Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-12-21
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have performed valuable service. aojle7i i
In the early stage of the war with Mex.
leo. her post on both coasts, were block.
AIDED; and more recently many of them
have been captured and held by NAVY.
When acting IN Cooperation with the
land forces. the Naval officers and men
have done gailant&distinguished services
on land as well as on water; and deserve
the high commentator of the. Country.
While other maratime powers are adj.
ding TO their navies, large numbers OF
War Steamers, il is wise policy ON our
part to make similar additions to our ma.
Wy. The foul war sieamsr authorised by
the act of Sd March last; are in course of
construction.
| In addition TO our four war steamers
authorized by the act, the Secretary of
the Navy has, ia pursuance ofthe provis.
ions, entered into contracts for the five
steamers to be employed in the .ranspora.
ton of The United States Mail from New
York to New Orleans touching at Sayan.
nah and Havana, and from Havana 70
Chafges-for three steamers TO he EN-.
ployed in like manner from Panama and
Oregon. so as to connect with the mail to
Charges, across the Ithmus; and for five
steamers TO be employed in like manner
TO Liverpool. These steamers will be
the property Of the contractors. but to he
built under the superintendence and di
rection of Naval contractors, in the EN-
Ploy of the Navy Department; and to be
so constructed as TO renter them convert
ibie, at the least possible expense, into
war steamers of the first class. ..... .
A prescribed number ofNaval Officers
as we'll as post Office agent is TO be OH
board OF them; and authority is reserved
to the Navy department ut all times to
exercise control over said steamships,
and to have the right to take them Tor
the exclusive use and service of the
United States, by making proper compen.
sallon to the contractors. Therefore,
while these steamships will be employed
in transporting the mails Of the United
States coastwise, upon an annual com.
pensation to be paid to the owners, they
will be read y upon any emergency to be
converted into war steamers, and the
right reserved to use them for public ser.
vice, will add greatly to lhe efficacy and
strength of this description of our naval
force.
10 the steamers thus authorized, and under
contracts made by the Secretary of the NAVY,
should be added five other steamers, author
lied under contracts made in pursuance of
law, by the Postmaster General, making an
addition, in the whole, of eighteen War
Steamers, subject to be taken for the public
use. AS further contracts for the transmits
sion OF the mails to foreign countries must
be authorized by Congress, the number NAV
be enlarged indefinitely. = ..
The enlightened policy by which a rapid
communication with different parts of the
globe, by means of American built steamers.
would find an ample compensation in the in
crease OF our commerce, and in making our
country and its resources more favorabLv
known abroad. But the National advantage
Is stiH greater, of having our Naval officers
made familiar with steam navigation, and
our having the privilege of taking the ships
already equipped, for immediate service at
moments warning and would be cheaplv
purchased by the compensation to be paid for
the transportation of the mail in them, over
and above the postage received.
a Just national pride, no less than our
commercial interests, would seem to favor the
policy above mentioned, augmenting the
number of this description of vessels. They
can be built in our country cheaper than in
any other country III the world. -'
/ refer you to the accompanying report of
the Postmaster General, for a detailed and
satisfactory account of the condition and op-
Grafton OF that department for the past wear.
tits gratifying to find that in so short a time
alter the reduction of the rates of postage, g.
Notwithstanding the increase of maiL-seryice.
the revenue received for the year will be suf-
hcIent to pay all expenses and no further
aid VIII be required for that purpose.
The first American steamers authorized
by the act of the Sd of March, 1916, was com
pieted, and entered upon the service on the
lst OF June last, and is now on her third vow
age to Bremen and other intermediate ports.
The other vessels authorized under the pro-
visions OF the act, are in course of construc
ton, and viii be put upon the line as soon as
completed. Contracts have been made for
the transportation of the mail, in steamers
from Charleston to Havana. ~
A reciprocal and satisfactory postal ar
rangement has been made, by the Postmaster
General with the authorities of Bremen: and
no difhcuty is apprehended in making a
slmltararrangemeni with other powers, with
which we may have communication by mail
steamers, except Great Britain.
On the arrival of the American steamer bound
10 Bremen at Southampton, in the month of July
last, the British Post Office, directed the collec-
ting discriminating postageson all letters, and 9TH
er malable matter to Great Britain, or which went
into the British Post Office, on the way 70 France
or other parts of Europe. The effect of the order
OF the British Post Office is, to subject all letters
and other matter to double postage-onc postage
having been previously paid ON them in the Uni-
ted States; while letters transported OIL British
steamers are subject to pay but single postage.
Ihls measure was adopted for the avowed OBJ
ject OF protecting the British line of mail steamers
now running between Boston and Liverpool; and,
II continued, must speedily put an end to all trans