Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-11

Although our expenditures, Se-opeFa-
,ing with an inyigora!ed administration
of the government of the islond OF Cu-
la. and with the corresponding acuve
exertions of British naval fogcs In the
same sea have almost entirely destroyed
she unlicensed piraces from tina. isiaho,
the success of our exer;ioHs has not
been equally effectual TO suppress the
same crime, under other pretences ans
colors, in the neignboring island OF ror,
to Rico. They have been committed
there under tue abusive issue OF Span-
;sh commissions. ~ an early period OF
the present year, circumstances we're
made to the government OF that isiana
nv an agent who was sent for the pur-
nose. against those outrages on the
Deaceful commerce of the L. states, OF
which many had occurred. That officer,
processing his own want OF authority to
make satisfaction for our justc0mplaints,
answered only by reference OF them to
the government 81 Spain. The minister
of the n. States 10 that caurt was speci-
ally instructed to urge the necessity oil
immediate and ehectual interpesi,ion OF
that governmaet, directing restitution
and indemnify for wrongs already com
mitted, and interdictiug the repetition
of them. The minister, as has been
seen, was debarred access to the span-
ish government, and in the mean time,
several new case. of fragrant outrage
have occurred, and citizens of the U. :.
in the island Of Porto Rico have suffer
ed, and others have been threatened
with assassination for asserting their un-
questionable rights, even before the
lawful tribunals Of the country.
The usual orders have been given to
all our public ships, to seize the Ameri-
can vessels engaged in the slave trade,
and bring them in for adjudication, and
have the qualification to state, that not
one so employed has been discovered,
and there IS good reason to believe that
our flag is now seldom, il at all disgrace
ed BY that traffic.
1t is source Of great satisfaction that
We are always enabled to recur to the
conduct of our navy with pride and COM
mendation. Is means of national de-
fence, it enjoys the public confidence,
and is steadily assuming additional inn
portance. 1t is submitted whether a
more efficient and equally economical
organization of it, might not in several
respects, be effected. 1t is supposed
that higher grades than now exist by
law would be useful. They would af-
ford well merited rewards to those who
have long and faithfully served their
country; present the best incentives to
good conduct, and the best means of
insaring proper discipline, destroy the
inequality in that respect between mill
tary and naval services, and relieve our
officers from many inconvenience and
notifications, which occur when cur
vessels meet those of other nations-ours
being the only service in which such
grades do exist.
A report of the Post Mater General,
which accompanies this communic alton,
will shew the present state of the Post
Office Department, and It's general ope-
rations for some years past
There is established, by law, eighty
eight thousand miles of post roads, on
which the mail is now transported eigh-
ty-6ve thousand seven hundred miles,
and contracts have been made for its
transportation on all the established
routes, with one or two exceptions
There are five thousand two hundred
and forty post Offices in the Union, and
as many post masters. The gross a.
mount Of postage which accrued from
the first of July, one thousand eight hum
dred and twenty-five, to the first of
july, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-;hree, was one million one hum
dred and fourteen thousand three hua-
dred and forty-Gve dollars, twelve cents
During the same period, the expendi-
lures of the Post Office department a
mounted to one million one hundred
and sixty-nine thousand eight hundred
and eighty-fiye dollars and flty-one
cents; and consisted of the following
items: Compensation TO Posimasters,
three hundred and fitty-three thousand
nine hundred and ninety five dollars and
nine.y-eight cents; Incidental expenses,
thirty thousand eight hundred and sixty
six dollars and thirty-seyen cents; trans
portatIon Of the mail, seven hundred
and eighty-four thousand six hundred
dollars and eight cents; payments into
the treasury, four hundred and twenty
three dollars and eight cents. On the
first July last, there was due to the De-
partment, from Postmasters, one hun
. dPed and thi rty- five thnuSoud two b,,p