Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-06-26
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

SIR: The appropriations made at the last ses
sion of Congress wall be found amply sufficient Il
cover the expenditures for the current year, un
der the several heads Of appropriation, unless i
should become necessary or be deemed proper &c
assume another and larger basis of operations
than that on which the estimates Tor the Depart
ment were founded
The state Of the Navy Pension Fund will re-
quire the immediate action Of Congress Under
tho operation of net entitled 'An act Tor the
more equitable administration OF the Navy Zen
sion Fund.-" tina, fund has been exhausted. II
will be seen, from the accompanying report oil
the Commissioner of Pensions, that there will be
required for the payment of the navy pensioners
On the first of July next, the sum OF $3.50, W
and on the LIST Of January, 1912, the further sum
of 500 900 In addition to these sums, abou,
Sc, 900 will probably be allowed between July
next and the LIST of January, making the whole
&l63,7I6,O6. To meet these payments, there
IS within the control of the Department the sum
Of S2S,O4O, leaving deficiency Of Sl33,G66, O6,
which the public faith requires should be promptly
supplied
The sudden return Of the Brandywine seems
10 require some explanation. From the despatch
cs sent to the Department., by Captain Bolton, OF
that ship, 1t appears that the great excitement
prevailing in England in the carly part of March
last, induced Minister at that Court to ad-
dress a communication to Commodore Hull; the
officer commanding the United States naval forces
in the Mediterranean, The result of which was,
that the squadron, then lyIng at Mahon, left the
station with a view 10 &c, out Of Itt sen, asccr-
tain the true state Of things between the United
Suites and Great Britain, and either resume their
station, r return home according to the result.
Tho Brandywino ousailine the Commodore, and
Captain Bolton having received no informatl0
on his voyage deemed satisfactory by him, no
turned to the United States.
Though it is presumed that Congress will
scarcely DO willing TO give attention to general
~. t,,,s
the extraordinary session Of that body was con-
voked, vet recent events induce TO bring to
your notice with a view TO the action OF Congress,
two subjects worthy of present considera ion.
The first liz the estabis ment Of a home squadron.
While squadrons maintained in various parts
Of The world for the preservation of our com
mercc, our shores have been left without
any adequate protection. Had a war with Great
Britain been the result, -. '..-'~
orally feared, of the sui ects OF difficulty now IN
a course Of adjustment between that Power and
the United States, not only would our trade have
been liable TO great interruption, and our mer-
chants to great losses abroad, but naval force,
comparatively small, might, OH our very, shores.
have seized our merchant ships and insulted
flag, without suitable means of resistance or I'M
mediate retaliation being ct the command OF the
Government. To guard against such result-to
be ready TO repc. or promptly to chastise ag-
sressous upon our own shores,it IS necessary that
a powerful squadron should be kept atloat At home.
This measure is recommended by DINER conside-
ratlons. There Is situation IN which greater
skill or semanship can be exercised and acquired
than on tho coast Of the Unired States, and IN no
service would our officers and seamen become
more thoroughly initiated in all that is ncccssa-
~ for the national defence and glory. In that
service, aided by the coast survey now III pro-
press, Il thorough acquaintance would be- gained
with own soacnasf, extensive and hitherto but
imperfectly known-shc various ports would be
visted-the bays, iBicts and hurbOurs carefully
examined-ihe uses to which each colid be made
available during war, either for escape, defence,
r annoyance be asceriained, and the confidence
resulting from perfect knowledge would give to
US, what we ough, surely 10 possess. decided
advantage over an enemy our own shores
Should il be thought desirable that such squad
ron be pu, in commission Immediately and kept
constantly on duty, an additional appropriation
may be necessary; for the amount Of which,
we'll as the force deemed proper to be employed,
] beg TO refer 10 the accompanying report on the
subject, prepared under my direction, by the
Board of Navy Commissioners.
The attention of Congress has been heretofore
ernersily invited to the state of our ordnance
and ordnance stores, Iand doom il worthy of no
mediate consideration. sufficient supply Of
suitable arms and munitions of war is indspensa-
ole to the successful operation of the bravest of.
fcers and men; and i, cannot, from the nature of
the case, be provided upon u sudden emergency.
Sailors may be hastily collected from
mercial marine, ships may be purchase but ord
nance cannot be supplied on such emergency,
nor can some of the materials for the preparation
of ammunition be procured either by purchase
manufacture. Hence the ordnance should. by
timely foresight, be provided in advance and the
materials be secured, from which a supply of am
munitlon can be speedily prepared The accom-
panying report from the Board of Navy Cotnmis-
sioners shows the amount of expenditure which
will be required under this head. Should the OBJ
Iect be deemed OF such importance and urrency
TO require the immediate attention of Con
gress, respectfully recommend that an nppropri.
alton OF one. third of the estimated amount be now
made.
The opinion seems 10 have become general, "a
well IN the service IN the nation at large, that
thorough reorganization of the Navy is deman-
ded by considerations connected with the defence
and honor Of the country, and ~ this opinion /
heartily concur Yet am fully aware that any