Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-06

atleast remedying that increasing scar
city of competent peny officers and
able seamen, which greatly embarrass
the operations of the navy, delays the |
sailing of our public vessels, and pla-
ces the defence of the honor and in
terests of the United States under the
protection of crews, great portion OF
whichare foreigners.
The scarcity Of seamen for the uses
of the navy, is, | apprehend, owing to
the high wages they receive in the
merchant service, and the comparative
ly short periods of their engagements
in commercial voyages the absence
Of an apprentice system in the Inercan-
tile marine and the discharge ofseaman
when their terms have expired on for
eign stations where the seductions of
climate and the allurements ofpleasure
attach them to the soil, and whence
many Of them never return so enerva-
ted as to be comparatively unfit for ac-
tive service.-The inquiries | have
Instituted result in the fact that many
of our seamen are now scattered among
the islands of the Pacific, and on the
coast OF South America and though
directions have been given to reclaim
them whenever it may be found prac-
ticable, there can be no doubt that a
| large number are thus irretrieVeable
lost TO their country. | have also
sufficient reason to believe that the
modification of the navy ration, which
has not been de6nateIy acted on, would
if adopted, contribute materially to at
tach our seanlen more permanently to
the service and | take this occasion
earnestly 10 request that the early atten-
ton of Congress may be invited to this
subject generally, as one of vital i'm
portance to the well being of the navy
The accompanying report and let
ter from the Commissioner OF pension
ers, the amount Of their pensions, and
the means now remaining at my dispo-
sal to meet those which may become
: due the LIST of January and LIST Of July
) 1841. From these documents it will
appear that under the operation of the
r navy pension laws, andmost especial
t ly which at the period Of itspassagC
> amounted 10 upwards Of million of dol
!. lars, the annual interest of which was
2 sufficient to meet all demands, nov
4 consists of one hundred thousand dol
/, lars in Cincinnati five per cent. stool
3 greatly DEPRECATED, fourteen Thousand
n dollars Of the Bank of Washing
e ton, in the same situation, thirty three
e thousand three hundred and hirty-nin,
a dollars FIVE per cent stock of the cit,
q Of Washington, and eleven thousao,
! four hundred dollars of stock of tn
: Union Bank Of Georgetown, the latte
totally unsaleablt at this time.
i BY the same statement it appear
n that the sum ofone hundred and fifty
: one thousand three hundred and fifty
: two dollars and thirty-nine cents, wi
: be required in the course of the yea
1t 1871, to meet demands arising ont {
n the present pension list, and that con
0 sequently, either a appropriation {
n that sum, during the present session
: must be made, or the pensioners wi
e remain unpaid and the faith of the ma
! ton, which was pledged to make goo
h any deficiency in this fund, is unre
: deemed
e The estimate which accompany thi
IS report have been prepared with a du
II regard to economy on the one hand, an
o the protection of the honour and int:
a ests oflhe United States on the otheI
3 The number Of vessels now in com
: mission IS fully equalt to those employ
! ed in preceding years, and it IS bellev
IS that during the past year, neither th
e persons nor property of our citizen
Il have any where suffered outrage G
n wrong for want ofdue attentionin affoI
o ding the means Of protection and rs
q dress.
'i 1t will be perceived that the Boar
IS of Navy Commissioners have agai
d presented an estimate for additional
clerks, which am satisfied are indis
i pensiDic to the prompt performance {
the duties o, that ONCE which ar
Y daily increasing, ana which ti''eeFe !, IS n
r reason to believe will suffer @@lnY dlm
: mutton in future. Respectfully SUI
: mitted,
: J. X. PAULDING.
i To the President of TIE United States
t Doctor" said a hard-loOking
: brandy-faced customer yesterday, to