Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress Page: 5
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APPENDIX-—To Gales & Section's Register. 5
SKsnoN^' i Message, of the President, at the opening of the Session. "[Sen. and II. of r!
for instruction tn like manner. In this mode, a complete
knowledge of the science and duties of tbis arm, will
be extended throughout the whole Corps of Artillery.
But, to carry this object fully into effect, will require the
aid of Congress ; to obtain which, the subject is now
submitted to your consideration.
Of the progress which has been made in the construc-
tion of Fortifications, for the permanent defence of our
jnaritime frontier, according' to the plan decided on, and
to the extent of the existing appropriations, the Report
of the Secretary of War, which is herewith communica-
ted, will give a detailed account. Their final comple-
tion cannot fail to give great additional security to that
frontier, and to diminish, propoitionably, the expense of
defending it in the event of war.
The provisions in the several acts of Congress, of the
last session, for the improvement of the navigation of the
Mississippi and the Qhio> of the Harbour of Presqu'isle,
On Lake Erie, and the repair of the Plymouth Beach,
are in a course of regular execution ; and, there is rea-
son to believe, that the appropriation, in each instance,
will be adequate to the object. To carry these improve-
ments fully into effect, the superintendence of them has
been assigned to officers of the Corps of Engineers,
Under the act of 30th April 'last, authorizing the Pre-
sident to cause a survey to be made, with the necessary
plans and estimates, of such roads and canals, as he might
deem of national importance, in a commercial or milita-
ry point of view, or for the transportation of the mail, a
Board has been instituted, consisting of two distinguish-
ed officers of the Corps of Engineers, and a distinguish-
ed Civil Kngineer, with assistants, who have been ac-
tively employed in carrying into effect the object of the
act. They have carefully examined the route between
the Potomac and the Ohio rivers ; between the latter
and Lake Erie: between the Alleghany and the Susque-
hanna!) ; and the routes between the Delaware and the
Jlariton, Barnstable and Uuzzard's Bay, and between
Boston Harbour and Narraganset Bay. Such portion of
the corps of Topographical Engineers as could be spar-
ed from the survey of the coast, has been employed in
surveying the very important route between the Poto-
mac and the Ohio. Considerable progress has been
made in it, but the survey cannot be completed until the
next season. It is gratifying to add, from the view al-
ready taken, that there is good causc to believe, that
this great national object may be fully accomplished-
It is contemplated to commence early in the next sea-
son, the execution of the other branch of the act, that
which relates to roads, and with the survey of a route
from this city, through the southern states, to New Or-
leans, the importance of which cannot be too highly
estimated. All the officers of both the corps of Engi-
neers, who could be spared from other services, have
been employed in exploring and surveying the routes
for canals. To digest a plan for both objects, for the
great purposes specified, will require a thorough know-
ledge of every part of our Union, and of the relation of
each part to the others, and of all to the seat of the Ge-
neral Government. For such a digest it will be neces-
sary that the information be full, minute, and. precise.
With a view to these important objects, 1 submit to the
consideration of Congress the propriety of enlarging both
the corps of Engineers, the military and topographical..
It need scarcely be remarked that the more extensively
these corps are engaged in the improvement of their
country, in the execution of the powers of Congress, and
in aid of the states in such improvements as lie beyond
that limit, when such aid is desired, the happier the
effect will be in many views of which the subject is sus-
ceptible. By profiting' of their science, the works will
always be well executed; and, by giving* ta the officers
such employment, our Union will derive all the ad van-
tage in peace as well as in war, from their talents and
services, which they can afford. In this mode, also, the
military will be incorporated with the civil, and unfound-
ed and injurious distinctions and prejudices, of every
kind, be done away. To the corps themselves, this ser-
vice cannot fail to be equally useful, since, by the know-
ledge they wvould thus acquire, they would be eminently
better qualified, in the event of war, for the great pur-
poses for which they were instituted.
Our relations with the Indian tribes within our limits,
have not been materially changed during the year. The
hostile disposition evinced by certain tribes on the Mis-
souri during the last year,'still continues, and has ex-
tended, in some degree, to those on the Upper Missis-
sippi and the upper Lakes. Several parties of our citi-
zens havs been plundered and murdered by those tribes.
In order to establish relations <>f friendship with them,
Congress, at the last session, made an appropriation for
treaties with them, and for the employment of a suitable
military escort to accompany and attend the Commission-
ers at the places appointed for the negotiations. This
object has not been effected. The season was too far
advanced when the appropriation was made, and the dis-
tance too great to permit it, but measures have been
taken, and all the preparations will be completed, to ac-
complish it at an early period in the next season.
Believing that the hostility of the Tribes, particularly
on the upper Mississippi, and the Lakes, is in no small de-
gree owing to the wars which are earned on between
the Tribes residing in that quarter, measures have been
taken to bring about a general peace among them, which,
if successful, will not only tend to the security of our
citizens, but be of great advantage to the Indians them-
selves-
With the exception of the Tribes referred to. our re-
lations with all the others are on the same friendly foot-
ing, end it affords me great satisfaction to add, that they'
are making steady advances in civilization, and the im-
provement of their condition. Many of the Tribes have
already made great progress in the arts of civilized life.
This desirable result has been brought about, by the hu-
mane and .persevering policy of the Government, and
particularly by means of the appropriation for the*civil-
ization of the Indians. There have been established, un-
der the provisions of this act, thirty-two schools, contain-
ing nine hundred and sixteen scholars, who are well in-
structed in several branches of literature, and likewise
in agriculture, and the ordinary arts nf life.
Under the appropriation to authorize treaties with the
Creeks, and Quanaw Indians, commissioners have been
appointed, and negotiations are now pending, but the
result is not yet known.
For more full information respecting the principle
which has been adopted for carrying into effect the act
of Congress authorizing surveys,, with plans and esti-
mates, for canals and roads, and on every other branch
of duty incident to the Department of War, I refer you
to the Report of the Secretary.
The squadron in the Mediterranean lias been main-
tained in tile extent which was proposed in the Report
of the Secretary of the Navy of the last year, and has
afforded to our commerce the necessary protection in
that sea. Apprehending, however, that the unfriendly
relations which have existed between Algiers and some
of the powers of F<urope, might be extended to us, it
has been thought expedient to augment the force there,
and, in consequence, the "North Carolina," a ship of
the line, has been prepared, and will sail in a few days
to join it.
The force employed in the Gitlph of. Mexico, and in
the neighboringseas, for the suppression of Piracy, has
likewise been preserved essentially in the state in which
it was during the last year. A. persevering effort has
been made for the accomplishment of that object, and
much protection has thereby been afforded to our com-
merce, but -still the practice is far from being suppress-
ed'. Frjm every view which has. been taken of the sub-
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. Register of Debates in Congress, Comprising the Leading Debates and Incidents of the Second Session of the Eighteenth Congress, book, 1825; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30752/m1/381/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.