Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-12-13

oui CoulhSTCe anu udFlSdtIOH HdtS lC
ceived increased aid and protection during
the present year. Our squaGrons in the
Pacific and on the Brazilian station have
been much increa sed, and that in the Med
iterranean, although small, is adequate TO
the present wants of our commerce ia that
sea- Additions have been made to our
squadron On the West India station, where
the large force under Commodore Dallas
has been most actively and efficiently en-
ployed il protecting our commerce, In
preventing the importation of slaves, and
in cooperating with officers of the Army
in carrying on the war in Florida
The satisfactory condition of our naval
force abroad leaves at COR disposal the
means ofconvenlently providing for home
squadron, for the protection of commerce
upon our extensive coast The amount
of appropriations required for such
squadron Will be found in the general esti-
mates for the naval service for the year
1888.
The navaI officers engaged upon our
coast survey have rendered important ser
vice to our navigation. The discovery Of
a new channel into the harbor of New
York, through which our largest ships
may pass wit hout danger, must afford i'm
potant commercial advantages to that har
and add greatly to its value as naval
! station. The accurate survey Of Georges
shoals off the coast of Massachusetts, late
| w completed, will render comparatively
safe navigation hitherto considered dan
| gerous.
| Considerable additions have been made
! to the number OF captains, commanders
! iIeutenants, surgeons and assistant sur
geons in the Navy. These additions were
| rendered necessary, by the increased num-
her Of vessels in commission, to answer the
extremes of our growing commerce.
Your attention is respectfully invited to
thevarious suggestions of the Secretary,
| for the improvement ofthe naval service.
The report ofthe Postmaster General
| exhibits the progress and condition Of the
nail service. The operations Of the Post
Office Department constitute one Of the
most active elements of our national PROS
perity, AMI it is gratifying to observe with
what vi COR they are conducted The mail
! routes oft2e UnIed States cover an extent
of about one hun lrrd and fortv-tWo thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-seven
miles, having been increased about thir
tv-seven thousand one hundred and three
| miles with the last two years. The an
nuaI mail transportation on these routes is
about thirty-Six millions two hundred and
| overweight thousand nine hundred and
sixtv-two miles, having been increased
about ten millions three hundred and fftv-
nine thousand four hundred and seventy
six miles within the same period The
number ofpost Offices has also been in.
creased fro n ten thousand seven hundred
and seventy 10 twelve thousand and nine
| ty-nine, very few of which receive the
! mails less than once a week. and a large
| portion ofthem daily Contractors and
postmasters in general are represented as
attending to their duties with most com.
men liable zeal and fidelity.
The revenue of the Department, within
the year ending on the thirtieth of June
last, was four millions one hundred and
thftv-seven thousand and fftv-six dollars
an ffy-nine cents; and its liabilities &C
cruing within the same period were three
millions three hundred and eighty thou
sand eight hundred and fortv-seven dol !
lars and seventy-fve cents. The increase
Of revenue over that of the preceding year
was seven hundred and eight thousand
one hundred and sixty-s;x dollars and for
ty-one cents.
For many interesting details | refer Won
to the report Of the Postmaster General,
with the accompanying paper. Your par
ticuEar attention is invited to the necessity
of providing more safe and convenient
building for the accommod gtion of the De.
partment.
| lay before Congress copies of reports
submitted in pursuance of call made by
me upon the heads of Departments, for
such Suggestions heir experience might
| enable them to make as to what further
legislative provisions may be dvantagpous-
! Iy adopted to secure the faithful application
of public moneys 10 the objects fJrwhich
they were appropriated to prevent their
mIsapDIlcaton or embezzlement by those
entrusted with the expenditure ofthem;
and generally to increase the security of
the Government against losses in their
disbursement. 1t is needless to diIate up
on the importance Of providing such new
safeguards as are within the power of
Legislation to promote these ends; and
have IuI, to add to the recommendations
submitted to the acco npanying papers.
By law, the terms of service Of our
mos important collecting and disburSing
officers in the civil departments are limit
ed to four years. and when re-appointed,
their bonds are required to be renewed.
The safety oIthe public ismuch increas-
ed by this feature of the law, and there
can be no doubt that its application to all
officers entrusted with the collection or
disbursement Of the public money, what