Southern telegraph., 1836-01-01

70 The progress OF events. These, Indulge
the hope, viii secure their prosperity and
I Improvement, and a large portion Of the
moral debt we owe them will then be paid.
The report from the Secretary Of the
Navy, showing the condition Of lhai branch
of the public service, is recommended 20
your special attention. Il appears from it,
,hat our naval force al present in commits
sion, with all tie activity which can be Civ
en- to it is inadequate to the protection Of
hour rapidly increasing commerce. ....
This consideration, and the more general
one which regards this arm.Of national de-
fence as to our best security against foreign
aggressiOns, strongly urge the continuance
of the measures which promote Its gradual
enlargement, and speedy increase Of the
force which has been heretofore employed
abroad g. at home. You will perceive from
the estimates which appear in the report of
the Secretary Of the Navy, that the expen-
dltures necessary to this increase Of its force
though of considerable amount, are small
compared with the benefit which they will
secure to the country.
As a means ofstrengthening this national
arm, also recommRRdt 70 your particular at
tention tn the suggestion
which attr ration of Con-
gress at il citing the en-
listment of Boya ble age in the
service. In this manner a nursery Of skill
full and able bodied seamen can be establish
ed, which will be Of the greatest Importance
Next to the capacity to put afOat and arm
the required number of ships, is the posses
sion Of the means to man them efficiently /;
and nothing seems better calculated to 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 for
all the exigencies which can be anticipated.
Considering the state Of our resources, it can
not be doubted that whatever provision the
liberaIity and wisdom of Congress may now
adopt, with view to the perfect organiza-
ton Of this branch Of our service, will meet
the appreciation of all classes our citizens.
By the Report of the Postmaster General
it appears that the revenue of that Depart
ment, during the year ending on the 30tb
day of June last, exceeded its accruing re-
sponsibilites, 6,206, and that the sur
plus of The present fiscal year is estimated
at $476,227 Il further appears that the
debt ofthe department on the first day of u
ly last, including the amount due 70 cOptrac-
tors for the quarter then just expired; was
about S l,064,3Sl, exceeding the available
means about $23, 700, and Il bat on the FRS
instant about $537y077 of is debt had
been paid; $l09,9Gl out of postages accru.
ing before July, and $lS7 ,OS6 out of posta.
I ges 2ccruing since. In these payments are
included $4,000 of the old debt due tc
Banks. After making these payments, the
Departmental $73 900 in Bank on the Is
instant. The pleasing assurance is given
that the Department is entirely free from
embarrassment, and that by collection 0
outstanding balances, and using the curren
surplus, the remaining portion Of the Blnl
Dc y, and most of the other debts, will prob
ably bepaid in April next, leaving thereaf
ter a heavy amount to be applied in extend
ling the mad (aciA.ias d. .lhe., country. Re
! serving consid6sWVIe sum for TIE improve
ment of existing mqil routes, it is stated tha
the department will be able to sustain witt
perfect convenience, an annual charge o
$3O0,O0O for the support of new routes, tt
commence as soon as they can be establish
ed and put in operation.
The measures adopted by the PosImaste
General, to bring the means of the Depart
mont into action, and to effect speedy ex
tinguishment of its debt, as we'll as to pro
duce an efficient administration its affairs
will be found detailed at length in his abl,
, and luminous report. Aided by Ie-organ
ization on the principles suggested, ands1cI
salutary provisions in the laws reguatin,
r its administrative duties, as the wisdom G
Congress may devise or approve, that in
: portant Department will soon attain a de
/ gree OF usefulness proportioned to the in
, creas ofoar population, and the extensio
sof our settlements.
Particular attention as solicited to thG
t LRNCllon ol the report OF the Postmaster GeL
: eral which relates to the carriage of tn
rails Of the United Stes upon railroad
constituted by private Corporations, unde
$ the authority oi The several States. Th
: reliance which the Gelerals Government ca
). place on those roads asN means of carryin
d on its operations and the principles on whic
4 tthe use Of them is to be obtained cannot b
too soon considered andsettled.
0 Already does the spirit ofmonopoly begi
d to exhibit its natural propenslies, in the a
It Temps to exact from the public, for service
IS which it supposes cannot be obtained 0
n other terms, the most extravagant compeI
: sation. lfthese claims be persisted in, ii
n question may arise. whether combi1atic
3, of citizens, acting under charters OF incorp
., ration from { ates, ,.can, ,.hy a direct refusa
% or the demand of an cxorbitant price, excluC
l. the United States from the use of the esta
r lished channels of communication betwee