Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-02

before Woulu also, 1 am pefsu5deo
add considerably TO the revenue FOR several years
and prove ia other respects just and beDeEc,sl.
Your early consideration of the subject 10, there
fore, once more earnestly requested.
The present condition of tie defence Of our prin'
ciPal seaports ard navy yards, as represented b.
The accompanying repof. Of the Secretary Of War
calls for Tire esriy and serious attention Of Congress
and, as connecting Itself intimately with dis sub
iect, | cannot recommend TOO strongly 10 your con
sidefation tho plan submitted by that officer for the
organization Of he militia of the United States.
In conformity with the expressed wishes Of Con.
gress, an attempt was made in the spring TO iefni-
hate the Florida war BY negotiation. 1t IS TO be
regretted that these humane Intentions should have
been frustrated, and that the effort 10 bring these
unhappy difficulties to a satisfactory conclusion
should have failed. Bot, after entering into solemn
engagements with the Commanding General, the
Indians, without any proyocaiion, recommended
their acts of treachery and murder. The renewal
of hosiilries in that Territory renders II Necessary
that l should recommend 10 your favorable consid-
Grafton The plan which viii be submitted TO you by
the Secretary Of War, IN order TO enable that de-
pnrimen, to conduct them to a successful issue.
Having had an opportunity Of personally inspect
ing a portion Of the troops during the last summer,
il gives ms pleasure TO bear testimony 10 tie sue
cess Of the effort to improve their discipline, BY
keeping them together in as large bodies 80 the ma
ture Of our service viii permit. | recommend,
therefore, that commodious and permanent barracks
be constructed at he several posts designated by
the Secretary Of War. notwithstanding The high
state oftheir discipline and excellent police, the
evils resulting to the service from the deficiency Of
company officers, were very apparent, and ! recom-
mend that the staff officers ~ permanently sepafa-
ted fiom the line.
The Navy has been %usefully and honorably EN-.
ployed in protecting the lights snd properly -four
citizens, wherever the condition Of affairs seemed
to require lis presence. With the exception Of one
instance, where an outage, accompanied ty mnr-
der, was committed on a vessel Of The United
States while engaged in q lawful commerce., no
thing is known To have occurred TO impede or mo-
lest the enterprise Of our citizens IN that element
whore il ia 20 signaiIy displayed. On learning this
during act Of piracy, Commodore Reed proceeded
Immediately to Tho spot, and receiving no s%atisfac-
lion, either in The surrender Of the mufderers, or tie
rt restoration OF the plundered property. ipiilctcd Sc
Yete and metited cbastisement on the barbHtians.
IL will be seen by the report of tie Secretary Of
the Navy respecting the disposition OF our ships Of
war, that il has been deemed necessary to station a
competcnt force on the coast Of Africa, to prevent
a fraudulent use Of our flag by foreigners.
Recent experience has shown that tho provision
in our existing laws which relate to the sale and
transfer of American vessels while abroad, are ex-
tfemely def ctiye. Adyuntago has been taken Of
these defects TO give 10 vessels wholly belonging to
foreigners, and navigating tho ocean, an apparent
American ownership. This character has been 80
well simulated AS to afford them comparative secu.
rity IN prosecuting the slave trade, a traffic, en-
phntically denounced in our statutes. regarded with
adherence by our citizens, and Of which the efec.
tual suppression IA nowhere more sincerely desired
thun IN the United States. These circumstance.
nuke it proper to recommend to your carly atten-
ton q careful revision OF these laws, so that, with.
out impeding the freedom and facilities Of our nayi-
gaton, or impaiIirg an important bTench Of our
industry connected with il. the integrity and honor
OF our flag may be carefully preserved. lnforma.
ton derived from our Consul at Havana, showing
The necessity OF this, was communicated to the Sc
nate near the close of the last session. but too late,
as it appeared, 10 be acted upon. 1t will be brought
to your notice by the proper department, with add.
ilonel communications from other SOURCES.
ha latest accounts hom the Exploring Expedi-
ton represent 1t as proceeding successfully in its
objects, and promising results no less useful to
trade and navigation than to science.
The extent OF post roads covered by mail service
on the first Of July last, was about 1873, 500 miles,
and the rate of annual transportation upon them
81 496, 073 miles. The number Of pos, offices on
Lhot day was twelve thousand seven hundred and
eighty, and on The tlirlieth ultimo, thirteen thou
and twenty-eight.
The revenue for The Post Office Dpnnrtment coI
he year ending with the Both of June last, wac
million -four hundred aud seventy six thousand
six hundred and thirty.ojght dollars-exhibitins an
over the preceding year Of ;so hundred
and forty -one Thousand five hundred and sixty dol
lars, The engagements and l~isliliies Of the De-
parlment for The same period are four million six
hundred and twenty.tour thousand one hundred and
seventeen dollars.
The excess of liabilities over the revenue for the
last two years has been met out OF the surplus
which had previously accumulated. The cash on
hand on the thirteenth ultimu, was about $206 70t
%, and the current income Of The Department va.
Ties very little from the rate of current expeudi
lures. Most of the service suspended last year has
been restored, and most of ,he new routes estab.
lished by the act OF 7th July, 1888, have been set
IN operation ut an annual cost of Sl36 963. Not.
wrhstanding the pecuniary difficulties of the coun-
Try, the revenue OF the Department appears to be
increasing; and, unless it shall be seriously check
ed by the recent suspension OF payment by so many
OF the banks, 1t will be able not only To maintain
the present mail service, but in a short time to ex.
tend IT. his gratifying to witness the prompt.
'ude ana hdelity with which the agents of this De-
Partment IN general perform their public duties.
Some difficulties have arisen in relation TO cor.
N'"HlSfhhNhpb w AhC Ailile ny lhliiOI1
and m companies. Ii appears thet the
ma&ImGm OF compensation provided by Congress
tor the transportation o. the mails upon railroad,
u not sufficient TO induce some Of the comnanie,
10 convey them at such hours as are required fol
tue accommodation OF the public. 1t is one Of the
most important duties Of the General Government
10 provide and maintain for the use Of the peopl,
OF the States the best p~raotical lie mail es ablsh
nent. 10 arrive al that end il ia Indispensable tina
the Post Office Department shall be enabled 10 con
troi the hours at which tho mails shall be carrie,
over railroads, as it now does over all olhet road.
Should serious inconvenience arise from tie made.
qnacy OF the compensation now provided by law
or from unreasonable denands-by any of the rail
road companies, the subject is of such general i'm
p"rtance as to require the prompt attention of Con
gress.
In relation to steamboat hines. The must egieien
remedy is obvious, and has been suggested by IN,
postmaster General. The War aud Navy Depart
mems aiready employ steamboats, in their service
IL a