Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-06-10

II beg leave particularly To chll your atlen'
II ton 10 the accompanying report from the
i Secretary of War. Besides The present state
of the war which has So long afflicted the
II Territory of Florida, and the various other
matters of interest therein referred 10, you
will learn from II that the Secretary has in
S'liuied an enquiry into abuses, winch promi'
scs To dcvelOpe gross enornliles ~ conncXion
with Indian treaties which have becn nego-
tiatcd, as well us IN The expenditures Tor The
removal and subsistence of The Indians. lie
| represents. also, other irregularities of Sc
rous nature that have grown up IN the prnc
uce OF the Indian Department, which VIII
/ require the appropriation "fupwards oi s2OO,-
4 600 10 correct, and which claim The iinnc date
attention of Congress.
II In rejecting upon the proper means OF
Il defending The country, we cannot shut our
| eyes TO the consequences which the INTRO
! duction and use of the power Of steam upon
the ocean are likely to produce in wars be.
tween maratine States. We cannot yet see
The extent TO which this power may be ap.
| piled in belligerent operations, connecting
itself as it does with recent improvements
IN the science of gunnery and projccliles (;
but we need have no fear Of being left, in
reg ard TO these things, behind the mos. ac
tive and sklliu os other nations, IL The genius
and enterprise oi our fellow. citizens receive
proper encouragement and direction from
\ Government.
\ True wisdom would. nevertheless, seem
to dictate the necessity of placing in perfect
condition those foriiicaiions which are de-
signed for the protection Of our principal
cities aud roadstcads. For the defence OF
our extended maritime coast, our chief re.
lance should be placed on our navy, aided
by those inventions which are destined To
recommend themselves To public oplnlon.-
But no time should be lost in placing our
principal cities on The scaboard and the lakes
IN state OF entire security from foreign as.
sault. Separated as we are from the cOun.
tries of the old world, and in much unall.ct.
ed by their policy, we are happily relieved
from the necessity OF maintaining large stand
ing armies IN times Of peace.
/ The policy which was adopted by Mr.. Mon
roe, shortly after the conclusion of the late
war with Great Britain, of preserving q reg
ularly organized staff sufficient for the com
mand Of large military force, should a ne
cessliy Tor one arse, is founded as well IN
economy as III true wisdom Provision is
thus made, upon filing up the rank md file,
which can readily be done on any emergency,
tor the introduction ofa system Of discipline
promptly and efficiently. All that is reJlr-
ed IN time of peace Is to maintain sufficient
number of men TO guard our Notifications, to
meet any sudden contingency, aud to encoun-
ter the first shock of war. Our chief reliance
must be placed on the militia. They con.
st,n,c the great body Of national guards,
and INSPIRED by an ardent love OF country.
will be found ready at all times and at all
seasons to repair with alacrlty TO its de-
fence. 1t will be regarded by Congress,
doubt not, at a suitable time as one Of It's
highest duties to attend TO their complete |
organization and discipline.
The state of the navy pension fund requires
the immediate attention of Congress. BY i
the operation Of the act Of the 3d of March, |
1897, entitled "An act for the more equitable
administration Of the nnvy pension fund" /
that fund has been exhausted. II will be
seen from the accompanying report OF the
Commissioner of Pensions that there will /
be required for the pay ymen. of navy pension.
ers, OH the first Of July, next, $s4 ,006 06 l-3
and on the first u: January, 1912, Me SUN of
S6O,O0O. ln addition To these sums, about
$4,000 will be required to pay arrears OF
pensions which will probably be allowed be- \
tween The first July and the first ot January.
1912, making the whole Sl50,006 06 Ia
The public faith requires that immediate
provision should be made for the payment OF
these sums. l.
In order to introduce into the navy de.
slrable tiliciency,a new system Of account.
ability may be found TO bo Indispensable II
necessary. To mature II plan having Tor lis II
object the accomplishment of an end SO i'm. H
oortant, and to mcct the Just expectations OF
the country, require more time than has yet /
been allowed TO the Secretary at The head of
the Department. The hope IL induged that
oy The time of your next regular session
measures OF Importance, in connection with
his branch of the public service, may BE-
natured for your consideration.
Although the laws regulating the Post
Othce Department only require from the Of. Il
deer charged with its direction To report at
he usual annual session of Congress, the
General has presented TO me
some facts connected with the financial con.
lIllon of the Department which are deemed
worthy the attention Of Congress. BY the
accompanying report of tina, officer, it ap.
'earS that the existing liabilities of that De- IIi
'ariment beyond the means Of payment at
Is command cannot he Jess than five hundred /
housand dollars. AS the laws organizing
hat branch Of the public service conline the II
NptnuIluTc 10 Tvs own revenues. 0ollclenCICs II
herein cannot be presented under the usual Il
stmatcs for the expenses Of Governments
I must therefore be left to Congress to
ctcrmne whether the moneys now due to
ontractors shall be paid from The Treasury.
r whether that department shall continue "
ndcr It's present enIbarrassments. II will .
Z seen by the report of the Postmaster Gen.
raj that the recent letting of Contracts in ',
evcral Of the States have been made at such v
rduced rates Of compensation as to encour.
re the belief that It the department was
.licvcd from existing difficulties, its future I,
peralons might be conducted without any
Ir,hcr call upon the general Treasury.
The power OF appointing to Office is one 9
a character the most delicate aud rcspou-
bic. The appointing power is ever more c
Sposcd 10 be led into error. With anxious at
'lIcltudc TO select the most Trustworthy for Il
licial station, cannot be supposed to pos ir
'ss personal knowledge of the gualiGca ne
Dns OF every applicant. ] deem it therefore
opcr, IN tins most public manner, to invite,
4 the part of the Senate just scrutiny
10 the Character and prctenslons Of every at
nrson whom ] may bring to their notice in II Al
70 regular form of a nomins,ion for Office. j.
Mess persons every way Trustworthy are n Eo
nploycd in the public service, corruption IN