Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-19

j
of that branch of the service. The presen,
2 organization of the Department, mparts to its
/ operations great efficiency; but concur fully in
S the propriety Of d division of the Bureau Of
r Construction, Equipment, and Repairs into two
] Bureanx. The subjects, as now arranged, are
f incongruous, and require, to a certain extent
information and qualifications altogether dissim
! liar.
: The operations Of the sqadron On the coast
of Africa have been conducted with all due at
tention to the object which led to its oreaniza-
, ton; and am happy to say, that the officers
and crews have enjoyed the oest possible health
under the system adopted by the officer in
! command. 1t is believed that the United
States is the only nation which has, by its
laws, subjected to the punishment Of death,
as l,lrases. those who may be engaged in the
slave trade. A similar enactment Oh the part
of ether nations would not fail to be attended
by beneficial results.
In consequence of the difficulties which
have existed in the way of securing titles for
the necessary grounds, operations have not
yet been ecommenced towards The establish
ment of the Navy Yard at Memphis So
: soon as the title is perfected no further delay
will be permitted to intervene. Ii is well wor~
thy of your consideration, whether Congress
walk, in connection with the contemplated
Navy Yard, as measure not only of econo
my but as highly useful and necessary. The
only establish rnent of the sort now connected
with the service IS locat ed at Boston; and the
advantages OF similar establishment, conve-
nient to the hemp growing region, must be
apparent to all
The report OF the Secretary presents other
matters to your consideration, of an important
character in connection with the service
! In referring you to the accompanying report
OF the Postmaster General, it affords me con-
tinued cause Of qualification 10 be able to adj
yertsto the fact that the affairs of the Depart
ment,f the last four years, have been so con
Quoted as from its unaided resources, to meet
its large expenditures On my coming into of.
fee 9 debt Of nearly $50, 900 existed against the
Department, which Congress discharged by
an appropriation from the Treasury. The
Department on the 9Th of March next, will
be found, under the management of It's pres.
ent efficient head. free of debt or enbarrass-
ment, which could only have been done by
the observance and practice Of the greatest
vigilance and economy. The laws have con-
!, tenplated throughout that the Department
should be selfsustaned: but ii may become
necessary, with tho wisest regard to the pub
1 lie intereststo Introduce amendments and alter
atlons III the system. There is strong desire
manifested IN many quarters, SO TO alter
the tariff OF letter postage as to reduce the
amount ottax at present imposed. Should
such measure be carried into effect,
{ to the full extent desired it cannot well be
doubted but that, for the first wears of its OPP
eratlons, diminished revenue would be col
lected, the supply Of which would necessari-
ly constitute charge upon the Treasury
Whether such a result would be desirable, it
will be fof Congressn its wisdom to determine.
1t may i'll general be asserted that radical al
terations IN any system. should rather be
brought about gradually, than by sudden
changes. and by pursuing this prudent policy
in the reduction OF letter postage, the De
partment might still sustain itself through the
revenue which would accrue by the increase
OF letters The state and condition Of the
; public Treasury has, heretofore, been such as
to have preciuded the Recommendation of "a
ny material change. The difficulties upon
tins head have, however. ceased, and larger
discretion is now left TO the Governments
l cannot too strongly urge the policy of au
thorzing the establishment Of a line of steam
ships regularly to ply between this country
and foreign ports, and upon our own waters,
: Tor the transportation ofthe mail. The ex-
/ ample of the British Government is well wor-
thy OF imitatio n in this respect. The belief IS
strongly entertained. that the ernouments a.
rising from the transportation of mail matter
to foreign countries, would operate of itself
7 as an Involvement to cause the Enterprise
to undertake that branch eff the task !;
+ and the remuneration of the Government
would consist in the addition readily made
to our steam navy, in the case of emergency.
by the ships SO employed. Should this sug.
gestlon meet your approval the proprety OF
placing such ships urder the command of ex
perlenced officers OF the navy will not escape
your observation The application of steam
to the purposes of naval warfare. copently
l recommends an extensive steam marine as
important in estimating the defences of The
/, country. Fortunately, this NAV be attained
BY us TO great extent without mourning anv
large amount OF expenditure. Steam vessels
$ TO be engaged IN the transportation Of the
i mails on our principal water courses, lakes
and parts of our coast, could also be so con
e structed as to be efficient as war vessels when
!, needed; and would, of themselves. const;-
: tute formidable force in order to re-
g pei attacks from abroad We cannot be
: b lind to the fact, that other nations have al
3 ready added large numbers of steamships to
their naval ornaments; and that this new and
e powerful agent is destined to revolutionize the
condition of the world. It becomes The
\ OuitetI states tlleTtloIcs LOOKING TO their Sc
curly, to adopt similar policy, and the plan
. suggested will enable them to do so at small
! comparative cost.
| take the greatest pleasure in bearing tes-
timony to the zeal and untirng industry which
has characterized the conduct OF the members
, of the Executive Cabinet Each in his APP
propriate sphere, has rendered me the rost
efficient aid IL carrying on the Government;
! and twill not, trust, appear out of place, fer
me to bear this pubic testimony. The car
dinal objects which should ever be held in
t view by those in'rusted with the administers
e ton ofpubc affairs. are ri gidly and without
I favor or affection SO to interpret the national
e will expressed in the laws, that injustice
& should be done to none justice to all. This
n has been the rule upon which .hey have &C
tied: and thus il is believed that few cases, if
= any exist, wherein cur fellow citizens who