Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-12-17

left TO the progress Of events. These. |
indulge the hope, wilt secure their pFospe-
ritz and improvement; and q large portion
of the moral debt we owe them will then
be paid.
The Report Of the Secretary OF the Ma.
w, showing the condition OF thst branch
OF the public service, is recommended TO
your special attention. IL sPpears from a.,
that our naval force al present IN cnmmis
sion, with all the activity which can he
given TO il, is inadequate TO the protection
of our rapidly Increasing commerce. This
consideration. and the more general one
which regards this arm OF the national de
fence as our best security against foreign
aggressions, strongly urge the continuance
OF those measures which promote us grsdu
al enlargement, and as heretofore employ
ed abroad and at home You will perceive
from the estimates which appear IN the
report OF the Secretary Of the Navy, that
the expenditures necessary to this increase
Of its force. though OF considerable amount
are small compared with the benefits which
they viii secure TO the country.
As a means OF Strengthening this nation
al arm, | also recommend TO your psrttc
ular ~atteniion the propriety of the sagges
lion which attracted the consideration OF
Congress at its last session. respecting the
enlistment OF boys, at a suitable age into
the service. In this manner a nursery oil
sklllful and able bodied seaman can he es
ltablished, which will be Of the greatest I'm
portancc. Next 10 the capacity 10 put a
float and arm the requisite number OF
ships, is the possession Of the means 10
man them efficiently and nothing seems
better calculated 10 aid this object than
the measure proposed. As an auxiliary to
the advantages derived from our extensive
commercial marine it would furnish US
with a resource ample enough Tor all the
exigencies which eau be anticipated, Con
sidering the state Of our resources, Il can
not be doubted that whatever provision
the hbcraIity and wisdom Of Congress may
now adopt, with a view TO the perfect or
ganizaiion Of this branch OF our service.
will meet The appreciation ofa'l classes Of
our citizsns.
By The Report Of the Postmaster Gene
raj, il appears that the revenue OF that de
par,ment during the year ending on The
fS0th day Of June last, exceeded its accru
ing responsibilities sa36 400 and that
THE surplus Of the present fiscal year is es
timated at s475,2a7. II further appears
that The debt of the department. on the
LIST day of July last, including the amount
due contractor. for the quarter just then
expired, was about 81 ,0064 ,3Si. exceed
ing the available means about S25,700-
and that on the LIST inst, about S49I OH
Of this debt had been paid /; s409 99l ont
of hostages accrping before July. & slsI.
Os6 out Of hostages accruiug since. In
these payments are included s67 .00o oil
the old debt due TO banks. After making
three payments the department had SIS,
900 in bank on the LIST instant. Ibe plea
sing assurance is given that the depart
ment is entirely free from embarrassment,
and that. by collection Of outstanding bal
%ances, and using the current surplus, The
remaining portion Of the bank debt, ano
most of the other debt, will be paid IN
April next. leaving thereafter a heavy a
moant to be applied in the mail i%tciities
OF the country. Reserving q considerable
sum for the improvement Of existing mail
routes il is stated that the department VIII
be able 10 sustain with perfect convenience
an annual charge Of $500. 900 for the sup
lport of new routes, TO commence as soon
as they can be established and pu; IN ore
ration.
The measures adopted by the Plstmas
ter General to bring tho means Of The De
paftment into action. and to ELECT a spec
DIV extinguishment Of It's debt, "a well as
to produce an Efficient administration OF
its affairs, will be found detailed at icogth
in his able and luminous report. Aided
by a reorganization on the principles sug-
Ieested, and such salutary provisions 10 the
laws regulating its administrative duties
as the wisdom of Congress may devise OF
approve, that important department VII
soon attain Il degsee of usefulness proper
TONED TO the increase OF our population
and the exteniion Of our settlements.
Particular attention is solicited TO that
portion of the report OF The Postmaster
General which relates 10 the carriage OF
the Mails of The United States upon rail
roads constructed by private corporations
under the authority Of the several States.
The reliance which the General Govern
ment can place on those roads as a means
Of carrying on its operations, ana Inc
principles on which the use OF them IS TO
nc obtained, cannot too soon be consider
ed and settled. Already does the spirit OF
monopoly begin to exhibit lis natural pro
peDsities. in attempts TO exact IRON the
public, for services which it supposes can.
not be obtained on other terms, the most
extravagant compensation. If'hese claims
be persisted in. the question may arse
whether a combination OF citizens. acting
under charters Of incorporation from The
States, can, by a direct refusal, or The de
mand Of an exotbi'ant price, exclude the
United States from the use OF the es'a-
blished channels of communication be
tween the different sections OF the country
and whether the United States cannot,
without transcending their constitutional
aowe,s sorure IN the Post Office Depart