Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-06-17

will meet in this town, next Tuesday, by
adjournment.
/ OFFICIAL DocUMENTs.-Thc several Re.
ports from the Secretaries OF the Depart
Incnts, which usually accompany the Presi
dents Message, have all been published
/ There is no ambiguity about these Reports
/ they are clear, straight forward Documents,
showing in plain terms the precise condition
in which the country has been left by the
late administration. We have only room
/ for a sketch Of then.
II WAR REpoRT.
/ The Secretary of War SAYS that there has
| been no material change in the general cou.
| diton and disposition of the army since the
| last annual report. The Florida War has
| been reviewed briefly, and the number of
| Indians who have surrendered themselves.
and have been deported TO the West, under
/ late negotiations, Is four hundred aud thirty
| one, including one hundred warriors. The
i Secretary fears that the complete removal
II vii. not be effected without further sacrif.
ces, as the most powerful chief has not been
| reached, nor any of his followers. Orders
have been issued for the prosecution Of yigor
|, ohs measures, us soon as negotiation shall
! prove useless.
Il The SUN required to place The forllhca-
4 iions Of the country in what is dcnominated
a good state OF defence, is Sl2, 1861 547-
S9G03,5f7 will be required for the sortltica.
,ons, and the rest for armament. 81, ,435 500
may be judconsly expended during the pres
cnt year, IN addition Ia approximations already
outstanding. The argument that improve.
mcnis ~ the art Of war, will render present
/ plans of defence imperative, is answered by
reasoning that we should not neglect present,
means, IN view OF future contingencies. The
works on Staten Island, surrendered to the
general government by the State Of New
York, are in progress of active repair, and
the promptneSs with which they were given
up 10 the government is spoken of ns dcscrv.
ing the thanks o! the country--and al im-
mediate appropriation to perfect them.
|. Irregularities IN the Indian department ore
complained of. Ii has becn the practice to
make payments from MONIES appropriated.
without regarding the specific direction of
the appropriation acts. Another matter of
compliant Is, that instead Of letting unex.
pended appropriations remain in the Treasury
TO revert back TO it, according to law, they
have been drawn out, and put IN the bands o
dlsburslng agents, who have used them for
purposes Tor winch no appropriation has been
made. Another irrcguarlly has been the
loaning of large sums by Indian dlsbursing
agents to other departments of The Govern
mcnt. or to other and distinct branches of the
Indian department. BY these means, the
Indian accounts have been put in such con-
tusio That animal s,t h.y -,
possible. Nor is 1t possible exactly to ascer.
tain the precise amount of appropriation
required TO settle the accounts. So far.
$2O0O00 is asccrtalned To be necessary, and
1t 10 thought that $500 600 more will be.
The change IN the policy Of managing The
armorlcs, placing them under military instead
oi civil direction, works we'll, but time has
not yet elapsed, sufficient to test its advanta.
gcs.
Additional appropriations TO the amount Of
SS25 637 are required for the pay and quar-.
ter masters departments. $50 997 is also |
required to pay laborers on suspended public |
works, the expenses of which have exceeded
the cstmates-an excess for which the ope.
ratycs are not responsible.
Great frauds have been discovered among |
the Indian agents. and contractors for reno
val at the South West, but The Investigation Il
ls yet unfinished. aud the precise point of |
responsibility among the officers not yet
asccrtaincd.
The Navy.
The appropriations made nj The last session I
for this service, will be sufficient. unless
larger basis of operations than the present /
should be decided on.
The Navy Pension Fund requires an i'm
mediate appropriation of $I35 UG6.
The return Of the Brandywine from The II
Mediterranean IS explained officially IN the
same manner that II has been unoflicialIy. H
The establishment Of home squadron is
strongly urged, and The provision oI d suitable
supply OF arms aud munitions of war II
The Secretary concurs IN the general opn
ION that new orennlzatIon of the Navy is
necessary, bot doirrs the particulars of the
pan he intends TO present until the next
regular session.
Tnr Posr OrricE.
The estimated deficit of tho tcpar,mcn,
Tor old debts IL over halt mil ion. Th,
ascef'aned deficiency is SII7Ojy II re-
MAINS ior Congress 10 determine whether
ihlS shall at once be remove d, or whether The
department shall Struggle on. dcvuling ill.,
receipts TO The partial payment Of old drbls.
j he receipts Tor the quarter ending March N.
jisi, present a decrease OF almus, Dix per ~
cent. II,
RAILROAD Companies in some instances
charge two hundred per cent higher than ),
,hnrgcd icr coach service. THIS has imposed
ipnn The Postmaster the Necessity oi sue.
'endms th,ir contracts.