Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-07


occasionally numbering the inhabitants or
carrying them into captivity. The green
roads leading into the country ars infested
with them, whereby travelling is rendered
extremely dangerous, and immigration is
almost entirely arrested
ne Mexican frontier, which, by the ] lih
article OF The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
we are bound TO protect against the Indians
within our border, is exposed 10 these incur
SONS equally with our own. The military
iorce stationed in that country talhoush for,
mlng'a large proportion of The army) is rep |
resented entirely inadequate 10 our own pro-
lection and the iullilment of our treaty stipn- |
lations with Mexico, The principal deficien-
cy is In cavalry, and ! recommend tha, Con- |
gIess should, al as early period as practical !
Bile, provide for the raising of one or more re-
gimeuts OF mounted men.
For further suggestions on this subject. and
others connected with our domestic interests,
and the defence Of our frontier, refer you TO
the Secretary of the Interior and of the Sec
reiary of War.
| command also 10 your favorable consider
alton the suggestion contained in the last
mentioned report, and in the letter Of the
general-n-chief, relative to the es.a ablishment
OF an asylum for the relief of disa bled and
destitute soldiers. This subject appeals SO
strongly 10 your sympalhies that il would be
superi1uous in me 10 say anything more, than
barely 10 express my cordial appreciation Of
the proposed object.
The navy continues 10 give protection 10
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 co nmission are
distributed in six different squadrons.
The report of the head of that Department
will exhibit the service of these squadrons.
and of the several vessels employed in each
during the past year. 1t is a source of graft.
hcalion that, while they bave been constant
ly prepared for auy hostile emergency. they
have everywhere met with the respect and
courtesy, due as well 10 the dignity as to the
peaceful dispositions and just purposes of the
| nation.
The two hrgantines accepted by the Gov
eminent from 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 sue
cess of this noble and humane enterprise is
yet uncertain.
| invite your attention 10 the view of our
present naval establishment and resources
presented in the report of the Secretary of
the Navy, and the Suggestions therein made
for its improvement, together with the naval
policy recommended for the secnriiy of our
Pacific Coast, and the protection and exien-
sion OF our commerce with Eastern Asia.
Our facilities for larger participation in the
trade OF the East, by means of our recent set
Elements on the shores of the Pacific, are TOO
abvious to be overlooked or dsregarded.
The questions in relation TO rank in the
army and navy, and relative rank between
officers of the two branches of the service,
presented to the Executive by certain reso-
lutlons OF the House of Representatives, at
the last session of Congress, have been sub
mitted to board of officers in each branch
of the service, and their report may be ex-
ecuted at an early day.
I also earnestly recommend the enact
ment of law authorizing officers ofthe ar.
my and navy to be retired from the service
when incompetent for its vigorous and ac.
tive duties, taking care to make suitable
provision for those who have faithfully ser.
we'd their country, and awarding distinction
by retaining in propriate commands those
who have been particularly conspicuous fol
gallantry and good conduct. While the
obligation of the country to maintain anc
honor those who, to the exclusion OF Other
pursuits, have devoted themselves to its ar
duouS 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 Tor the navy il
the ensuing year are less, by more than ont
million OF dollars, than those of the present
excepting the appropriation which may
become necessary for the construction of {
dock on the coast OF the Pacific, proposition.
for which are now being considered, anc
on which special report may be expected
early in your present session.
There is an evident justness in the sug
t gestion of the same report, that appropria
tions for the naval service proper shoulc
be separated from those for fixed and per
manent objects, such as building docks anc
navy yards, and the fixtures attached ant
from the extraordinary objects under thr
| care of the Department, which, howeve
important, are not essentially naval.
A revision of the code for the govern
ment of the navy seem TO require the i'm
mediate consideration of Congress. 1t
system of crimes and punishments had un
, dergone no change for half century, unit
the last session, and the abolition of par
ticular species OF corporal punishment, which
then took place, without providing any sub
stitute, has left the service in state of de-
: fectiveness which calls for prompt correc
ton.
] therefore recommend that the Who'll,
subject be revised without delay, and suct
a system established for the enforcement o
5 discipline as shall be at once humane anc
efectual.
The accompanying report of the Postmas
ter General presents satisfactory view o
+ the operations and condition of that De
/ partment.
. AT the close Of the last fiscal year tht
! length OF the inland mail routes in the Uni
ted States mot embracing the service in Or
egon and California, was one hundred an,