The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-07

The report from the Navy Department will inform
you Of the prosperous condition Of the branch Of the
public service committed to its charge. IL presents
to your consideration many topics and suggestions
sual degree activity In the operations Of the Depart
ment during the past year. The preparations for the
Japan expedition, to which have already alluded
the arrangements made for the ploration and survey
of the China Seas, the Northern Pacific, and Beh-
rings Straits; the incipent measures taken towards
reconnaissance Of tho continent Of Africa, east
ward of Liberia; the preparation for an early
animation of the tributaries Of the River La Plata,
which q recent decree of the provisional chief Of
the Argentine Confederation has opened to navi
cation; 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 country Astounding
in the materials Of commerce, and which, if opened
to the industry of the world, will prove mex
haustible fund of wealth The report of this explo
ration will be communicated to you soon as it is
completed.
Among other subjects offered to your notice by
the Secretary Of the Navy, select for special com
mendation, in view Of its connection with the in
tere'ts Of the navy the plan submitted by him for
the establishment Of permanent corps Of soamen,
and the suggestions he has presented for the re-
organization Of the Naval Academy.
In reference to the first of these, take occasion
to Fay that think it will greatly improve the eff
cheney Of the service, and that regard it as still
more entitled to favor for the salutary influence it
must exert upon the naval discipline, now greatly
disturbed by the increasing spirit of insub0rdina-
ton, resulting from our present system. The plan
proposed for the organization of the seamen furn-
ishes judicious substitute for the law of Septem
Der, 1880, abolishiDg corporal punishment and sa-
tisfactorily sustains policy Of that act, under
conditions well adapted to maintain the authori-
our ships Il is believed that t.. any change
which proposes permanently to dispense with
this mode of punishment, should be preceded
by system Of enlistment which shall supply
the navy with seamen Of the most meritorious
class, whose good department and pride of cha
racter may preclude all occasion for q resort
to penalties of q harsh or degrading nature. The
safety of ship and her crew is often dependant
upon immediate ebeden,e to q command, and the
authority to enforce it must be equally ready. The
arrest Of q 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 DO relied upon in
such an emergency. The exposure to this increased
and aIduous labor since the passage Of the act Of
1850, has already had, to q NEST observable and
INJURIOUS extent the effect Of preventing the enlist
now suggested is designed to promote q condition
Of service in which this objection ill no longer
exist. The details of this plan may be established
under the authority of existing laws; but have
thought it proper, in accordance with the sugges-
ton OF the Secretary of the Navy, to submit it to
your approval
the navy, or boys to be enlisted until they become
of age, and to be employed under such regulation
as the Navy Department may devise, as proposed in
the report: cordially approve and commend to your
consideration; and also concur in the suggestion
that this system for the early training of seamen
may be most usefuly eDgrafted upon the service Of
our merchant marine.
The other proposition of the report to which have
referred-the re. organization Of the Naval Acade-
my recommend to your attention rs project
worthy OF your encouragement and support. The
valuable services already rendered by this instiu-
ton entite it to the continuance of your fostering
care.
Your attention is respectfully called to the report
OF the Postmaster General, for the detailed opera
ton of his department during tho last fiscal year.
from which It will be seen that the receipts from
hostages for that time were less by 81 43 696 than
for the preceding fiscal year, being decrease Of
about twenty three per cent
This diminuticn is attributable to the reduction
in the rates of postage made by the act Of March B.
1851, which reduction took effect at the commence
mept of the last fiscal year.
Although in its operation during the last year the
act referred to has not fulfilled the predictions of it's
friends by increasing the correspondence OF the
country in proportion to the reduction Of postage
should nevertheless question the policy Of returning
to higher rates. Experience warrants the expects.
ten that as the community becomes accustomed to
cheap postage. correspondence will increase II ia
believed that from this cause and from the rapid
growth OF the country in population and business,
the receipts OF the Department must ultimately ex-
coed its expenses, aud that the country may safely
rely upon the continuance Of the present cheap rate
Of postage.
In former messages have, among other things
respectfully recommended to the consideration Of
Congress the propriey and necessity Of further egs
lation for the protection and punishment of foreign
ncYiIc
certain notifications, the act of 10th March, 1888,
to restrain unlawful military expeditions against the
inhabitants of contermnous states or territories for
the preservation and protection from mutilation or
theft OF the papeIe, records, and archives of the
nation for authorizing the surplus revenue to be
applied to the payment Of the public debt in adj
vance Of the time when it will become due for the
establishment of land Offices Tor the sale Of the public
the construction Of road from the Mississippi val
ley to the Pacific ocean; for the establishment of
bureau Of agriculture for the prome.isn of that
interest perhaps the most important to the counry
applications for pensions and bounty lands; for the
establishment of uniform fee bill, prescribing
specific compensation for every service required of
clerks, district attorneys, and marshals; for au.
thor1zng an additional regiment of mounted men,
for the defence of frontiers against the Indians
and for fulfilling our treaty stipulations with
Mexico to defend her citizens against the Indians
with equal diligence and energy as our own;''
for determining. the relative rank between the
naval and civil officers in our public ships,
and between the officers of the army and navy
in the various grades of each; for rcorganiz
ing the naval establishment by fixing tho num-
Der OF ofiicers in each grade, and providing
for retired list upon reduced pay of those unfit for
active duty; for prescribing and regulating punish
ments in the navy; for the appointment Of COM
mission to revise the public statutes Of the United
States, by arranging them in order, supplying dea-
cisncies, correcting incongruties, simplifying their
language, and reporting them to Congress for its
final action; and for the establish ment Of commits
sion to adudicate and settle private claims anst
the United States. am not aware, however, that
any of these subjects have been finally acted upon
by Congress. Without repeating the reasons for
legislation on these subjects which have been as
signed in former messages, respectfully recommend
them again to ysur favorable consideration
think it due to the several Executive Depart
ments of this government to bear testimony to
tho efficiency ard integrity with which they are
conducted With all the careful superntend-
ence which il is possblc for the heads of those dc.