The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-03


Of the price it renders the extremes Of iuctuation
more remote from each other nv per centage on
the range equal to the rate Of the duty If the
huctuation abroad be $50 70 500 the range is of
course $50 A specific duty Il SO would leave
the range still $50. But 81 an Al vslcrem of 80
per cent the hishcS, pojni voull be S65, and the
lowest $50 making range q $50. On every &C
count strongly recommend $ return TO the sys-
ten II specific duties on all articles 10 which they
can Be conveniently applied.
On those articles on which an al vslorem
duty j. retained rec ,mmeud that il be levied on
the market value in the principal markets Of our
own country st the time of arrival. 1t would be
essier to ascertain at ports such market value
than il is to ascertain what was that of foreign
country at past time.
The Secretary proceeds to show that the
Warehousing System has not been beneficial
TO tie business of the country, and the result
shows a heavy expense upon the Treasury.
! The operations and Inconvenience Of the Sub
/ Treasury are spoken Of and to alleviate some OF
/ the latter it is rccommcBied-
/ lsI That any person having a draft on an As
sisant Treasurer be permitted to deposte his draft
with the Assistant Treasurer, and draw for the
amount from time 10 time in such sums as be may
desire upon his own orders. payable to any per-
= s,n oy persons: provided that the whole ononnnt
Of the draft should be actually drawn within q
short period. say two weeks after the deposte of
the draft.
a That any dshuring officer having draft
on an Assistant Treasurer should he permitte to
ieyo>itc such draft snd draw for the amount in
like manner provided, that each order should be
presented for Jayren' within two weeks Of er its
date These provisions would. il is believed eff
feciualiv prevent the checks or orders being used
as currency.
modification Of the coastipg trade and in
terror commerce OF the country is recommended,
by reason Of the changes that have taken place in
the character, magnitude, and medium Of that
trade.
The Secretary also speaks of our Marine Hos
pitals shows that appropriations by Congress,
heretofore small are inadequate, and asks for
means sufficient 10 provide for the sick and dis2-
blei seamen in all the ports o. the Union.
Also. The establishment Of branch Of the Mint
Of the United States at San Francisco Next, the
erection of lighthouses on head lands, and bea-
con lights and buoys to Conduct vessels into the
principal ports and harhOrs Add third the es-
taLli,hment Of a Marie I3eei'tg1
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The home SQUADRON. under the command Of
Commodore Parker consists IF the flag ship, two
sloors of war. two steamers, and one schooner
These vessels have been actively employed among
the West India Islands, in the Gulf OF Mckee,
and along the Atlantic coast.
The squadron On the Pacific coast, under COM
mand Of Commodore Jones. consists Of the flag
ship one frgatc, six soops of war, two store ships
and one steamer. The race Independence Com
modore Shubrick, and The slOop Of war Dale, have
returned the former taken out OF commission, anu
the latter placed in ordinary. Commodore Jones
reports the crews greatly reduced by desertions
End the expiration Of service Establishments inn
possible. with the gold temptation, and the mer-
chant service paying from SIS 10 $50 per month,
while the navy pay is ouly from 10 to ~ per
month
The SQUADRON in the Mediterranean, under the
command Of Commodore Morgan, consists of the
flag ship. three frig6tes one steamer, ore sloop
of war. and one store ship-this force being
larger than at any previous period of our history
cxcep, during the TriPolitan war
The steamer Princeton has been condemned
The schooner Fancy has been assigned to the
service of the Navy Department. in pcrfectine
the discoveries made by Lieut.. Meury. in the
course of his investigations OF the winds and cur
rents Of the ocean
The death Of Commodore Bolton, in command
of the Mediterranean squadron. on the *2i OF
February, devolyed the command upon Captain
Gwinn: his reports show that the vessels were
actively employed to prevent enharrassments
with hcligcrout Powers Our commerce has been
fully protected. and friendly intercourse has not
hcen Interrupted Commodore Morgan subse-
Gucntlv took command. and Captain Gwinn died
on the Ith of September The reports from Com
modore Mory n are highly satisfactory.
The g,ul,irun on the tOi-f Of Brazil under the
command Of Commodore StcrCr, consists Of the
flag ship and one sloop # war. store ship will
sail in a few days; and it being designed TO IN
crc1sc the force on tint STATION, the sioop Of war
John Adam-. Commander Powell. sailed for that
purpose but afterwards. from necessity. was trans
lerrcd TO the coast OF Africa to relieve The De-
cltur, returning in consequence OF the bad health
Of the crew and general expiration of their
term of service The squadron has been actively
employed in the suppression Of the save-trade,
and the pro ecion Of American commerce.
The squadron on the coast Of Africa, under
the command Of Commodore Gregory, consists of
the flag ship, sloop of war; two other sloops of
war, and three blrgcs.
The squadron in the China seas, under the
command of Commodore Gesinger consists OF
the flag ship, sloop of war, and one brig This
small force has been eminently useful In extend
ing information, cultivating friendly relations,
aud affording protection TO American scaneh'
recent despatch from Com tore Geisinger states
the discovery of coal in abundance on the island
of F0rmOsa.
Under the act of March 1910, eight steamers
purchased during the Mexican war. were trans
ferred to the Navy Department, which, with the
execution of two the Massachusetts, and Edith,
were ordered to he sold. The Edith has been
since wrecked and lost on the coast Of California.
Lieutenant Davis has been selected, under the
act of March 81 1919, to prepare the Nautical
Almanac for publication The work is progress
ing with all the rapidlty consistent with the accu
rae and precision required.
Practical experiments fer the test of the cleo
tro-magnetic power, M mechanical agent, au-
thorzed by the same act, have been intrust'd TO
Professor Charles &. Page
The observations recommended by the Ameri-
can Philosophical Society and the Academy OF
Arts and Sciences, will be made by Lieut.. Gilliss,
M Santiago in Chill, u whom the necessary in
struments are now on their way
-Thrce steamers under he contract for the Pom
ANA and Oregon line. are actively employed IN the
service required by the law, but no reports have
been made to the Department.
The Department il Informed that the contract
ors for the Liverpool line Of 1--WE steamships are
making exprtions 10 complete their vessels by the
time simulated. and the first il expected TO be
ready 10 sail in January the second hy the first
of March ana two more by the first of August,
1850
The contractors for the New Orleans and Cha
gres line have reported hut one steamship ia"
Ohio. ready for service.
A contract of assignment has been made from
the original contractor TO others, and difficulties
have arisen fetwecD ih6se parties wnltn nave led
to 81 hwssri;, nov pending in tle courts "a New
York This litigation, il is thought, may ulti.
ma,ely cndsngtr the fulilmcnt Of the contract.
tnrtber the Lazy is represented to be inirfniIe in
relation to the duties Of the passed miishirmcn
on hoard these vessels; il is therefore suggested
that Congress regulate the whole subject by some
hisIinrt nd nnruliNnnll lrgislntinn