Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-12-10


~. As a large portion OF the remtorcements
sen, 10 the Mexican frontier were drawn from
the Pacific the military force now stationed there
is considered entirely inadequate to its defence.
It eaRnOi be increased however, without an in
crease of the army and | again recommend
that measure as Indispensable 10 the protection
Of the frontier.
invite your attention to the suggestions on
hs subject, and on Others connected with his
Department, in The report Of the Secretary OF
War.
Thu appropriations for the s1ppor. Of the ar
nv Dating The currerl fiscal year ending 30th |
June next, were reduced far below the estimate |
sabmAtel by the Department. The coase-
Queuce OF the redu1tsoI 3 considerable def |
csncy 10 which ffnvile your early ettenlion.
The expenditures Of that Department, for the
year Ell ling 3Jlh June last, were So 060, 26S SIS.
The estimates for ths year commencing lat July
next aul ending June 30, 1853 are 81 ,S9S,775
80; showing a reduction of 1851, 492 rs.
The Board OF Commissioners, TO whom The
/ management o! the Attire Of the Military AsY
lum GRATED BY the act Of 81 March last was
entrusted, have selected site for the establish
Iaent of an Asylum in the vicinity Of this city,
/ which has been approved by me, subjscl 10 The
| .pse luclIoa OF a satisfactory title.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy will
/ exhibit the coalition of the public service un.
deJ the supervision OF that Department. Our
naval force aAolt during the present wear has
! been actively aud usefully employed in giving
! protection TO our widely extepded and increasing
commerce and interest in the various quarters OF
/ the globe, and our flag has every where afforded
! the security and received the respect inspired
by the Justice and liberality OF our intercourse,
/ aad the dignily and power Of the nation.
The expedition commanded BY Lieutenant De
4 hal rCh IF Rrttf.
raander, Sir John franklin and his companions
in tbs Arctic Seas returned TO New York in the
month OF October, alter having undergone great
i p;rll AMI suffering from an unku0wn and Gan-
serols navigation and the rgors OF a northern
climate, without any satisfactory Information Of
i The object OF their search, but with new cortri
batious 10 science and navigation from The un-
treqaented polar regions. The officers and men
OF the expedition, having been all volunteers tor
this service, and having so condneled II as to
d In2el the entire appreciation OF the Government
J, is suggested as act of grace and generosity,
that the same allowances Of extra pay and emoI-
unen,s be extended to them that were made 10
,as officers and men of like rating in the la;e
exploring expedition to the South Seas,
earnestly recommend to your attention the
necessity OF recognizing the Naval Establish
ment, apportouing aud fixing the number OF
aiicsrs ia each grade, providing some mode oil
promotion 10 the higher grades Of the navy hay-
lag reference to merit aud capacity, rather than
seniority date OF entry into the service, and tor
retiring from the effective list upon reduced pay
i hose who may be incompetent TO the perform
auoe Of active duty. As measure OF economy
rs well Of efficiency in this OF the service
The provision last mentioned is emIneAtly worthy
/ Of your consideration.
1hs determination Of the question OF relative
rauk between the sea officers and civil officers
Of the navy, aud between officers of the army
and navy, in the various grades OF each, vii
olso merit your attention. The failure 10 pro-
vide and substitute, when corporal punishment
was abolished for offences in the navy, has oc
easioned the conVenne of numerous courlsmar
tial upon The arrival OF vessels IN port, aud l:
4 believed 10 lave had an injurious effect upon
the discipline and efficiency OF the service. IL
! moderate punishment from one grade 10 another
10 among the humane reforms OF The age; bu
10 abolish one Of severity, which applied SO ger
orally TO offences on ship-boar3, and provide
nothing in It's stead, is 10 suppose progress o.
- improvement in every individual among seamer
y which is not assumed by the Legislature IN re-
spect TO any other class OF men. II is hoped thai
Congress in the ample opportunity afforded 10y
the present session, will thoroughly investigate
this important subject, and establish such mode;
o. determining guilt and such gradatons oil pun
ishment as are consistent with humanity anc
The rights OF individuals, and at the same time
shall ensure the most energetic and etficlen
p riorInance Of duty and the suppression Of crim'
~ cor ships Of war.
Il The stone dock in the navy yarl al New York
which was ten years in process Of construction
has been so far flushed as 10 be surrendered uI
u the authorities OF the yaId. The dry dock a
Philadelphia is reported as completed, and 1.
expected soou to he tested aud delivered over tC
II IN agents of the Government That at Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, is also nearly ready to
delivery and contract has been concluded
agreeably to the act OF Congress at It's last ses
sion, for a floating sectional dock on the Bay o
San francisco. invite your attention 10 th'
recommendation of the Department touching tht
establishment oil navy yard in conjunction viii
this dock on the Pacific Such station is high
ly necessary to the convenience aud effectiveness
oi our feet in that ocean, which must be expect
"a ed 10 increase with the growth OF commerce
and the rapid extension OF our whale hlsherie
over its waters.
The Naval Academy al Annapolis, under re
II vsed and improved system of regulations, now
affords opportunities OF education ard instruction
10 the pupils quite equal, ii is believed, Tor pro
iessiona improvement, to those enjoyed by tht
cadets ia the Military Academy. A large clas
of acting midshipmen was received at the com
rnencement Of the last academic term, and
pracice-ship has been attached TO the iuettuoI
h afford the amplest means for regular instTuc
,ion ia seamanship, as well as for grasses durn:
The vacations oil three or four months in eacl
year
The advantages Of science in nautical affair
have rarely been more srikingly illustrated thai
in the fact stated in the report Of the Navy De
par,ment, that, by means of the wind and cur
rent charts, projected and prepared by Lieuten
ant Maury, the Superintendent Of The Nava
observatory, the passage from the Atlantic t
tae Pacific ports OF our country has been short
enej by about forty days.
The estimates tor the support Of the Nav
and Marine Corps the ensuing fiscal year will b
found to be SIS, $50 472 10, the estimates for IN
current year being So, 900,6 21.
The estimates for special objects under In
control Of this Department amount to So ,6S4,
$40 SO. against So 2l0 $50 for the present. year
be increase being occasioned by the additions
mali service on the Pacific coast and the con
slructiou CT the dock in California, authorized
al the last session OF Congress, and some Sigh
additions under the head OF improvements an'
= repairs in navy yards, buildings and machinery
/ eem it of much importance to a Just econ
omy. and n correct understanding OF naval ex
r. peudiiures, that there should be an entire sepa
ration of the appropriations for the support o
The naval service proper lfom those for peIma
to- IN ri