Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-12-08

L
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
ny OF existing laws, but have thought it proper
| IN accordance with the suggestion of the Secre-
ta,y % Vi tne Navy, to submit it to your approval.
The report from the Navy Departtfieht will in
form you of the prosperous Condition of the bfanch
| OF the pubilc service committed to its chafge-
1t presents to your consideration many tenics and
suggestions of which / ask your apuFoyal. It
exhibits unusual degree of activity In the one
lratons of the Department during the mast wear
The preparations for the Japan expedition. TO
which have already alluded, the arrangements
made for the explorations and survey of the China
Seas, the Northern Pacific, and Behring's Straits;
the incipient measures taken towards reconnois-
sance of the continent of Africa eastward of Lii
IBERIA; the preparation for an early examination
of the tributaries of the River La Plata, which
recent decree Of the provisional chief of the Ar
gentine Confederation has opened to navigation;
all these enterprises, and the means by which
they are 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 ANA
zon river from the confines of Peru to its mouth.
The return of one of them has placed in the pos
session of the Government an interesting and
|
of country aboundng in the materials of COM
merce, and which, if opened to the industry of the
WORLD will prove inexhaustible fund of wealth.
The report of this exploration will be communis
Gated to you soon as it is completed.
Among other subjects offered to your notice BY
the Secretary of the Navy, select for special
commentator, in view of its connection with the
interests of the navy, the plan submitted by him
for the establishment of permanent corps of sea-
men, and the suggestions he has presented for the
Naval Academy. -t -
The establishment of a corps of apprentices
for the navy, or boys to be enlisted until they be-
come of age, and be employed under such navy
regulations as the Navy Department may devise,
as proposed, in the report, cordially approve and
commend to your consideration, and also concur
in the suggestion that this system for the early
training of seamen may be most usefully engraft-
ed upon the service of our merchant marine.
The other proposition of the report to which
have referred--the reorganization of the Naval
Academy recommend to your attention as o
project worthy efyour encouragement and support.
The valuable services already rendured by this
institution entitled it to the continuance of your
fostering care. ---- b. saz. u ea-...
| Your attention s respectfully called to the re-
port of the Postmaster General for the detailed
operation of his Department during the fiscal
year, from which it will be seen that the receipts
for postages for that time were less by 81 ,43l, ,696
crease of about % per cent.
/ This dimnuation is attributed to the reduction
in the rates of postage made by the act of March
g. 1851, which reduction took effect at the COM
mencement of the last fiscal year. eti -,
Although in its operation during the last year
the act referedt to has not fulfilled the predictions
of its friends by increasing the correspondence of
the country in proportion to the reduction of pos
toge, should nevertheless question the policy OF
returning to higher rates Experience warrants the
expectations that as community becomes accus-
toned to cheap postage, corressondenee Will IN
crease. 1t is believed that from this cause, and
the rapid growth of the country in population aud
business, the receipts of the Department must
ultimately exceed tke expenses; and that the
country may safely rely on the. he.continuance OF the
present cheap rate of postage. In former mes
sages have, among other things recommended
to the consideration of Congress topropriety and
necessity of further legislation for the protec-
ton and punishment of Foreign Counsuls residing
in the United States to revive with certain Inodi-
fcations the act of lOthof March 1898, to restrai
unlawful military expeditions against the inLahp
I tants of conterminous States and Territories.
For the preservation and protection from mutt
lation theft of the papers, records, and archives
of the nation; for authorizing the surplus revenue
to be applied to the payment of the public debt
in advance of the time when it will become due;
for the establishment of land Offices for thei
sale of the public lands in California and the
territory of Oregon: for the construction of a
road from tho Mississippi Valley to the Pacific
Ocean; for the establishment of Bureau Of ag-
rieulture for the promotion of that interest per-
haps the most important in the country; for the
prevention Of fraudsupon the government in appli-
cations for pensions ond bounty lands; for the
establishment of uniform fee bill, prescribing a
specific compensation for every service required
of clerks, district attorneys and marshails; Tor
authorizing an additional regiment of mounted
men, for the defence of our frontiers against the
Indians; and for fulfilling treaty stipulations
with Mexico to defend her citizens against the
Indians "with equal diligence and energy as
our own"
i For determining the relative rank between the
naval and civil officers in our public ships, and
between the officers of the Army and Navy in
the various grades of each; for reorganizing the
naval establishment by fixing the number of Off
GERS in each grade, and providing for retired list
upon reduced pay of those unfit for active duty;
for prescribing and regulating punishments in the
| Navy; for the appointment of commission to
revise the public statutes of the United States, by
arranging them in order, supplying deficiencies,
correcting incongruities, simplifying their lam
guage and reporting them to congress for its hnal
action; and for the establishment of commission
to adudicate add settle private claims against the
United States: / am not aware, however, that
any of these subjects have been finally acted upon
| by Congress Without repeating tne reasons ION
legislation on these subjects which have been as
signed in former messages, l respectfully recon-
mend them to your favorable consideration.
i think it due to the several Executive Depart
ments of this Government to bear testimony to
the efficiency and integrity with which they are
conducted. With all the careful superintendent
which it is possible for the Heads OF those De-
partments to exercise, still the due administrator
and guardianship of the public money mustyery
much depend on the vigilance, intelligence, and
fidelity of the subordinate officers and clerks, and
especially on those entrusted with the settlement
gnd adjustment of claims and accounts. ! am
gratifed to believe that they have generally per-