The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-15

rivers and harbors. and it il believed that
the arrangements made for that purpose
will combine efficiency with Eeconomy.
Owing chiefly to the advanced season
when the act was passed, little has yet
been done in regard to many Of the works
beyond making the necessary preparations.
With respect to a few Of the Improvements,
the sums already appropriated will suffice
to complete them, but most of them will
require additional appropriations. trust
that these appropriations will be made, and
that this wise and beniicent policy, SO
auspiciously resumed, will be continued.
Great care should be taken, however, to
commerce no work which is not Of sufir
cient importance to the commerce Of the
country to be viewed a. national in its
character. But works which have been
commenced should not be discontinued
until completed, as otherwise the sums
expended will, in most cases, be lost.
The report from the Navy Department
will inform you Of the prosperous condition
Of the branch Of the public service commit
ted to its charge. It presents to your con.
sideration many topics and suggestions Of
which | ask ysur approval. 1t exhibits an
unusual degree Of activity in the operations
Of the Department during the past year.
The preparations forthe Japan expedition,
to which I have already alluded; the ar.
.rangements made for the exploration and
survey of the China Seas, the Northern
Pacific, and Behring's Straits; the incipi.
ent measures taken towards a reconnoi.
sance ofthe continent Of Africa, eastward
of Liberia; the preparations for an early
examination Of the tributaries Of the River
La Plata, which 4 recent decree OF tho
provisional chief Of the Argentine Confede.
ration has opened to navigation; all these
enterprises, and the means by which they
are proposed to be accomplished, have
commanded my full appreciation and |
have no doubt will be productive Of most
useful results.
Two officers Of the navy were heretofore
instructed to explore the whole extent Of
the Amazon river from the confines Of
Peru to its mouth. The return Of one Of
them has placed in the possession Of the
Government an interesting and valuable
account Of the character and resources Of
a country Astounding in the materials of
commerce. and which, if opened to the in
dustry Of the world. will prove an mex
haustibls fund Of wealth. The report Of
this exploration will be communicated to
you as soon as completed
Among other subjects offered to your
notice by the Secretary ofths Navy. Sc
lect for special commentator. in view Of
its connection with the interests Of the navy,
the plan submitted by him for the estab.
lishment Of a permanent corps Of seamen.
and the suggestion he has presented for
the reorganization Of the Naval Academy.
In reference to the frs, of these. take
occasion to say that | think it will greatly
improve the efficiency Of the service, and
that | regard it as still moro entitled to ia.
vor for the salutary influence it must exert
upon the naval discipline, now greatly
disturbed by the increasing spirit Of insu.
bordination, resulting from our present
system. The plan proposed for the or
ganiza,ion ofthe seamen furnishes a judi.
cious substitute for the law Of S%eptembsr,
1850, abolishing corporal punishment, and
satisfactorily s~ustains the policy Of that act,
under conditions we'll adapted to maintain
the authority Of command and the order
and security Of our ships. 1t is believed
that any change which proposes perma.
nently to dispense this mode Of punishment,
should be preceded by a system Of enlist.
ment which shall supply the navy with
seamsn Of the most meritorious class,
whose good department and pride Of char.
actsr may preclude all occasion for arssort
to penalties of q harsh or degrading nature.
The safety Of a ship and her crew is often
dependent upon the immediate obedience
to a command, and the authority to en-.
force it must be equally ready. The arrest
Of a refractory seaman, in such moments.
not only deprives the ship Of indispensable
aid, but imposes a necessity for double
service on others whose fidelity to their
duties may be relied upon in such an EN-.
srgency. The exposure to this increased
and arduous labor, since the passage Of
the act Of 1850, has already had. to a most
observable and injurious extent, the effect
Of preventing the enlistment Of tho best
seamsn in the navy. The plan now sug.
gested is designed to promote a condition
Of service in which this objection will no
longer exist. The details Of this plan may
be established in great part. If not altoge.
thor, by the Executive, under the authority
ofexisting LAVISH ] have thought it proper,
in accordance with the suggestion Of the
Sscrstary OF the Navy, to submit it to your
approval.
The establishment Of a corps Of appren
tees for the navy, or boys to be enlisted
until they become Of age, and to be en-
ployed under such regulations as the Ma.
Wy Department may devise, as proposed
in the report cordially approve and com.
mend to your consideration; and I also
ooncur in the suvosstion that thie svstenn