South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-12-13

and fidelity on the part of those to
whom has been conided the execution
Of the laws on the subject, and that
blu, a short period would be now re-
CURED to put in commission force
large enough for any exigency into
which the country may be thrown.
When we reflect upon our position
in relation to other nations, it must be
apparent, that in the event of conflicts
with them, we must look chiefly to our
navy for the protection of our national
rights. The wide seas which separate
Us from other governments, must Of me-
cessity be the theatre on which an en-
envy will aim TO assaiI US, and unless
we are prepared TO meet him on this
element we cannot be said to possess
the pow er requisite to repel or prevent
aeetessions. We cannot, therefore,
watch with too much attention this
arm Of our defence, or cherish with too
much care the means by which it can
Possess the necessary efficiency and
been heretofore ore ieis sfFgd our eoliey has
constant employment OF a force sufi-
cient to guard our commerce, and TO
the rapid accumulation of the maIeri.
ais, which are necessary to repair our
vessels, and construct with ease, such
new ones as may be required ia state
of war.
In accordance with this policy, |
recommend to your consideration the
erection oft additional Dry Dock
described by the Secretary of the Navy,
and also the construction of the steam
batteries to which he has referred, for
the purpose Of testing their efficacy as
auxilaries to the system of defence now
in use.
The report Of the Postmaster Cen
eral, herewith submitted, exhibits the
condition and prospects OF that De.
partment. From that document it ap.
pears that there was deficit in the
funds of that department, at the COM
mencement ofthe present year, beyond
its available means, Of three hundred
and fifteen thousand five hundred and
niuety-nine dollars and ninety eight
cents, which on the first of July last
had been reduced to two hundred and
sixty-eight thousand ninety-two dol.
lars and seventy -four cents. 1t appears,
also, that the revenues for the coming
year will exceed the expenditures a.
bout two hundred and seventy thous.
and dollars, which, with the excess of
revenue which will result from the op-
erations Of the current half year, may
be expected, INDEPENDENTLY Of any in
crease in the gross amount of hostages,
TO supply the entire deficit before the
end of 1885. But as this calculation
is based on the gross amount of posta-
ges which had accrued within the peri.
cd embraced by the times Of striking
the balances it is obvious that with>
out progressive increase in the a.
mount ofpostages, the existing retrench-
ments must be persevered in through
the year 1886, that the Department
may accumulate surplus fund sufi.
cient to place it in condition of per-
feet ease.
1t will be observed that the revenues
of the Post Office Department, though
they have increased, and their amount
is above that of any former year, have
yet fallen short of the estimates more
than hundred thousand dollars. This
is attributed in great degree to the
increase of free letters growing out Of
the extension and abuse ofthe Thanking
privilege. There has been gradual
increase in the number of executive
Offices 20 which it has been granted /;
and by an act passed in March, 833,
it was extended to members of Com
gress throughout the whole year. Ills
believed that revision of the laws re.
lative to the franking privilege, with
some enaCtments to enforce morerigid-
ly the restrictions under which it is
granted, would operate benefcially to
the country, by enabling the depart
ment at an earlier period to restore the
mail facilities that have been with
drawn, and to extend them more wide
ly as the growing settlements of the
country may require.
To measure so important to the
Government, and so just to our constit-
uents, who ask no exclusive privileges
for themselves, and are not willing to
them TO others, | earnestly re.
the serious attention of Con.
gress.
The importance of the Post Office
Department, and the magniIude to
which it has grown, both in its reve-
nd