Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-03

by the accompanying report
,t the Secretary Of War, calls for tho ear
" and serious attention Of Congress; and,
~ connecting itself intimately with this
subject | cannot recommend TO" strongly to
your consideration the plan submitted by
that officer for the organization Ut the mill
tia Of the United States;
In conformity with the expressed wishes
Of Congress, an atlemp' was made in the
spring to terminate the Florida war by ne.
COLLATION.. 1t is to be regretted that these
humane intentions, should have been frus.
trated, and that the effort to bring these
unhappy difficulties to a satisfactory con
cluson should have failed. But, after en-
tering into solemn engagements, with the
Commanding General, the Indians. with
out any prov0cation. recommended their
acts OF tfeachery and murder. The 70.
newal Of hos,llmies in that Territory rem
ders 1t necessary that should recommend
to your favorable consideration the plan
which will be submitted to you by the
Secretary Of War. ~ order to enable that
department to conduct them to success
fuI issue.
Having had an opportunity Of personally
inspecting portion OF thetroops during the
last summer It gives me pleasure to bear
testimony to The success of the effort TO
Improve their discipline. by keep'ng them
together in ss large bodies rs the nature
OF our service will permit. | recommend
therefore, that commodious and permanent
barracks be constructed at The several posts
designated by The Secretary Of War
outstanding the high state of their
discipline and excellent police. the evils
resulting to the service from the deficlen
cy Of company officers. were very apparent
and recommend that the stuff officers be
permanently separaI ed from the line.
The navy has been Usefully and honora
ably employed IN protecting the rights and
property vt our citizens, wherever the
condition Of affairs seemed to require its
presence. With the exception Of one in
stance where an OL'r8ge, accompanied by
murder, was committed on a vessel Of the
United States while engaged in lawful
commerce. nothing is known to impede or
modest the enterprise OF our citizens on that
element where Us SO slgnaly displayed.
On learning thus daring act of piracy.
Commodore Reed proceeded Immediately
to the spot, and receiving no satisfaction
either IN the surrender Of the murdercrs or
the restoration Of the plundered property.
ntlc'ed severe and merited chaslisemen,
on the bal barianB.
II will be seen, by The report Of The Sec
re'ary ofthe Navy, respecting the JisposE
ton OF our SHIPS "f War that II has hppn
deemed necessary 10 station compe'
tent force on the coast of Africa, to pre-.
vent fraudulent use Of our flag by for
elgners.
Recent experience has shown that the
provisions in our existing laws. which re.
late To the sale and transfer Of American
vessels while abroad, are extremely defcc.
tive. Advantage has been taken Of these
defects, to give to vessels wholly belonging
To foreigners. and navigating the ocean, an
apparent American ownership. This char.
ac,er has been SD well simulated as to
afford them comparative security in pros.
ecu'ing the slave trade, a traffic emphati.
calIy denounced IN our statutes. regarded
with adherence by our citizens, and of
which the ottecluaI suppression Is nowhere
more sincerely desired than in the United
States. These circumstances make il
proper to recommend your early stlentlon
a careful revision Of those laws, 50 that.
without impeding the freedom aud faI cities
OF our nav'gal'on,or impalr'ng an lmpo taot
branch 81 industry Connected with It, the
integrity and honor Of our flag may be
carefully preserved. Information derived
from our Consul at Havana, showing the
necessity OF this. was Communicated TO a
committee Of the Senute, near the close o
the last session, but too late. as it appea red
to be acted upon. 1t will be brought TO
your notice by the proper department, with
additional communications from other
sources.
The latest accounts from the Exploring
Expedition represents II as proceeding sue.
cessiully in lis objects. and promising 70.
suits no less useful to trade and navisa alton
than To science.
The extent Of post roads covered by mail
service on The first of July last, was abou,
l33 900 miles, and the rate Of annual lrans.
The number ofpost Offices on that day was
twelve thousand seven hundred and eighty.
and on the th'rteth uiimo, lhIIleen ihous.
and and twenty eight.
The revenue Of the post Office depart
ment Tor the year ending with the 30fh Of
June last. was four millions. four hundred
and seventy'six thousand. six hundred and
| lhlr'y-e'ght dollars, exhibiting an increase
over the preceding year of two hundred
and iorly one thousand. five hundred and
sIx'y dollars. The engagements and lia
blItles OF the department for the same pc.
Rod. are four million, SIX hundred and
twenly.iour thousand, one hundred and
seventeen dollars.
The excess Of liabilities ever the reve-
nue. tor the last two years. has been met
out of tho surplus which had previously
accumulated. The cash on hand on the
18Th ultmo, was about Sio7,70i 81, and
the curren, income of tho department va,
ries very little from the rate of current ex-
pendnures. Most Of the service suspend
ed last year has been restored, and most Of
the new routes established by the act Of
| tha 7th Iulv 1874 haya hpen sci in OpeIa