The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-07-23

or TIM sEcRErtRH 81 THE NAVY


Or THU SECRETARX on TIE NAVY.
NaCg lepart1aeat, Nag 81 1871
Sm Ihe appropriations made az ile
last session of Congress, vii 81 found amply
sufficient 10 cover the expenditures CT the
current year. endef tlle several heads Of APP
pgoprialion, unless il should become neces,
say or be deemed proper o assume another
and larger basis Of operation than that on
which the estimates from The Department.
were founded
The state of lhe Navy Pension Fund will
require the Immediate action Of Congress.
Under the operation ~ the act entitled aAn
act for the more equitable administration
the Navy Pension Fund, 2 that fund has been
exhausted II will be seen from the ac-
lcompanying report of the Commissioner Of
Pensions that there will be required FOR the
payment of navy pensioners, on the first of
July hext, the Of SIS, O6 and on
1.-THE lst Of January, l642, the further sum.
Eof S69, 900 In addition 70 these sums,
about So 1000 will be required 70 pay arrears
Eof pensions which will probably be allowed
between July next and the LIST Of January,
making in the whole $l63,706 06. To
meet. these payments, there is within the
control of the Department the sum Of S2S.-
040; leaving deiciency.of Sl35,666 06,
which the public faith requires should be
promptly supplied.
The sudden return of the BrandyWine
seems to require some explanation. From
the dispatches sent TO the Department by
Captain Bolton, of that ship, Il appears that
the great excitement prevailing III. England
in the early part Of March last, induced our
Minister al that Court TO address. a commu-
ncatlon TO Commodore Hull, the officer
commanding the United States Naval forces
in the Mediterranean. the result Of which
was, that thesquadTOn, then lying al Mahon,
left the station with a.View to getout Of that
sea, ascertain the true state OF things be-
tween the United States and Great Britain.
and either resume their station OF return
home according to the result The Brandy
wine outsailing the Commodore, and Capt.
Bolton having received no information on
his voyage deemed satisfactory by him, he
returned TO the United States.
Though it is presumed Congress will
scarcely be willing TO give attention TO gen.
eral matters unconnected with the objects
for which the extraordinary session Of thai
body was conVOked, yet recent events in
duce me TO bring to your notice, with q view
to the action Of Congress, two subjects a.
worthy Of present consideration. The fFsl
is the establishment Of home squadron
While squadrons are mainlained ia Yariou:
parts of the world fos the Preservaiion ol
our commerce, our own shores have been
left without any adequate protection. Had
a war with Great Britain been the result,a.
was at one time generally feared, 81 The
subjects of difficulty now in a course Of adj
6nstmentbeAWeen that Power and the United
States, not only would our trade have been
liable to great interruption, and our ner
chants to great losses abroad, but a nava
force, comparatively small, might on our veTl
shores, have seized our merchant ships ane
insulted our Gag, without suitable means o.
resistance or immediate retaliation being q
the command of the Government. TO guaFC
against such result-to be ever ready 4
!, repel OF promptly to chastise aggression
: upon our shores, it is necessary that pow
erful squadron should be. kept afoat a
home. This measure IS Recommended b
other considerations. There ii nosituatioi
in which greater skiIl.or seaananslnp can b
Z exercised and acquired than on the coast D
the United States, and Id no service would
y our officers and seamen become more thor
Y oughly Initiated in all that is necessary @
q International defence and glory. il thatsei
e vice, aided BY the coast survey now 10 pro
gress, thorough acquaintance would b
gained with our own seacoast, extensive al
hitherto but imperfecily known lhe variop
ports would be visited The bays inless an
harboTs carefully examined The uses T
which each could be made available durin
war, either fol escapes defence orannoya ncf
be ascertained and the conhdence fesultn
from perfect knowledge would eIre "a u.
what We oogh surely g posse decide
advantage ever an enemy on olroNn shores
be Should il be thought desirable that saca
It squadron Be put g commission immediate
rs and kept constantly On duty uirn'
"a. approp fialion may be nece fcI ',s
be mount al which. vel as lhe oI
nd ed proper 70 BE employed bog
Rs The accompanying sepoI 81 IS -
be prepared under nE direction. 1oa
of III Mary Comm Ionels
The aIIenEen 81 longI been
at tofnre eagne invited ie ST. 81
&. ordnance and ordnance Store
ie e worthy 8 Immediate Gems
sufficient of niab
tons blu 81 50
oes