Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

Establishment of navy yard in conjunction with this dock
on the Pacific Such station is highly necessary to the
convenience and effectiveness of our feet that ocean,
which be expected increase with the growth OF
commerce. and the rapid extension of whale fisheries
over its waters.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis under revised and
improved system Of regulations affords 0pPortuni-
ties and instruction to the pupils quite equal
1t is believed for professional improvement to those
loved by the cadets in the Military Academy large
class of acting midshpmen received at the commence
rnent the academic term, and practice ship has
been attached institution to afford the ampest
for regular instruction in seamanship well for
cruises during the vacations OF three or four months In
each year.
The advantages of science nautical affairs have rare
ly been kngy illustrated than in the fact stated
in the report the Navy Department that by of
the wind and current charts projected and prepared by
Lieut. Maury the Superintendent of the Naval Observa
tory the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific ports of
country has been shortened by about forty days
The estimates for the support of the Navy and Ma
rine Corps the ensuing fiscal win be found to be
SIS 86 the estimates for the current year being
3d. ,621.
The estimates special objects under the control this
Department amount to ~ 684 SO, against $50
for present year. the increase being occasoned by the
additional mail service the Pacific coast and the
sruction of the dock in California authorized the last
session Of Congress- and some slight additions under the
head of improvements and repairs in navy yards build
ings and machinery.
deem it of much Importance to Just economy, and
correct understanding of naval expenditures that there
should entire separation of the appropriations for
the support Of the naval service proper from those for
permanent improvements navy yards and stations and
from steammai service and other special objects
assigned to the supervision Of his Department.
The report Of the Postmaster General, herewith
unicated presents interesting view Of the progress
operations, and condition of his Department
routes within the United states was $is5 mics
annual transportation thereon 252 niles and the
annual cost of such transportation $3, All, 754.
The length of the foreign mail routes is estimated at
18349 miles and the annual transportation thereon at
5,2O6 miles. The annual cost of this service is
Or L.. ~o.I Al Do,kn
Department and ST. 023, $50 is paid through the Navy
Department
The annual transportation ,rihm the United States
Excluding the service in California and Oregon which is
now for the first time, reported and embraced in the
bular statements of the Department. exceeds that of the
preceding year 6,l62855 miles, at increased cost Of
$547, 10.
The whole number of post Offices in the United States
on the Both day of June last 1896 There were
1888 post Offices established and 256 discontinued during
the year.
The gross of the Department for the fiscal
year. including the appropriations for the fanked matter
Of Congress, Of the Departments and officers Of Govern
ent and excluding the foreign hostages collected for
and payable to the British post Office, amounted to
1921, 86678
The expenditures for the same period excluding
800 500 49, paid under award Of the Auditor in pur-
suance resolution of the last Congress- mail
vice the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in 1882 and 1885,
and the amount paid to the British post office for foreign
hostages collected for and payable to that oce amounted
to $500 566.79 leaving balance of the
proper expenditures Of the year Of $7Os, 29s.9 80.
The receipts for hostages during the year Excluding
the foreign hostages collected for and payable to the
British post ofce amounted to $6345, 1871; being
increase of 1897 61079 18.651OO per cent the
like receipts for the preceding year.
The reduction OF postage under the of March last
did not take effect until the present
fiscal year The accounts for the first quarter under the
operation of the reduced rates. will be settled before
January next and reliable estimate of the receipts for
the year yet be made is believed howev-
that they will fall far short of those the year.
The surplus Of the revenues hand u.s. however
aid of the of the Department required
current fiscal year but additional appropriation for
the year ending June 80 1853 will probably be found
cessary when the receipts Of the first quarters of
fiscal year are fully ascertained.
In his last annual report the Postmaster General recon-
mended reduction of postage to which he deemed
as low could be prudenty adopted, unless Congress
prepared to appropriate from the Treasury the
support of the Department, than equivuicnt
to the mail services performed by it for the Government
The recommendations of the Postmaster General in
spect letter postage except letters from Cali
fornia and Oregon substantially adopted by the last
Congress- He recommends adherence to the present
letter rates. and advises against further reduction until
justified by the revenue of the Department..
He also recommends that the of postage on print
ed matter be 50 revised as to render them simple
and more uniform in their operation upon oil classes Of
printed matter submit the recommendations of the
port to your favorable consideration.
The public statutes Of the United States have now been
accommodating for more than sixty years. and nterspersed
acts scattered through Volumes
and from the cost of the WHOLE have become almost
accessible 70 great mass OF community They
exhibit much of the ncongruy and mperection of hasy
legislation As it to be generally conceded that
there is common law of the United States to supply
the defects Of their legislation is most important that
that legislation should be perfect as possibe defining
every power intended to be conferred every intend
ed to be made punishable and prescribing punishment
to be inflicted. In addition to particular cases
spoken of more at length the whole criminal code now
lamentably defective Some offences are imperfecty de-
scribed and others entirely omitted that fragrant
crimes may be committed with impunity The scale of
punishment is not in oil graduated according to the
degree and nature of the offence often rendered
unequal by the different modes of imprisonment
penitentiary confinement, in the different States.
Many laws OF permanent character have been intro
duced into appropriation bills and it is often difficult
determine whether the particular clause expires with the
temporary act Of which it is part continues in force
has also frequently happened that and pro-
visions OF law have been introduced into bills, with the
title general subject which they have little or no con
nexon relation In this mode Of legislation so many
enactments have been heaped upon each other and
with but little consideration, that in many instances it il
difficult to search out and determine what is the law
The Government of the United States is emphacally
Government of written laws The statutes should there
FORE far practicable only be made accessible tc
all but be expressed in language SO plain and simple az
to be understood by ALL and arranged in such method
to give perpcuity to every subject Many Of the States
have revised their public acts with great manifest be
neht and recommend that provision be made by law
the appointment of commission to revise the public sta
tutes OF the United States arranging them ORDER
plying deficiencies, correcting ncongruities, simplifying
their language and reporting them to Congress for til
action.
An act of Congress- approved 30th of September 1850
for NJ 10