Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-12-16

improve the etnciency oil The service, abt
tha, regard tas still more entitled 10 6a-
vor for the salutary influence i, must exer
upon the naval discipline, now greatly
disturbed by the increasing spirit of IN.
subofdina'ion, resulting from our presen
system. The plan proposed for the or
ganization Of the seamcn furnishes judi
cious substitute for lhe law Of September
+; 1850, abolishing corporal punishment, ant
satisfactorily spsiains the policy OF ihatact
under conditions well adapted 10 maintaif
the Authority Of command and the order
and security Of our ships. 1t is believed tha
any change which proposes permanently tc
dispense with This mode of punishment
should be preceded by a system OF enlist.
ment which shall supply the navy viii
seamen Of the most meritorous class
whose good department and pride Of char
acter may preclude ali occasion for re-
sort 10 penalties of harsh or degrading
nature The safety ola ship and her crew
is often dependant upon immediate obe
dIence to command, and the authority 10
enforce il must be equally ready. The
arrest Of a refractory seaman, in such mo.
ments, not only deprives the ship Of indis-
pensable aid, but imposes necessity for
double service on others whose fidelity 10
their duties may be relied upon in such an
emergency. The exposure to this increas.
ed and arduous labor, since the passage of
the act of 1850, has already had, 10 most
observable and injurious extent, the effect
oipreventlng the enlistment ofthe best sea-
men in The navy. The plan now sugges,
ted is designed to promote condition OF
service in which this objection will no Ions
ger exist. The details OF this plan may
be established in great part, il mol alto
gether, by the Executive, under the aulhori-
~ of existing laws but have thought il
proper, in accordance with the suggestion
OF The Secretary Of the Navy, TO submit it
to your approval.
The establishment of corps of aP-
pren'ices for The navy, or boys to be en-
listed until they become Of age, and to be
employed under such regulations the Ma.
Wy Department may devise, as proposed in
the report, cordially approve and com
mend to your consideration and | also
concur in the suggestion that this system
for the early training Of seamen may be
most usefullY engrafed upon the ser>
vice Of our merchant marine.
The other proposition OF the report to
which have relerred-the reorganization
of the Naval Academy-I recommend to
your attention as a project worthy Of
your encouragement and support. The
services aireany rendered by this
institution entitIe it TO the continuance OF
your fostering care.
Your attention is respectfully called to
The repott ofthe Postmaster General foe
Ihe detailed operation of his Department
during the last fiscal year, from which il
will be seen that the receipts from postages
for that time were less by 81 ,43l, ,696 than
for the preceding fiscal year, being a de-
crease Of about % per cent.
This dlmiuutionsis attributable TO the
in the rates OF postage made by
he act If March 3,lS51, which reduction
ook effect al the commencement ofthe last
fiscal year i
Although in its operation during the last
year The act referred 10 has not hlled the
predictions Of is friends by increasing the /
Of The country in proportion /
% the reduction of postage should new
srtheless question the policy of returning
% higher rates. Experience warrants the
that as the community becomes
accustomed TO cheap postage, correspon
leEce will increase. 1t is believed that
from this cause, and from the rapid growth
IF The country in population and business,
he receipts of The Department must ulli-
nately exceed its expenses, and that The
country nay safely rely upon the contIn-
rance of the present cheap rate Of pos
age.
In former messages have, among oth> !
n things, respectfully recommended to The
of Congress the propriety and
necessity of further legislation for the pro-
ection and punishment Of foreign consus
,esidingi in the United States +; to revive with |
certain notifications the act of 10Th March, /
1888, TO restrain unlawful military expe.
litions against The inhabitants OF confer.
nit Gus States or territories Tor the preser-
'ation and protection from mutiation or
heG of the papers, records, and achives
# the nation; for authorizing the surplus
evenue 10 be applied TO the payment ofthe
public debt in advance cf the time when il
vii become due for the establishment of
llices for the sale Of the public lands in
and the Territory Of Oregon
or the construction ola road from the Mis-.
Issippi valley to the Pacific ocean; for the
Of bureau of agriculture
Or the promotion Of that interes, perhaps
he most important in the country Cor the
revenlion of frauds upon the Government
. applications for pensions and bounty
lnds lor the establishment Of uniform
ee bill, prescribing specific compensa,
1r every service required Of clerks, district
ttorneys, and marshals for authorizing