Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-12-14

inItl,auph forming a large proportion o.
The army IL represented as entirely ina'ie'
ouate to our " protection and tue iui'
hll,nent of our treRty etipu|atiols WIZ
Mexico. The principal deficiency is III
cavalry, and | recommend that ool'gtee'
should, Mt aa enfly a period as pfactlraoie'
provide Cor the raising OF one OF thofe
regiments of mounted mcih
For further suggestions OH this SUBJECT
md others connected with our dohlps'le
Interests. aud the defence Of our frontier, !
refer YOU to the report Of the Secretary oI
the Interior and Of the Secretary ot war
commend also to your favorable coil'
s,dcration the suggestion contained III TUG
last mentioned report. aud ia the letter @
tie ecneral.in.chief. relative to the esla',.
lshtnent of an asylum for the rel'et 81
diaat,ed and destitute soldiers. This SUD
ihet appeals so strongly TO your sympathies
that il would be snperIlnots III me 10 say
any thing more, than barely to express
my cordial appreciation OF the proposed
object.
The navy continues to give protection
"a Our commerce and other hatlohai
interests in the different quarters OF tue
pl,lr, and, witt, the exception OF a single
steamer on the Northern lakes, the vessels
in commission are distributed ia six d'i'er'
eut sauadrons,
The rcls,rt Of the head Of that Depart
nent ,yill ~rvlil,it The services oi these
p~aundrons, aud OF the several vessels en-
ployed IN each during the past year, 1t
IL n Source Of qualification that. while they
have been constantly prepared for any
hostile emergency, they have every where
met with the respect and courtesy, due IA
well to the dignity as to the peaceful DIS
positions and just purposes OF The nation
The tive brigantines accepted by The
Government from a generous citizen OF
New York, and placed Under the command
of nh officer of the navy to proceed TO the
Arctic seas in quest of the British CON-
manler, Sir John Franklin, and his com.
wntnns, IN compliance with the act OF
Congress, approved in May last, had, when
last heard from, penetrated into a high
northern latitude but the success OF this
noble aud humane enterprise Is yet un.
certain
| invite your attention to tho view Of
our present naval establishment and re.
sources presented in the report, Of the
Secretary ofthe Navy, and the suggestions
therein made for its improvement, together
with the naval policy recommended for
The security Of our Pacific Coast, and the
protection aud extension of our commence
...t.l -1 t-.. Il,u E,vktltt,.p Etp "a
larger participation IN tue trade OF the
East, by means of our recent settlements
on the shores otthe Pacific, are too Obvious
to he overlooked or disregardcd.
The questions in relation TO rank in the
army and navy, aud relative rank between
officers of the two branches OF the service,
presented to the Executive by certain
resolutions of the House of Representa-.
,ivcs, nj tho last session of Congress, have
beeu submitted TO q board Of officers IN
each branch of the service, aud their re.
port may be expected at an early day.
| also recommend the enactment of a
law authorizing officers of the army and
navy to be retired from the service, when
incompetent for its active md vigorous
duties, taking care to make suitable
provisions for those who have faith.
fully served their country, aud award.
iuE distinctions. Ivy retaining III appropti.
ate commands those who have been par
ticutarly conspicuous for gallantry aud
good conduct. While the obligation of
tic country 10 maintain and honor those
who, to the exclusion 81 other pursuits
have devoted themselves 10 its aranous
service, tins obligation should not be per-
mitted To interfere with the efficiency OF
the service itself.
4 am gratiiied Mt lcing able TO state,
that the estimates OF expenditures tor the
navy IN the ensuing year are less, by more
lhau one million OF dollars, than those OF
she present, excepting the appropriation
which may become necessary Tor the con
struetion of a dock on the coast of the
Pacific, propositions for which are now
being considered, aud on which a special
repor, may be expected earlyi in your pres.
eat session,
There is an evident business in the sug.
postion of the same report, that appropri-
atoms for the naval service proper should
be separated from those for fixed aud per-
manent objects, such as building docks
md navy yards, and the fixtures attached
aud from the extraordinary objects under
the care of the Department which, how.
ever important, are not essentially naval.
A revision of the code for the govern.
ment of the navy seems TO require the i'm
- Asoa. @,..st ,pA+ t>,, .,f fN,Nss TEe
system OF crimes aud pnnishneuts had
undergone no change for half d century,
until the last session, though its detects
have been often and ably pointed out, and
the abolition of u particular species of
corporal punishment; which then took
place, without providing any substitute, !;
has left the service in . state of detective
hess, which calls for prompt correction.
recommend that the whole sub
jcct be reviewed without delay, and such i
q system established for the enforcement Of |
discipline. as shal! be atsonce humane and I
c.icctual. 4
The accompanying report of the Post {
General presents a satisfactory
Of the operations aud condition of {
that Department. j
AT the close of the last fiscal year, the |
of the inland mail routes in the I
United States mot embracing the service
Oregon and California; was one hun !
ired and seyenty-eiglt thousand six hum d
ired aud seyenty-two miles: the annual |
transportation thereon forty-six million
i've hundred and forty-one thousand four I
hundred anlstwenty-three miles. and the ;
cos Of such transportation two
seven hundred and twenty-fonr ,
thousand four hundred and ~twenty-six :
| ailars