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• 1 'A.1ML ----- toe*; ami inn only military preparation!
XSUHLSuEPXJitOTCXlSr^ r^’HrM in that quarter, are such as arc
WHtfuuaiUM;^ 'i'rcr.L,
Ttirr vKiftrun.
•uu ruu juMt -^inrtr, hi, ‘cu-ur
t fTjnrFr. tu jh rjvea.
(ET* ** ••wwaa* inununm/ifnair
■irra >utw-^wi4nrrBr «nn.’Mn £T
omi o»\y vo.YcaRjvs.
Thc-Editer of the Rctcs ucan would in
‘‘forBV-allAvbo are indebted to'tlnr establish
their acci-unts are ready to this
«l»te. V/hi 1 * wc atf. thankful far'the
Tponcto&lity of a greet portion of onr pat
' wc-find it nece$»ary<to remark, that
‘■'there aroa'few, whu, as the collector i
"tforins.'that have to r -otter: ami too lou,
-turned him offwith •Kull" iomnr rote,and
there are c -feu 'd'.htn, in the city anil
country ^naf-aTeJor years hungas adeod
■weight upon as,’-which we are determined
to suffer nolovg-’r to exist. We cannot
afford it; and farther,-weire-not ambitious
to reficis-sir. 1 , patrons. Those,"therefore
-m/ht, tretiKatiillj behir.d-hand with o*
awnriifwrmedpthat in all neat month, we
•rshdi tie'Jiipp/toaetllr frith themon term*
“amicable ami fionurjfile to both patties,'
-t»use a modern fashionable phrase. Those,
who disregard this proposition, must pot
ciwr)|>fain, it we “assume an armour-and an
•attitudebecoming llm crisis.”
o.r uo.iih .i.Yu c.ix.iLS!
■j/.'TEf i »r«No cTfiri.u. document.
ISrjwrr-of the Secretary of War la Congress.
■Orfiartment if tVar, Joa.7ih.l3n.
‘Sir—III < o.npliftoee-with a resolution ol
the hoise of repoeseiUatives of the 4th of
April, 1818, instructing the secret.117 ol
wir to report to that limiss, at Itlieie next
session, 'h pi jn fortfie application of sur.li
-•*♦ neans as are within the power of congress
“for tire purpose •stl opcrungand consirurt-
“ing •Mjch.rondg and can ds as may deserv
“and require the aid of government, wit!.
*si» view-te mtliury operation intirne of
- “war; 1 the transportation elf munition*
“of war; and also a statement of the
“Works of the nature above mentioned
“which haive . been commenced, the pro-
•♦‘gross which hi* been made, and the inrtiis
•♦‘and prospeetof their completion; together
“with such-information as, in the opir.«
“ion of' the aecretity, shall be materi-
•“al in relation to the cbjccta of the reso--
“lutein”’ J have the honor to mike.the
•folio wig report:
A judicious-system uf roaiis anti-can ate.
constructed for the convcnce of commerce
•and.the transportation of the mail only,
without any refengneeto military cptrra-
•tions, us itsdf among-the most efficient
•means for “the more complete defence of
'the-United States.” Without advertin';
•to the-fact, that the roads and canals which,
such a system would require are, w-ithdew
•exceptions, precisely those which would be'
•required for the operations of war, such a
system, by consolidating our union, in
creasing our wealth and fiscal capacity,.
•wuuU add greatly toourresourcesimwar. It
•is ina-stste of war when a nation is compelled,
"to put all it« resources, in men, money.;
6kill-and devotion to country, into requi-
- quH.tmu, that it* government real is s,
•in its security, the beneficial effect* from a
people made prosp-rous anJ happy by a
* ’-vise direction of its resources in peace —
.lint I forbear '.to pursue this subject,
though so interesting, and which, the far
ther it is pursued, will the more clearly
establish flip intimate connexion between
the defence and safety Of the - cun n try and
it< improvement and prosperity, a« 1 do not
conceive that it coostitutM the immediate
object ol tills report.
There is nh country to which a good
system of -military roads and canals -is
more imlispeiisible .than to the United
Slates. As gcat as our military capaci
ty 1, when compared with the uuinuerof
our people, yet, when considered in rela
tion to the vast extent of ourcoentiy, it i»
very snialitand, if so great an extent of ter
rituiyr renders it very difficult to conquer
us, as has. frequently been observed, -it
ouglit not to be forgotten-that itreutlec* ot
no less difficult for the government to af
ford protection to -every portion of the
community. In the very nature of-thing*,
•the difficulty-of protecting every part,-so
-long as our population bears so small a
proportion -to the- -extent of --the country,
cannot be entirely -overcome; but it may
be very greatly diminished by a go--<l
system of military roads ami canals. The
necessity of such a system is still more ap
parent it we take iutv consideration the
character of our political maxims and-in
stitutions. Opposed in a principle to
a Urge standing army, our main reliance
Tor defence must be ua the militia, to be
called out frequently from a great-distance,
and Under the pressure of an actual-inva
sion. The experience of the lalte war am
ply prove* in the preaent state of our in
tern it improvemaAU, toe delay, the uncer
tainty, the .ninety, and exhausting effects
of aweb calls. The facts are too recent
to require details, and the impression too
deep to be soon forgotten. At it is the!
part of wisdom to profit by experience, «o
it is of the utmost importance to prevent
a recurrence of a similar state of tilings, by-!
tne application of a portion ot our means
to tire construction of snch reads and ca-
teal» as are in-aired “wrth a view to mm-'
time oi war, the trans-
war, and
United
necessary to-keep the Indian tribes inrawc
add t“protect <fa« frortti-rr from fheir rava-
4 gel. 'All of our grtai —'.liupy efforts,
> growing ofawarwrii.il an European power,
must, lor the present,be directed • towards
our eastern, or southern frontiers; and *lie
roads snd canals which-will enable the go
vern m it to concentrate*itr-means'for de
fence, promptly and cheaply, »n the vul
nerable poinCs of either of those 1 frontiers
are those which, in a military point of view,
require the aid ol government. I propose
to consider each of those frontiers sep.i
rutelf. beginning with the Atlantic, which
in many respects, is the weakest and most
exposed.
From the month rtf St. Croix to that of
St. Marys, the two i-Xtiernes tff this fron
tier, is adistance, along the line of the coast
ain! principle bays, without following their,
sinuosities, 0f about two thousand ui.e hun
dreil miles. On this line, including its-
navigable rivers and b.iys,are situated our
most populous cities, the great depots of
the wealth and commerce of the country
That portion of it which extends to the
-nuth of the Chesapeake, Has, with the ex
exceptions nf the cities and their immeili
ate neighborhood, a spare population, w ith a
low uursliy country,extending bark from
100 to 15b miles. To the north of the
Chesapeake, inclusive, it affouls, every
where, derp anil bold navigable bays and.
rivers, which’readily ailnnt vessel, of any i
srze. Against a line so long, so weak, *•
exposed and presenting surh strong ino
tives for depredation-, hustditi* the most
harrassing and exhausting mey be carried
on by .1 naval power; and,~»hould the sub
jugation of the country ev-r be attempted,
it is probablu that against this frontier, fac
ing Europe, the seat-of the great power* of
the world, the principle efforts would in
turned. Thu* circumstanced, iti* the do
ty of the government to render it .1* secure
a* possible. For much of this--security we
ght to look "to a navy, and a judicious
anil strong-system of fortification-: but not
t .’t'le neglect of such-roads and • anal* as
•will-enabie the governmentto eonre qtrate
lirimqftlY and cheaply, it my poult which
may be menaced, the necessary lorcc and-
means lor defence.
•To -resist ordinary hostilities, having-'
for their object the destruction rtf oui
towns and the exhaustion of ourmeans, the
force ought to be drawn fron 'the courttry
lyir.g belweentne coast* and the snuree,
of the .principle rives which disclrarge
through it int-j 'the ocean; but, to resist’
greater efforts aiming 2t conquest, should-
• t ever be attempted, the force and resour
ces of the whole community must -bi •
brought into resistance. To concentrate,
then, a sufficient force, on any point rtf
this frorrtierwhich may be invaded,’trivrp,
must be m.ircheil, anil munitionu bf war
ransported, either -along the line oftlie,
coaster from the-interior of-tlie Atlantic
states, t-rthe coast, or,'should the invading
force be of such magnitude as to require
it, from the western states; and »he roads',
and canals necessary for the defence of
■is'froiitier are those which will render
these operations prompt,ceftain, and econ-,
oinicdl.
Froin'the coast to the Alleghany moun
tains and the high land seperating th
wiiti-any-pcwer. •««^ orc
streams whi-h enter into the St. Lawrence
from those 1' the Atlantic, in which tin-
principal Atlantic rivers 'take their rise.
e distance may be trveragrd et aliout
250 miles; and the whole extent, from tin
•St. Marys to the St Cr<ux, is intersected,
-it short intervals, by large navigable ri
ver* and the principal roads of I hi* portion
of our country, through which its great
commercial operation* are carried on.—
These aided by the -steamboats, now in
troduced on almost all of our great rivers,
present great facilities to collect the mili
tia -from the interior, and to transport
the necessary supplies and munitions of
war-
Muchundoubtcdlyremaiiistohe done to
perfect the roads and improve the naviga
tion of the rivers; hut this, for the most
part, may be safely 'left to the sta tes and
the commercial -cities particularly inter
ested, as the appropriate objects of then
care and exertion*. The attention of
both have recently been much turrred to
ward* these objects, and a few years will
probably add much to facilitate the inter-
coursc between the coast and the interior
oPthe Atlantic States. Vary different i
the ca*e with the great and important line
of communication, extending along the
coast, through the Atlantic states. -No ob
ject of the 'kind is moic important; ami
there-istiune'to which state or individual
capacity is more inadequate. It must be
perfected by the •general government, nr
not perfected ct..all, -at least for in’ny
years. No one or two state* have a -suffi-
ent interest. It is immediately beneficial
to more than half of-the states of the Union
and without tin aid of thegeneral govern
ment, would require their co-operation.'—
It is. at al I times, a inu-t important object
to the nation; and, in a war with a naval
power, is almost indispensable to our mil
itary, commercial end financial -up-rations.
It may, in a single vie v, Ueconsidered the
gtwK artery of the country; and, when :
the coasting trade is suspended by war,
the vast intercourse between the north
and soutli, which annually requires-five
hundred thoosand tens of shipping, and
which is necessary to tbe commerce, the
agriculture and manufacture of more than
hrff of the Union, seeks this channel of
communication. K it were thoroughly
opened by land and water; if Loeisana
were connected, by a durable and whllfin-
i-hid road, with Manic; and Boston with
Savannah, by a well established line of
i'lltod navigation, I«r which so many
facilities aw presented, more than haW of
the pie*-ore «f war would be removed. A
country so *a*l in its means, and abaund-
ng.iHii* various iatituiles, with almost all
the pro.; net sol the globe, i« a world of it-
| s-lf; suit, who that facility of intercourse,
he Lull of perfect which the- disposable means of
i-wc»t-we} ,i lf country is adequate, wou'ii flourish
au hostiii-j e0 ,i pr U sp» r under the pressure of a, war
pa rations,
:ul atten-
•nt.er; the
rtiei; and
elevated view, sad>-m.*»dering-the subject
only as it regards "“military operation, ...
time of war,VA fo'J transportation of the
munitions .fwar,” what could Mntnoutq
.0 much as tlii* commumcatmii te the et-
fecuial ami cheap defence 6f nur Atlantic*
frontier? Take the line of iniarrl njviga
tion along-1 m coast,- tee whole-of-winch, a
is estimated, could oe cxi npletcd, for -sea
vessels, by digging one hundred miles,-and"
it tlie exp-’nie of 63,0011,000, tkc advmi-'
ta-'« wliich an enemy with a naval force
now has. by rapidly mi.viug along the:
ceast, and harassing and exhausiiiig th-
countfy, would be i« a great measure lost
te him. -In fact, the capacity for rapid
and promi'.t movements and coueentratio ^
would be, to the full,*.* much in our pow-'
er. We would have, in must of the points
ol attack, a shorter line to move over, in
order to concentrate our means; and, aided
by steam boats,"Would have tee capacity te
piss it in a-s'iorter time, and with gieatei
certainty, than what an enemy, even with
a natal superiority, would have, to 1 attack
us. -Suppose the fleet <-f such an enemy
•mould appear eff the Capes-of Delaware;
before itcuuld possibly approacii and at
tack Pniladeljihu, information, by tele
graphic commuuicutioD,.might be given to
Uaitimore ai.p ‘New-Volk, and the forces
stationed there Utrowu in for its relief.—
I he same might tike place if Baltimore tip
New-York should be mvadeii; and, aiiould-
-in attack be mole on auy of our cities, the
militia and rejuilar force*, at a great dis
tance along tie coast, could, ml short
time, be throw! in for its relief. By this
peedy c'ouwiiu»i<;*Uuii,the tegular forces,
w'th the in111 fia ot the cities and -their
iltig iborhonii, vould besutficient to repel
ortlinary invasions, and would either pie-
vuut, or greatly druiintsli, the harassing
calls upon the militia of the interior. It to
these considerations we add the character
of the climate oj the southern position of
the Atlantic bonder, so fatal tu those
whose constitutions are not inured to it.
the value of tins system of defence, by the
regular troops and tiie miliLia accustomed
to the-climate, will be .greatly enhanced,
{should this line of inland navigation be-
constructed, to enjoy its benefit fully, it
will be necessary to cover it against the
naval opt* ations of an enemy. ltis Wiou’i
that this may be easily effected, to the
south of the 'Chesapeake; by land aim
-steam batteries. That bay is itself one 01
ihe most important links in tins hue ul
communication; and its defence ogams- a
aval force ought, if practic-Ve, to be ren
dered complete. -It was carefully snivel
ed, the-last sumtntr, by skilful otliceis.
for this.pnrpose 111 part, and it is eipecteo
tint their report will throw mucli light up
on this important subject. Lung island
tioufid, another part of liie line which is ex
posed, can be fud-y defended by a naval
idrce*cnly.
It remains, in I'elhtioa to the defence
nf the Atlantic frontier, to consider ti
means ol^ communication between it and
ths western states, which require the aid
of the government. Most di' the observe
tions made relative te the ir.erejscu
strength and capacity of the country ti
beat op under the prt-ssUre of war, from
the coastwise communicat'd), are appii u-
ble in a high degree at present, and an
daily becoming more so, to those with tin
western states; and should a war tor con
ver be wuged against us, an even
not pi obablcs but not to be laid entirely
■ul ol view, tne roads and canals nofcessa
ry to complete the communication will
at portion of our country, would be ol
the utmost importance.
file interest of commerce, ami "the
;>ir*t of rivalry between the great Atlan
ic cities, will do much to perfect the
means of intercourse with the west. -The
most important lin.-s of communication
ppcar to he (rein Albany te tire lakes
mm Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washing
ton, and Kichmuuc, to the Ohio river; and
from t h n lesion and Augusta, to the T-.-n-
ne.<set', ali ef'Winch are now commanding
the attention, in a greater or toss degree
of the sections of the country immediately
infested. But in sudi great undertakings,
so interesting in every point of view to thi
whole union, and which may bltimately
become necessary te its defence, the ex-
pence ought not te fall wholly on the por
tions of the country more immediately in
terested. As the government lias a deep
stake in them, and as the system of -de
fence will -not be perfect without their
completion, it ought at least to bear a pro
portion if share of the expcncc of their
construction.
1 proceed next to-consider the road
and canals connected with the defence ol
our northern fruutier. That portion of it
which extends to the east of Lake Champ
lain has not heretofore becen the scene ol
extensive military operations; and I am
not sufficiently acquainted with (he nature
of the country, to venture an opinion
whether we may heteafter be called on to
make considerable military efforts in that
quarter. Without, then, designating any
military improvements*-as connected with
this portion of our northern frontier, I
would suggest tli® propriety, should con
gress approve of the plan fora military
survey of the country -to be hereafter pro
posed, te make a survey of it the duty of
the engineers who may be designated tor
that purpose.
For the defence of the other part of this
line of frontier; the most important objects
are, a canal or water communication be
tween Albany and lake George, and lake
Ontario, and between Pitsburg and Lake
Erie. The two former have been com
menced by the state of New-Yerk, and,
will, when-completed, connected with tbe
great Inland navigation along the coert,
enable the government, at « moderate ev
pence, and in a stmt time, to tran*| on-
munitions of war, and to concentrate tts
troops from any portion iff tits Atlantic \
states, fresh atid uiicxhausisd by tee fa !
tigue of marching on the Inland iroiitier of
the state of New-York. The road com
menced, by order of the executive, from
Pl&ttsbiiTg te Sackett’s Harbor, ts es,en
mity connected v.-ith miliUtj operations^ ded »p tha Mississippi Anil jditSOtiri,
on' this portion iff the* northern 'frontier
V water communication from Pittsburg to
Lake 'Erie would greatly “increase our
power -on the upper lakes. The Allegha
ny rived, by itshaain branch, is sard to be
navigable within seven miles of Laket
Erie, and by French creek, within sixteen*
mile*. -Pittsburg is the great military de-»
pot .of the country to the wc*t ol'-the Alle-
g '.uny, and, if it were-counected oy a ra-.
ual with Like Erie, would famish mil.fu
ry supplies with facility to theupper lakes,
as Weil as te the cuttotry -waterrd by the
Mississippi. If to these commanicatiocs
we-o ld x'road-fiom Detroit tu Ohio, which
has already been commenced, and a ca
nal from Iheffllinoi* river t* Lake Miofii
gaii, which the growing.population ul tie
state of-I linuis renders very important,
ail the facilities which would be essential
•‘to tarry on militirv operations 11* the
time of war, and the transportation uf the
munitions of war” for tbe defence ot the
western portion of our northern fruntiu,
would be afforded. ■
It only remains to tonsiiler the System
of rnads and cinai* connected wiio tlie
defence of -ur s.»uthern frontier, or that
on tlie Gulf of.Mexico, forthedelence ol-
this portion of'our country, though at ficr-
sent weak of its if, nature ha* duue movh.
The bey of Mobile, and the entrance into
the Mississippi tin ough all of its channels,
are highly tupoble of ifeleuce. A military
survey has been made, and the necessary
fortifications have been commenced, and
will be in a few years completed. But
the real strength of-this Iroiuier is-the
Mississippi, which is no less the cause ot,
its secilriiy,ffhan thatol its commerce and,
wealth -Its rapid utieatn, aidedjby the
force of steam,-can, iottiehoui ot danger,
concentrate at once an irresistible force
Made strong by this noble river, little re
mains to Oe done by roads aud canals, fo
the defence of our southern Irmrtier- 1 h
continuation uf the road along the Atlan
tic coast, from Milledgevile to New-Ur-
leans, and the completion of tbe rood
wnich lias already been commenced itom.
Tennessee river to tbe same place, w itn-
he inland navigation through the canai
ol Caiondelet, Lake Punchartrain, aim
the islands along tlie cemst of Mubilc, co
vered against tiie operations of a naval
force, every facility required lor tiie trails
pmtation of munitions uf war, aud move
ments and concentration ol troops, to pro
tect this liivtaiit and iiupo.taut lioi.tier,
would be afforded.
Such ate tlie road* and canals which
military operations in time oi war, the*
t ansportatiori of the munitions ol wai.
anil the inure complete defence of the
United States, reqU re
Many of the ruhds anil canals vvhicl
lave been suggested, are no doubt of tli
lirst importance to the commerce, the
i manufactures,'the agriculture, and polit
cal prosperity of the country, but are not
for that reason, less useful or nvctssaiy
‘or military purposes. -It is, in fact, om
d the great advantages of our country
enjoying so many others, that, whether
•ve regard it* internal improvements in
ielat.on te military, civil, or political pur
poses, very nearly the sauife system, in al
its parts, is required. Therjad'Or canal
can scarcely tie desinated, which is highly
useful lor military operatm-s, Which!- no
equally required for the industry or politi
cal prosperity of the community. If thosi
roads or canals had -been pointed out.
which ure necessary for military purpose!-
only, the list would have been small in
deed. I have, therefore, presented ail,
without regarding the fact, that they
might he employed for other uses, which
in tbe event of war, would be necessary
to gtve economy, certainty, and success
to our military operations; and which, if
they had been completed before the late
war, would, by their saving in that single
contest, in in<*n, money, and reputation,
more than indemnified the country fur tlie
expence of their const! action. I have not
prepared an estimate of expences, nor
pointed out the particular routes for the
roads or canals recommended, as I con
ceive that this can be ascertained with
satisfiction only by able and skilful en
gineers after a careful survey and examin
ation.
1 would, therefore, respectfully suggest
a* the basis of »he system, and tlie first
measure in the “plan for the application
of such means as are in the power of con
gress,” that congress should direct such
a survey ami estimate to be made, and
the re-ulttobe laid before them as soon
as practicable. The expence would be
inconsiderable; for, as the army can fur
nish able tnilitaiy and topographical en
gineers, it would be principally confined
to the.employment of one or more skilful
civil engineers, to be associated with them.
By tljeir combined skill, an efficient sys
tem ot military roads and canals would
be presented in detail, accompanied with
such estimates of expences as may be re
lied on. Thus, lull and satisfactory in
formation would be hail; ar.d tliougn some
time might be lust in the commencement
of the system, it would M more than •Com
pensated by its assured efficiency when
completed.
Tor the construction of the roads and
canels which congress may choose te di
rect, the army, te a certain extent, may
be brought inatd of the monied ecsotnees
of tne country. The propriety of employ
ing the rtn.y on works of public utility,
cannot be doubted. Labor adds to its
usefuinessar.il health. A mere garrison
life is equally hostile to its vigor and dis
cipline. Beth officers and men become
tne subjects of its deleterious effects- But
when the vast extent of our country i»
compar-d with the extent of our military
establishments, and taking into consider
ation the necessity of employing tiie sol-
liert on fortifications,barracks, and roads,
connected with remote frontier posts, we
light not to be sanguine in the expectation
of ai'l to be derived fi om the army in tlie
construction of permanent militaiy roads
anil canals, at a distance from the frontiers.
When our military pO»te cams to be extea-
far a* isr conte nplated, the ' military frttt-
tierof'the United 'States, not im fading
sinuosities, and the coasts of aavigaMe
bays aud takes opening into rrtir ceuntfy,
a* Was stated in a-forraer report,>ill pres
ent a line of more than 9000’tnilvs, and,
including 1 them, of more than •1LOOO—
Thinly scattered along so extensive a (ton-
tier, it will be impi.S-,ib!Ie, I fear, without
leaving Mime points eiposrd, to collect
any considerable bodies in tiie interior of
the country, to construct toads ami can
als.
As connected with this sbt«jrit,T would
resttectlully suggest the propriety of malt
ing an adequate provision for Hie solilirrs,
while regularly and continually employed
in constructing works ol public utility
Tbe present allowance rs fifteen cents tx
day, which is considercdsufficientiii occa
sional'fatigue duty, such as is now 'done
at most ofithe posts; bih if systematic em
ploy, on'permanent works, should be maths
tlie regular duty of the soldiers, who rah
be spared fur that purpose,a compensation^
taking into the estimate the obligation of
tlie government to provide medical atten
dance and-pensions 10 the deceased bill!
disabled soldiers, not iiiUrli short of tht
wages of daily labor, ought te be granted
to then. Without sttch provision, which
is dictated by justice, an increaacvf deser
tion, and difficulty in obtaining re mits,
ought to be expected. Amung the leading
inducements to enlist, is <he exemptirtn
front lab -r; and, if tiie liiu ot a soldier
should lie qaaliy subjected to it as that tif
other citizens in the-'Time grade, he wifi
prefer, i(tue Wincsan; much inferior, to
labor for himself, to 'laboring tor tlit
public. The pay of a soldier is sixty .
dollars .per annum, and, if he were al
lowed, when employed permanently on
fatigue,-25 dents a day; and suppose him
to be employed 200 days in the year,
Ins compensation, incluiAig his pay, would
oe SI 10 per annum—n sum, it is thought,
considerably short uf the average wages o'}'
labor. If this sum shouid be allowed, the
greater portion ol it ougtit tube paid at the
expiration of the term of enlistment. If
fifteen cents a day were so reserved, and
l ie auldier should be employed one thous
and days in tlie five years for which he is
enlisted, it would constitute a sum of one
hundred and filly do!* rs, to be paid at the
expiration ot ins term, which ouglit, in the
same manner as the bounty lano, be made
to depend on an honorable discharge.—
Tlii' wbuld furnish an important hold oti
the fidelity or the stildier, and would be a
powerful check.te the great and groving
crime of desertion. An honorable dis
charge is now worth but little to the so),
die’-, anil the consequence is, that deser-
;ions are more frequriit with those enlisted "
since the war, than those.-who were then
iilistell, anil are entitled to the bounty
in i.tnd on their honorable discharge.—
The latter’patiently waits the expiration
of his term of service, while the former Ire-
quentiy seizes the first favorable opportu
ne y for desertion.
Should congress thirik Iprnpe'r to cbtlx-
ineiKe a system of ronda and canals tor
the “more complete defence ot'the United
States,” the disbursements uf the sums ap.
propria ted for the purpose might be made
by the department ot war, Undei direction
of the president. 'Where 'incorporate
companies arc already formed, or the road
Or canal commenced under the superinten
dence of a state, it perhaps would be advi
sable to direct a subscription on the part
of the United Statesman such ‘terms and
conditions as might be thought proper -5 ^
In other cases, and where tlie army can
not be made to execute it, the work ought
to be done by contract, under the superiir*
iendence and inspection uf office.S of the
engineer corps, te be detailed far thatpuf-
pose. It is thus the government will be
able, it is thought, to construct on terms
at least as favorable as corporate compan
ies. The system uf constructing all public
arks, which admit of it, by contract-,
would be attended with important advan
tages. It has recently been adopted in
the construction ol fortifications, and it is
expected will be attended with beneficial
effects. The principal works at Mobile
and New Orleans have been contracted
for on terms considerably under -tlTe esti
mates of the engineers. Such a system,
extended to military roads aad canals,
combined with a careful- iu.,pection and su- J|
perinteudeuct by skilful engineers, will
enable the government te complete them
with economy, durability, and despatch.
In the view which has been taken, I
have tlioaght it improper, under the resra*
lotion of the house, to discuss ‘the consti
tutional question, or how far the system of
internal improvements which has been pre
sented may be carried into effect on the
principle of onr government; and there
fore, the whole of the arguments which are
used, and the meastre* proposed, must be
considered as depending on the decisstoa
of that question.
The only military roads which have been
commenced, are from iPiattsborg to Sack-
ett’s Harbor, through the Chateau^/ coun
ty; from the southern boundary of die sta'tc
of Tennessee, ami crossing the Tennessee
river near Mu-cle Shoals, to Aladisvn-
ville, Louisiana; and irutn Detioit te tort
Meigs, at the foot of the rapids ot the
Miami of the lake*. Documents marked
A, B, C, siiow the progress which have
been made. These roads have been com
menced, and thus far completed by the
labor ol the soldiers, Who, while they are
so employed, receive fifteen cents per pay;
with an extra allowance of a gill of whis
key. The labor of tlie troops is the only
means w ithin the reach of the department;
of completing these roads; and, as tlie
troops are so employed, only when they
are not engaged in active service, it ts
impossible tostate* with accuracy, whefi
the reads will be completed.
J. C. Caihocv.
The hsnor-hle Henry Clay,
Speaker of me huti.c of representatives.
(A) .
Kead-Quoue #, litoatniville, 6ih Dec ldiS.
Sir— .Your Utter* covering a coj>j f|