Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-12-06
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS A1D FARMERS REPOSITORY

For further suggestions % this subject and Diners
connected with domestic Interests, and me ae-
War.
. commend also 10 your favorable consideration
ne suggestion contained il Inc last mentioned re-
PORT and IN The letter 81 the generalin-cAief Ts.a
ve 70 ne estahlishms0tof an asylum for me fssh
e. disabled and destitute soldiers This sufleet az
peass 50 strongly % your symPalhies thatK wouiu
rs slpernu0us n me % say any thing mofe, -
rarely 2 express my cordial appreciation q ne pso
posed object
be navy continues @ give protection 70 oRlI co..l.
EaeIee and other national interests in The dineIeh
quarters Of the globe, and, with the exception Of
single steamer on The Northern lakes the vessels II
commission distributed in six diHerents
The report II the head Of thai Department VIII
exhibit the services eflhese sqaadfons, and q Us
several vessels employed 10 each during lne 10.
year Y IS source Of qualification thai, while lhet
have been constantly prepared for any hostile emer
senaysshey have every where ~ with me Iss1ss
and courtesy due a. well 10 Is dignity as % me
peaceful dispositions and iast Purposes 81 me ha-
lion.
ment from generous citizen OF New ork, anu
placed under The command Of an officer u 1se nss
TO proceed TO The Arctic seas in qaestot the btl.s
commander, Sir John Franklin, aud his com pa a
ions in compliance with the ACT Of Con
ed in May last, had when last heard RON peae'i =
4cN tHtg q -AtEA HOEtleIl 4Nkttt-ee
of this noble aud bnmaN llerplise IS ye' uheei-
tain.
Invite your attention 10 the view OF our pIesen'
naval establishment and resources Pfeseate ln .ne
report OF the Secretary OF The Navy, anu ING su6
gesons therein made for lis improvement, toSetnef
yyitb The naval pogicy recommended for the security
of our Pacific coast and the protection ard exteh-
sion OF our commerce With Eastern Asia.
Our facilities for a larger participation ID the
trade of the East BY means OF our recent setleeuts
On the shores of the Pacing. are toe OBVIOUS Y
overlooked or dlsregarted.
The question Ii relation to rank in the army and
navy and relative rank between officers o. me Two
branches of the service, presented 70 me EXECUTIVE
by certain resolutions oi the House Of Representa-
ives at the last session OF Congress have neen sup
milied 10 boar Of officers 10 each bfaneh p ne
service and their Tepor may be expected AZ an ear
" day.
| also earnestly recommend the enactment Of q
law authorisng officers Of the army and navy 70 pe
retired from lie service, when incompetent tor rs
vigorous and active duties, taking care 70 make
suitable proyisLn for those who have. laithluiiy
served their country and awarding distinctions by
retaining in appropriate comm ands those who have
been particularly conspicuous fol SallanlFy and
good conduct.
Whfle the otagalion OF the country to maintain
and honor those who 10 the exclusion OF other pur
suits have devoted themselves 10 It's arduous ser
vice this obligation should mol be permitted 10 IN
,erfere with the efficiency of service itself.
am gfatiied in being able TO STATE that the esti-
mates OF expenditure Tor thenavy 10 the ensuing
year are less tK more than dhe mutton oi dollars
than hose OF the present excepting me apPropfla
ton which ma feeome necessary lor lHe eohsIuc-
ton Of dock IN the of the Pacific, PROPOSE
tons for which are now beidg considered. and on
which specitt report maybe expected early 10
your present session.
There is an evident business in the suggestion Of
the same report that appropriations lor the nava
ats6f from
fixed and permanent objects, such as building docks
and navy yards and the fixtures attached and from
the extraordinary objects under the care OF the De
partmcnt, which, however important. are not essen
tally naval
revision Of The code for The government Of the
navy seems 10 require the immediate consideration
OF Congress. Iissystem crimes and punishment
had undergone no change for half century, unit
the last session. though its defects have been otter
and ably pointed out, and the abolition OF partie
.ular species of corporal punishment, which ther
took place without providing any substitute ha,
Jeff The service in a state of effectiveness, which
calls for prompt correction.
Therefore recommend that the whole subject b;
revised without delay, and such system establish
ed for the enforcement Of discipline as shall be a
once humane and effectual
The accompanying report of the Postmaster Gen
eral presents satisfactory view Of the operations
and condition Of that Department
At the close Of the last fiscal year. the length b
braeinS lie service ii iYraio51f al .
one hunar,i ana sev8ntr 7:t1 ,ho,,.art It - Z
Jrc4 4 tsi,.! ss5ut tiousaiil 81 nun
1870 ,horo ri sne
$50 Ut ~ A AhA,ion Tvs huahIeu dne
ioi,y -ole lhousdhe louf huhurea ana twenty 'hfet
, dna e a1tlual ~ u such
80, M 81 t "a nuIu -. qua twenty louf shoa
sa ~ IoeI huhtsieu anu tWehiy-sN do!iafs-
ne " me annual transportation oVe
h, ,"'G WE l.ee Ills
"a 81 e tllo!isdutl 'til ee atnul s
anu NY -iouI ltes, aho ing increase ID cost va
WI u1 81 dlo lSt'9 -t"o llousdhh loui huhares
D III - , = - 81
- - @ "a III INC chl'ea STATES
y, !. uy ias., was elSnseeal Thousand
tixtaa bnn5raG ma q,
So si'iu 'eN guy ms Tug tieeeeils
S rs ,.,oss r,,.o,,,,a. r i. j, i.
snin - VI ao.l ne 1.a ~ ,ue Y
millions fve h3ndraJ AMI b,ssu u Fl
b,ndrnd ad ona ia M 80 IN
ents ;ncInJing tha aru ~
bin,lred 1boxSna doiiars ~ ~ ~
H. I,rt,,, nJ asa1i4 ~ q =: y :
itaiaS a. ~ ,.ie ~ 1ssn pos's
Az " So g. u ~. ~ iii . y " 8
millions two hundred and Twelve lhonsand min,
hundred, and fitiy-three dollars and forty tbrr,
.cents-leaving a balance of revenue oyer expendi
tares Of three hundred and forty thousand ana cigh
teen dollars and five Cents,
| am happy To find that IT,. fiscal condition of III,
Department. is such as to Justify the Postmaste
General 10 recommending HE reduction Of our ID
land letter postage 10 three cents the single lette
when prepaid and FIVE cents when not prepaid. h
He also recommends that The prepaid rate shall
be reduced % two cents whichever the revenues y
tRe Department. after the reductions shall exeeec
IS expenditures by more Than iFe per cent for twt
consecutive YEARS mat the Postage upon Gallior
ma and other letters sent BY our ocean steamers
shan DC much reduced; andthat the rates of pos
tage on newspapers, Pamphlets, periodicals, AMI
oiher printed matter shall be modified, and some
f Is ~ s .h IS il nlaast
III; ~ ~ Is s,aa IN proposed reductions