Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-12-09


are infested with them, whereby travelling is
rendered extremely dangerous, and immigration
is almost entirely arrested. The Mexican iron
tier, which by The It'll article Of the treaty o
| Guadalupe Hidalgo, we are bound to protect a
oanst the indians within our border, Is exposed
to these ncursons equally with our own The
military force stationed in that country (al,hou2t
forming d large proportion OF the army Is repre-
scented as entirely inadequate to our own pIolec
ton and the fuifilment OF onr treaty silpuauon'
with Mexico. The principal deficiency is II
cavalry, and recommend that Congress should
at as early period as practicable, provide io
the raising OF one or more regiments OF MOUNTED
! men.
! For further enggestions en- this subject anc
others connected with our domestic Interests
and the defence Of our frontier, rafer yon tt
the report of the Secretary OF the interior and the
Secretary of War
| commend also to yorr favorable consldera
lion the suggestion contained In the is5t men
toned report and in the letter OF the SeneTal-ih
chief relative to the establishment OF an asylum
! fnr the relief Of disabled and destitute soldiers
This snhiect appeals 30 strongly TO yolr symTa-
thies that it would be supe.fuoNs III me 10 say
any thing more, than barely to express nay Cor
dial appreciation of the proposed OBJECT
The navy continues 60 give protection 10 ON
commerce and ether national IN erest1 Ill the dif-
ier nj quarters Of The globe, and, with +the eS-
ceptien of a single steamer on the Northern Lakes
| the vessels in commission are distributed Iii slX
different sq1aasdns.
The report OF tie head Of that Department
VIII exhibit The services of these squadrous, and
of the several vessels employed in each during
the past year. II is a source OF gratificaton
that, while they have been constantly prepared
for any hostile emergency, they have every
where met with the respect and courtesy, due as
well to the dignity as to the peaceful dispositions
and Just pugposes CT the nation.
The two bri4an.ines accepted by the Govern
ment from generous citizen OF New York, and
placed under the command OF an oihcer OF the
navy to proceed TO the Arctic seas In guest Of
the British commander Sir john franklin, and
hia companions. in compliance with the act OF
Congress. approved in May last, had, when last
heard from penetra ted into high northern lai-
tude but the success of this noble human enter
prise is yet uncertain.
/ invite your attention to the view OF our pres
ent naval establishment and resources presented
in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and
the suggestions therein made .or It's Improvement,
together with the naval policy recommended for
the security of our Pacific Coast, and the pro-
lection and extension OF Our commerce with
Eastern Asia Our facilities for larger paTtlc-
patton Ill Inc IdtlG vi tiC 14r'ol; iHo'ti' VI wi
recent settlements on the shores OF the Pacific,
are too obvious to be ovurlooked or disregarded.
The question in relation to rank i'll the army
and navy and relative to rank between officers
Of the two branches of the service, presented to
the Executive BY certain resolutions Of the House
Of REPRESENTATIVES, at the last session of Con-
eress. have beed submitted TO a board Of officers
in each branch OF the service and their reror.
may be expected at an early day
also earnestly recommend the enactment Of a
law authorizing officers Of the army and navy to
be retired from the service when Incompetent for
its vigorous and active dutics taking care to make
suitable provision for those who have faithfully
served their country and awarding distinctions, by
retaining in Office those who haze been particu-
larly conspicuous for galiantry and good conduct.
While the obligation of the country to maintain
and honor those who, TO the exclusion OF other
pursuits, have devoted themselves to its afduous
service this obligation should not be permitted TO
interfere with the efficiency of the service itself.
lam uratifed in being able to state, that The
estimates OF the expenditure for the navy in the
ensuing year are less, by more than one million
of dollars than hose of the present, excepting the
appropriation which may become necessary tor
tie construction of a docl, on the coast of the Ia
cigic. propositions for which are now being corsd
cred, and on which special report may be ex
pected early in your present session.
There is an evident business in the suggestion
Of the same report, that appropriations for the
naval service proper should be separated from
those for fixed and permanent objects, such as
building docks and navy yards, and the fixtures
attached; and from the extraordinary objects under
the care Of the Department, which, however I'M
porant, are not essentially naval.
A revision Of the code for the government OF the
navy seems to require the immediate considera-
e lt,e ,eta ofnr and n
jsAments had undergone no change for half cen
tury until the last session, tho its detects have
been often and ably pointed out, and the abolition
of particular species ct corporal punishment,
which then teok place, without providing any sub
sttute, has left the service in state of detective
ness, which calls for promps correction.
therefore recommend that the whole subject
be carefully revised without delay, and such q
system established for the enforcement of discipline
as shall he at once humane and ettectual.
The accompanying report of the Postmaster
| General, presents satisfactory view OF the ope-
rations and condition Of that Department.
At the close Of the last fiscal year, the length
ofthe inland mail routes in the United States
mot embracing the service in Oregon and Gale
| formal was one hundred ard seventy.eisht thou
sand six hundred and sayeHty-iwo miles; the
annual transportation thereon iorty-six million
five hundred and forty one thousand tour hun.
dred and tweuty-three miles; and the annual
cost of such transportation two millions seven
hundred and twenly-four thousand four hundred
and twenty-six dollars.
The increase of the annual transportation over
that of the preceding year, was three millions
nine hundred and ninety-seven thousand three
hundred and fiity-four miles, and the increase IL
cost was three hundred and iorty-two thousanc
four hundred and forty dollars:
The number Of post Offices in the U. States
on the first day of July last, was eighteen thon
sand four hundred and seventeen-being an III
crease of sixteen hundred and seventy during
the preceding year
The cross revenues Of the Department for The
fiscal year ending June 30lh, 1850 amounted II
live millions five hundred and fiiiy-two thousant
nine hundred and seventy-one dollars and forty
EIGHT cents, including the annual appropriation
Two hundred thousand dollars for he trankee
matter of the departments, and extending tn