Her fleets secured her treasure. I should not hesitate to apply here with particular emphasis the principles set forth above, as to our true means of defence and protection for the Gulf frontier.

Our steam ships of war, and, when the occasion shall demand it, our heavier fleet, will be ample security for our Southwestern frontier.

From the geographical peculiarities of the Gulf of Mexico above referred to, the establishment of a naval station of construction and repair for steam ships of war seems to be as necessary as it would be judicious. This portion of our country should not be entirely dependent upon the naval resources and preparations of the Eastern section of our common country, abounding as it does in all the material and personnel necessary to this branch of the naval service. The waters of the Mississippi will afford good harbors on many points between New Orleans and the town of Memphis, for the establishment of a dock yard. The timber, iron, hemp, coals, and all the materials of construction, are found in the vicinity, or have access to this point by water. Forges, foundries, and machinery, are in active operation in the adjoining districts; and a numerous body of workmen familiar with the labors of naval constructions, as applied to steamers, which cannot be surpassed in industry or skill by any mechanics in the country.

This position would be secure from all the accidents of war, which might annihilate our naval arsenals on the seaboard; or, were our other ports shut up by an enemy, here, at our leisure, a naval force might be collected, from the ample resources of the country, which could turn the tide of war.

With a dock yard here, New Orleans would be safe; a short time would suffice to convert every steamer on the river into a steam ship of war-a force that would be imposing from numbers, from their armaments furnished by this naval arsenal, and the hardy boatmen summoned to defend them. They would go forth a fleet powerful from the application of a system of discipline which would soon combine their force.

We may sum up this subject, then, with the remarks:

1st. The facts of history teach us that fortifications built within reach of fleets cannot interdict the passage of ships through a strait, as seen at Cronenburg, the Dardanelles, Flushing, Fort Washington, and other places.

2d. That they do not and cannot, from their nature, prevent access to a coast or the landing of troops, at the option of an enemy.

3d. That hostile fleets may hold at pleasure the roadsteads and anchorages on our coast, in defiance of the most numerous and most powerful works. 4th. That fortifications do not and cannot successfully resist the attack of ships, as recited in the numerous examples of their reduction by naval

armaments.

5th. That they involve the necessity of an army-navy, viz: steam ships of war, attached to each, to render them even secure.-(See report of Engineer bureau, Doc. 206, 26th Congress.)

6th. That they make a large standing army necessary in order to take care of them when finished, although the system professes to supersede the necessity of both army and navy, in a great degree.

7th. Because this system of fortified places is dangerous to freedom. The Parliament of England has ever refused to fortify the country, because of a jealous and well-founded apprehension of the danger to the liberties of the people, arising from these strongholds.

8th. That they are useless, nay dangerous, without an army, educated to defend them, and of competent numbers.

9th. That they cannot protect our active commerce beyond the reach of their guns, and therefore in no wise a substitute for a naval force, as it is professed they are.

10th. That this system of fortifications, thus inert when finished, will cost the country one hundred millions, and make the necessity for a large army and navy, more imperative than before completion.*

11th. We have seen the most powerful nation of the earth attain her greatness and retain her power by her naval means, without the aid of fortifications; nay, subdue those of her enemies, and reject their aid for her defence an example fully applicable to our country.

12th. We may therefore conclude that this system of fortifications is not the true defence of the country, and that the further prosecution of it should be abandoned,

13th. We have shown the ability of fleets to protect an unfortified country from the assaults of all its enemies, tempting the cupidity of other nations by its enormous wealth-a country successful in all her wars by the agency of this arm, and whose soil has never been touched by a hostile foot.

14th. We have shown the ability of a fleet to resent insult and to punish aggression, without bringing the calamities of war to their own shore.

15th. We have shown that, by the aid of maritime forces, the revenue of a country is preserved, and the "sinews of war" derived from trade are strengthened in war, rather than diminished or destroyed, as they would be if the power of war lay in defensive works.

16th. That, by a competent naval preparation, the free use of the seas would be ours, our own coasts would be under our own guardianship, which they are not now; and that those questions of international law which now embarrass would take a more suitable complexion.

17th. That our country would be fully able to sustain this arm of national defence on an adequate footing, if relieved, from the "intolerable burden" of defence by fortifications.

18th. That, in the average of years, a navy is the cheapest means of national defence.

19th. And, therefore, that, in general terms, our defensive policy should be by naval means.

20th. From the local peculiarities of the Gulf of Mexico, steam ships should enter largely into the consideration of the best means for its defence. To complete the defences of the Gulf of Mexico, I should esteem the establishment of this Western dock yard of the last importance. All which is respectfully submitted.

Commodore LEWIS WARRINGTON,

LEVIN M. POWELL,
Lieutenant U. S. Navy.

President of the Board of Navy Commissioners.

*The estimate of the Ordnance department, in 1836, was for munitions of war, &c., under this system, $29,955,537; and for completion of the works in progress, and projected, $31,561,268— sixty-one and one-half millions of dollars!

2d Session.

MARINE CORPS.

DOCUMENT

SUBMITTED BY

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS.

MAY 12, 1842.

Read, laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE MARINE CORPS,

Washington, May 10, 1842.

SIR I beg leave to call to your notice the state of the marine corps. The force of the corps now at sea is composed of 77 sergeants, 85 corporals, and 754 privates, and 24 drummers and 23 fifers. In addition to this, I was directed by the Secretary, on the 9th instant, to furnish guards for the Columbus 74 and the frigate Constitution, which will require, even as small as the guards now are, 6 sergeants, 6 corporals, 2 drummers, 2 fifers, and 90 privates. This will make the force at sea 3 sergeants and 11 corporals more than the law now gives to the corps, and nearly all the musicians and privates. By the last general return, made out on the 1st April last, there was then in the corps 135 more than allowed by law, which has no doubt been increased since. This statement shows how urgently necessary an early action on the bill for the enlargement of the marine corps has become, and I deem it my duty to lay it before the naval committees, both in the Senate and House of Representatives.

The present condition of the navy will give active employment to all the officers and men provided for in the bill introduced into the House of Representatives. In case the present anticipations in relation to the navy are realized, an additional enlargement will be necessary in the course of the ensuing year, and I submit it for your consideration, whether it would not now be advisable to add 500 privates to those provided for in the bill.

It would save great trouble to the Department to give authority to the commandant of the corps to order courts martial, in the same manner that a colonel in the army commanding a separate district now has power to order them, and as the commandant of the corps always ordered them before the passage of the law of June 30, 1834.

I remain, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. HENRY A. WISE,

ARCH. HENDERSON, Col. Commandant.

Chairman Com. Naval Affairs, Ho. of Reps.

2d Session.

MURDERS ON THE NEUTRAL GROUND.

LETTER

FROM

THE SECRETARY OF WAR,

IN REPLY

To a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 22d ultimo, calling for a report of the names of American citizens lately murdered by the Indians on the Neutral Ground, in the Territory of Iowa, &c.

MAY 12, 1842.
Read, and laid upon the table.

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 2, 1842.

SIR: In answer to the resolution of the 22d ultimo, requiring the Secretary of War "to send to the House of Representatives the names of the American citizens lately murdered by the Indians on the neutral ground, in the Territory of Iowa; the names, also, of the tribe or tribes of Indians who committed the murders, and whether any steps have been taken by the United States Government to punish the perpetrators of this outrage; and, also, whether the United States troops stationed at Fort Atkinson have been removed, and what military protection, if any, is afforded to the western frontier of Iowa; and all the facts connected with the transaction;" I have respectfully to transmit, herewith, a report from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, from which it will be seen that no official information has reached the Department of the outrage mentioned in the resolution. Sufficient time having elapsed for a communication to reach this city, the inference is, that the rumor upon which the resolution is founded is untrue or greatly exaggerated. The Indian agents and the military commanders on the frontiers have instructions for their guidance upon the happening of such events; and the usual measures will doubtless be taken by them to arrest offenders, without any specific instructions from the Department.

It will be seen, from the report of the adjutant general, also transmitted herewith, that the United States troops stationed at Fort Atkinson have not been removed, and what military protection is afforded to the western frontier of Iowa. The residue of the resolution, requiring "all the facts connected with the transaction," is supposed to refer to the alleged Indian murders, and can be no further complied with than by the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs berewith.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. SPENCER.

Hon. JOHN WHITE, Speaker House of Reps.