Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-12

For further suggestions this subject, and
others connected with our domestic Interests.
and the defence of our frontier, refer you to
the report Of the Secretary of the Interior, and
Of the Secretary Of War.
/ commend also to your favorable considcra-
tion the suggestion contained in the last men
toned report, and in the letter of the general
in-chief, relative to the establishment of an asy
lum for the relief Of disabled and destitute sol
diers. This subject appeals so strongly to
your sympathies that it would be superfuous
In me to say any thing more, than barely to ex-
press my cordial appreciation Of the proposed
object.
The navy continues to give protection to our
commerce and other national interests in the
different quarters of the globe, and, with the
exception OF single steamer on the Northern
lakes, the vessels in commission are distributed
In SIX different squadrons.
The report Of the head of that Department
Will exhibit the services of these squadrons,
and OF the several vessels employed in each
during the past year. 1t is a source of gratifi-
cation that, while they have been constantly
prepared Tor any hostile emergency, they have
everywhere met with the respect and courtesy,
due as well to the dignity as to the peaceful
dispositions and just purposes of the nation.
he two brlgantines accepted BY the Gov
ernment IRON generous citizen Of New York,
and placed under the command of an officer Of
the navy, to proceed to the Arctic seas in quest
OF the British commander, Sir John Franklin,
and his companions, in compliance with the
act OF Congress, approved in May last, had
when last heard from, penetrated into high
northern latitude; but the success of this no
bic aud humane enterprise is vet uncertain.
L IN thn nf
present naval establishment and resources pre-
sented IN the report of the Secretary Of the
Navy, and the suggestions therein made for
It's improvement, together with the naval poll
cy recommended for the security of our Pacific
Coast, and the protection and extension of our
commerce with Eastern Asia. Our facilities
for larger participation in the trade Of the
East, by means of our recent settlements on
the shores Of the Pacific, are too obvious TO be
overlooked or dsregarded.
The questions in relation to rank in the ar
my aud navy, and relaiive rank between Off
GERS of the two branches of the service, presen-
ted to the Executive by certain resolutions of
the House of Representatives, at the last ses-
sion of congress, have been submitted to board
of officers in each branch of the service, and
their report may be expected AT an early day.
| also earnestly recommend the enactment of
law authorizing officers of the army and navy
TO be retired from the service, when lncompe-
tent for its vigorous and active duties, taking
care TO make suitable provision for those who
have faithfully served their country, and award
ing distinctions, by retaining IN appropriate com
mands those who have been particularly con
spicuous for gallantry and good conduct.-
While the obligation of the country 10 main
tain and honor those who, TO the exclusion OF
other pursuits, have devoted themselves to Its
ardnous service, this obligation should not be
permitted TO interfere with the efficiency OF the
service itself.
am gratiied in being able to state, that the
estimates of expenditure for the navy IN the
ensuing year are less, by more than one mil
lion of dollars, than those of the present, ex-
cepting the appropriation which may become
necessary for the construction Of dock on the
coast of the Pacific, propositions for which are
now being considered, and on which special
report may be expected early in your present
session.
There is an evident justness in the sugges-
tion 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 extraord-
ment, which, however important, are not essen
TALLY naval.
A revision of the code for The govercment Of
, the navy seems 10 require the immediate con-
sideration OF congress. Its system of crimes
and punishments had undergone no change fol
half century, until the last session. though its
defects have been often and ably pointed Out, ,ant
the obolition of particular species of corporal
| xx-hIr nj W
providing any substitute, has left the service ir
state of detectiveness, which calls for prompt
correction. l, therefore, recommend that the
whole subject be revised without delay, anC
such system established for the enforcement
of dicipline, as shall be at once humane and eff
fectual.
, The accompanying report of the Postmas
ter General, presents satisfactory view q
| the operation and condition of that Depart
ment
At the close of the last fiscal year, the length
f of the inland mail routes in the U. States, (no
! embracing the service in Oregon and Califor
nia) was I7S, ,672 miles; the annual Transports
, tion$2, ,724 ,426.
The increase of the annual transportation ovel
, that of the proceeding year, was 1897 1854
: miles, and the increase in cost was S342 ,44o.
The number of post offices in the U. States
f on the first day of July last, was lS,4l7, being
an increase of 1910 during the proceeding
J year.
| The gross revenues Of the department for the
fiscal wear ending June 30ih, 1850, amounted
, to S., ,552 ,97l AZ including the annual appro
priation of 5000 900 for the franked matter Of
the departments, and including the foreign
5 postaees collected for and payable TO the Brit
Y ish Government.
/ The expenditures for the some period were
$5,2l2 ,953 43-leaving balance of revenue
over expenditures of $340,OlS O5.
am happy to find that the fiscal Condition
of the department is such as TO justify the post
, master general in recommending the reduction
ofnland letter postage TO three cents the single
letter, when prepaid, and five cents when no
prepaid. He also recommends that the prepait
(, rate shall be reduced to two cents whenever III,
$ revenues of the department, after the reduction
shall exceed its expenditures by more than fy,
l per cent. for two consecutive years that the
postage upon California and other letters sen
: by our ocean steamers shall be much reduced
: and that the rates of postage OH newspapers
S pamphlets, periodicals, and other printed mat
e ter shall be modified, and some reduction there
on mace.
v 1t cannot be doubted that the proposed. re-
ductions, will for the present, diminish the rev
: ennes of the department. Ii is believed tlra
/, the deficiency, after the surplus already accu
mulated shall be exhausted, may be almos
. wholly met, either by abolishing the existing
: | nriviIeoes of sending free m1tters through tht