Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-12-17

Ip'otCNiDI vi NuF nutiD'lI1 fIuUtS. II
y wide seas which separate us from oihs
r governments, must Of necessity be The the
aIre on which an enemy will aim to assai
D Us, & unless we are prepared to meet hin
: on his element, we cannot be said TO nos
4 sess the power requisite to repeI or proven
? aggressions. We cannot, therefore. watch
With too much aI,ert ton this arm of on
lefence, or cherish with ton much care thr
means by which it car, possess the neccs.
airy efficiency and extension. To hi,
I'D our policy has been heretofore wise.
ly directed to the constant employment oil
IA force sufficient to guard oar commerce
and to the rapid accumulation of the mate.
rails, which are necessary TO repair our
vessels, and construct with case such new
ones as may be required in state of war
In accordance with this policy, recon-
mend to y"ur consideration the erection Of
1 he ddiIi0nal Dry Dock described by the
Secretary Of the Navy, and also the
constrnciinn Of the Steam Batteries to
which he has referred, for the purpose Of
testing their efficacy as auxiliaries to the
system of detence now in use.
The report OF the Pos master General,
herewith submitted, exhibits the condition
and prospect Of that department. From
that document ii appears that there was u
Idehcit IN the funds ofthe department. at the
commencement OF the present year, beyond
It's available means, nl S3 $3.50 SO, which
on the LIST o. July list had Eeen re-
Iduced to S263,092 "A. 1t appears, also.
that the Foe tho
iex"eed the expenditures about $a10,030.
which, with the excess Of revenue which
will result IRON the operations Of the cur
rent hail year, may be expected ndepend-
emily of aGy increase in the gross amount
of pJstages, to supply the entire deficit be-
fore the end of 1888. But as this ca,cu-
Iation is based upon the gross amount of
2nstuges which had accfued within the pc
rod, embraced by the times ofsrking the
balances, ii is obyions that without pro-
gfessive increase ia the amount ofposiages
he existing rerenchmcats must be perse.
vered iD throughout the year 1885. that the
department may accumulate asarplus fund
sufficient to place it in Z condition of per-
feet ease
1t will be observed that the revenues of
the post Office department, though they have
1cieised' and their amount is above th@t
any 'oFihSf year. nave Pel Iaileh shor'
u 'lo oS'''f',feS IN nc 'ilai, s5 lJ',ooS: ms
IS a''FiOn'e'' lii ii great degree TO the IN
''eas7 III 'fee !o"9Fs growing Out OF the
9"'e"'' ~, "'io ""ose I'll me ifahk!ng priVi-
.cGe. mere mas "eeh gradual increase
"a the number oil executive Offices to which
1t mas "een granted ana ny an ac' passed
u March, 1885 IL was extended tomemoers
~ congress ,'on9h'9' Tue who!e year
Is De''e'eu 'na' revision OF Ihe laws
fs'"'i'e 10 the ranking privilege, with
'''''9 o''aH''hc"'s 10 eh',tcs more rigiai!
i' ,1''i'o''o's ohusr wh'ch Ii Is granted
woaio operate Denehclally I" the country,
ny ehao'lng the department at an carrier
pf'H'u 10 restore 'iie rl'i' iacl'i'ies lha'
nave oeen w''hdraWn, ana to extend them
more "'ae'y as me growing settlements
Vi we country may require.
10 a measure 81 important TO the govern
''1"'' al" 50 !a7t 70 cur constituents, who
''sH no eN"'usi'e privileges 10Y themselves,
ana arg hos Wiling TO concede 'hem to
liners, earnestly recommend the serious
'''eA'l'n III congress
The Importance Of the Post Office De
lpartment, and the magnitude to which it
has grown, both IN lis revenues and in its
operations, seem to demand lis re-organi-
Aa'ion oy law. The whole OF lis receipts
ana disbursements nave hitherto bean lett
en''rely 10 Executive control, and lndlvldn-
al discretion. me principle IS as sound
IN relation to Tins as to any other Depart
''ie''' VI '' HpSefnn,en'' 'hat as l''tIe dis
'e''o" sho"'n DC coht'ea 10 the Executive