Litchfield enquirer., 1850-01-03

esssTy and ] recommend 70 the i1Vora-
 bls consideration of Conglsns and insIessa of the several corps of the army q our ais- tant western posts. e pEopossd in tht nc. companing report uf tho Ssrtlnrg of War,
 Great embarrassment hss Tssulled from the effect upon rank. in the army. hereto fore given to brsvet and staffcommisisbns. The views of the Secretary of War. On this subject. are doomed important. and if carEi;ed into effect will, it is believed. promote khe harmony of the service. The plan propo. sed for retiring disabled officers. and prosi- ding an asylum for such of the rank and tile as from age, wounds and other iniirna- ties occasioned by service, have become unfit to perform their respective duties, IS recommended as a means of increasing the efficiency of the army. and as an act of iustire, due for grateful country to the faithful soldier.
 The accompanying report of the Secretary of the Navy presents a full and satisfactory account of the condition and operations of the naval service during the past year.
 Our citizens engaged in the legitimate pursuits of commerce have enjoyed its bene. fits. Wherever our national vessels have gone, they have been received with respect our officers have been treated with kindness and courtesy, and they have on all occasions pursued course of strict neutrality. in ac- cordance with the policy of our Govern ment.
 The naval force at present in cousplission is as large as is admissible, with the num- Der of men authorized by Congress to be employed. z invite your attention to the recommen- dation ofthe Secretary of the Navy on the subject ofa reorganization of the navy, in its various grades of officers, and the estab- fishing of retired list for such of the off, cers as are disqualified for active and efEec- tive service. Should Congress adopt some such measure as is recommended, 1t will greatly increase the efficiency of the Navy and reduce its expenditures.
 also ask your attention to the views ex- pressed by him in reference to the employ ment of war-steamers, and in regard, to. the contracts for the transportation of the. Uni ted States mails. and the opperation of the system upon the prosperity of the Navy. By an act of Congress passed. August 14th, 1S4S, provision was made for. exten- ding post-oftice and mail accommodations to Californian and Oregon. Exertions have been made, to execute that law but the limited provisions of the act. the made quacy of the means it authorizes the i'll adaptation of our post office laws, compared with the prices of the labor and rents in California. render those exertions, in a great degree. intellectual. More particularly and efficient provision by law is, required on this subject.
 The act of 1S45s reducing postage. has now. by it's operation during four years produced results fliliy showing that the in- come. from. such reduced postage is sufi- cient to sustain, the whole expense of the service of the, Post Office Department, hot including the cost of transportation in mail steamers. on. the lines from, New York to Chagres, and, from Panama to, Astoria. whicn have not been considered by Cen gress aa properly belonging. to the mail ser. vice.
 It is submitted to. the wisdom of Con- | .gress. whether a further reduction of pos- tage should not now be- made. more partich- larly on the, letter correspondence. TIis should be relieved from the unjust bnrthen of transporting and delivering the franked matter of Congress. for which public service provision should be made from the treasury. I confidently believe that change may safely be made, reducing all single letter postage to the uniform rate olive cents, regardless. of distance. without thereby i'm posing any greater tax on. the treasury than would constitute very moderate compensa- tion for this public service and therefore respectfully recommend such a reduction. Should Congress prefer to abolish the l franking privilege entirely, it seems proba- ble that no demand on the treasury would result from the proposed reduction of pos tage. Whether any further diminution should now be made. or the result of the 1 reduction to 5 cents, which ] have recom- mended, should be tested, IS submitted to your decision.
 Since the commencement of the, last ses. sion of Congress, Postal treaty with Great Britain has been received and ratified, and such regulations have been formed by the Post Office Derartments of the two coun- tries, in pursuance of fthat treaty. as. to. car " its provisions into full oppsration. The attempt to extend the same arrangement through England to France has not been equally successful but the purpose has not been abandoned.
 For particular statement of the condition of the Post Office Department, and other matters connected with that branch of the public service, lrefsS you to,the Psssmas-. ter General.
 By the act of the Sd March. lS49. a Board was constituted to make arrange ments for taking the seventh census. com posed of the secretary of State, the Attor-