Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-16


The two steam frigates commenced
under the second section Of the act ap.
proved Sd March, 1899, one at N. York,
the other at Philadelphia, have been so
lar completed that the former will be ready
for launching in few days, and the latter
IN the ensuing spring, as soon MS the Del.
aware is Tree from ice. The engines and
boilers are also in the course Of speedy
completion, 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 are high
| IN satisfactory. The conduct Of the young
lads lseenerally exemplary, and such is
heir rapid progress in the art Of seaman.
ship; that by the time they are Of age for
sea service, our commanders generally
prefer them to Older seamen, take oc-
:aslon TO recommend that this system be
ioslered to the utmost extent Of which it is
susceptible, being ofopuion that itpresents
one great means of partially at least, rem
edying that increasing scarcity Of compe-
tent petty officers and able seamen, which
greatly embnrrasses the operations of the
navy, delays the sailing Of our public YES
sells, and places the defence of the honor
and interests of the United States under
the protection Of foreigners.
The scarcity of seamen for tho uses Of
the navy, Us, npprehend, owing TO the
high wages they receive in the merchant
service, and the comparatively short Pc
riods OF their engagements in commercial
yoyases; to the absence of an apprentice
,vstem in the mercantile marine; aud the
discharge Of seamen when their terms have
expired on foreign stations, where the
seducions Of climate aud the allurements
# pleasure attach them 10 the soil, and
whence mauy Of them never return OF
return So enervated US 10 be comparatively
unfit for active service. The inquiries
have Instituted result in the fact that many
OF our seamen arc now scattered among
the Island Of the Pacific, and on the coas
Of South America; and though directions
have been given to reclaim them whenever
il may be found practicable, there can b,
little doubt that large number are thu
irreuievably lost to their country. ] hay,
n 80 sufficient reason to believe, that lb'
modification Of the navy ration, which wa
proposed to Congress, but which has no
been definitely acted on, would, il adopted
contribute materially to attach our seamer
more permanently TO the service; and
take this occasion earnestly TO request thai
The early attention OF Congress may be
invited TO this subject generally, as one
Of vital importance to the we'll being Of
the navy.
The accompanying report and letter
from the Commissioner Of Pensions, ex>
hbi, the number Of pensioners, the amount
Of their pensions, and the means now re,
mining at my disposal to meet those
which may become doe the last of Janua-
nv, and lst July, 1871. From these doc
uments ii will appear that under the oper-
ntion Of the navy pension laws, and most
especially that of the Sd Of March, 1887,
the navy pension fund, which, al the period
Of its passage, amounted to upwards Of a
million of dollars, the annual int. est Of
which was sufficient to meet all demands,
now consists of one hundred thousand dol.
lars in Cincinnati 5 per ct stock, greatly
deprecated, fourteen thousand dollars Of
stock Of The Bank of Washington, in the
same situation, thirty three thousand three
hundred and thirty nine dollars five per
cent stock of the city Of Washington, and
elrven thousand four hundred dollars of
stock oflhe Union Bank Of Georgetown,
tie latter totally unsaleable at this time.
By the statementit appears that the sum
ofoue hundred and fifty one thousand three
hundred and fifty two dollars and thirty
nine cents, will be required in the course
Of the wear le4l 10 meet demands arising
out Of the present pension list, and that
consequently, either an appropriation Of
that sum, during the present session, must
be made, or the pensioners will remain IN
paid, and the faith Of the nation, which
was pledged to make good any deficiency
in this fund, remain unredeemed.
The estimates which accompany this
report have been prepared with due re-
gard to economy on one hand, and the pro-
lection ofthe honor and interests Of the
United States on the other. The number
Of vessels now in The commission is fully
equal to those employed in preceding years
and it is believed that during the past year
neither the persons or property of our citI.
zens have any where suffered outrage or
wrong for want Of due attention in afford
ing The means ofp'oiection and redress.
1t will be perceived that the Board Of
Navy Commissioners have again present
ed an estimate for additional clerks, which
! nm satisfied are indispensable to the