Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-12-07

commend also your favorable consideration the sugges-
ton contained in the last mentioned report and in the letter
Of the Chief relative to the establishment OF an
asylum for the relief Of disabled and destitute soldiers This
subject appeals strongly your synpahies that it would
be supefuous in say any thing than barely to ex
press my cordial appreciation Of the proposed object
The navy continues give protection to commerce
and other national interests 10 the different quarters OF the
globe, and, with the exception of single steamer the
Northern lakes the vessels in commission distributed in
six different squadrons.
The report Of the head Of that Department will exhibit the
services of these squadon and Of the several vessels
poyed in each during the past year Of graft
fcaon that while they have been constantly prepared for
any hostile emergency, they have every where met with the
respect and courtesy due well to the dignity to the
ful dispositions and just purposes Of the nation.
The two bngantnes accepted by the Government from
generous citizen Of New York, and placed under the
mand Of officer Of the navy, proceed to the Arctic
in quest Of the British commander, Sir John Franklin and
his companions in compliance with the act Of Congress- ap
proved in May last, had when last heard from, penetrated
into high northern latitude but the success Of this noble
and humane enterprise i yet uncertain. 4e.
ablshment and resources presented in the report n ts Seq
reary Of the Navy and the suggestions therein made for s
Improvement together with the naval policy 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
obvious to be overlooked or disregarded
The questions in relation rank in the army and navy
and relative rank between officers of the two branches Of the
service presented to the Executive by ceran resolutions Of
the House Of Representatives the last session OF Congress-
have been submitted to board of officers in each branch OF
the services and their may be expected at an early day.
also earnestly recommend the enactment Of law autho
rizng officers Of the army and navy to be retired from the
service when incompetent for its vigorous and active duties
taking make suitable provision for those who have
faithfully served their country, and awarding distinctions, BY
retaining appropriate commands those who have been
ticulay conspicuous for gaantry and good conduct While
the obligation Of the country maintain and honor those
who the exclusion Of other pursuits have devoted them
selves its arduous service is acknowledged this obligation
should not be permitted interfere with the efficiency Of the
service itself.
am grafed in being able to state that the estimates Of
expenditure for the navy in the ensuing year less by more
than one million of dollars than those of the present. except
ing the appropriation which may become necessary for the
construction of dock the Of the Pacific propositions
for which being considered and which special
report may be expected early in your present session.
There an evident ustness in the suggestion Of the
report that appropriations for the naval service proper should
be separated from those for fixed and objects such
building docks and navy yards and the fixtures atached
and from the extraordinary objects under the care Of the De-
pament which, however important not essentially naval
revision Of the code for the Of the navy
to require the immediate consideration Of Congress- GIts sys
tenn Of crimes and punhmens had undergone change for
half century until The last session. its defects have
been often and ably pointed out and the abolition Of pa
cular species Of corporal punishment which then took place.
without providing any substitute has left the service in state
of Effectiveness which calls for prompt correction there
fore recommend that the whole subject be revised without de-
y and such system established for the enforcement. Of dis
eipine shall be at once humane and effecual.
The accompanying report Of the Postmaster General pre-
sens satisfactory of the operations and condition Of
that Department. ;... at
AT the close Of the last fiscal year, the length Of the inland
mail routes in the United States not embracing the service
in Oregon and Caloa) hundred and seventy EIGHT
thousand six hundred and seventwo miles; the annual
transportation thereon foysx million FIVE hundred and forty
one thousand four hundred and twenty three miles and the
annual cost Of such transportation millions hundred
and twenty -four thousand four hundred and twenty dollars
The increase Of the annual transportation that Of the
preceding year, three millions nine hundred and ninety
seven thousand three hundred and -four miles, and the in
three hundred and oytwo thousand four
hundred and forty dollars.
The number of post Offices the United State on the first
day Of July last eighteen thousand four hundred and
seveneenbeng an Of sixteen hundred and seventy
during he preceding year.
The gross of the Department for the fiscal year
ending June 3Oth $780, amounted to five millions five hun
dred and fywo thousand nine hundred and seventy
dollars and forty eight cents including the annual appropra
ton Of hundred thousand dollars for the anked of
the Departments and excluding the foreign postages collected
for and payable to the British Government.
The expenditures for the period five millions
two hundred and twelve thousand nine hundred and
dollars and forythee cents-leaving balance of
expenditures Of three hundred and forty thousand and
eighteen dollars and FIVE cents.
am happy to find that the fiscal condition Of the Depart
is such Justify the Postmaster General
mendng the reduction Of inland letter postage to three
cents the single letter when prepaid and five cents when not
prepaid He also recommends that the prepaid shall be
reduced whenever the Of the Depart
ment after the reduction shall exceed its expenditures by
than five per for consecutive years. that the
postage upon California and other letters sent by
shall be much reduced and that the Of post
age newspapers pamphlets periodicals. and other printed
matter shall be modified, and reduction thereon made
be doubted that the proposed reductions will for
the present diminish the Of the Department It is
believed that the deficiency after the surplus already
muaed shall be exhausted, may be almost wholly met,
either by abolishng the existing privileges Of sending free
matter through the mails by paying out Of the Treasury
the Post Office Department equivalent to the post
age Of which it is deprived by such privileges The last
supposed be the preferable mode, and will if entirely,