Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-12-24

! z
nan century ago ''''N'' a"''e
report Of TIE See,ttariss- accor,n,nr;
1e RESIDENTS Message, presented to Con-
sre's on Tuesday Ii. sth, were the Re,ort.
OF the Secretaries Il the different n.
ments, and other documents of;,,er.s, -,
Ne shall proceed to notice in order.
these reports are particularly interesting
as explaining the principles, and develon;n,,
the views, of the present Administration
Inc Report of the Secretary Of IV.sr speak,
IN high terms of the general good, CON
auc' and discipline Of the Army. He renro-
'a'e' 'he practice OF enlisting men while in a
state OF intoxication, and has ordered lie N.
use. Consratulating the country on the SGT.
'lement OF the question Of breyet rank he
recommends, likewise, a settlement of some
| disputed points, with regard TO the nav az
certain oificers--the Surgeon General. 81
and suggests that certain fixed and definite
salaries should be constituted by law. The
report speaks favorably ofthe Engineer Corps;
In addition, on this head, he adds
III It be the pleasure Of Congress that the
important internal improvements of the com
Try shaH continue, and desire corresnon-
IDENTITY IS possessed that those anthor;sed
works shall progress ereditably to the spirit
that projects them, there is no plan to he
suggested preferable to an enlargement of
TINS corps, to the extent that the entire reI-
ahce Oh The government for all such objects
may DC on then exertions. At present, the
hummer authorlAed is altogether insufficient to
.he OBJECTS requiring attention, to say moth
ing oil me numerous and frequent applications
from the States to be afforded the benefit of
their services, and which the Department
owing to the paucityiof their numbers. in re-
peated instances, have been constrained to
refuse when every disposition was felt to &C.
cord to the requestn
Inc Secretary spcaksin high terms of the
Academy at West Point, and replies to some
of the objections that haveseen made against
it. He recommends that ordinacc be sunni.
ed to the Forts in the United States. and thai
instead Of powder, the materials of which if
IS composed, be collected and aid up 10 be
manufactured when necessary. He remarks
that the Breakwater at the mouth OF the De
laware, is not in as forward state as we
could wish. He suggests the propriety of in
creasing the number Of surgeons and assistants.
and of mounting some of the troops employed
on the western frontier, and Of revising the
law concerning inviiid pensioners His views
with regard to the Indians are the same az
those expressed in the Message of the Presi-
dent, and appear to us to becorrect
The Report of the Secretary of the Mary
commences with giving detailed account Of
the service in which the different squadrons
have been employed during the present year
lie urges the same recommendation as an
peared in the Message concerning ships in
ordinary. He objects to the Commandments
of the Yards preparing ships for service, to
the discharge ofseamen in Foreign ports, and
to paying the expense of their return 10 the
United States. On the subject of Iessening
the number of Navy Yards he says:
"The Navy Yards established and now in
operation 10 the United States, are located in
the following places: Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, Brooklyn. New, York, Pensaco-
la, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington. and
Norfolk. There is scarcely any part of the
expenditure for the establishment of Navy
which has contributed so much to exhaust the
general fund intended for its support. as that
which has been applied to objects connected
with the buildings and maintaining of Navy
Yards. Ii appears from the report made TO
Congress by the Secretary OF the Navy for
1898, that the permanent expenses under this
head, including Naval, Ordinary, Hospital,
and Civil, amount, annually, to s26S ia
The great expense incurred in the support of
these numerous establishments makes il pro
per to inquire, whether it may not be mate
| rally diminished by a reduction Of their mum
Der, without affecting injuriously, other i'm
| portant interests of the Navy. The opinion
entertained by those most conversant with
such subjects, seems to be. that the number
now an operation is greater than the public
service demands; that the rebuilt IT them
would effect AN important dinunutioA of ex-
penditure; and flat, by concentrating the
means and materials for building, repairing
SSc. at two or three points most favorable iol
such purposes, it would tend greatly 70 pro
mote the general objects Of these establish
ments."
The Secretary then speaks OF the value o
the live oak belonging to the United State
and purposes that instead of agents statione,
on the coast, marine force should he EN-
ployed for its protection. He informs III