The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-12-10
,aecrupon the discipline and eAiciency Of

from one grade to another is among tn
humane reforms Of the age; but 10 abolis|
one Of severity, which applied SO general
Iys tosofences on ship.board, and provide
nothing in its stead, is'to suppose a pro
gress Of improvement in every individual
among seamen which is not assumed BY
the. Legislature in respect to any othel
class Of men. IL shipped that Congress
in the ample opportunity afforded by the
present session. will thoroughly investigate
this important subject. and establish such
modes Of determining guilt. and such gra.
dations Of punishment as are consisten,
with humanity and the personal rights Of
individuals. and al The same time shall en-.
sure the most energetic and efficient per.
formance Of, duty and the suppression Of
crime in our ships of war. RI Erea(
The stone rdock in the navy yard at New York,
which was ten years in process of construction
has been 50 IA, flushed as to be surrendered up to
the authorities of the yard. The dry dock al
Philadelphia is reported as completed, and ia ex-
pected soon to he tested and delivered over 10 the
agents Of the Government. That at Portsmouth,
New Hampshire, is also nearly ready for delivery.
and a contract has been concluded. agreesbly 20
the act Of Congress at its last session. for a floating
sectional pck on the Bay of San Francisco, |
invite your attention to the recommendation of
the Department. touching the establishment of a
navy yard in conjunction with this dock on the
Pacific. Such station is highly necessary TO the
convenience and effectiveness of our fleet in that
ocean, which must be expected 10 increase with
the growth # commerce., and the rapid extension
ol our whale fisheries over lis waters.
The Navy Academy at Annapolis, under a re-
viaed and improved system Of regulations, now
affords opportunities of education and instruction
20 the pupils quite equal, it is believed, for pro.
~fessionsl Improvement, to those enjoyed by the
cadets in the Military Academy. a large class
Of acting midshiplmen was. received at the COM
mencement Of the last academic term, and a prac-
tice.ship has hesn attached TO the institution, to
affutd The amplest means for regular instruction in
seamanship, as well rs for cruises during the va.
cations Of three or four months in each year.
The advantages of science in national affairs
have rarely been more strikingly illustrated than
III the fact stated in the report OF the Navy De.
partment, that, by means Of the wind aud cur.
rent charts, projected and prepared by Lieut..
Maury, the superintendent Of the Naval Observa.
tory, the passage from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
p,rts OF our country has been shortened by about
forty days
The estimates for the support of the navy and
marine corps the ensuing fiscal year will I've found
TO be IS 1856 .572 10. the estimates for the current
year being IS 900. 62I.
The stimates for special objects under the con-
troll Of this Department amount 10 81, 654 ,220 SO
against 81, 2lO $3.50 for the present year, the in
crease being occasioned by the additional mail SER
vice on the Pacific coast aud the construction of
the docks in California, authorized at the last ses.
zion Of Congress, and some slight additions under
dhe head Of improvements and repairs in navy
yards. buildings and machinery.
9 fdeem Il Of much Importance To a just econo-
nv. asd = correct understanding of naval expen.
ditures, thst there should he an entire separation
Of the appropriations for the support of the naval
service proper f,om those for permanent improve.
tnents at navy yards and stations; and from ocean
steam matt service, aud other special objects as.
signed to the supervision of this Department.
a The report of the Postmaster General, herewith
communicated, presents an interesting view Of the
progress. operations. aud condition Of his Depart.
meat. Ms sA - Il
At the close Of the last fiscal yysAr, the length Of
mail routes within the United States was 1856 200
miles; The annual trspsportatioa thereon SO. 272. 1852
miles: and the annual cost of such transportation
81, 42l ,75+, q
The length Of the toyeign mail routes is est,ma.
ted stl8,s49 Abes; a,d The annual transportation
thereon st 6l5 ,2D6 miles The annual cost of this
setxice u Sl.472 1877, of which $448 1897 is paid
BY the Post Office Department, aud 81 1923 $50 is
paid through The Navy Department
The annual transpOrtion tcifhin the United
Stxtes Excluding the service IN California and Or.
eg"n, which ia aow for the dr.t time, reported aud
embraced ia thr tabular statements nf the Depart.
ment.) exceeds that of tue preceding year 6,l62..
855 miles, a! an increased cost Of $5i7,ll0
The whole number Of post Offices in the United
St,t.s. on the 3Orh day Of list, was 10 796
There were l ,69S post offices established. aud 256
discontinued during the year.
The gross revenues of the Department for the
fiscal year. including the appr"pri, tions for the
franked matte, Of Congress, Of the Departments,
and officers Of Government, aud excluding the for
eign ~postages, collected for and payable to the Bri.
ush post Office. amounted to sc, 727, S66 7S.
The expenditures for the same period (exciud.
ing $40 500 40, paid under an award of the Audi.
tor, 10 pursuance of a resolution OF the last Con.
eress, for IN Ill service on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers, IN 1882 aud 1888, and the aInou,t paid TO
the British post office Tor foreign hostages, collect
ed for add pay able to that ofice J amounted Ia S.
o24 ,566 70; leaving a balance Of revenue over the
proper expenditures of the year of S703 299 80.
The receipts for hostages dn,ing the year lex.
GLIDING the foreign postagrs collected for and pay
stde to the British post Office amounted to &C..
C9OsffS Il, beiuS MI Hitftdst VI roJt w 10. Ut
1865. 100 per cent over the like receipts for the
preceding year. egs...ia
The reduction Of postage, under tho act OF
March last, did not take effect until the ~
ment Of the present fiscal year. The accounts for
the first q,arter, under the operation Of tile reduc.
ed rates. will not be settled before January next.
sid no reliable estimate of the receipts for the pre-.
seut year eau y It be made. Ills beIieved. howev.
es, that they will fall tar short of those of the last
yea. The surplus Of the revenues now on hand
is, however, So Jorge that no further appropriation
from che tres.ury, in aid of the revenues Of the
department. l. sequired Tor the current fiscal year;
but an additional appropriation tor ti,e year ealing
June 30, 1858, will probably be found necessary
when the receipts Of the first two quarters of ihe
fiscal year are fully sscertained.
In bis last annual report. the Postmaster Gener.
81 Recommended a reduction of postage TO rates
which he deemed a. low Ms could he prndently a.
dopted, unless Congress was prepared to appropri.
ate from the treasury, for the support OF the De-
pMtmsnt. sum more than equivalent to the mail
services performed by it for the government. The
recommendations OF the Postmaster General. in re-
spect 10 letter potage, except on letters TO aud