The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-12-12

ol easy application TO the great body OF tho militia IN
time Of war.
Tho expenditures Of the war Department have been
considerably reduced in the int years; contingent
cles, however, mny arise, which would call for tho
iiIllng up of the regiments with full complement Of
men, md make il vey desirable 10 rrniuuut the
Corps Of Dragons, which by uct Of the last Con
gresS was directed 10 be dso,yed.
refer You 10 the accompanying report Of the Sec
rotary for Information in relation to tho Navy Of the
United States.
While every effort has been and will continue 10
be made TO retonch all supcrhuilics and Top of all
excrescences which from time to timG may have
grown up, yet it lus not been regarded Wise or
prudent 10 recommend any material change in annual
appropriations The interests which involved
are OF too important character TO lead to tho
mendution oC any other than liberal policy. AIDE
quaG appropriations ought 10 bp made TO enable ihe
Executive to ft out all The ships that in
course Of building, that require repairs, Cor active
SERVICE in the shortest possible time should any emcr
gcncy nrisc which may require il. An efficient Ma
Wy, while II Is the cheapest means of puOc defence,
enli'ts in t' support the feelings Of pride and conf
denco which brilliant deeds aud heroic vaor have
heretofore served 10 strengthen md confirm.
refer you particular, TO that pant Of the Secrc-
tnry's Report which has reference the rccrut rx.
Prrmcnis in the application Of steam AID in tho con-
structon Of war steamers made under tho suprcin-
uiondauec Of distinguished Officers Of III, navy. In
addition TO other manifest improvements la the con.
strnc,nn Of the steam engine and application Of the
motive power which has rendered them more nppro-
prate To the Of ships ofwnrS oc thoseo Ulcers has
brought into use power which makes tho steamship
moro formidable either for attack ~, defence. can
not too strongly recommend ibis subject 10 your
sidrrtinn mud TO not hesitate to express my entire
conviction ci lis great npotarte.
call your particular attention also To thar portion
oi the Socrniary's report which has reference To tho
act uf the last So. sion of Congress which prohlited
The transfer of any balance of npprop Iion from other
heads of appropriation 10 that for building, equipment,
aud r'Plir The repeal of that prohibition w,ll en-
able the Department to give renewed employment TO
large class of worhmcn no have lcen necessarily
discharged in consequences Of the want of 10
pay thrm--n circumstance attended, especially at this
season of the year, with much piiyaon and suffer
/ ing.
Il gives ne great pain to TO You tho loss
o the steamship, Il he Missouri By fire, in the BAY
of Gjbaratnr, where she had stopped 10 renew her
supplies of coal, on her voyage 20 Alexandria, vuh
/ Mr. Cushing, the American Alinster to China on
board. there is ground for high COMMUNICATION Of
the officers and men, for the GOODNESS aud inrepidiy
/ and perfect submission TO discipline cvinccd under
/ the trying circumstances. Surrounded by raging
ire which the utmost cXerons could not suhduc and
which threatened momcntarily the explosion oC her
/ well supplied magazines, tho officers exhibited no
signs OF fear, and the men oheyed every order with
aucrliy. Nor she abandoned until the last glenn
of hope Of saving her had expired. 1t is well worthy
of your consideration whether The losses sustained by
the officers and crew in this unfortunate affair should
/ not be reimbursed to them.
| cannot take leave Of This painful subject without
advcrting TO the aid rendered upon the occasion BY
the British authofites at Gibraltar, and the command
or, officers and crew Of the British ship Of the line
1.-The Alalabar, (which was lying at the timo in the
bay. Every thing that generosity or humanity could
! dictate was promptly performed u, is by such acts
OF coed will by one 10 another Of the fomily OF ma
tons, that lialerna feelings are noursted and the
/ blessings Of permanent peace secured.
The Report OF the Postmaster General will lrin-
you acquainted with the operations orthat Depart
m3nt during the past year and will suggest to you
such notifications OF the existing laws in Your
opinion the exigenccs of the public services may
quirc. The change which the country has Undergone
oil late years IN the mode of travel and transportation
has afforded sonany facilities for tho transmission Of
mail matter out of the regular mail, require the
greatest vigilance and crcum-pcction in order 10 en-
able the officer ut the head of the department to res
tram the expenditures within the income. There is
also too much To Ieur that the rankng priyi-
egc has run into great abuse.-lhe Department new
criticize has been conducted with the greatest ,sor,
aud has attained ut the least possible pcnsc all the
useful objects Of which il was established.
| In regard to all the Departments, | am quiet happy
in the belief tina. nothing has been left undone which
was called FIR by a true spirit of economy, by
| sysIcm OF accountability rgidly enforced. This in
some degree apparent from the fact, that the Govern
ment has SUSTAINED no loss ty tho default Of any of
| its agents.
In the complex, but at The time. beautiful
machinery OF oar system Of government, it is not
| matter OF surprise, that some remote agency my
nave llIeu an instant 10 tulhl It's desired ort;
hut feel confident in the assertion, that nothing has
occurred to interrupt the harmonious action Of the
! Government itself and that while the laws have
been executed with efficiency and vigor, the rights
neither of State nor individuals have been t!onp!ed
| or dlsrrgarded
In the mem time the country has been steadily al
vncine in all that contributes to national greatness.
The tide oipopulation continues unbrnkeny TO flow
into the new states and territories where refuge is
| found not only iog born fellow citizens,
hut for cmisrnnts from all parts of the civliscd world,
! who come among US to pait'kc of the blessings Of
free institutions, and to all Ivy their labor swell
! the current of our wealth and power.
| 1t is due 10 every consideration of public policy
that the lakes and rivers of the West should receive
all such attention al the bands of Congress the
| Constitution viii enable it to bestow Works in IA
! vorahc and proper sultions on tho lakes would he
fou 10 he nispcn sely necessary in case of
~ carry safe and successful naval operations as
Publications the Atlantic sca-board. The appro-
pralnn made by the last Congress for the improve.
ment Of the navigation ef The Mississippi river has
been diligently aud efficiently applied.
cannot close this communication, gentlemen,
without recommending to you most favorable consid-
Grafton the interests of this district. Appointed ny
the Con- siuon its cyrusivc LEGISLATORS, and f.rminr