The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-03
Tho Now Army Post in Vermont

Tho Now Army Post in Vermont
During tho present session the Senate has
passed bill authorizing the Secretary OF
War to accept. free Of cost to the United
States. tract Of not less than 800 acres OF
land on tho line Of railway between Burling-
ton and Highgate. in the State Of Vermont.
and to construct there military post.
This bill is awaiting the vote Of the House;
but recently Mr.. CIRCUIT attempted to I'D
vance It's consideration by incorporating
the substance Of 1t as an amendment Of
fered to the Sundry Civil bill. 1t was clearly
out Of order there. being new legislation.
and eventually Mr.. CIRCUIT was forced to
withdraw It: but before doing 30 he tried
to avoid having the point Of order raised
against 1t. and frankly disclosed the i'm
portance Of the subject and the advantage
Of prompt decision. In making this at
tempt he read letter on the subject from
Gen. soHofKLD to Secretary EhkNs:
.Ihave the honor to report that the wsLoonsidersd
military policy Of the United States, in view OF the
possible contingency Of with Great Britain. In
ciudss prompt and energetic aggressive action toward
certain important strategic points in tho Dominion Of
Canada To be prepared for such action It 10 Of vital
importance that permanent military posts Be- main
at each Of which may be stationed the nuclsus Of
army be composed mainly. In the event Of war. Of
troops quickly assembled from the neighbor
ing States.
.Ths place named in this BILL the hns of railway
between Burlington and Highgats. 10 perfectly veil
adapted 70 the purpose had In view. and think II
would be manfesty wise to commence at this time
far therein contemplated the preparations for the
Establishment Of such post"
This new post is to deal with Canada
In the event Of q war with Great Britain.
In previous communication to Secretary
PROCTOR. Gen. SCHoP1ELD had explained
that the special purpose OF the forces
there gathered would be to have at
handa body Of regulars. artillery. infantry.
and cavalry. to be Joined by State troops.
who might Immediately unite to take the
initiative In such military movements as
might be requisite to prevent the enemy
from using his waterways to move gun
boats into the lakes
The point selected would undoubtedly be
somewhere in Franklin county. the north
western corner of Vermont. near Lake Cham
plain. 1t would also probably be at High
gate. the township nearest the Canadian
border. or Swanton. Just south of It, or St.
Adams. just south of Swanton. All these
places are on the railroad to Montreal.
In explaining this measure. after recall
ing the strategic Importance Of the Cham
plain Valley In former wars. as associated
with the names Of AMHERST and HOWE. OF
BURGoYNB and ALLEN. Of PROVOST. Nc
COMB. and McDoNoUaH. Mr.. CIRCUIT brought
out the fact that in the civil war. when
BENNETT YOUNG. at the head of the Con-
federate contingent In Canada. sought the
most feasible and accessible point Of attack.
he selected st. Adams. Again. when the
Fenians, a few years later. proposed to in
wade Canada. they selected Highgate as
their rendezvous. as 1t was only fifty miles
from Montreal.
1t was further asserted that more than a
third Of the entries Of goods from the Do
minion come through the Vermont and
Champlain districts. in close proximity to
the proposed post. and more than half Of
the goods conveyed In bond. OF the six
canals to be considered. the only one on the
south side Of the st. Lawrence Is about an
hours run by rail from st. Albans. These
canals at present admit vessels drawing
nine feet. and 1t was asserted that thirty-six
existing British gunboats. carrying 1O6
guns. could pass through them. The pro-
posed deepening and widening would admit
twenty more. carrying In all over 200 guns.
Regarded simply as measure Of preven-
ton and Of economy. the establishment OF
this new post should be promptly effected.
1t really promises to accomplish. at slight
expense. large part Of that lake protec-
ton which would otherwise have to be Of
fected by the building Of elaborate forts
and the mounting Of costly guns. Besides.
the mischief may In great part be done
when hostile gunboats are once in the
lakes. The true plan Ia to provide for cut
ting the canals. so that the gunboats will
never get there.
1t must also be kept In mind that the
building OF this new post may be Offset by
the abandoning Of some old one. at a point
no longer needing q garrison. and the sale
OF the land and the material. Garrisons
should be placed where they are needed.
Accordingly. either the Senate should. un-
der Its rules. which are not identical with
those OF the House. provide for this meas
ure In the Sundry Civil BILL or the House
should take up the separate Senate meas
ure directed to this end.