Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-12-15

J. by a system of enlistment which shall sup
J ply the navy with seamen of the most me-
4 ritorious class. whose good Department and
pride Of character may preclude all occa.
sion for a resort to penalties of harsh or
! degrading nature. The Safety of a shin
and her crew is often dependant upon inn.
mediate obedience to command, and the
authority To enforce it must be equally
ready The arrest of a refractory sea-
man IN such moments, not only, depriyes
the ship of indispensable aid, but imposes
"a necessity for double service on others,
whose fidelity to their duties may be reli-
ed upon In such an emergency. The ex-
posure to this increased and arduous la
Dor. since the passage of the act of 1850.
has already had, to a most observable
and injurious extent. the effect of proven
ting the enlistment of the best seamen in
the navy. The plan now suggested is
designed to promote a condition of service
in which this objection will no longer ex-
ist. The details of this plan may be es-
tablished in great part, if not altogether,
by the executive under the authority of
existing laws: but have thought it pro
per. in accordance with the suggestion of
the Secretary of the Navy. to submit it to
your approval.
The establishment of a corps of ap
prentices for the navy, or boys TO be en-.
listed until they become of age. and to be
employed under such regulations as the
Navy Department may devise, as propo-
sed in the report. cordially approve and
commend to your consideration and
also concur in the suggestion that this sys-
tenn, for the early training of seamen.
may be most usefully engrafted upon the
service of our merchant marine.
The other proposition of the report to
which Ihave referred-the re-orraniza
ton of the Naval Academy recon-
mend to your attention a project worthy of
your encouragement and support. The
valuable services already rendered by
this institution entitle it to the continu-
ance of your fostering care.
Y our attention is respectfully called to
the report of the Postmaster General. for
the detailed operation of his Department
during the last fiscal year, from which it
will be seen that the receipts from hostages
were less, by ST.. 431 .696. than for the
proceeding fiscal year, being decrease
of about 23 per cent.
This diminution is attributable to the
reduction in rates of postage made by the
act of March 8. 1851. which took effect
at the commencement of the last fiscal
year.
Although in its operation during the
last year the act referred to has not fulfil
ed the prediction of its friends by in
creaslng the correspondence of the coun-
try IN proportion to the reduction of post
age, l should nevertheless question the
policy of returning to higher rates. Ex-
perience warrants the expectation that,
as the community becomes accustomed
to cheap postage. correspondence will in
crease. 1t is believed that, from this
cause, and from the rapid growth of the
country in population and business, the
receipts OF the Department must ultimate
ly exceed its expenses, and that the coun-
try may safely rely upon the continuance
OF the present cheap rate of postage.
In former messages | have among
other shings, recommended to the consid-
Grafton of Congress the propriety and ne
cessity of further legislation for the pro-
lection punishment of foreign consuls
residing in the United States; to revive
with certain notifications the act of 10th
March, 1888, to restrain unlawful military
expeditions against the inhabitants of
conter11inous States or territories; for the
preservation and protection from mutila-
ton or theft of papers, records. and arch
ives of the nation; for authorizing the
surplus revenue to be applied to the pay
ment of the public debt in advance OF the
time when it become due; for the estab-
lishment of land offices for 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
Pacific ocean; for the establishment of a
bureau of agriculture for the promotion of
that interest, perhaps the most important
in the country for the prevention offrauds
upon The Government in applications for
pensions and bounty lands; for the estab-
Iishment of uniform fee bill, prescribing
specific compensation for every service
required of clerks. district attorneys, and
marshals; for authorizing an additional
regiment of mounted men, for The defence
of our 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 offers
in our public ships, anil between the officers
of the Army and Navy in the various
grades ofeach; for recognizing the naval
establishment by fixing the number of
officers on each grade. and providing { o
a retired list upon reduced pay of those
unfit for active duty, for prescribing and
regulating punishments in the navy; for
the appointment of commission 10 re-
wise the public statutes of the United
States, by arranging them in order. sup:
plying deficiencies, correcting incongrui-
ties, simplifying their Language, and re
porting them to Congress for its final ac
! ton; and for the establishment of COM