The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-08


heI borders, subject of course to her ownership
ana eventual jurisdiction. If she should fail te
oc ms eie Iulhment of our treaty stipulations
WIN WIN mexico, and our duty to the Indians them
seses, VIII 1t Is feared, become subject of Sc
rlous embarrassment to the Government II ia
hoped hoWeAer, that timely and inst nrovis;on Inv
Texas may avert thia evil
No appropriations for Notifications were made
OF the last session of Congress- The cause of its
omission, is; Propably to be found in growing
belief that the system OF Notifications adopted in
1916. and heretofore acted upon, requires a reyis-
ion.
The subject certainly deserves full and careful
investigations; but it should not be delayed longer
than it can be avoided. In the meantime there
are certain works which have been commenced
some of them nearly completed-designed TO pro-
tect our principal seaports from Boston to New
OIleans, and few other important points. In
regard to the necessity for these works, it is be-
ieved that little difference exists among military
men. l therefore recommend that the appropria-
tions, necessary to prosecute them be immediate
ly made.
l invite your sttention to the remarks on this
subject and on others connected with his Depart
ment. contained in the accompanying report Of
the Secretary of War.
Measures have been taken to carry into effect
the law of the last session, making provisions
for the improvement of certain rivers and harbors
and it is believed that the arrangements made for
that purpose will combine efficiency with econo-
my. Owing chiefly to the edvanced season when
the act passed, little has yet been done in re-
gars to many of the works, beyond making the
necessary preparations. With respect to a few
of the Improvements, the sums already appropri-
ated will suffice to complste them, but most of
them will require additional appropriations. 1
trust that these appropriations will be made, and
that this wise and benefcent policy SO auspicious
ly resumed, will be continued.
Great care should be taken however, to COM
mence no work which is not of sufficient import
ance to the commerce of the country to be view-
ed as national in its character. But works which
have been commenced should not be discontinued
until completed, otherwise the sums expended
must be lost.
In reference to the first of these, take ecca-
sion to say that I think it will greatly improve
the efficiency of the service, that l regard it
still more entitled to favor for the salutary infiu
ence it must exert upon the naval discipline, now
greatly disturbed by the increasing insuburdina-
ton resulting from our present system, The
| plan proposed for the organization of the seamen
furnishes judcious substitute for the law of Sep
tember, 1850, abolishng corporcal punishment,
and satisfactorily sustains the policy of that act
under conditions well adapted to maintain the au-
thority of command and the order and security Of
| oCF Ships 1t is believed that 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 mertorious class, whose good
department and pride of character may preclude
all occasion or a resort of penalties of degrad-
ing character. The safety of the ship and her
crew is often dependent upon immediate obe-
dience to command, and the authority TO enforce
it must be equally ready.
The arrest of refractory seaman, on sach mo-
nents, not only deprives the ship of indspensa-~
blr aid but imposes necessity for double service
on others whose fidelity to their duties may be
lied upon in such an emergency. The exposure
to this increased and arduous labor, since the pase
sage of the act of 1850, has already had, to
, most observable and injurious extent, the effect
! of preventing the enlistment of the best seamen
in the Navy. The plan now suggested, is de-
signed to promote condition of service in which
this objection will no longer exist. The details
of this plan may be established in great part, if
not altogether, by the Executive under the author
jty of existing laws but have thought it proper
in accordance with the suggestion of the Secre--
tary Of the Navy, to submit it to your approval.
= The report from the Navy DepartmentwiN iE-
form you of the prosperous condition of the braI ca
3 of the public service committed to its charge
1t presents to your consideration many tepics and
suggestions of which ask your approval. It
exhibits an unusual degree of activity in the ope
tons of the Department during the past yceF.--
The preparations for the Japan expedition, 10
which have already alluded, the arrangements
made for the explorations and survey of the China
Seas, the Northern Pacific, and Behring' Straits
the incipient measures taken towards recOnnois-
= sance of the continent of Africa eastward of IL
i IBERIA; the preparation for an early examination
of the tributaries of the River La Plata, which a
recent decree of the provisional chief of the Ar
. gentine Confederation has opened to navigation;
= all these enterprises, and the means by which
. they proposed to be accomplished, have COM
# manded my full appreciation, and have no doubt
: will be productive of the most usefal results.
Two officers of the navy were heretofore in
# structed to explore the whole extent of the Anna
# river from the confines of Peru to its mouth.
nj of has nj in fha Ilne-
a session of the Government Interesting and
4 valuable account of the character and resources
# of country abounding in the materials of COM
% merce, and which, fopened to the industry of the
V world, will prove ineXhaustble fund of wealth.
q The report of this exploration Will be communi-
Gated to you soon as it is completed.
Among other subjects offered to your notice by
J. the Secretary of the Navy, select for special
II commentator, in view of its connection with the
: interests of the navy the plan submitted by him
v for the establishment of permanent corps of sea-
men, and the suggestions he presented for the
! Naval Academy.
V The establishment of corps of apprentice 8
for the navy boys to be enlisted until they be-
N come of age, and be employed under such navy
,s regulations as the Navy Department may devise,
proposed in the report, cordially approve and
e commend to your consideration, and also concur
in the suggestion that this system for the early
training OF seamen may be most rsefully engraft-
n ed upon the service of our merchant marine.
Is The other proposition of the report to which
3, have referred-the reorganization of the Naval
Is Academy recommend to your attention as q
e project worthy your encouragement and support
70 The valuable services already rendured by this
institution entitled it the continuance of your
e fostering care.
ut Your attention is respectfully called to the re.
port of the Postmaster General for the detailed
is operation of his Department during the fiscal
l. year. from which it will be that the receipts
h for postages for that time were less by Sl43l 500
s. than for the proceeding fiscal year, being de-
1t crease of about % per cent
to This elimination is attributed to the reduction
in the rates ofpostage made by the act of March
IN 8, 1851 which reduction took effect at the COM
x mencement of the last fiscal year.
le Although in its operation during the last year
the act referred to has not fulfilled the predictions