Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-15

comforts by which those who have received
even . very limited education, and have
embarked in agriculture, are surrounded
tend gradually 10 draw off their less civil.
szed brethren from the precarious means o
subsistence by the chase to habits of labor
and civilization.
The accompanying Report of the Secre'
atary of the Navy, presents satisfactory
and gratifying account Of the condition and
operations of the Naval service during the
past year. Our commerce has been pur
sued with increased activity; and with
safety and success, in every quarter of the
: globe--under the projections of our flag
Sswhich the Navy has caused 10 be respected
alsiu the most distant seas. .5ssfi1
ssa ID the gulf DC Mexico and in the Pacific,
: The officers and men Of our squadrons have
displayed distinguished gallantry and per-
! formed valuable services. In the early sta
!. ges Of the war with Mexico, her ports on
j both coasts were blockaded, more recently
slmuny of them have been captured and held
: by the Navy. When acting in co-opera-
zion with the land forces, the naval officers
ind men have performed gallant and dis
tinguished services on land, as well as on
swaier, and deserve the high commendation
{ of the country. 81
While other maratime powers are adding
.sfo their Navies, large numbers of War
! steamers, it is a wise policy on our part to
make similar additions to onr Navy. The
four. war steamers authorized by the act of
March 3d., 1s47, are in course of con-.
struction. $50 -. ,g.s-s ..1zs
! In addition to. the four war steamers au
sthorizsd by this act, the Secretary Of the
I Navy has, in pursuance of its provisions,
/ entered into contract for the construction Of
Z Eve steamers, to be employed in the trans
portion OF the United Suites mail, touching
at Charleston, Savannah and Havana, and
j. from Havanna to Chagres !; for three stea-
mers in like manner from Panama to Ore
gon, 80 as to connect with the mail of Cha
aeres, across the Isthmus; and for five steam.
ers to be employed in like manner from
New York to Liverpool. so
foa These steamers will be the property of
the contractors, but are to be built under
tho superintendent and direction of a na-
! val constructor, in the employ ofthe Navy
{ Department. and will be so constructed as
: to render them convertible at the least pos
.sible expense into war steamers of the first
class. 81 - z
Y A prescribed number of naval officers,
IS well us Post Office Agents, are TO be on
board Of them, and authority is reserved to
the Navy Department at oil times to exer.
else control over said steamships, and
have the right to take them for the exclu-
siye use and service of the United States,
upon making proper compensation to the
contractors therefor.
While these steamships will be en-
-ployed in transporting the mails OF the
United States coastWise, and 10 foreign
countries upon an unusual compensa.
lttions to be paid to the owners, they
will be always ready, upon an emer
gency requiring it, 10 be converted in
, 10 war steamers and the right to take
them forpublic use will add greatly to
the efficiency and strength Of this de-
scrip,ion Of our Naval force. To the
steamers thus authorized under con-
tracts made in pursuance Of law by the
Pos, Master General. makingan addi-
ttionn in the whole eof eighteen war steam
ers subject 10 be taken for public use.
AS further contracts for the trans
,poriaiion of the mail 10 foreign coun-
tries maysbe authorized by Congress,
this numbcr may be enlarged inde6-
.nitely. -.
& & The enlightened policy by, which
rupid communication with the various
distant parts Of the globe. by means OF
American built steamers, would find
an ample reward in the increase OF our
commerce, and in making our coun-
Try and its resources more favorably
known abroad. But the national ad-
vantage is still greater Of having our
naval officers made familiar with steam
I, navigation, and Of having the privilege
ofiaking the ships already equipped
for immediate service at moments
notice, and will be eheaply purchased
by the company, by the compensation
TO be paid Tor the transportation of the
mail ia them, over and above. the post
ages received. asl
"A just national pride, no less than
our commercial interests, would seem
20 favor the policy of augmenting the
number of this description of vessels.
They can be built 10 our country cheap
er and in greater numbers than in any
other in the world.
refer you to the accompanying Re
port Of the Post Master General, for
detailed and satisfactory account Of the
condition and operation of that depart
ment during the past year. II is graf
flying 10 find that Within4s so short Pc
riod after the reduction of the rates oil
postage, and, notwithstanding the great
increase of mail service, the revenue
received for the year will be sufficient
to defray ell the expenses, and that no