Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-12-16

ance OF The continent OF AlFfca, eastward OF LII
IBERIA the preparation for early examination
of the tributaries OF the River La Plata, which
recent decree of the provisional Chief OF the Ar
gentine Confederation has opened 10 naFIgtion -
all these enterprises and the means by which they
are proposed to be accomplished, have command
ed my full appreciation. and ! have no doubt Will
be productive OF most useful results.
Two officers OF the Navy were heretofore IN
structed 10 explore the whole extent Of the ANA
zon river from the confines OF Peru TO It's mouth.
The returns of one of them has placed in the pos
session OF the Government an interesting and val
liable account OF the character and resources Of
a country Astounding in materials OF commerce
and which, if opened to the industry OF the world
viii prove an iuexhaustible fund OF wealth. The
report Of this exploration will be communicated
TO You as soon as il Is completed.
Among other subjects offered 10 your notice by
the Secretary of the Navy | select for special
commentator. in view OF It's connexion with the
interests of the Navy, the plan submitted by him
for the establishment OF permanent corps OF sea
men, and the suggestions he has presented for the
reorganization of the Naval Academy.
In reference to the first of these | take occasion
to say that think il will greatly improve the eff
hciency 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 great
y disturbed by the increasing spirit of insubordi-
nation, resulting from our present system.
The plan proposed for the organization of the
seamen furnishes judicious substitute for the law
OF September, 1880 abolishng capital punish
ment. and satisfactorily susans the policy Of that
act, under competitions well adapted to maintain the
authority of command and theorder and security
Of our ships. 1t is believed that any change
which proposes permanently to dispose with this
mode OF punishment, should be proceeded by
system of enlistment which shall supply the navy
with seamen of the most meritorious class, whose
good department and pride of character may pre-
clude all occasion for a resort % penalties of a
harsh degraded nature.
The safety of a ship and her crew is often de-
pendent upon IMMEDIATE obedience to \ command
and the authority to enforce II must be equally
ready The arrest Of a refractory seaman, in such
moments, not only depriyes the ship OF Iudispen-
sable aud, but imposes a necessity for double ser
vice on others whose fidelity 10 their duties may
be relied on IN such an emergency. Ire expo,
sure to this increased and arduous labor since the
passage Of the act of $50. has already had TO a
most observable and injurious extent the effect OF
preventing the enlistment Of the best seamen in
the navy. The plan now suggested is designed
TO promote condition OF service In whihc this OBJ
lection will no longer exist. The details OF this
plan may be established in great part. II not alto
gether by the executive, under the authority of
existing laws, but | have thought proper, in ac-
cOTtalce with the suggestion OF the Secretary of
The establishment cf corps of apprentices for
the navy. boys to be enlisted until they become
OF age, and 10 be employed under such regula
tons as the Navy Department may devise, as pro-
posed in the report, / cordially approve and com
mend TO your consideration; and | also concur
IN the suggestion that this system for the early
traI ling of selnen may be most usetulIy eugrait-
ed upon the service OF our merchant marine
The other proposition OF the report 10 which !
have reeTred-the reorganization of the Naval
Academy recommend to your attention as
project worthy OF your encourag cement and sup
port The valuable services already rendered by
this institution entities 1t to the continuance OF
your fostering care
Your attention is respectfully called TO tie re-
port of the Post Master General 70 the detailed
operations of his Department during the last fiscal
year, from whicIst viii be seen that the receipts
from postage for that time were less by SI,43I,-
GOO than for the preceding fiscal year being a
decrease af about . per cent.
This elimination is attributable to the re-
duction in the rates of postage made by the
act of March 3, 1851, which reduction took
elect at the commencement Of the last fiscal
year.
Although In It's operation during the last
year the act referred to has not fulfilled the
predictions of its friends by increasing the
correspondence of the country In proportion
to the reduction of postage, | should never
theless question the policy Of returning to
higher rates. Experience warrants the eX-
pectation that as the community becomes ac-
customed to cheap postage, correspondence
will increase. 1t is believed that from this
cause, and from the rapid growth of the coun-
try in population and business. the receipts
of the Department must ultimately exceed its
expenses, and that the country may safely re-
ly upon the continuance Of the present cheap
rate Of postage.
In former messages / have, among other
things, respectfully recommended to the con-
sIderation of Congress the proprety and ne
cessity of further legislation for the protec-
ton and punishment Of foreign cOnsuls resid-
ing in the United States to revive with GER
tain notifications the act Of 10Th March, Is
3S, to restrain unlawful military expeditions
against the inhabitants Of conterminous States
or territories; for the preservation and pro-
lection from mutilation or theft of the papers.
records, and archives of the nation for au-
thorizing the surplus revenue to be applied
to the payment Of the public debt in advance
of the time when it will become due, for the
establishment of land offices Cor the sale Of
the public lands in California and the Terri
tory of Oregon; for the construction of a
road from the Mississippi valley to the Pacif-
ic ocean; for the establishment of bureau
Of agriculture for the promotion of that inter
est, perhaps the most important in the coun-
try; for the prevention of frauds upon the
Government in applications for pensions and
bounty lands; for the establishment of a uni
form fee bill, prescribing specific compen-
satlon for every service required of clerks,
district attorneys, and marshals; for author
izing an additional regiment of mounted men,
for the defence of our frontiers against the
Indians, and for fulfilling our treaty stipula-
tons with Mexico to defend her citizens
against the Indians "with equal diligence
and energy as our own; - for determining the
relltlve rank between the naval and civil Of
fcers In our public ships, and between the
officers Of the Army and Navy in the various
grades of each; for recognizing the naval es-
tablishment by fixing the number Of officers
in each grade, and providing for a retired list
upon reduced pay of those unfit for active du-
~; for prescribing and regulating punish
ments IN the navy for the appointment of a
commission TO revise the public statutes Of
the United States, by arranging them in order.
supplying deficiencies, correcting inconprui-
ties EImutIfVIuU their lanut,aoa 49,,