Daily national era. [volume], May 26, 1854, Image 2

About Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854

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|)ul)li' or. aunt.
RkP.'kT OF Tl K hLCKKTAHY OK
WAR.
Waii DeI'AKTMLNT,
Washington, December 3, 1855.
Sir: 1 have the honor to submit the follow
ing report of the operation! of the army for
the past year, and to lay before you the reporU
of the heads of the t jveral bureaus of the War
Department, and comrnuuicatioua from other
officers of the army
1 he authorized .-'rength of the army (as
now pasted) is 17,f<>7 officers and meu, but
the accompanying ti.ole, prepared in the Adju
tant General's Office, show that, at the date of
tlie latest returns, the actual strength was
15,752. The recruiting service is now pro
gressing satisfactorily, however, and it is be
lieved that in a few months the disparity
between the authorized and actual strength of
the army?2,115?will be nearly overcome.
The number of enlistments made during the
twelve months ending September 30 was 10,546.
The number of p rs ?ns offering to enlist, and
who were refused on account of minority and
until!.ess lor service, were 26,522. The num
ber oi equalities in the army by deaths, dis
charg's, and desertion!', "luring the same period,
was 5,500.
The very numerous applications for the dis
charge ot minors?so many of which have
succeeded within the past year?renders neces
sary that some step should be taken to check
the growing evil, a id the serious expense to
which the government thereby subjected.
The regulations are nufficiently stringent on the
subject of the enlistme.it of minors ; but re
cruiting officers are i'rtquently deceived by the
appearance of the recruit, and the false repre
sentations respecting his true age. In cases
where deceptions of this character have been
practised, the coutract should be considered
binding, or the recruit should be required, at
the time of enlistment, to swear that he is either
ol full age, or, being a minor, that he has neither
parent nor guardian. A modification to this
extent of the existing law respecting the dis
charge of minors. (5th section of the act of
September 28, 1850) would, it is believed lessen
the impositions which are now practised, and
protect the government from no inconsiderable
loss.
The general distribution of the troops re
mains, for the most ;>arr, as indicated in the last
annual repjrt. Am >ug the changes of most
importance are the following: The four addi
tional regiments authorized by the act ofMarch
3, 1855, have bceu recruited and organized.
Seven companies of the 1st cavalry have re
cently returned from an expedition into the
Sioux country, and the regiment will winter at
Fort Leavenworth, where it will be in position
for ulteri r operations in the spring. The 2d
cavalry has been sent to the department of
Texas to replace the six companies of the 2d
dragoons, transferred to the department of the
We#'.
The 9ih infantry, (riflemen,) designed for
service in the department of the Pacific, has
b-en embodied at Fort Monroe, und held under
i lstruction preparatory to a campaign which it
was proposed it should undertake as soon as
the season would permit through the Indians
ou the head waters of the Missouri and tribu
taries of the Columbia river, from which ex
hibition of our power among those remote tribes
it was cxpected a beneficial influence over them
woulJ result; but in accordance with the
necessity communicated by a letter from Gene
ral Wool, commanding the department of the
Pacific, dated November 3, und this day re
ceived at the War Department, that regiment
will be diverted from the proposed campaign
by the over land route, aud be dispatched with
Vie least delay by way of the isthmus to rein
fjree the command engaged in the suppression
of Indian hostilities in Oregon.
1 he 10th infantry, (riflemen.) with the ex
ception of one company attached to the Sioux
expedition, has lieeu ordered to the military
stations on the Upper Mississippi. A portion
of this regiment, when the season admits, will
be employ d to esfablish a post on the Red
river of the North, i.ear the northern boundary
of Minesota, agreeably to an act passed at the
last session of Congress appropriating $5,000,
a gum altogether inadequate for that object.
Six companies of the 2d infantry have taken
post at tort Pierre, on the Upper Missouri.
Continued Indian difficulties on the Oregon
route have rendered it necessary to retain in
the department of tbe West the 6th infantry,
which regiment it was contemplated to send to
the Pacific coast.
Lfforts are still in progress for the removal
of the remnant of the Seminole tribe from
Florida. 1 he troops there have been kept
actively employed in exploring the country by
land and water, aud in opening roads. By these
means much important information respecting
the territory in possession of the Indians has
been gained, which will greatly facilitate future
operations. All intercourse with these Indians
has been strictly profited, and it is believed
that they have not, in any instance, passed the
line of observation occupied by the troops.
In the departments of the West, Texas,
New Mexico, and the Pacific, Indian hostilities
h?ve been of frequent occurrence.
For the purpose of chastising the Sioux In
dians implicated in the massacre of a detach
ment of United States troops in August of last
year, and to protett from Indian incursions
the western frontiers of Nebraska and Kansas,
arid the emigrant routes leading from the Mis
souri river to the west, a military force was
sent into the country inhabited by the Sioux,
In'e in the sumim r, under the command of
Brevet Brigadier General Harney. On the
3'J of September thnt officer, with a portion of
his command, engaged a party of the Brule
band of the Sioux nation, and, after a short
co'ifliet, completely routed them. Eighty-six
1: dians weie killed, and a large number taken
prisoners. 1 he no pen and property captured
leave no doubt that this band was concerned
in the massacre of the detachment above re
lerred to, as well as in the murders and depre
dations committed upon emigrants, and in the
robbery of the public mail.
Jn the departments of Texas. New Mexico,
and the Pacific, mil tary expeditions have been
Sent against the Indians guilty of outrages
ujK?n the persons and property of the frontier
inhabitants and emigrants within those sec
tions of conntry, and in several cases summary
punishment ha* been inflicted by the troops
upon the offending tribe?.
I he details of these operations will be found
in the papers accompanying this report.
1 he mail steamer just arrived at New York
has brought a'lices from the department of
the Pacific to November 5th, by which I re
gret to barn that Indian hostilities of a much
more serious diameter than the difficulties in
that department, referred to above, or than
from the official reports previously received,
t-ere had liecn reasons to apprehend, have oc
curred in the Territories of Oregon and Wash
ington. The letters of the governor of the
Territory, of October 24, and of the command
ing general of the department of the Pacific,
of November 3, of which copies are here with
submitted, furnish the only official information
on the subject in the possession of this depart
ment. It will be f^rceived that, to meet the
emergency, the governor has ordered out a
mounted volunteer force of seventeen compa
nies, or about 1,200 men.
i he department, at this distance, and in tfie
absence of more d< finite information, eapeci
ally in regard to the extent of the combina
tion among the h'mtile tribes, cannot judge
what volunteer reinforcements to the regular
troops may be necessary. This is a matter
which must be necessarily left to the military
^commander in the department of the Pacific,
who has repaired to the theatre of hostilities.
His presence there will obviate difficulties
which might otherwise arise on the subject of
rank and command betweeu officers of the
volunteers and regular forces.
I he alacrity with which the volunteers have
responded to the call of Governor Curry give*
_ asurance that their aid will be as efficient as
it lias been prompt, and ii is hoped that their
continuance in the military service, to the great
interruption of their ordinary pursuits, will be
limited to the shortest possible duration, by
the arrival ol reinforcements which have been
ordered to the regular troops of that depart
ment.
From a recent report of the commanding
general of the department of New Mexico, it
appears that all the Indian trilies within his
command have concluded treaties with the
governor of the Territory, and retired to the
limits assigned them.
Service in Indian campaigns, though little
calculatcd to excite the military ardor of the
soldier, is attended by equal hazard, and even
by greater privation than belongs to warfare
with a civilized foe. '1 he galantry, zeal, and
devotion of both officers and men have been
repeatedly, within the last year, put to the se
verest test, and they have on all such occasions
equalled the anticipations which past conduct
warranted, and have renewed their claim to the
gratitude of those whose Hag they bear and in
whose service they have suffered. '
1 lie unusual exteut of the operations above
detailed has necessarily caused large expendi
tures, which must exceed the appropriations
made for the ordinary wants of the military
service?an incident to which appropriations
made upon estimates prepared so long in nd
vance are always subject.
My attention has recently been called to the
practice, in the settlement of accounts at the
treasury, of charging sums due in past years
to the current appropriations. It is deemed
preferable that the settlement of old accounts
should be provided for by appropriations for
arrearages, and that the practice above re
ferred to be checked, since, so long as it pre
vails, the appropriations for current expenses
must prove insufficient, and deficiency bills be
the necessary consequence.
In my last report I suggested several mea
sures which I deemed necessary to preserve
aud increase the efficiency of the at my.
The principal of these was a revision of the
laws regulajing rank and command, and those
fixing the organization of the army. In rela
tion to the evils there shown to be inherent
in the present system, I need .only say that
additional experience lias demonstrated their
existence more clearly, while it has given no
reason to distrust the advantages which were
hoped from the changes indicated. That the
rL'ht of command should follow rank by one
certain and determinate rule; that officers who
hold commissions which entitle them to the
command of troops should not, at anv early
period of Bervice, be placed permanently in po
sitions on the staff, which afford no opportunity
for increasing military knowledge or confirm
ing military habits; that troops organized,
equipped, and necessarily employed for the
same service, should not be divided into differ
eut arms; that those serving on foot with regi
mental organization and bearing muskets or
rifles should not be divided into urtillery and
infantry, nor mounted men, armed and equip
ped alike, be divided into dragoons and cav
alry ; that engineers should not be divided into
two corps, with a nominal disjinction of engi
neers and topographical engineers, though
their acquirements, capability, and duties'are
so entirely alike that it has been found neces
sary to adopt an arbitrary rule assigning to
each a part of the duties of both :?these pro
positions are the basis of the principal recom
mendations submitted in my last report. Thev
appear too clear to me to need to be enforceif
by argument, and I hope that the evils which
the bare statement of the facts exposed will not
be suffered to exist after the subject shall have
secured the considerate attentiou of Congress.
A measure scarcely inferior in importance to
those which relate to jank, command, and or
ganization, is that which has in view to increase
the efficiency of the army by retiring from ac
tive service those officers who are no longer
capable of fulfilling its requirements; but as
their profession affords little opportunity for at
tention to personal interests, and as the very
low rate of compensation allowed for their ser
vices indicates that it was fixed in connection
with the idea of a permanent tenure, it would
scarcely seem to be just, abruptly to discharge
them without any provision for the future. Nor
would each course be consistent with the grati
tude due to those who, amid the dangers and
privations of military life, have been disabled
hy man v years of faithful service, or by wounds
received in battle. As, however, the claims of
individuals must always be subservient to the
public good, so nothing can justiff a system
which retains men in office for which they have
become disqualified. When age, wounds, or
other casualties of service have stripped an of
ficer of the power to discharge the duties of a
station which in earlier life he adorned, a just
consideration for bis own fame and a due re
gard for the public welfare demand that he
should give place to one whose mental and
physical activity is equal to the station, and
who, stimulated by early promotion, would not
fail to emulate the honorable lame of him whom
he succeeds.
As one of the recommendations intimately
connected with this subject, I have to renew
that made in my former reports for an increase
of the compensation of army officers, and a re
vision of the laws respecting their allowances.
That this measure has failed heretofore to
secure the attentiou which is, in my opinion,
due to it, I attribute to the misconceptions,
which are general, as to the amount of the pay
and emoluments of a great majority of officers
in active service. In the present condition of
the laws regulating the pay and allowances of
officers, some may,under certain circumstances,
receive much larfer allowances than others,and,
indeed, more than the nature of the service
justifies, and these, which are but exceptional
cases, have given rise to a general impression
that the compensation of the officers is much
higher than it actually is. Perhaps the error
would have been less prevalent were it not that
their compensation is made up of many items,
which vary according to circnmstances. and
render it difficult '.o compute the amount in all
cases with certainty; but whenever the subject
shall be full? considered, the result will, I am
confident, show that the officers of the army
are, on the average, less liberally compensated
than those who pursue any other occupation
demanding equal capacity and acquirements.
I also renew the recommendation that the
provisions of the act of Augnst 4. 1864, increas
ing the pay of the rank and file of the armv, be
extended to all enlisted men,some few of whom
are, by the military signification of the words
used in that statute,excluded from the benefits
that were probably Intended for all who come
under military obligations by enlistment.
I commend to consideration the representa
tions of the Snrgeon General respecting the
necessity for an increase of the medical corps.
8och increase is required in consequence of
the subdivision of our troops ; and as the want
of medical officers renders necessary the em
ployment of citizen physicians, often at a
higher compensation than that of a surgeon of
the army, the new appointments would be at
tended with no additional eX|>enae. I, there
fore, recommend the adoption of the measure.
I concur with theQuartermaster General in re
commending the adoption of five military store
keejiers to his department. At present there
is but a single d?|?ot of clothing and camp and
garrison equipage, and as the supplies for the
whole army have to be despatched therefrom
to each company, the distribution can only lie
made at long intervals, and, consequently, in
large quantities, to that the companies are
embarrassed in their movements, and the ex
pense of transportation is increased by the
large amount of stores which they have
to take with them. With five depots, pro
perly located, the distribution could be made
more frequently, and in small ouantities;
the troops would thus be less encumbered with
baggage, and the expense of their movement*
would be diminished.
lly the 7ih taction of an net in addition to
the several nets lor the establishment and w; I
gulalion of the Treasury, W'ur, and Navy De- |
partuients, approved Way 1, 1820, it. is' pro
vided that no land shall be purchased on ae- |
count of the United Suites, except under a j
law authorizing such purchase. Although the
fteady progress of our frontier westward, and i
the advauce of our military posts with it, has
rendered it frequently necessary to abandon
old sites, and occupy new ones, the prohibition
to purchase land has not until recently been
the cause ol much embarrassment, since
the troops were operating in territories where
nearly all the laud was already the property of
the Government, in Texas, however, the case
is different ; there this Government owns no
land, except such as it inav have acquired bv
purchase lor specific objects, and the greater
number of our military posts stand upon the
property of private persons or of the Slate.
Embarrassments have arisen from this cause,
and I have therefore to recommend that the
act above citcd be so amended as to permit
this department, under such limitations as
Congress may deem proper, to purchase such
land as may lie required for the sites of military
posts.
I have again to ask attention to the neces
sity ot legislation to authorize this department
to sell useless military sites. Two statutes
have been enacted for this purpose, but neither
according to the contemporaneous construc
tion given them, is upplicable to the largest
class of cates that now embarrass the depart
ntent. According to that construction, the net
of March 3, 1811) (3 Stat., 520,) applies only
to sites then in the possession of the United
Stales, and that of April 28, 1828, (4 Stat.,
264,) applies only to hinds conveyed to the
United States for military purposes; neither
including reservations Irom the public domain
which were not occupied as military sites on
the 3d ol March, 1819. Owing to this omis
sion, when the troops find it necessary to
abandon a post ot this description, the de
partment cannot sell the land upon which
the buildings and improvements of the aban
doned post are located, but can only sell the
buildings to be torn down and removed, and,
of course, the price obtained bears no propor
tion to their value. I hope that authority will
given the departmental such cases to sell a
portion ol the land with the buildings, and use
the proceeds for the establishment of new
posts in such advanced positions as it may be
necessary for the troops to occupy.
In transmitting the aunuel report of the
Board of Commissioners of the military Asy
lum for the past year, I take occasion to' trans
mit, also, their reports for three preceding
years, which were made annually to this de
partment, pursuant to regulations, but which
have not been heretofore forwarded.
The view which these reports give of the re
sults of the institution does not fulfil the anti
cipations which were entertained at tie time
of its establishment. Although early means
were taken to give notice of their rights to nil
?entitled to the benefits of the Asylum, by
orders published to the army, and by handbills
sent to every post office in the United Stales,
yet the aggregate number of inmates of the
several branches of the Asvluin was, at the
dates ot the respective annual reports, 50, 73,
77, and 87 ; in addition to the last number,
six men, bavin;; families, were receiving relief
without being quartered a: the Asylum. In
the mean time, the treasurer's accounts sliow
that the net receipts were $-41)0,140 17; that
the cost of sites, buildings, furniture, stock,
&C., was $280,183 75; and that, the amount
of current expenses was $91,314 19. If to
the current expenses of the several branches
there be added interest on the cost of build
ings, &c., the average cost of maintaining each
inmate will be found to exceed $500?an ex
pense so great as to indicate the propriety of
seeking some proper mode of effecting a re
duction.
The buildings on the site near Washington
city, with the addition thereto, now far ad
vanced towards completion, will probably af
ford accommodation for 150 men?a number
greater than that which, judging from the past
rate of increase, will seek admission into the
Asylum for many years to come.
The branch which was established in 1852
at East I'asc-agoula, Mississippi, has been
already discontinued, and the same measure is
deemed disirable wiih regard to that at liar
rodsburgh, Kentucky. This branch was founded
at a heavy churge upon the Asylum fund, and
is maintained at an expense much exceeding
the advantages conferred upon the disabled I
soldier; but as it was established in conse- j
quence of the provisions of law contained in ;
the Army appropriation acts of August 31,
1852, section 18, and of March 3, 1853, section
14, the propriety of declaratory legislation in
the case is suggested.
1 would again call attention to the propriety
of additional legislation which shall place the
widows and orphans of the officers and roldicrs
of the army on an eqaalitj with those of the
officers and sailors of the navy.
I also again invite attention to the necessity
of legislative provision for the more prompt
settlement of the accounts of disbursing officers
by intrusting to a tingle accounting officer the
audit of the whole, instead of requiring disburs
ing officers to render accounts to two Auditors
as at present. The confusion and embarrass
ment consequent upon the division of duties,
involving injurious delays in final settlement,
have heretofore b??cn brought lo the attention
of Congress, and it is hoped that the evils rep
resented will not be suffered to exist much
longer.
Under the appropriation, made at the last
session, for the unporiation of camels, an officer
of the army and one of the navy have been
directed to proceed fo the East to 9btain
animals of the different bretds most likely to
be useful in our climate. By the kindness of
the Secretary of the Navy, a storeship declined
for the Mediterranean wnh naval supplies was
placed at the disposal of this department, lo
firing in a return targo of camels and drome
daries; and from the last report received from
the officer charged with the execution of the
commission, it is expected that as many of
these animals as the vessel will transport will
be shipped for the United States in February
next. Recent inquiries respecting the use of
these animals in the Crimea confirm me in the
belief that they will be found highly valuable
in the military service in our country.
For detailed information respect ing the Mili
tary Academy. I refer to the reports of the
Chief Engineer and of the Board of Visiters,
herewith transmitted, which exhibit a satisfac
tory view of the condition of that institution.
1 concur in the recommendations of ihe former,
for the estab)i?hment of a new professorship,
in order that the chaplain may be relieved of
the dutipl of professor of ethics and English
studies; for the appointment of an instructor of
cavalry; and for the allowance of light artillerr
I par to the instructor of nrtillery.
The act of March 1G, 1802, requires that the
| Corps of Engineers lie stationed at West Point
I and constitute the Military Academv, and that
| the Principal Engineer, and in his absence the
next in rank, shall superintend the said
Academy. By this act the cadets were made part
of the corps, and the whole nnmber of officers
and cadets was limited to twenty. Under subve
qoent legislation the numlier of cadets has been
| increased nearly thirty fold; and owing to this
extension of the Academy, and to the demand
for the services of engineers in the field and on
permanent works, the affairs of the Ar ademv
are mainly administered by profet-sors holding
no military commissions and officers detailed
from the army generally. Tims the post has '
long ceased to be exclusively an engineer sta- 1
tion, as originally contemplated, and the Chief
Engineer himself, under the act establishing
an Engineering Bureau in this department, Iias
I been stationed at Washington, I, therefore, I
1 Ulll (11(511 <1 Slicll f'ti VWlf III ika AAt ' ?
as will n?nrl ? *v,a,on ot *el in question
IT w -r "2 Pr',visi""* consistent with
ion iff" U,trodttceU br subsequent lt.i,U
110III Mid the necessities of .ho ser'ice.
ihe sea coast. defences have during the uast
\??r jcen steadily pressed toward completion
??7? """.puriKMe. J? ?o |>nrt 0f0UP Ml,|i_
-ra 1S l'?e exercise of wise foresight
ToZa:ZTyth"? in tl,c Pro#ecution of E
at? n t'l, refom,ne.?.l to favorable consider
zr.Sssr^ot ,he Chid E?*io- upon
wnil" . I,rel,ttrati?n of the armament for these
works ,s mi advance of the construe,ion.
J be recommendation heretofore made for ar.
Shb i land " ,0 COmrnJ!"Ce tl,e Unification of
? ?P inland is renewed. The importance of
H is work as connected with the dine, of the
ttppnmches to .New Orleans, and (he command |
,? Nr ' .er.c'"?Miel of communication between
the M.wwa.pp, r vep aild Mobj|e lmrbor
.i . augmented both by the increased value of
hat navigation the time of peace, and by
the introduction of light draught war steamers
? . ?Peiu"ons of an enemy than
J he physicalgeography of the vast region
drained by the Columbia"river indicate. ftS
hi^rv i.y igreat ci,y umst nri3e Ht tb* point
A . V ti?,ne iU C?mme,cial entrepot.
Attention has been heretofore called to the
necessity of fortifying the entrance of the
Columbia river, and 1 would again commend
u to attention and favorable consideration.
of the "OH11111"01' n reg"rd t0ll,e ?Pertttions
of the Ordnance Department I refer to the
accompanying report of the Colonel of Ord
nance; taking occasion to renew the recommen
dations I have heretofore .nude for an appro
priation lor arsenals in Texas and New Mixico
and on the north Pacific coust in Oregon or
advisabl??ni rn,017'HS milYbe ,ound most
advisable; also for a national armory for the
fabrication ol cannon and projectile.". Mv
views in regard to the expediency of these
measures, a, heretofore gVven, remain un
? ''fftd, the reasons then advanced in support
ol Hie recommendaiions remain in full force
and are referred to instead of being repeated
na,1i0nal nrm?ries the manufacture of
smooth-bored arms has been brought to a close.
New models for all small arms have been
adopted upon the rifle principle, and embrac
ing the improvements described iu mv last
report, and it is expected thatthe armories will
of Ihe year 'POn ^ "CW befaru the close
w,1Ii",;he ni.e'";n time, improved ammunition, to
which mainly ,s due the increased range
ia3 fo tr '"I11 by s,millur,ll8> 1,as ^en
issued to troops bearing grooved arms, and its
us. ... actual scrv.ce has fully realized all the
advantages that were anticipated.
ni iTnf"-tl,C "ew. I,"0de,a f<,r sma^ arms is a
pis ol of increased length of barrel, furnished
w.ih an attachment to the stock, which may be
...stonily applied, and which converts it into a
carbine. Should ibis prove ns valuable in
h!diiitpT',Crir18 exPer>?r,ts made now
indicate, no difference will be needed between
he arms and equipments of dragoons and those
ol light cavalry, but the whole, armed with this
weapon, will be rendered, in celerity of move
hS.T* I 10 i' "avnlr^ nr d i" combat, as
as heavy dragoons. It is thought that
Ins arm will be found, also, well adapted to
the use of sappers and miners, of men working
m he trenches, and of light artillerymen.
Under provisions made Inst year for the
purchase of breech-loading rifles, many samples
of ns weapon have been examined, and a
number of various patterns purchased, and
placed iu he hands of troops for trial in the
eld. it is deemed ind.spensable to subject
^lld^^r ^ "7 " a
I be distribution of arms to the militia of the
several hi ales fur the current year has been
made according to representation in Congress,
as prescribed by the 7,h section of ihe army
appropriation act, approved March 3, 1855
?nH ,l'ngT fl"?.,ao1 ,he district of Columbia
and the Jem,ones, which bv ihe act is left to
the discretion of the Execute, it nas deter?
mined that the District and the Territories
Should receive the quota of States having the
least representation in Congress. That pro
vision ofthe act which required this department
to equalise, as far as practic able, the number
of arms distributed to the Slates, was executed
byissumg from the United Slates arsenals to
each State and Territory which had received
brineT ? 8!a"d tU ,n*ny Hrm9 as would
bring t|)eir supply up to that number
Arrangements |,av? been made to convert
arms of the old model.issued to the Slates, when
desired by .hem, into rifled arms of the new
iTr.? I pert'US9lon lock and primer at
tached; the excuse of the alteration to Ik?
charged to the Slates und deduced from their
?C'vera quotas ol the appropriation for the
annual supply of arms.
j Under the appropriation made at the last
session, editions of cavalry and light infarttrv
acl.cs have been, procured for the militia, and
ore in course of distribution.
n/}1 I'f la#- *es*'OM 'r,f Congress nn act was
passed d.reeling the Secretary of War to cause
o be constructed on a site to be selected by
be I res.dent of the United Stales, a suitable^
building lor the core and preservation of the
ordnance and arms and accoutrements of the
volunteer, and militia of the District of Colum
bis, and for the c?re and preservation of ihe
military trophies of the revolutionary and other
and nul . 'er Prile ?f "^^"vented
and model arms for the militarv service; for !
| which purpo?e the sum of $ 50 000 was appro
priated. In the execution of this act, a site was
j selected and a plan and specifications conforn.a
f r ,l?J rr: prepared, a,:d bids
1 men! J ' hj publit
A coninet has been entered into, but at so
j lute a period that no progress has been made
in Hie construction of the building.
j ihe work npon the military roads in the
; territory of Minnesota has generally made
satisfactory progress. Tho?e in Utah, Wash
inglon, and Oregon, for which appropriations
i were n.ac.e last ^ear, have been completed ac
j cording to the plans adopted. Those for which
appropriations were mad. at the last session in
I ',e'rns'<;l? Washington, Oregon, and
f*ex,co have not yet been put ander con
I s ruction No report has yet been received of
' the completion of the necessary preliminary
, 1 lie survey rf the northwestern lakes has
<e<n prosecuted wiih skill and energr. The
several parties employed on this work have i
beet, almost exclusively engaged during the I
r,,H iT'k," \i" Michigan and Superior
! and ihe St. Mary s river. A largeareahas l^en
j surreyd, more than a thousand buoys have
bee,, located to mark dangerous reefs and
shoals, and m^terinls hate l??.n gathered for
ie nnnnie and reliable charts so nccessaty to
the navigai,on ol .hose inland seas.
The appropriations for river and harbor im
provemeni, have, wi.h few exceplio,^ been
exhausted, or reduced so low as not lo be effee
-ve for future operations.. Snag and dredge
Hints are usually built out of npproprialions I
?r special works; and when, therefore, the
fund is expended, it has Iwn deemed proper
to se such boats, machinery, and materials,
and apply tht proceeds to the benefit of ihe
work for which the money was appropriated.
be rapid deterioration and constant expose
attendant on the preservation of boats does I
not permit .hat ihey should be kept bevond a '
s ion period on the contingency of future an- '
propria!ions being made. Under these cir
cumstances, ari(] for ren0OllBf ,||P ?
boats on Ihe western rivers have been sold, and
i ie amounts drawn for the construction, equip
ment, and repair of those boais from the ap
propnation for the respective rivers were thus
made available for the improvements to which
they belonged. And a like course, under like
circumstances, will, have to be adopted in rela
tion to the dredge.boats on the northern lakes
and rousts of the Atlantic and (lull of Mexico.
Under the authority given in the army appro
priation act of August 4, 1854, sec. 5, to use
the appropriation for the removal of the Ked
river raft in such way as wpuld secure naviga
tion in and around said raft,-an examination
of the obstructions and surrounding locality
was instituted, and a plan adopted.to secure
navigation around the greater part of the raft,
through Dooley's bayou, and an agent, with
the necessary machinery, is employed in its
execution.
Reference is made to the documents accom
panying <he report from the Topographical
Bureau for the progress made on the improve
ment of western rivers and lake harbors, the
construction of military roads, and the survey
of the Florida canal, and to the report of the
Chief Engineer "for the work on tho Atlantic
and Gulf harbors and rivers.
The reports of the ollicers employed under
the appropriations made for explorations nnd
surveys to ascertain the most practicable and
economical route for a railroad from the Mis
sissippi river to the Pacific ocean, wero sub
milled to Congress on ihe '27th of February
last, with a report from this department, giving
a general sketch of the countiy over which
they extended ; a recapitulation of their results,
and u comparison of their distinguishing
characteristics, from which it was concluded
that, of the routes examined, the most practi
cable and economical was that of the 32d par
allel. A report is herewith submitted from the
officer in this department charged witty the re
vision of the work of the several parties, and I
refer to it for additional information derived
from materials collected, on a further exami
nation of them, by himself, and the several
officers who made the particular survey, as
well as for the results of explorations carried
on during the past year.
When the report was made in February last,
many of the maps, drawings, and scientific
papers intended to form part of the report, and
which could only be prepared after an elabo
rate examination of the ucaterials collected,
had not been completed for want of time, and
it became necessary to substitute hastily pre
pared drawings and preliminary reports. This
was particularly the case with regard to the
work on the route of the 35th parallel. A
minute examination of the material collected
in that survey has resulted in showing the
route more practicable than it was at first rep
resented to be, and in reducing to nearly one
half the original estimates of the officer in
charge of the survey, which indeed seemed
when they were submitted to be extravagant,
and were noted in the report from ibis depart
ment as probably excessive.
Another feature of interest developed in the
course of the further examination of tho work
on the route of the 32d parallel is that the
Colorado deserts, which is traversed by the
route for a distance of 133 miles, and which,
in the report referred to, was noted as consist
ing of u soil that needed only water to render
it highly productive', is, in fact, the delta of the
Colorado river, and, according to barometric
levels, is so much lower than thai stream as to
be easily irrigated from it. Thus there is
every reason to believe 4,500 square miles of
soil of great fertility, of which nearly one half
is in our territory, inay be brought into culti
vation in one unbroken tract along the route.
Under tl^p appropriation made at the last
session for the continuation of these surveys
and other purposes, three parties have been in
the field during the past season.
One of these was directed to make eximina
tions connected with the routes on the 32 1 and
35th parallels. This survey has greaily im
proved the aspect of the former route by chang
ing Ihe line for nearly half the distance be
tween the Rio Grande and the Pimas villages,
on the Gila river, from barren ground to cul
tivable vullevs, and entirely avoiding a jornada
of eighty miles, which occurs in that section :
also, by the discovery of an eminently practi
cable route through cultivable country from
the plains of Los Angeles along the coast, and
through the Salinas valley to San Francisco.
Hie connection originally proposed between
these points was by way of the vallwy of San
Joaquin and the Great Basin.
The attention of this party wns also directed
to an examination into the practicability of
procuring water along certain parts of the route
where it is now deficient. 1 he report shows
that it may be obtained by common wells at
distances of about twenty miles.
From the result of this exploration, moreover,
it appears practicable to obtain, at a rmall ex
pense, a good wagon rond, supplied with water
by common wells from the Rio Grande down
the San Pedro and Gila, and across the Col
orado desert. Such a road would be of great
advantage in military operations, would facili
tate the transportation of the mail across that
country, and-relieve emigrants pursuing that
route from much of the difficulty and suffering
which they now encounter.
A second party was charged with the duty
of testing the practicability of procuring water
by artesian wells on the Llano Fstacado, an
arid plain which has been heretofore described
ns a desert. The experiment has so far de
monstrated its practicability as to leave little
doubt of its finnl success; it will l>e continued,
however, until the problem shall have been
full* solved.
The examinations into the feasibility of
causing subterranean streams to flow upon the
surface from artesian wells, though undertaken
in connection with the practicability of a rail
road, if they should prove entirely successful,
will have a value beyond their connection with
that object, in the reclamation of a region
which is now n waste, and its adaptation to the
pastoral and perhaps the agricultural uses of |
man.
The third party was directed to conduct an
exploration from the Sacramento to the Co
lumbia tmr, wnh a view to ascertain the prsc
ticablityof a route to connect the valleys of
those rivers. The (Hirer in charge has re
t.nr'ed the successful completion of the duty,
but ha* not given details. The same officer
ha* been directed to m ike a recontioissance of
the Sierra Nevad/i in the vicinity of the head
branches of the Carbon river.
The prosecution of instrumental surveys, nc
Companicd by investigation into many branches
of physical science simultaneously over lines of
such length, and embracing such an extent of
latitude, is a work of greater mngnitnde than
any of the kind hitherto undertaken by any na
tion, nnd its results have not only proved com
mensurate with the amount of work done, but
possess a value peculiar to the scale on which
it has l>een conducted, as affording a basis for
the determination of some questions of science
which no number of smaller and detached ex
plorations could have furnished. Should means
lie granted, pursuant to the estimate in the re
port referred to, for continuing these explora
tions, 1 have every confidence that the expend
iture will be well repaid by these contributions
to our knowledge of the interior of the country.
The facts developed by these surveys, added
to other information which we possess, suggest
some considerations of great interest with re
gard to our territory on the Pacific. They ex
hibit it as a narrow slope of an average width
of less than 150 miles of cultivable land, skirt
ing the ocean for a distance of 1,000 miles;
rich in those mineral productions which are
tempting even beyond their valu*, and which
would be most readily turned to the use of an
invader; drained by two rivors of wide-spread
branches, and with sea ports lying so directly
upon the ocean that a hostile fleet could com
mence an attack upon any one of them within
a few hours after being described from lahd ;
or if fortified against attack, so few in number,
that comparatively few ships would suffice to
blockade them.
This territory is nwt moro remote from the
principal Kuropean States than from those parts
of our own country whence it would derive its
military supplies, arid some of those Suites have
colonics nml possessions on the Pacific, which
would greatly facilitate their oprrutions against
it. With these advantages, and those which
the attacking force always has of choice, of
time and place, uii enemy possessing a consid
erable military marine could, with compara
tively Kttle cost to himself, subject us to en
ormous expenses in giving to our Pacific fron
tier that protection which it is the duty of the
General Government to afford.
In the first years of a war with any great
maritime power the communication by aea
could not be idled upon for the transportation
of supplies from the Atlantic to the Pacific
States. Gur naval peace establishment would
not furnish adequate convoys for the number of
storeships which it would be necessary to em
ploy, and storeships alone laden with supplies
could not undertake a voyage of twenty thous
and miles, passing numerous neutrul ports,
where an enemy's armed vessels even of the
smallest size, might lie in wait to intercept
them.
The only line of communication then would
be over-land, and by this it would be imprac
ticable, with any means heretofore used, to
furnish the amount of supplies required for the
defence of the Pacific frontier. At the present
prices over the best part of this route, the ex
pense of land transportation alone for tbc an
nual supplies of provisions, clothing, camp
equipage, and ammunition for such an army
as il would be necessary to maintain there,
would exceed $20,000,000; the land transpor
tation of each field 12 pounder, with a due
supply of ammunition for one year, would cost
$2,500 ; of each 24 pounder and ammunition,
$0,000 ; and of a sea-coast gun and ammuni
tion, $12,000. The transportation of ammu
nition for a year for 1,000 sea-const guns would
cost $10,000,000. But the expense of trans
portation would be vastly increased by a war;
and at the rales that were paid on the northern
frontier during the last war with Great Britain,
the above estimates would be trebled. The
time required for the overland journey would
be from four to six months. In point of fact,
however, supplies for such an army could not
be transposed across the continent. On the
arid and barren belts to be crossed, the limited
quantities of water and grass would soon be
exhausted by the numerous draught animals
required for heavy trnins, and over such dis
tances forage could not be carried for their sub
sistence.
Gn the other hand, the enemy would send
out his supplies at from one seventh tp one
twentieth the above rales, and in less time,
perhaps in one-fourth the time, if lie should
obtain command of the isthmus routes.
Any reliance, therefore, upon furnishing that
part of our frontier with means of defence from
the Atlantic and interior States after the com
mencement of hostilities would be vain ; and
the next resource would be to accumulate
there such amount of stores and supplies ns
would suflice during the continuance of the
contest, or until we could obtain command of
the sea. Assigning but a moderate limit to
this period, the expense would yet be enormous.
The fortifications, depots, and storehouses
would necessarily be on the largest scale, and
the cost of placing supplies there for five y^ars
would amount to nearly $100,000,000. Tn
many respects the cost during peace would be
equivalent to that during war. The perishable
character of many articles would render it per
haps impracticable to put provisions in depot
for such a length of time, and in any case
there would be deterioration amounting to
some millions of dollars per year.
These considerations, and others of a strictly
military character, cause the department to ex
amine with interest all projects promising the
accomplishment of a railroad communication
between the navigable waters of the Missis
sippi and those of the Pacific ocean. As mili
tary operations depend in a greater decree
upon rapidity and certainty of movement than
upon any other circumstance, the introduc
tion of railway transportation has greatly
improved the means of defending our At
lantic and inland frontiers; and, to give
us a sense of security from attack upon the
most exposed portion of our territory, it is re
quisite that the facility of railroad transpor
tation should be extended to the Pacific coast.
Were such a road completed, our Pacific coast,
instead of being further removed in time and
less accessible to u# than to an enemy, would
be brought within a few days of easy commu
nication, and the cost of supplying an army
there, instead of being many times greater to
us than to him, would be nbout equal. We
would be relieved of the necessity of accumu
lating large supplies on that coast, to waste,
perhaps, through long years of peace, and we
could feel entire confidence that, let war come,
when and with whom it may, before a hostile
expedition could reach tlfht exposed frontier an
ample force could be placed thereto repel any
attempt at invasion.
From the results <tf the aurvevs authorized
by Congress, we derive at least the assurance
that the work is practicable, and mav dismiss
ihe apprehensions which, previously, we conld
not but entertain as to the possibility of defend
ing our Pacific territory through a long war
with a powerful maritime enemy.
I ho judgment which may be formed ns to
the prospect of its completion must control our
future plans for the military defence of that
frontier, and any plan for the purpose which
should leave that consideration out of view
would be as imperfect as if it should disregard
all those other resources with which commerce
and art aid the operations of armies.
Vi helher we shall depend on private capital"
and enterprise alone for. the early establish
ment of railroad communication, or ?hall pro
mote its construction by such aid ns the gene
ral government may constitutioiinlly give;
whether we shall rely on. the continuance of
peace until the increase of the population and
resources of the Pacific States shall render
them independent of aid from those of the At
lantic slope and Misiissippi valley; or whether
we shall n4opt the extensive system of defence
above referred to, are questions of public policy
which belongs to Congress to decide.
Beyond the direct employment of sueh a
road for military purposes, it has other rela
tions to all the great interests of our confede
racy, political, commercial, and social, the
prosperity of which essentially contributes to
the common defence. Of these it is not my
purpose to treat further than to point to the
additional resources which it would develop,
and the increase of population which must
attend upon giving such fucility of communi
cation to a country so templing to enterprise,
much of which having most valuable products
is beyond reach of mnrket.
I refer to the reports of the officer in charjre
of the Capitol and Post Office extensions for
detailed information in regard to those works
I he progress of the former has been serisouslv
retarded in consequence of deficiency in the
supply of marble tor the exterior. The work
is, however, so far advanced that the interior
finish must now be considered. The original
plan and estimate was fur a finish similar to
that of the main building, but this style
would not be a fair sample of the present
state of architectural skill, and it is supposed
would not fulfil the wish of Congress; it
has, therefore, been thought proper to have
prepared for inspection specimens of en
caustic tiling, instead of brick and sand
stone, for the floor; of painting, instead
of white-washing, for the wnlls and ceilings.
I lieso and other contemplated improvements,
not included in the original plan nnd esti
mates, may be introduced to a greater or less
extent, as Congress may provide. Modifica
tions have already been made, such as the in
troduction of ornamental iron ceilings in the
principal rooms, the substitution of iron for
wood in the frames for the roofs nnd the doors
and windows of the basement story, an in
creased thickness of the marble in the walls
specially provided for by law, and a costly and
extensive corridor required by the plan, but not
contained in the original estimate.
At the last session Congress adopted a plan
and made an appropriation for a new dome to
the Capitol. No estimate of the cost of the
work had been submitted,.nor has any yet been
prepared. In fact, at tLat time only the exte
rior had been studied, and a sketch mado
showing the general effect of the whole build
ing as completed. The study of the details has
siuce been entered into, and I refer to the re
port of the officer in charge for a narrative of
his operations, as well as for a full description
of the contemplated structure, which promises
to be an object of rare architectural beauty.
The resources exhibited in the machinery de
signed to raise the enormous masses of iron
composing the dome, and to place them accu
rately in their elevated positions, reflect the
highest ciedit upon the capacity and skill as
an engineer of the officer in charge of the
work.
Notwithstanding a very unhealthy season,
the work on the aqueduct designed to supply
this city with water has been prosecuted suc
cessfully, and to the extent of the means ap
propriated. A larger appropriation will be
asked, in order to realize the benefits of this
great enterprise as early and as economirially
as possible. Should the appropriation bo
granted at an early period in the session, the
operations can be continuously carried on; but
if it should be delayed until the usual period
of making the annual appropriations, the
spring?the most favorable season for work?
will be lost, and the operation be again sub
jected to interruptions resulting from the au
tumnal diseases which prevail in the locality.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
JEFF'N DAVIS,
Secretary of War.
To the President of the United States.
Congressional.
TIIIBTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION.
Tuesday, January 15, 1850.
The Senate was noi in session lo day.
House of Representatives.
The Clerk called the House to order at twelve
o'clock', and the Journal of yesterday was rend.
Mr VALK, of" New York, moved that there be
call of the IIou*e ; which motion did not pre
vail?yea-< S5. nays 107.
Mr "QUITMAN, of Mississippi, who had yes
terday withheld his vote from Mr. Richardson,
nave the r. a-oa? why he should cheerlully and
heartily support that gentleman so long us there
should he any pnspect of his election.
The llouse then resumed the business ot vot
,.ig for Speaker, when the one hundred and
twelfth vote was had; and resulted as follows:
Mr. Banks
pJ
Fuller. ^
Pennington. ?
Scattering "
Whole number of voles -07
Necessary to a choice 101
No person having received a majority of the
whole number of voles given, there was no elec
tion. .
Mr. MILLSON. of Virginia, dure g the preced
ing ballot, remarked tha* he had been supporting,
Mr. Richardson lor npwardsof six weeks, during
which time he had voied lor him more than oua
hundred limes. lie had thus given proof, which
perhaps in the history of the world had never be
fore been given, of his sincere desire to elect ihat
gentleman lo the high position lor which lie had
been proposed as a candidate. On which party
or on what person 'he blijme of the failure to eb ct
might fall, or whether on any^ it would bo vain t >
inquire. One thing lie did know: that there was
a separate and equal responsibility upon ev< ry
member to elect the necexsary officers ol thu
Hou-e. in order that they might proceed to the
di-patch ol ihe public, business. He did not agree
with those gentlemen who had said that they
would vole for nunc other than Mr. Richardson,
nor with those who, if ihey haJ not said so in
words, had at leasi proclaimed in their votes their
determination to vote for none other than Mr.
Ba^k* and Mr. Fullf.u. He did not concur in
ihe opinion, which had been several times ex
pressed here, that ihe Government might b- car
ried on very successfully even though ihe Hou-e
might fill to effect au organization. He thought
that such an ex|>erimeni would be apt to f ill; he
certainly did not wish it to be a successful one. A
Kmc ol Ei gland once endeavored to carry on ihe
Government without the aid of Parliament, but
the people decided ihat he should not. He <lid
not wish an American President io be more suc
cessful than was the king to whom he had re
ferred. ?
There were many gentlemen in the House lor
whom he would cheerlully vote There were
others for whom, if not cheerfully, he would will
ingly vote. He did not, then, in again giving hi*
vote for Mr. Richardso.i, wish to be considered
aa in any degree approving the determination of
gentleman io vole for none other than him. Hu
had voted for that genl'eman most cheerfully *nd
earnestly, but had never intended that Ins vol*
should be regarded as a ratification or approval of
the opinions entei latned by the honorable member
from Illinois. The gentleman and himself differed,
but this did not in any degree lessen his con 8
tlrnce in hi* integrity, ability 4iont**iy. Hut,
as he had under-lood ihat those gentlemen with
whom he had ?>eeii a?sociated had declared lhal
they would adheie lo the original nominee of their
ciuciia.be had ri-en merely to protect himself
from the inference that he approved iheir deter
mination. lo the extent, perhap*, of allowing ihe
affairs cf the Government, foreign and domestic,
to fall inio confusion rather than ihat the Hour*
should be organized under the leadership '>1 any
other than that of a ceriai:i gentleman. Cut hi*
single vote, given lo any other gentleman, would
not l>e likely lo be fell or to produce any success
ful result, He was willing now, as he had always
been, to aid in any proper conservative organiza
tion ol ihe House ; and, in again voting I <r Mr.
RiChar naoji, he wished it lo be understood that
he was in no wise committed to the line ol policy
which seemed to oblige gentlemen to pu.sue n
single cour?e. but Hood free to dispose of his voto
where it could be effectively felt.
He thought that too much importance had been
a*l ached to ths question of* he choice of a S|?esker.
The Speaker Was not the represenlsti ve of gentle
men on this floor, and they did not become his
constituents It was not absolutely necessary
? lint he should concur in opinion wiih them upon
a l questions. The Speaker was the represents,
live of his district, and wou'd re'matn such slier
his elevation to the chair. They were not, then,
his constituents, and had no right to exact Ironi
him a rigid conformny to iheir individual views.
One thing was certain, that if the Speaker was to
l?e the representative of principle, then they would
never tiave a Speaker; for there was no principle
which controlled a majority of the members of
ihe Hou-e.
Mr. WASHBURN, of Maine, submitted the fol
lowing re*oluiion:
That the House will proceed im
mediately to the election of a speaker vtra rocr,
and if, alter the roll shall have Wen called three
limes iio member ahsll have received a majority
of ihe v hole number of votes, the roll shall aga.n
be ended, an?l the member who shsll thvn receive
the largest number of votes provided it l~e a
msjorily of a quorum, shall be ihe Speaker of ihe
House of Representatives of Ihe thirty fourth
Congre??.
M r JO NFS, of Tennessee, anpposed that eveiy
meml?er's n ind was made upas io ihe resolution,
and he therefore suggested lo the gentleman from
Maine that he call tne previous question
Mr. WASHBURN replied thai it was hi*
intention to call the previous question; but as the
genilemsn from North Carolina desired t? say a
single word he would refrain from doing so at
present.
Mr. CL1NOMAN desired io say a word in
explanation of the rote ha should give on the
pending resolution. So far as the adoption of the
plurality rule was concerned, he could see no
obpction to it in principle. It was a mere
proposition to change I he.mode of election. T li? y
might ad.ipt the majority ru e at one time, and at
another they might adopt the plurality rule, as had
recently l>een tione in many of the States. J'eel
ing a strong anxiety to see the Ilotise organized,
he had felt willing to change the law and allow an
election by ihe plurality rule. But although he
hud repeatedly expressed the opinion that the
House had better adopt ihat rule, he now le'l at
libeny to do as he pleased on this as on all other
questions of expediency. For two weeks previous
io Saturday lust he was in favor of and had
endeavored to gel his friends to adopt the plurality
rule, and ihua allow the majority to effect an