Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-01-10
EDssH2SE EbE1N,s''S NESS sTE.
Fslio0 crj2ea& q 1,r Senn'e
cnd oFlte Honse of Representatives.
lCnSCIEUEr.

.thAIl'l LLE
The expedition commanded b. i.;eut'nt d.,
Haven, az ~patctlvd in search g! tEsp irtI>h cntu-
mander. SIR j"nn Franklln, and h}s cuNlpaI>-
iot,S il til" hrtir S"as returned to New York
in the month oi Octnhcr, after having ur,ticr-
gone great peril ard <utierny FROM an Ut
known and dAngcrouS navigation and Tie RIO
nrS OF northern climate, without anv Satis-
factory information Of the Objects Of their
search. but with ntW contributions 10 science
and navigation from The un!r"G uenled polar re-
Tiuns. IEc oftrrrs AID men ot he eXpedl-
ton. having been Hl} volunteers fer this service,
and having ruu'lncted i s5 to meet The en-
tire appreciation Of the Government. it is sur-
gesied. as an act Of grace ard generosity. that
The same allowance Of extra pay and cInoiu-
men:s he extended to them that We're made TO
the officers and men Of like rating in the late
exploring expedition Of the South Seas.
earnestly recommend to your attention the
necessity of organizing the Naval Establish-
ment, apportonino and fixing the number Of
officers in each grade, providing some mode Of
promotion to the higher grades OF the navy,
having reference to the merit and capacity,
rather than seniority or date of entry into the
service, and for retiring from the effective list
upon reduced pay those who may be imcompe-
! tent 10 the performance of active duty. As a
measure Of economy as well as Of efficiency
in this arm of The service, the provision hast
mentioned is cm.nen:ly worthy Of your con-
| si1eratUn.
The determination OF the questions of re-
| atiye rank between the sea officers and civil
olcer5 Of the navy, and between officers OF
| the army and navy, in the various grades of
! each. viii also merit your attention. The fall
ure to provide any substitute, when corp0real
punishment was abolished for offences in the
nay has orca>Ioned the conyening Of numer-
| oas courts martial upon the arrival Of vessels
| in port. and is be ieved to have had an in uri-
ous effect upon the discipline and efficiency OF
| the service. 70 moderate punishment from
! one grade to another is among the humane re.
| forms Of the age; but to abo ish one of sever
! ty. which applied so generally to offences on
| cupboard. and provide nothing in its stead,
| is TO suppose Il progress OF improvement i'll
every individual among seafltn which is net
assumed by The Legislature in respect to any
class Of men. It is hoped that Congress, in
the ample opportunity afforded by the present
session, will thoroughly investigate this impor-
lant subject, and establish such modes OF de-
tcrmnng guilt and such gradations Of pun
ishment as are consistent with humanity and
the personal rights Of individuals and at the
same lime shall ensure the most energetic and
efficient performance Of duty and the suppress
sion Of crime in our ships Of war. .-.
The stone dock in the navy yard atNew York,
now ten wears in process of construction,
has been so far finished as to be surrendered
up to the authorities of the yard. The dry
dock at Philadelphia is reported ;s completed,
and is expected soon to be tested and deliver
ed over to the agents of the Government
That at Portsmouth, N H., is also nearly ready
for delivery; and IL contract has been couluded
agreeab!y to the act OF Congress a. its last
session for IL floating sectional dock on the
bay OF San Francesca. Invite your attention
TO the recommendation of the Department
tonchnr the establishment Of navy yard in
conjunction with this dock on the Pacific
Such station is highly necessary to the con-
venience and effectiveness of our fleet in that
ocean, which must be expected to increase with
the growth of commerce, and the rapid exten-
sion Of our, whale fisheries over its waters.
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, under
revised and iHproved system Of regulations,
now affords opportunities of education and
instruction to the pupils quite equal, it is be-
'ieved, for professional! Improvement, to those
enjoyed BY the cadets in the Military Academy.
A large class Of acting md>lipmen was receiv-
ed at the commencement of the last academic
term, and i practice-shlp has been attached to
the institution, to afford the anplest means
for regular instruction in seamanship, as well
rs for cruises during the vacations of three or
four months in each year.
Tie advantages of science in nautical affairs |
have rarely been amore strikingly illustrated |
than in the fact stated in the report of the Ma |
w Department, that, by means of the wind |
and current charts, projected and prepared by I
Lieutenant Maury, the Superintendent of the !
Naval Observatory, the passage from the At
lantict to the Pacific ports of our country has |
been shortened by about forty days. @
The estimates for the support of the Navy |
and Marine Corps the ensuing fiscal year will !
be found to be $5,s56,472 1e, the estimates
for the current year being $5.9o0,62l. ss@
The estimates for special objects under the |,
coHtro! Of this Department amounttc $2,684- |
22e SO, against $22lo,9SO for the present year, !
the increase being oceasoned by The addition
al mail service on the Pacific coast and the con-
struction Of the dock in California, authorized |
at the last session of Congress, and some |
slight additions under the head of improve
ments and repairs in navy yards, buildings and
machinery. "'. "e u '@'.1 '.'" "
: deem II tf much in,portantee to \ lust
economy, and a correct understanding of naval
expenditures, that there should be an entire
separation OF the appropriations forthe support |
Of the naval service proper from those for per-
manentimProvement itnavy yards and stations, !
and from ocean steam mail service, and other
special Objects assigned to the supervision Of
this Department. aa Il 3. ii Il
The report Of the Postmaster General, here |
with communicated, present an interesting !
view Of fhe progress, operations and condition
of*hss Department @f
At the close of the last fiscal wear, the length
of mail routes within the United States was