The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-17


Of measures for its prevention and punishment which
u would seem have served other purpose than 10
excite the cupidty Of unpnnciped adyeniurers by
increasing the value OF slaves and thus presenting
temptations which oyerpower all apprehension Of con
sequences
Fiir, the Wave, and the Otsego, which had been pre-
viousIy procured and employed by the War Depart
ment under the act making appropriations for sup
pressing Indian hosiiities, approved Sd March 1882
having been placed under the direction Of tins Depart
meni, were employed the coast Of Florida under
Lieutenant Mclaughlin. That officer lately return
ed to the North in the Flrt, bringing with him the
men whose term Of service had expired together with
the sick and disabled attached 10 the expedition. He
mas since sailed with sufficient TO complete the
complement Of all his vessels well for boat ser
VICE An additional number Of marines has also been
attached to his command with view 10 operations
on land against the Indians as well as the protec
ton OF the lives and property of the citizens and the
prevention of the introduction Of supplies for the
Of the enemy.
The two steam frigates commenced under the Sc
cond section Of the act approved Sd March, 1899,
At New York. the other al Philadelphia have been
Tar completed that the former will be ready for launch
ing IN few days, and the latter in the ensuing spring.
as soon as the Delaware is free from ice. The
gnes and boilers are also in course of speedy
petion, and when finished will be placed on board
and the vessels prepared for service without delay
The apprentice system continues in operation and
thus far, its results highly satisfactory The
duct OF the young lads Is generally exemplary, and
such is their rapid progress in the art Of seamanship
that by the time they are of age for sea service our
commanders generally prefer them TO older seamen !
take tins occasion TO recommend that this system be-
iosteIed to the utmost extent of which it is suscept
BILE being fully Of the opinion that great
means Of partially at least remedyng that increasing
scarcity Of competent petty officers and able seamen,
which greatly embarrasses the operations Of the navy,
delays the sailing of our public vessels and places the
defence of the honor and interests of the United States
under the protection of which
are foreigners
This scarcity of seamen for the use of the navy is
lapprehend owing 10 the high wages they receive in
the merchant service and the atvely short pc
RODS of their engagements in commercial voyages TO
the absence of apprentice system in the mercantile
marine; and the discharge of seamen when their
terms have expired foreign stations where the
ductons of climate and the allurements of pleasure
attach them TO the soil, and whence many of them
never return, return eneryated TO be compare
lively unfit for active service The inquiries l have
instituted result in the fact that many Of
are now scattered among the islands of the Pacific,
and on the coast of South America and though di-
Iectons have been given TO reclaim them whenever il
may be found practicable there be little doubt that
large number are thus irretrevably lost to their
try. have also sufficient reason to believe that the
modification of the navy ration, which proposed
to Congress, but which has been definitely acted
on, would, if adopted, contribute materially to attach
our seamen more permanently to the service; and |
take this earnestly To request that the early
duentlOu oil congress De invited 10 tnlS SUBJECT
generally; one of vital Importance to the well being
of the navy.
The accompanying report and letter from the Com
missioner Of Pensions exhibit the number of pension
ers, the amount of their pensions, and the
at my disposal to those which may be-
come due the first of January and first of july lS4l.
From these documents it will appear that under the
operation of the navy pension laws and most especial
ly that Of the Sd of March, 1887 the navy pension
fund.- which at the period Of its passage amounted to
Of l,Ia IF
which sufficient to meet all demands now consists
of one hundred thousand dollars in Cincinnati five
per cent stock greatly deprecated fourteen thousand
dollars of stock of the Bank of Washington in tho
situation, thirty three thousand three hundred
and thirty nine dollars five per cent stock of the city
of Washington, and eleven thousand four hundred
dollars the stock fthe Union Bank of Georgetown,
the latter totally unsuitable at this time.
BY the same statement il appears that the OF
one hundred and fifty thousand three hundred and
fify-two dollars and thiry-n cents will be required
in the of the year 4 to meet demands arising
out Of the pension list and that consequently, either
an appropriation of that sum- during the present
sion, must be made or the pensioners will remain un-
paid, and the faith of the nation which pledged to
make good any deficiency in this fund, remain unre-
deemed
The estimates which accompany this report have
been prepared with due regard to economy on one
hand and the protection of the honor and interests of
the United States the other. The number of YES
sells in commission is fully equal to those employ
ed in preceding years and believed that during the
past year neither the persons property of citi
zens have any where suffered outrage or wrong for
want of due attention in aording the of proec
ton and redress
II will be perceived that the Board of Navy Com
mssioners have again presented estimate for add
tional clerks, which am satisfied indispensable to
the prompt performance of the duties Of that office
which daily increasing, and which there is no
son to believe will suffer any dimnution in future
Respectfully submitted,
J. X. PAULDlNG.
To the President of the United States