and Mississippi rivers. This
would be a national work and one of great
value to the producers of the West and
South in giving them cheap transportation
for their produce to the seaboard and to
the consumers in the East in giving them
cheaper delivery of those articles of food
which do not find a foreign market, and
at prices which are not regulated by for
eign demands. The advantages of such
work are too obvious for argument.
submit this subject to you, therefore, with
out further comment.
In attempting to regain our lost COM
merce and carrying trade, | have hereto
fore called attention to the States south of
us as offering a field where much might be
accomplished. To further the object |
suggest small appropriation be made ac-
companied with authority for the Secreta-
ry of the Navy to fit out naval vessel to
ascend the Amazon river, to explore that
river and its tributaries into Bolivia, and to
report to Congress at the next session, or
as soon as practicable. the accessibility of
the country by water, its resources and the
population so reached. Such an eXpedi-
! ton will cost but little. 1t can do no harm
and may result in establishing trade of
! value to both nations.
In further connection with the treasury
/ department would recommend a revision
and codification of the tariff laws and the
opening gilmore mints for coming money,
with authority to coin for such nations as
may apply.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The action of Congress is wanted to re-
1 commentators in the report OF the Secre-
tary of War herewith accompanying. The
apparent great cost of supporting the
academy is fully explained in the reporf,
and it will receive your attention.
While inviting your attention to all the
recommendations made by the Secretary OF
i War. there are two which | would especi-
ally ask you to consider.
i First The importance of preparing for
war in time of peace, by providing proper
armaments for our sea coast defences.
Proper armament is of vastly more inn
portanee than fortifications. The latter
can be supplied very speedily for tempora-
ry purposes when needed, the former cam
not.
The second is the necessity of reopening
promotion in the staff corps of the army.
Particularly is this necessity felt in the
medical, pay and ordnance department at
this time. 1t is necessary to employ COM
petent surgeons to supply the necessary
medical attention required by the army.
With the present force of the pay-depart-
ment it is now difficult to make the pay
ments to troops provided by law. Long
delay in payments are productive of deser-
ton and decentralization, and the law pro-
hibits payment of troops by other than
regular army paynasters. There are now
sixteen vacancies in the ordnance depart
ment, thus leaving that branch of the SER
vice without sufficient officers to conduct
the business of the different arsenals ON a
large scale if ever required.
NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
During the past year the navy has been
reduced by the sale of some vessels no
longer fit for naval purposes and by the
negotiation of others not yet disposed of.
This, however, has been more than COM
pensated for by the repair of six of the old
wooden ships and by the building of eight
, new sloops of war authorized by the last
Congress. The building of these latter has
occurred at doubly fortunate time. They
are about being completed when they will
: possibly be much needed, and the work
, upon them has not only given employment
: to thousands of men but has no doubt been
, the means of keeping open establishments
r for other works at the time of the great
{ financial distress. Since the commence
! ment of last month, however, the distress
l ing occurrences which have taken place in
! the waters of the Caribbean sea, almost on
! our very seaboard, while they illustrate
? most forcibly the necessity always existing
; that nation situated as ours should main
) tain in state of efficiency navy adequate
: to its responsibility, has at the same tims
f demanded that all the effective force W.
! really have shall be put in immediate read
4 mess for warlike service. This has beer
. and is being done promptly and effectively
Z and / am assured that all the available ship
1 and every authorized man Of the American
r navy will be ready for whatever action i
required for the safety Of our citizens o
t the maintenance of our honor. This Q
+ course will cause the expenditure in shor
time of some of the appropriations whicl
were calculated to extend through tn
: fiscal year, but Congress will, doubt moi