Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-12-23

y -Iif I
as national in its character. But
work ks which have been commenced
should Tot be discontinued unit
completed, as otherwise the sums
exp ended will, in most cases be lost
The report from the Navy De-
part ment will inform you of the
prosperous condition Of the branch
of the public service committed to
its charge. It presents to your con-
side ration many topics and suggesI
tions Of which / ask your approval.
1t exhibits an unusua 1 degree of ac-
tiyity in the operations Of the De
Ipartment during The asst year. Yhe
preparations for the Japan expedi-
ton, to which / have already alluded;
the arrangements made for the explo-
rati Jon and SUI vey of the China Seas,
the Northern Pacific, and Bherlng s
Straits; the in cipient n Measures taken
towards retdnnoissan ce Of the con-
tinent of Africa eastwd rd of Liberia;
the preparation for an early exami-
nation ii the tributarib s Of the Riy-
er La Plata, which re cent decree OF
the provincial chief Of fhe Argentine
Confederation has opened to naviga-
ton; all, these enterprises, and the
means BY which they are proposed
to be accomplished, have commanded
my full approx baton, and l have no
doubt will be productive of most use
ful 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 valu-
able account Of the character and re-
of country Astounding in
the materials of commerce, and
which, if opened to tile ind ustry Of
the world, will prove In infxhau sti-
Bile fund of wealth. The Ieport of
this explosion will be comm unioa ted
to y ou as soon as it is comp leted.
Among other subjects o fered to
your notice by the Sedretary of he
Nav y, select for special common da-
ton, in view of its c4nnexion with
the interests Of the Nhvy, the plan
subln itted by him for the establish b
men t of a permanent corps of sea-
men, and the Suggestions he has pr e.
sented fbr the reorganization Of the
Nav Rl Acade my.
Lib reference to tflellirst of these,
[ take occasion to say that | think
it will greatly improve the efficiency
Of the service, and t at regard it
rs sill more entitled tp favor for the
salq tary influence it must exert upon
the naval discipline, now greatly dis
turbe by the inc easing spirit of in !
# esulting from our
present syste m. The plan proposed
or the organization Of he seamen
urnis shes a judicious sub titute for
he hE of Septerh ber, 1850, abolish
ng corporal puh ishm lent. and salts
actorily sustains the policy of that
lct, under conditi ons " ell adapted to
main tain the auth ority Of command
md the order and sd curity Of our
hips tits belle we'd that any change
which proposes p8rman ently to dis I
'ense with this IN ode of punishment,
houll be prece ded by system Of
Mist ment which shal Il supply the
avy with seamen of the most rleri-
orioqs class, who Sc good department.
nd pride of char;s eter may preclude
Il oct asion for a resort to penal ties
f a harsh or degrading nature.
The safety of ship and her c rev
often dependant upon immedl ato {
b dience to a command, and The /
u hority to enforce it must be eq4al- {
: ready. The arrest Of a refractory l
canaan, in such moments, not ONLY /
epriVes the ship of indispensable AID, c
at imposes a necessity for dou bic i
,fvice on others whose fidelity to n
leir duties may be relied upon in t
lth an emergency. The exposure t
this increased and arduous labor f;
dee the passage fthe act of 1850, S
lF already had to most observable c
ID ini urious extent, the effd let of a
evening the enlistment Of the t
st seamen in the navy The plan u
Nv suggested is designed to pro- il
ote d condition of service in which t
is objection viii nj longer exist 81
De details Of this plan may be es- fl
blished in great phrt, if not, alto f.
,ther, by the Exec htive, under the
lthorfty Of existing laws; but | u
ought in accordan ce with the sug- n
.stion of the Secretary of the Ma ci