Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-10


portion of the reinforcements sent to the
Mexican frontier were drawn from the
Pacific, the military force now stationed
there is considered entirely inadequate to
its defence. 1t cannot be increased, how
ever, without an increase of the army /;
and again recommend that measure as
indispensable to the protection of the
| frontier. -..5r. =
invite your attention to the suggestions on this
subject, and on others connected with his Depart
ment, in the report of the Secretary of War.
The appropriations for the support of the army
during the current fiscal year ending SOth June
next, were reduced far below the estimate submit
ted by the Department. The consequence of this
reduction is q considerable deficiency, to which
invite your early attention.
The expenditures of that Department, for the
year ending Both June last, were S9,060,26s So.
The estimates for the year commencing lst July
next and ending June 3O,1S53 are $7,Ss8,775 49,;
showing reduction of 81, 161, 492 70.
! The Board of Commissionors, to whom the man
agement of the affairs of the Military Asylum
ated by the act of Sd March last entrusted,
have selected a site for the establishment of an
Asylum in the vicinity of city, which has been
approved by me, subject to the production Of a
satisfactory title
The report of the Secretary of the Navy will ex-
hibit the condition ofthe public service under the
supervision of that Department. Our naval force
ahoat during the present year has been actively
and usefuIly employed in giving protection to our
widely extended and increasing commerce and
interests in the various quarters of the globe, and
our flag has everywhere afforded the seccrity and
received the respect inspired by the justice aid
| Df iYta
power of the nation.
The expedition commanded by Lieutenant De
Haven, despatched in search of the British COM
mander, Sir John Franklin, and his companions
in the Arctic Seas, returned to New York in the
month of October, after bor.i,,.--,-l-~ -
peril and suffets changed-a beautiful VII
gerous navigaear the spot of our confer
climate withoe grass of the church-yard is
the objects of The grave of the old hunter.
tons to science is fixed upon my mind and
quentod pol"9amel, only burns deeper the
the oNpoditiSsion 1t comes up before me
servive, anS 1l-- ~e9 80 ey..,.i l~~onn whose
the entire appreciation of the Government, it is
suggested, an act of grace and generosity, that
the same allowances of extra pay and emoluments
be extended to them that made to the Off
GERS and men of like rating in the late exploring
expedition to the South Seas.
earnestly recommend to your atten-
ton the necessity of recognizing the
Naval Establishment, apportioning and
fixing the number of officers in each
grade, providing some mode of promo
ton to the higher grades of the navy,
having reference to merit and capacity,
rather than seniority or date of entry into
the service, and for retiring from the eff
] &, IL WI ~
may be incompetent to the performance
of active duty. AS measure of econo-
my as well as of efficiency in this arm of
the service, the provision last mentioned
is eminently worthy of your considera-
| ton.
The determination of the questions of
relative rank between the sea officers and
civil officers of the navy, and between
officers of the army and navy, in the
various grades of each, will also merit
your attention. The failure to provide
any substitute, when corporal punishment
was abolished for offences in the navy,
has occasioned the converting of numer-
Gus court-martial upon the arrival of YES
sells in port, and is believed to have had
an injurious effect upon the discipline and
efficiency of the service. To moderate
punishment from one grade to another is
among the humane reforms of the age ;
but to abolish one of severity. which APP
piled SO generally to offences on ship
board, and provide nothing in its stead
is to suppose progress of improvement
in every individual among seamen which
i is not assumed by the Legislature in re-
spect to any other class of men. 1t is
hoped that Congress, in the ample OPP
portunity afforded by the present session,
will thoroughly investigate this important
subject, and established such modes of
determining guilt, and such gradations
of punishment as are consistent with hui
mainly and the personal rights of indi-
viduals, and at the same time shall ensure
the most energetic and efficient perfor-
nance of duty and the suppression of
crime in our ships of war
The stone dock in the navy yard at
New York, which was ten years in pro-
cess of construction, has been so far fin
ishcd as to be surrendered up to the au
thorities of the yard The dry dock at
Philadelphia is reported as completed,
and is expected soon to be tested and de-
livcred over to the agents of the Govern
mcnt. That at Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire, is also nearly ready for delivery !;
and contract has been concluded, ,
agreeably to the act eff Congress at its
last session, for floating sectional dock
on the Bay of San Francisco. l invite
your attention to the recommendation of
the Department, touching the establish
ment of a navy yard in conjunction with
this dock on the Pacific Such station
is highly necessary to the convenience
and effectiveness ofour fleet in that ocean
which must be expected to increase with
! the Growth. Of commerce. and the randi