Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-12-16

OF the army during the current iiscal
year ending Both June next, were
reduced far below the estimate sub
mitted by the Department. The con-
+ Sequence Of this reduction is a con-
siderable deficiency, to which | invite
your early attention .
The expenditures of that Depart
ment for the year ending Both June
last, we're IS9,060,26B 3d. The es-
tim ate for the year commencing lst
July next and ending June 80, 1888,
are S7,S98,775 SO; showing a re-
du4tion of S1,16l,402 -.
Ene Beard of Commissioners, to
wa m the management Of the affairs
of the hlilitary Asylum created by
thd act 5f Sd March last Was entrust-
ed have selected site for the estab-
lis lment of any Asylum in the vicin-
iti Of this city, which has been APP
prbved by me, subject to the produc-
tid ID Of satisfactory title.
The report Of the Secretary Of the
N Ivy will exhibit the co ndition of
tht public service under the super
wisdom Of That Department. Our ma
val force anoat during the present
ye4r las been actively and usefully
employed in giving protection to our
Wi ely extended and increasing COM
M Zee and interests in the various
qaI rters of tie globe, and our flag
has everywhere afforded the security
and received the respect inspired by
the justice and hberality Of our in-
terd purse, and the dignity and power
Of 1 ne nation.
rhe expedition commanded by
Lie htdnant De Haven, despatched in
sea- ch Of the British commander, Sir
JON b franklin, and his companions,
in le Arctic Seas, returned to New
York in the month of October, after
having undergone great peril and suf-
feri lg from an unknown and danger
Gus navigation and the rig8rs of a
northern climate, without any salts
fact bry information of the object Of
thei r search, but with new cpntribu-
ton 5 to science and navigation from
the unfrequented polar regions. Ihe
officers and men of the expedition,
having been all volunteers for this s r-
vice, aid having 50 conducted it as to
meet the entire appreciation Of the
Government, it is suggested, as an
act Of grace and generosity, that the
same allowance of extra pay and
emoluInents be extended to them
that " ere made to the officers and
men of like rating in the late explor-
ing expedition to the South Seas.
/ earnestly recommend to your at
tention the necessity Of reorganizing
the Naval Establishment, apportion-
ing and fixing the number Of officers
in each grade, providing some mode
of promotion to the higher grades OF
tie navy, having reference to merit
and capacity, rather than seniority or
date 81 entry into the service, and
for retiring from the effective list upon
reduced pay those who may be incom-
petent 10 the performance of active
duty. AS a nleasdreof economy as
well as of efficiency III this arm Of the
service, the provision last mentioh bed
is eminently worthy Of your con I'D
Grafton.
The determination of the questi ons
of relative rank between the sea OIL
GERS and civil officers Of the navy, and
between officers Of the army and ma
w, in the various grades OF each, will
also merit your attention. The fail
ule to provide any substitute, when
corporal punishment was abolished,
for Of. noes III tlenavy, has accustomed
the conyening of numerous courts
martial upon the arrival Of vessels in
port. and is believed to have had an
Injurious effect upon the discipline
aud efficiency Of the service. 10
moderate punishment from one grade
to another, is among the humane re-
forms of the age, but to abolish one
ofseyerity, which applied 50 generally
TO offences on ship-board, and provide
nothing in its stead, is to suppose a
progress of improvement in every In
d;yidnal among Iseamen which is not
assumed by the Legislature in respect
to aiiy other class Of men 1t is
horef that Congress, in the ample
opportunity afforded by the present
session, viii thoroughly investigate
this important subject, and establish
such modes of determining guilt, and
such graaations of punishment, as
are consistent With humanity and the
nersnnal riqhts of individuals, and al