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id :
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6
1 WE GO WHE2E DEMOCRATIC PRIHCIPLES TOTXT TEE WAT ; WHEN THEY CHASE TO LEAD, Wl CEASE TO FOLLOW."
VOLUME IX.
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1853.
KWiBER 15.
- t ekM s.
The "MOrXTAIX SEXTIXEL" is publish
ed eTery Thursday morning, at One Dollar and
Fifty Cents per annum, if paid in advance or
within three months; after three months Two
Vollart -will be charged.
No subscription will be taken for a shorter
period than six months ; and no paper will be
discontinued until all arrearages are paid. A
failure to notify a discontinuanc at the expira
tion -of the term subscribed for, will be consid
ered as a new engagement.
Bg, ADVERTISEMENTS will be inserted
t the following rates: 50 cents per square for
the first insertion; 75 cents for two insertions ;
$ 1 for three insertions ; and 25 cents per square
tor every subsequent insertion. A liberal reduc
tion made to those who advertise by the year.
All advertisements handed in must have the
rroper number of insertions marked thereon,
tir they will be published until forbidden, and
aLarged in accordance with the above terms.
-fl All letters and communications to insure
attention must be post paid. A. J. R1IEY
From the Sew York Tlerald.
THE CALORIC SHIP ERICSSON.
gueeeseful Trial Trip General Description of the
Shi Another Great Commercial Enterprise.
In the great commercial and shipping circles
f the world, nothing has excited more interest j
f late than the novel discovery and enterprise j
ef Captain Ericsson, by which steam as a mo
tive power is to be supplanted by caloric, or
Icated air ; and nothing but the successful ap
plication of the actual test could remove the
ikepticism with which, generally, the project has
Uen viewed. This test has, however, at length
teen furnished, and now all doubts of the prac
ticability and importance of the invention are
dispelled. The Ericsson, constructed on the
new principle, made her trial trip on Tuesday
morning down the bay of New York, and from
the complete triumph with which the experiment
was attended, there need now be no hesitation in
acknowledging caloric as a great natural ele
ment adapted to locomotion, destined to work a
aoroplete revolution in navigation, and to confer
n inestimable benefit on mankind.
The Ericsson was put under caloric early on
Tuesday morning, and started from Williams
burg between O and 10 o'clock. At 0 h. So m;
be passed the flagstaff on Governor's Island,
and at 10 h. SG m. and 30 Beconds she was
abreast Fort Diamond, thus making a distance of
wen and three-eights miles in thirty-four minutes
tnd thirty seconds. From thence she proceeded
down the bay, rounded to below Spithead buoy
at 11 h. 2i m., aud there anchored in conse
quence of a snow squall. She returned on
Wednesday, and anchored off the Cattery at 2
o'clock in the afternoon. The distance between
tie stated points on Governor's Island and Fort
Pianiond being accurately known by triangula
tion to be seven miles six hundred and sixty
yards, the speed attained was as ptated, about
fourteen miles an hour. The consumption of
fuel is ascertained to he only six English tons per
totnly-four hours, a saving as compared with steam
ships, of more than eighty per cent. As the ship
draws 16 feet 10 inches ou an even keel, this
performance at a first trial has astonished all
concerned in the enterprise.
The great idea which had for more thantwen
tv years been ripening in the brain of the in
ventor, but which, from the incredulity and op
position he encountered among men of capital
in his own native country, in England, and in
America, he had been unable to realize, has thus
teen substantiated as a real entity. It was for
tunate for Captain Ericsson and for the world
that one of our own " enterprising merchants,
John B. Hitching, Esq., vho appreciated and
relied on Lis talent and genius, determined at
all risks to enable him to make the experiment
on a scale worthy of the magnitude of the issue.
For this purpose the latter furnished half of
the capital necessary for the enterprise, and dis
posed among his acquaintances of the remain
der of the stock. By this means, and regard
less of expense, the clipper ship whose first per
formance we have recorded was built at the yard
of Terrine, Patterson & Sack, and fitted up with
enginery on the caloric principle under the im
mediate direction and supervision of Capt. Erics
eon. The vessel measures 200 feet in length of
deck, and 40 feet in breadth of beam ; her
depth of hold is 27 feet, and her burden 2,200
tons. Like the Arabia, of the Cunrad line, she
haibut two masts and like our swiftest clippers,
he is extremely . sharp in the prow. She has
no figure-head. Her stern presents the device
of two figures, allegorical representations of the
United States and Great Britain placing a wreath
around the brow of the inventor. She had been
originally named the Caloric, but in compliment
to the genius who planned her, her name was
changed to the Ericsson.' This was considered
ly Captain' Ericsson a high tribute to himself,
lut the flattering device which was placed upon
the stern without his knowledge overwhelmed
him with emotion, and we are told that when he
first aaw it he wept like a child. The Ericsson
presents a very handsome and unique appear
ance, from the four white funnels which rise
ome tenor twelve feet over the promenade deck,
nd which somewhat resemble Ionic pillars with
out the capital. They are thirty inches in di
meter, and are supported by octagonal pedes
wit, algo : white. Two of these columns, or
if , carry off the air from the engine, and
ether two itrre chimneys. Around their
tops they arc ornamented with gilt rings and
mouldcrings. These gilt ornaments arc now,
after ten days' firing, perfectly bright. Enter
ing the 6par-deck, the absence of any crank
hatches, and a clear deck for two hundred feet
on each bide of the deck-house attract the eye
The berth-deck likewise presents an uubroken
line, with state-rooms along the entire ship, and
passages between the fore and aft saloons on
both sides.
As a model of naval architecture, there is not
a vessel in our splendid merchant marine that
can compete with the Ericsson for graceful pro
portions and symmetry of build. All who have
seen her concur in the expression of admiration
of this beautiful chip, and in their opinion of
her superior sailing qualities, independent of
any aid from her machinery.
For obvious reasons, those interested in the
undertaking have observed great caution and
jealousy to prevent any knowledge of the con
struction of her machinery, &c, from getting
abroad. To guard against this, portions of it
were made at various places New York, Phila
delphia, West Point, &c, from plans and speci
fications furnished by the inventor. So perfect
and true were his calculations, that every piece
of the machinery thus made, fitted in with the
utmost exactitude, so that, to give the language
of one of the persons engaged in it, a sheet of
tissue paper could not be put in between the
joints. This circumstance, in itself, speaks
well for the great engineering skill of its con
structor. The same jealous caution was obser
ved iu permitting strangers on board. The ex
clusion of all outsiders has been very rigidly en
forced, so that the hundreds whose curiosity
brought theia to visit her were forced to content
themselves with a distant inspection. Thus, up
to the present time, no correct description of
her ha8 appeared in type ; and we therefore
feel confident that that which we now present to
our readers in relation to this remarkable vessel
will be read with an interest proportionate to
the invention, of which the Ericsson is the first
embodiment.
Let the reader, therefore, accompany ns as
we are chaperoned throughout the Bhip by her
gallant and polite commander, Capt. -A. B. Low-
her, to whose ability and experience as a navi
gator she has been well confided.
Let me first show yoa, says our guide, the
freight deck, and then we will ascend and exam
ine her, in detail. To the freight deck, there
fore, we descended, and were pointed out its ca
pacity, extending as it does some 2G0 feot. It
is entirely free from obstruction of every
kind, excepting only a space along the middle,
which contains the cylinder, enclosed within
strong bulk heads. None of its room is to be
devoted, as in steamers, to the carrying of coal
which is stowed away in sufficient quantity each
side of the engine. It is calculated thus to car
ry 1,400 tons of teas, or other light merchan
dise ; or, if engaged in the Australia or Cali
fornia trade, it is well adapted for accommoda
ting some four or five hundred passengers. A
ventilator on a new principle, and connected
with the machinery, extends to this deck.
About midships there is a sort of a square en
closure, which, we learned, communicated only
with the main deck, and which has been fitted
up for "female servants of cabin passengers.
This is a great improvement on the present
plan, which makes little or no provision for this
class of travelers. We found this room neatly
and comfortable furnished, with twelve or four
teen berths, and conveniences for bandboxes and
the various et ceteras of waiting women.
From the freight deck we ascend by a wide
stair-way to the main deck. This is occupied
from stem to 6tern by sixty state rooms ; those
in the aft cabin fitted up with two berths each,
and those in the forward cabin with three. We
inspected the latter portion first, and were struck
with the elegance and taste with which it was
fitted up. We were immediately reminded of
the motto, which we saw in a conspicuous posi
tion on the board "Everything in its place;
and a place for everything" and we felt the
conviction that this maxim was not lost sight of
in the construction and fitting tip of the ship.
The state rooms communicate , direct with the
saloon by a gothic arched door, which opens ron
every two rooms. They are richly carpeted
and are lighted by day with deck and side lights,
and by night with a three-sided lamp, so fitted
in the panelling as to furnish a light at the same
time to two rooms and the saloon. These lamps
are provided with alock, and are to be in charge
of one of the employees. The berths are hand'
somcly fitted up ; the mattresses -are composed
of the best curled hair ; and the. bed-clothe
are also of the whitest and finest texture, and
marked with the word' Ericsson in red letters
A marble slab wash-basin and appurtenances
belon" to each room; and on the side opposite
the berths is a sort of day sofa, which answers
the very necessary use of a receptacle for soil
ed clothps and boots. A small bronzed framed
mirror, with a'pivot which permits it to be turn
ed in every direction, completes the furniture of
these apartments. We must not forget to men
tion that a fine room is also fitted up here for
the accommodation of the waiters connected
with the vessel, who are obliged on other ships
to stow themselves away" under the tables and
elsewhere. Fourteen double berths are provided
for them, and all the conveniences of water-
pipes, wash-basins, mirrors, &c.
The forward cabin saloon is very handsome
ly furnished, and presents a chaste appearance,
from the gothic style of the doors, which open
into the state rooms, and from its general deco
rations. The chairs aud sofas are covered with
crimson plush, and are of the neatest pattern.
The carpets are of a very rich and beautiful
material, the design representing the American
flag interspersed with the forest foliage, &c.
The panels are painted white, shaded with a
light tinge of purple, and decorated with gild
ing. The device round the cornices, on raised
gilded work, represents Neptune in his chariot,
drawn by sea monsters. In fact, the only po;nt
of Jistinction between the aft and forward cab"
ins is, that the rooms of the latter are fitted up
with an extra berth ; ami, if it were judged ad
visable to have a uniformity of price for passage,
the plan could be easily carried into execution,
it being only requisite to take away the third
berth from each of the forward cabin state rooms.
For the saloon there is a steward's pantry amid
ships, provided with neat delph, glass, cutlery,
&c, and communicating by a dumb waiter with
the kitchen.
The state room3 of the after cabin, which is
merely separated from ths other by passage
doors, are in no respect different, except in the
numbers of berths from those we have just de
scribed. They range along each side of the
deck, the central space being occupied with the
machinery, to which several doors admit an en
trance. These doors h:ive a circular pane of
glass to allow passengers to witness the work
ing of the machinery. A barber shop ib fitted
up in the state room through which the 6hafts !
runs, the corresponding room on the opposite
6ide being used as a More room. The saloon is
larger and furnished perhaps in a more exten
sive style than the forward cabin, but the char
acter of the furniture and fittings is precisely
the same. This Faloon id heated by a hot air
apparatus, and ventilated by the same means ns
is the freight deck, except that here the ventil
ator is 6hut in by a stained glass frafnv" jlt
and cold air can be supplied to any part of the
vessel from the engine. The peculiar construc
tion of the ship, and comparatively small room
occupied by the machinery, afford an inner
promenade round the whole course of the cab
ins, extending some five hundred feet. On the
upper deck the space between the cabins and
the side of the vessel is some twelve feet wide,
extending also round the ship.
The lidies' boudoir in the after cabin is a
handsome semi-circular apartment, furnished
with great elegance, and richly carpeted. It is
entered from the main saloon by two doors on
opposide sides ; round the bend of the room a
eofa is arranged with a marble slab table in
front of it. There are besides in the room sev
eral ottoraas and luxurious arm chairs, covered
with rich crimson plush, and, the walls are or
namented with mirrors. There is also a neat
library fitted up in the room, with mirror doors,
the lower part of it being reserved for a medi
cine chest. The apartment is one of the most
chaste and elegant we have ever seen assigned
to the purpose of a ship.
From the main cabin there are four stairways
to the upper deck. Here is the dining hall tor
the aft cabin passengers. This is a fine well
lighted room, painted in imitation of oak, hav
ing mirrors and windows in each alternate sec
tion of panels. There are several book-cases in
the room, which is also supplied with comforta
ble sofas. Leading from it forward, we come
upon a small circular apartment, containing a
glass case for the ship's plate, &c, and here,
also, is the main pantry, a room for the store
keeper to issue wine, and a water-tank with
filter capable of holding one hundred and five
gallons. The remainder of this deck, forward,
is occupied in kitchen, steward's rooms, officers'
mess, &c. ; and aft is a smoking room for the
first cabin passengers, with a fine comfortable
wheel-house, in which is a place for stowing am
munition, &c.
One of the greatest peccliarities in the fitting
up of this ship is the absence of all angularities,
and one cannot but admire the skill with which
every available spot is adapted to the best use,
while all arrangements are of the most regular
kind. Nor in the attention to the comfort of
the passengers has the comfort and well being
of the sailors and firemen been overlooked ; the
forecastle is neatly fitted up with berths, water
pipes, basons, mirrors, library,. &c, and on the
larboard siifc the like accommodations have been
provided for the firemen. ' '
Having arrived thus far in our gratifying in
spection of the Ericsson, we were led to that
portion assigned to the machinery. This part
is characterized by the same neatness, and ex
hibits the same proofs of superior skill and man
agement as are observable 1 throughout every
other part of it. Apart from the mam principle,
the distinguishing feature of the engines of the
Ericcsson consist in dispensing with the centre
shaft, whilst at the same time two pairs of work
ing cylinders arc employed, imparting a contin
uous rotary movement, as in the double marine
steam engine. The arrangement by which Cap
tain Ericsson attains thia desirable uniform ac
tion presents one of the most elegant mechanical
combinations tivcr produced. Each pair of work
ing cylinders, with their appropriate supply cyl
inders, are placed parallel to the ship's centre
line ; one pair forward of, and the other aft
the pad lie, shaft. The supply cylinders being
inverted and placed at some distance above the
working cylinders, with their open ends presen
ted to the open ends cf the working cylinders,
a space is formed between the two, which con
tains a triangular lever for transmitting the ver
ticle energy of the working pistons to the crank
of the paddle shaft by a diagonal movement.
The mean angle of their diagonal being about
forty-five degrees abaft the verticlc plane of the
paddle ehaft in the aft engine, and forty-five
degrees forward of that place in the forward en
gine, it is obvious that the forces of the two en
gines will be exerted nearly at right angles to
each othtr. Hence the double cranks, and the
objectionable centre shaft of the marine steam
engine, arc obviated, a single crank placed in
the middle of the caloric ship serving to trans
mit, jn a perfect manner, the continuous rotary
motion required in turning paddle wheels for
ocean purposes.
. In further comparing the machinery of the
Ericsson with the double marine steam-engine,
it will be found that the four si le levers have
disappeared ; the cross heads and cross tails
likewise ; nor are the four side rods to be
found ; and, above all, the absence of tl.e par
allel motioii, with their nicely-adjusted joints,
and levers for converting the curved movements
into straight onfs, claim attention. In place o
all these parts will be found simply a triangular
lever for each engine, with a link and connecting
rod for transmitting the power of the pistons to
the crank of .the paddle shaft. Again, the four
huge boilers of the ocean steamer give place to
four small furnaces, erected under the working
cylinders. . Force-pumps, brine bump, safety
valves, &c, and the net working of connecting
pipes, wh'.ch fill the bottom of the ocean steam
er, have . I disappeared ; and in place of gauge
cocks, br-ie gauges, injunction-valves, &c. &c.
calliir f 1 ..incessant vigi'arce on the part., off
many 'minds and hands at oncepa single h'anulc
attached to the valve gear of tha engines regu.
lates at the will of a single mind the movements
of a caloric ship. Starting, stopping, backing,
and checking being effected by the single handlef
without any regard to particular conditions, so
essential in working the engines of the ocean
steamer. The arrangement of the caloric ship
being such that the required air for the engines
from 50 to 70 tons weight perhour has to pass
through the fire rooms before entering the sup
ply cylinder?, it has been found in the Ericsson
that the temperature is actually too low for the
comfort of the firemen.
As an engineering achievement, the machin
ery of the Ericsson is very far ahead of any
afloat. The engineer who beholds four open
cylinders, each of 1G8 inches in diameter, with
their pistons of upwards of twenty-two thou
sand supercial inches area, moving up and down
in sight, through a space of six feet, can best
appreciate the greatness of that achievement.
To the ordinary observer, the movement of the
whole machine)! is wonderful. And we cannot
but feel extremely gratified that the caloric
principle waB introduced to the world on a scale
eo commensurate with its importance, and that
our metropolis has the honor of initiating it.
PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA.
THE ADJUTANT GEJIERAL'S REPORT. j
We publish below a part of the Official Report
of Adjutant General James Keekas to which
reference was made in the Message of the Gov
erno? for ail information regarding the Militia of
the Commonwealth. The General takes espe
cial pride in this department of the Government
committed to his care. He feels confident that
if his suggestions be carried'out, and the prop
er legislation had, the military system of Penn
sylvania may be made a model one, reflecting
honor on the State, and providing her with a
well trained, well armed citizen 6oldiery, the
surest safeguard of peace, order and property,
in times of threatened turbulence and peril.
Trior to the war with Mexico, the "Volun
teers" of this State were, with few exceptions,
well armed and oquipped, but upon the depar.
ture of some of our most flourishing companies
for the seat of war, their arms and equipments
were thrown aside, and a new supply furnished
them by the War Department. Other corps
having suffered materially by the enlistment of
Bome of their most efficient members in the Uni
ted States Army, either disbanded or neglected
their usual trainings, consequently their arms
and equipments suffered so seriously from neg
lect as to render most of them unfit for ser
vice. After the restoration of peace and the return
of our volunteers, and especially after the pas
sage of the act of 17th of April, 1849, a new
impulse was given to the military spirit of the
State, and not only did those companies of re
turned volunteers (with few exceptions) contin
ue their existence as military bodies, but also
those which had neglected their accustomed
trainings and duties of the citizen soldier, re
suscitated and refilled their ranks with alacrity
New corps also sprang into existence in all parts
of the State, consequently the demand for arms
suddenly became very great, and has since been
rapidly increasing.
Each State is credited by the War Department
with its annual quota of arms at terms of mus
kets. The number of muskets supposed to be
due each year, is based upon the quota of the
preceding year, subject to correction when the
next return of the State militia is made, should
the actual quota resulting therefrom require it.
From a statement furnished me by the Ordnance
Department at Washington, it appears that a
balance was due the United States, by Pennsyl
vania, upon the Cth of September, 1851, cf 1070
4-13 muskets.
The quota of this State, for the year 1852, by
the return of the previous year, amounted to
1825 muskets; but from this the Ordnance Dc
partmeat deducted 115 to correct the apportion
ment of 1851, leaving a balance to be accredited
to the State for this year, of 1GS0 muskets.
Of this quota I drew 850 muskets, with equip
ments, and the balance in cavalry, artillery, and
rifle arms and accoutrements, in all equal to
1G32 muskets. All of these have been distribu
ted, and with the exception of a few rifles, the
Arsenals of Pennsylvania contain no new arms
cf any description, and we .are indebted to the
United States 1827 muskets.
In view of this fact, and the probability of a
refusal by the Gener 1 Government to issue arras
to this State for the year 1853, I have ordered
the superintendents cf the Arsenals to have
cleaned and repaired, all the arni3 worthy of re
pair within their respective Arsenals. This is
being done rapidly, and already nearly two
thousand stand of arms have been rendered fit
for service. These, however, are without ac
coutrements, and even were they accompanied
by the necessary equipments, would be inade
quate to supply the great andrapi Jly increasing
demand. I would, therefore', respectfully sug
gest that an appropriation be made to purchase
equipments for these repaired arni9 ; and also
to purchase for the State five thousand stand of
arms and accoutrements. i
pendages, were purchased from the Secretary
of War, at an average value of but a fraction
over $2.13-1 00 per musket, or $2130 per thou,
sand, and I presume that this State would be
furnished with any necessary amount on similar
terms.
Previous to the passage of the act revising
the militia system, the tax paid by the Common
wealth for the support of the militia, averaged
for some time the annual sum of twenty-five
thousand dollars since then, the annual mili
tary expenditure of the State has scarcely ex
ceeded five thousand dollars thus nearly twen
ty thousand dollars are annually saved the
State by the existing system, and it would be
but an act of justice to expend a portion of that
sum for the benefit and encouragement of the
uniformed militia. Pennsylvania, with the mil
itary spirit at present existing within her bor
ders, and the experience brought home by her
energetic young men from the camp, the bivou
ac, and the battle-field, has only to furnish her
niiliti with arms and equipments, to render
them atleast as numerous and effective as those
of any other State in the Union.
The militia law as revised by the act of the
17th of April, 1849, though immensely superior
to the eystem previous to its revision, is never
theless deficient in mnny particulars.
The annual return of the militia of the State
by the Adjutant General, to the Adjutant Gen
eral of the United States Army, is the basis up
on which is drawn the arms and other military
property for the State, but there is nothing in
the "revised militia law," rendering it obligato
ry upon County Commissioners to furnish the
Adjutant General with a list of delinquent mili
tia men in each county. The result la, that but
few such returns are made, and our quota of
arms is drawn from the basis formed by the re
turn of the uniformed militia alone; hence, the
State suffers annually an immense loss of arms
and military property. I would, therefore, re
spectfully suggest, that County Commissioners
be required to make such returns annually, un
der the seals of their respective offices, to the
Adjutant General of the State.
Moreover,-by the neglect of some of the Bri
gade Inspectors, I am not in receipt of the re
turns exhibiting the number of uniformed mili
tia in their brigades. As a remedy for this, I
would propose.that each County Treasurer be
required to withhold a portion of the bill or the
Brigade Inspector whose account he may settle,
until presented with tho acknowledgement of
the Adjutant General of the receipt of such re
turn.
The "revised militia" does not require a bond
from the Brigade Inspector previous to his en
trance upon his functions. I have, however,
followed the precedent established by the late
Adjutant General, and required of each newly
elected Brigade Inspector the usual bond.
By the tenth section of the revised system,
the Brigade Inspector i3 allowed "ten dollars
for each company, fifteen dollars for each bat-
tallion, and twenty dollars for each regiment he
shall have organized within the year. Provi
ded, That should there be no organization in
any brigade in any year, then and in that case,
he should receive ten dollars per company for
inspecting the first five companies, if there be
five companies in his brigade." '
The tendency of this section l to thwart or
ganization. The organization of one company in a brigade,
would deprive the organizing officer of the pay
allowed him inspecting the first five companies
above mentioned ; hence it is not likely that
that officer would encourage anj' 6uch organiza
tion. By doing so he would do injustice to him
self, and by a refusal, he would do injustice to
the "uniformed militia."
By the same section, the amount to be paid
each Brigade Inspector is not allowed to exceed
one hundred and fifty dollars per annum. I
concur with my worthy and experienced prede
cessor, General Irwin, in recommending for, that
officer a fixed salary cf two hundred dollars per
annum, with an allowance for expenses incurred
in public service, for upon his promptness and
attention mainly depend the success of the ex
isting military system ; and the adoption of thi
course would be a sufficient remedy for most of
the evils above enumerated.
The amount allowed for assessing delinquent
militia n en is likewise too small; hence, in
many brigades, this assessment is almost en
tirely neglected. This requires an imme-liota
correction, or without strict tttontion to and m
faithful pci-furmance of the duties of that asscaa
racnt, correct returns cannot be made wherefrom
to draw our annual estimate of military prop
erty. I would likewise recommend to the Legisla
ture and your Excellency, the passage of an act
allowing to the superintendents of the State Ar
eenals, in addition to their yearly salaries, m
specified eum as a commutation for house rent,
near their respective Arsenals ns follows : to
the superintendent at Philadelphia, the annual
Fum of two hundred dollars, a?i J to the superin
tendents at Hamburg ani Mcadvi'.le, the annu
al sum of one hundred each. This would be
but just, for the reason that the salaries of these
ofllcera are tjo email fcr th duties r-quired
should be near the properly committed to their
keeping.
1 have visited and inspected the three State
Arsenals, and take this opportunity of commend
ing the fidelity and attention of the officers hav
ing them under their control. I have given or
ders for such repairs upon the Harrisburg and
Meadville Arsenals, as I have deemed necessary.
The Philadelphia Arsenal, however, I have not
thought worthy of such attention. It is an in
sufficient building, insecure, badly situated, ani
pent up within eo smull a compass as to be al
most unfit for tho purposes for which it was in
tended. I would recommend the pale of tho lot on
which it is situated, and the purchase of ether
grounds, whereon to erect an Arsenal, that in
time of riot or insurrection might serve as
rendezvous and stronghold for the soldier, and
in which military property might be secured
from the hands of the lawless ; an Arsenal wor
thy of the State, and not serving, (as haa been
truly said of the present building,) to humble
the honest State pride of the Pennsylvania!!.
I would make some suggestions concerning
the office of the Adjutant General, such as the
necessity of attaching to that office a clerk, in
order to do justice to its immense correspon
dence ; the propriety of referring all military
affairs to that department alone, and likewise
of requiring that officer to perform the duties
of Inspector-General of the Commonwealth :
but the necessity for these arrangements Is s
apparent, and the reasons so obvious, that it is
not necessary to encumber this report with the
details. However, I may say that the charac
ter and duties of the office of the Adjutant Gen
eral of the State should bear a proper analogy
to those of the Adjutant-General of the United
States, and in this suggestion every gentleman
familiar with military affairs will, I feel confi
dent, concur.
For reasons not rroper perhaps forme to con
jecture, nor necessary to detail, our militia sys-
tem has been sunjecteu to opposition ana negieci.
It was a foundation of our fathers an institu
tion of the patriarchs of the Commonwealth,
who thought there was wisUom in tne saying,
that "in peace is the time to prepare for war."
We should ever remember that the lesson which
this adage teaches is not adapted to the National
Government alone that the Republic is a Re
public of confederated States, each one sover
eign in all things, except those expressly ctded,
as the terms and limitation of Union that
Pennsylvania can, when foreign invasion, do
mestic insurrection, or war declared, "to secure
indemnity for the past and security for the fu
ture" demands, furnish as gallant a body of cit
izen soldiery as any State in the Union.
Thefunctious of tho Stat3 Government should
not be exclusively directed to and expended in
the civil department. Should the National Gov
ernment call for troops, the call would be made
upon the State, as such, for her quota, and
Pennsylvania should hold herself ever ready, in
all respects, to respond efficiently to such a calL
State pride should find objects for its indulgence,
not only in our agricultural and mineral wealth,
our internal improvements, our common schools,
and our admirable system of civil government,
but also in our military organization, to which
the appeal will at once bo made, when foreign
foes or iutestiue feuds shall threaten the aocu-
J rity or endanger tho peace of the country.