Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-16


that disbursing officers and others have claims, re-
sulting from the depreciation Of Treasury notes dur
ing the last These claims generally arise from
the notes having been placed in their hands as
funds 10 be disburscd, and having been charged to
them, at their nominal value. When called 10 dis
burse them, IL could, in many cases. be done only
at a reduced amount. They were thus chary cd
by the Government with one sum, when in re ali.
Yor all purposes Of paying claims ,naking ?urca-
ses, &C. they had received another. When their
accounts have been presented for settlement. the
Department has not felt itself authorized 10 make
The allowances which the painest evidence proved
70 he Just. They thus stand debtors on the
COOKS, and have been, believe, in some inst anc e.
published az defaulters. The records are in this
mode, encountered, accountsremaiu unse and
inconvenience is created. Congress have passed
acts declaring that saaics should
not be withheld. where the balances agAins, indi-
viduals were caused solely by the depreciation of
| Treasury notes; which has enabled those so stua-
ted to receive their salaries or compensaons: and
thus FAR, afforded relief to them: but it does moi
\ relieve the acconptng Office from the cficuity
created by this circumstance. Could au,horit, he
given, m some form 10 adjust these claims, much
benefit would result.
The organization Of the discussing department
| may be considered good, except perhars in SOM
matters relating to the Pursers in which charge
wouf be useful. These depending principally on
the rules and regulations of the Navy, ought to
! be remedied when they revised.
In the active operations of the naval force du-
ring the year, there has been much to applaud .
and little to give pain. Health has prevailed
with lew exceptions, and these not of an uncom,
mon character. On this point, there is very slight
any uluerence, IN the several stations on which
our vessels are employed.
Our squadrons have been ker. on the footing
indicated in the last annual report. A condensed
view OF them, both for the past and ensuing year
VIII be found in paper b. They have all accom-
piished the purposes for which they have been
maintained.
\ In the Mediterranean, piracy, which excited the
Tears OF our mercantile fellow citizens, and Undue
cd Congress, at the last session, to increase our
| iorce, has been diminished by various causes
me activity OF our vesseis-the presence of fleets
belonging 20 several of the principal Powers OF
! Europe-ihe restraints OF the existing authorities
IN Greece, and the system Of convoy which has
cccri pursued, have all operated TO this desirable
result. Still, there Il danger to be apprehended
ana our squadron cannot be diminished. This
danger does not arise so much FROM pira'icu, crui-
zers, as from vessels being becalmed in the night
near the shores OF some OF the small islands, from
which attacks are made, in boats, by the lawles.
inhabitants. Against this species Of attark, /, is
inpracticabIe, always.to guard by any asiduty in
our naval officers. There is for it but one remedy
Lthat OF which cannot, in every instance.
De aiforded and Is not always sought by our mer-
chant vessels, on account Of the DELAY which il
sometimes occasions. In other respects our rela-
tons ia that sea. have called 70. no exercise OF
force.
Peace has generally prevailed among the M
ions on the Western Coast of South America. and
no incident has occurred there worthy of particular
hohce. Our commercials not Ino!ested on the o.
cean. There are no public ships to interrupt or
annoy II. should this state OF things continue. our
vessels WI! have an opportunity to extend their
cruzes to those portions of the Pacific most occu
pied by our merchant ships and be useful to them
IN tnelr pursuits "A relief squadron is now in pre-
Paraiion lot that station, and orders will be sent to
one OF our vessels 10 return by the Society and
Sandwich Islands, and the Cape of Coop Hope.-
OBJECTS oil much interest, connected with our sea-
men and commerce at those islands call for the
frequent presence OF portion OF our armed force
In the W est Indies, no pracies have been COM
mtted. That scourse of our commerce has b,an
entirely repressed. Occasional rumors of renew
ed acts OF piracy have created uneasiness s.: but in
almost not entirely, all the cases, these rumors
wole ioehued ON Misrepresentation. The annexed
extract from the commanding officer ntion some
cases oil this kind" The only unpleasant occur
rences have arisen from the condition of things on
the land and from vessels wearing an acknowledp
ed and authorized dag. The commanders OF two
vessels, under Mexican colors, and beloppinp to
the Mexican Navy. have used the port OF Kew
w est as place Of rendezvous, from which 10 car
~ on their beigerent operations and, in or,er
respects, SO conducted, that they were ordered 10
depart; and call wamaie on one Of our yes .ea to
enforce the order. Subsequent obedience rs,,dsr.
ed actual force unnecc st;try.
another Incident created some apr ehens,on OF
injury 20 our commerce.
In Nov. 1927, the Commander OF the Newton
naval + orces issued proclamation, inviinp those
who were disposed to tit out privateers, to cruize
against the enemies of Mexco,to apply TO him for
commissions; and that every vessel, on board of
which might be found effects Of the enemy. should
DC conducted to Vera Cruz for condemnation or
acquittal. Our commanding officer promnt,, com
municatcd with this Government, and with o,r
Minister IN Mexico and adopted efficient means IN
avoid the evil likely to result from this cause For
tlinately, very few commissions were issued: and
the treaty subsequently, formed with Mexico. bv
adopting more liberal principle relieved Us fro,n
app,ehended Inconvenience
The commanding officer of that squadron has
expressed an opinion, that the reduction of ;he
Spanish naval force at Hayanna which was said IN
be an contemplation. would discharge so MANI
seamen' who bad been taken into service by i'm
Pza7snent. and whose previous occupations had
oeen, ~ many instances, those OF depreciation On .
the water, that there wouH be danger of The reyi
val oil piracy. Should this reduction be made re- |
newed zeal must be exercised and thereby seri |
Gus ca'amities prevented.
Ihe commissions also, in several of the countries
bordering on tho Gulf, and the want of regularly
organized Governments in many Of the ports offer
so many causes OF apprehensons for The safety of
our commerce and the property Of our citizens az
10 forbid any diminuton Of our force or reI,xation
in their exertioas-
The continuance OF the war, until yerv recon, |
~, between Brazil and Buenos Avres. and tho aus.
ten adopted by the former in sustaining their bJock
ades, by force, at times Inadequate to the object.
aud requiring bonds OF those who entered mi |
ports, that they would not afterward, enter The |
ports oil their enemy; have given unceasing EN- |
pioynent to naval force in the neightorLooJ e
those nations. The commanding officer has has,
IN almost daily correspondence with the EXISTING
Powers, respecting our vessels, and seamtn ! |
iaIthiul view oil tiiiS correspondence could not he
presented, without transmitting yoluminous coucs
OF IeUers. US believed to embrace every in |
stance OF injustice, oppression, and wrong tn M,
IN