Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-06

pHrug oltaHm ,N htntiru,.olmH
ed 'o ONE Vnr 1Jw'| u..ru operation
ul ihh mr1'uu vouho 0.0unn nHol. and
ib o''cr ih' lapse oral 8rs, lhow should
be- occosIup Go vU1 'h. provision IL
can bo Reproduced with any improvements
which experience may Indicate
The present organization of artillery
into repimcdt, IS Liable TO o5,iops obicc.
lions. The services OF artillery Is lhlt
OF batteries, aud au orgouI2llion OF b,uu.
rios Iulo O coys ofaui.logy would hc mo,c
consistent with iho nature of their duties.
A large pon ollhe troops now called auil.
lcry are, and have been, ON duty, in inlau.
Try the distinction between the two arms
being merely nominal. This nominal ar.
tIllcy ia our service is entirely dispropor.
tomato to the whole force, aud greater than
the wants OF the country demand. there.
fore command The dusconlInuuncc Of dis.
tinction which has no foundation in either
the arms used or he character Of the ser.
vice expected TO be performed.
In conneXlon with theproposljon for The
increase Of the army, | have presented
these suggestions with regard to certain
measures Of reform, as. the complement Of
system, which would produce the huppi.
est results from II given expenditure, and
which ! hope may attract the early atten.
ton, and be deemed worthy OF the appro.
baton of Congress,
The recommendation orthe Secretary Of
the Navy, having reference TO more ample
provisions for the discipline and general
Improvement in the charcier of scamen,
and for the reorganization and gradual
increase Of the navy, deem emuently
worthy Of youriavorabo consideration
The principles, which have controlled our
policy IN relation to the permanent militia.
ry force, by sea and land are sound, con
Sistent with The theory of Of our system
and should by no means be disregarded ;
But limiting the force 10 the objects par.
tIcuIarIy set forth in The preceding part OF
this message, we should not overlook the
present magnitude and prospective exlen-
sion Of our commercial marine, nor fail to
give weight TO the fact that, besides the
two thousand miles Of Atlantic seabOard,
we have a new pacific coast, stretching
from Mexico to the British possessions in
the north, eemDg with wealth and enter.
prise, and demanding the constant pres.
ence Of ships.ol.war.
The augmentation of The navy has no,
kept pace with the duties properly and
proftably assigned to Il ia lime OF peace,
and it is inadequate for the large ieIdof its
operations, not merely in the present but
still more in the progressively increasing
eXgencies of the wealth and commerce of
the United States. cordially appr owe
OF the proposed apprentice system for our
national vessels, recommended by the
Secretary Of the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few
months, OF marine disasters OF the most
tragic nature, involving great loss OF hu-
man life, has produced intense emotions
ofsympathy and sorrow throughout the
country. 1t may be well doubted whelh.
er all these caIamiious events are wholly
attributable 10 the necessary aud ineyita.
bic dangers of the sea. The merchants,
mariners, and shp.buiders of the United
States, are, it is true, unsurpassed in far
reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence, and
courage, by any others in the world But
with the increasing amount Of our COM
mercial tonnage in the aggregate, and the
larger size and improved equipment of
the ships now constructed, a deficiency in
the supply Of reliable soamen begins to be
very seriously ltl,. The inconvenience
may, perhaps, be met, by due regulation
for the introduction, into our merchant
ships, Of indentured apprentices which,
while it would afford useful and eligible
occupation TO numerous young men, would
have a tendency 10 raise the character OF
seamen as class. And it is deserving
of serious reflection, whether it may nol
be desirable to revise the existing laws for
the maintenance Of discipline al sea, upon
which the security Of life and property on
the ocean must to so great an extent de-
pend. Although much attention has al.
ready been given by Congress to the pro.
construction and Arrangement, Of steam
vessels and all passenger ships, sill it is
believed that The achievements of science
and mechanical skill in this direction have
not been exhausted.
No good reason exists for the marked
distinction, which appears upon our stat
ules between the laws for protecting life
and property at sea, and those for protec.
ting them on land. In most of the states
severe penalties are provided to punish the
conductors Of trains, engineers, and other.
employed in the transportation ofpersons
by railway, or by steamboats, on rivers
Why should not the same principle be up.
piled 10 acts Of INSTRUMENTATION, cowardice
or other acts Of misconduct on the part Of
masters and mariners, producing injury
or death to passengers on the high seas
beyond the jurisdiction of any Of the
States, and where such delinquencies on,
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