Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-12-14


tic cqIs1, s1lena o,i'.atiop To guard from
lti,an hostility ~ own BORDER ,,ttiom,n,,
,irstchinc along Tao. II mare than Ute thou
Sarh n,ilc. 10 rusb'e ihc Go,efalneIl e.
redeem th's p',dsv 20 the in.!iaas, and To al.
ford adequate protection To las own citizens
will rrquue the continual presence of con
siderable regular force on the froi.t,srs, ana
the establishment al q chaih OF pcrmanesi
posts E>an,iuatio"s OF the country arc nos
making, with a view To decide ou tie mosl
suitable poi'sts Cor the erection OF gortrr.se,
aud other works Of defence, tho results o
which Will Oc presented To you by TIM seere
tsry Of War vi an early day. toseth,r with Z
plan FOE the cdrctuai pr,,ieetton Of fitenei,
lndrans. aud the permanent defence of tlbs
| frupter States.
BY me report or the Secretary OF the Navy
herewith cs,m,nuaics ted, u appests that un
RENTED exertions have been made at the dif
icrrpt navy yards To carry i"to effect all su
thcrizcd measures for the extension aud en-
ploy ment Of our naval force. The lsuurhupg
sud preparation of the ship Of line Ps1as, IL
MIA, and the complete repairs of the ships o
the line Ohio. Delaware. and Columbus, nia,
De noticed, a. forming respectable additioI
In this important arm Of our national defence
Our Commerce aud navigation have Ieceissc
I Increased All and protection du.ing The pre-
| sent year. Our squadrons in The PSciiic ant
! Ola the Brazilian station have been much ~.
creased. aud th-i N the Nediierran,s an, al
though small, Is adequate 20 the prcscnI wants
Of our commerce ia that sea. Addition, have
been made "a our sqiadsouon the West inin
station, where thc large force under Cnnlno-
dore Dalia. has been most actively aud . III.
eienly emplp, ell ~ protecting our commerce,
". preventing the importation of slaves, and
ia cooperating with officers of the Army an
carrying on tie War IN Florida.
The satisfactory condition OF our naval
force abroad leaves at our disposal the means
Of conveniently prov ding foe 4 home squad
ron, for the protection Of commerce upon our
extensive coast The amount Of appropria-
iiias required f.r such squadron viii De
found ia the general estimates for the naval
service for the wear 1919.
The naval officers engaged upon our coast
survey have rendered important service To our
navigation. The discovery of a new channel
into the harbor of New York, through which
our largest ships may pass without danger.
mu>, afford Important commercial advantages
Ia that harhpr, and add greatly To it, value
~ a naval station The accurate survey of
Georges shoals Of the coast Of Massachusetts.
l.tcl, completed. vii render compar aIi,elS
Ous.
Considerable additions have been made TO
the number OF captains, commanders. heul, n
ants, surgeons. and assistant surgeons, ~ the
Navy. These additions were &c hdtted neces-
'ary by The increased number OF vessel. put
IN commission, 10 answer the eNigencies Of
our growing commerce.
Your attention is respectfully invited To the
various suggc.uons of the Secretary, for The
ImJ ruvcmeul Of the naval service.
The report Of the Postmaster General eN-
hiJHs the progress and coalition Of the mail
service. The operations of the Post Office
Department consulate one Of tie most active
clements of our national prosperity, and II Is
srltiiNi ing TO observe with what yigvr they are
conducted. The mail routes of the United
States cover an extent Of aboM ore hundred
aud forty 1.-Two thousand eight hundred and Sc
vents -seven miles, having been increased
about thiriy->cNen thousand orc hundred and
three miles Within the last two years. Tie
annual mail transportation on these routes ~
about ihIgiy-'iX millions two hundred and
~ cniy -oi GIT thou- ond nine hundred and sixty
two mi'e.. having been Increased aboa, len
millions ihree hundred and City mine thousand
four hundred and seSeIiy-six miles within the
same period. The number OG post Offices has
hundred aud seventy 10 twelve thousand aud
ninel, -nine, very few Of which receive the
mai less than once a week. aud a large por-
lion Of them daily. Contractors aud postmas-
ter, in general are represented as attending TO
:heir duties with most commendab!e zeal aud
fidelity
The revenue Of the Department. within the
year ending on the thir,Icth June last, was
four millions one hundred and ihiCty-seveD
thousand and hity-siX dollars and iiity-uine
cents; and iis liabilities accruing within the
same tine were three million, three hundred
aud eighty thousand eight hundred and forty
seven dollars and seventy five cents. Tie in
crease Of revenue over that Of the preceding
year was seven hundred ard eight thousand
one hundred and sixIy-six dollars aud forty
one cents.
For macy Interesting detail. Z refer you 90
the report Of the Postmaster General, with
the accompanying paper Your particular
atieuiion Is ioyited To- the necessity Of proNid-
ing a more safe and convenient building Tor
tie accommodation of that Department
! lsy before Congres, copies ofreports sub
mitted in pursuance 81 call made by me
upon The head, Of Departments. for such sug-
ksstipns a. their experience might enable them
40 make n 30 what further legislative provI-
~it's NAY ne advantageous aupItfb 10 81
cure The faithful application 81 public moneys
to che objects Tor witch they are appropriate,
TO prcvc"t their interpolation or emDezh'c.
mrnt by those entrusted NJ th the expenditure
OF them; and generally Go increase the cp-
rity # the Government against losses ~ their
disbursement. II - needles TO dilaic on The
Importance u providing such nrw safeguards
q, sIe within the power bf legislation g. pro-
mote these ends. and have little 10 odd g."
she recon- ucndIiiJis submitted "a thc aceuni-
PIiytu- raPoss.
by Law, the terms % service ~ our most
important COLLECTING and di,b"r-ipx officers iu
tie CiIf departments are l'r,itcd 60 four
years. AID when re-1ry,i,icJ. their bonds arr
required iu be renewed
Tie al ~ of the public T. much increased
~ lli. f-stuic of ibc law. aud There can e. uo
DOUBT ina, u.s. application Co 40 ofIcsrs eo-
trusted sih tue collection 0r dis'ur-rmrut Oi
ere puIiic money, whatever mly Ice tie tv-
r4rr q theif Offices. woulI hr equally bvut-
Grul therefore recommend; 80 addition g.
salh n DE .ISgs,tiuus prcscuied hy tie ciis
81 ID lrtmrnf, as Vou mas ttiuk usci.i,
yru'fii prpyisrsn. tLst all officers ~ Zee Army
90 Navy or o. the Csh Department rnirusi-
ed with Tie receipt or p,ys.eoi q pubic mo.
rev. anil uttse t.rn n scrvist b either un.