The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-06
REPORTS OF THR sEcRErARIKs.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE sEcRETARY OF
WAR

AHs'nACT " THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARf Oh
WAR. fssa
The authorized strength of the army Ii no W
,ss4 men. The actual strength at the date oi
sne returns, July l. 1896, was Is, 562. The mum
Der OF enlistments made during the twelve months
ending September 30, 1856, was 4, 40. The mum
Der OF Offers refused on account Of min ority and
unftuess for service, was 1894 The humber OF
casualties during same time was 696 Of which
1928 were by desertions.
All our Indian troubles In the West have ceased
except with the Cheyennes
The disposition Of the troops is given in detail
IL Is recommended to extinguish the possessory
rights of the Hudson Bay Company, as they owe
no allegiance to our government and would be
disposed to exercise . powerful influence among
sne Indians against our people occasion required
A vigorous campaign has been projected against
tne @ Florida Indians, Gen. Harney commanding the
military posts.
Much space Is devoted to the consideration of
the present system of military posts Of the West
err frontiers, and . complete revolution of the
whole system is urged. The expenses at present
are enormous, without any corresponding benefit
TO the country or frontier.
ihe great number of designations in the army
snow tne necessity for an increase of pay. 1t evi-
denees policy injurious to professional pride,
wne the bard service and frontier stations Of the
omcers require of them sacrifices which other
omcers of the government are called upon to
make The expense of living has been greatly
augmented. and the pay is about the came as it
was nifty years ago. 1t is bad economy, the re
port continues, to drive the active and intelligent
from the service which they adorn.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY.
The new steam frigate Wabash, Captsin Theo
dor Engle, the flag ship; the sloops of war Sars
toga, Commander Tilton, and Cyane, Commander
X. & Robb, from the Home Squadron which is
still ,rnder the command of Commodore Paulding
Th g Brazil Squadron, Commander French For.
a
Hull ind sloop OF War Germantown, Commander
Lynch for whose return orders were issued on
the 3lst of October last. The Falmouth will Join
the squadron In few weeks.
The Mediterranean Squadron, Breeze, consists of
the flag ship, the frfgate Congress- Capt. Craven :;
the sloop of war Constellation, Capt. Bell, and
steam figate Susquehanna, Capt Sands The
storeghip Supply, Lieutenant commanding Porter,
is in the Mediterranean on special service, under
the War Department
The African Squadron, Commodore Crabbe, is
composed of the flag ship, the sloop of war James
town, Commander Ward. the sloop of war St.
Louis. Commander Livingston, and the brig Dol
phin, Commander Thomson. The squadron were
all we'll at last advices.
The East India Squadron Commodore Armstrong
is composed of the flag ship, the San Jacinto,
Commander Bell, the sloops of war Levant and
Portsmouth. The operations of this squadron are
uninteresting.
The Pacific Squadron, Com. Mervine, consists of
the flag ship Independence, Commander Hoff, and
the sloops of war John Adams, St Mary's Decatur
and the steamer Massachusetts,.
The Secretary regrets that Com. Mervine failed
to make a personal examina alton of the supposed
guano island, aud recommends that another small
steamer be sent to visit the islands.
Reference is made to the protection of our citi
zens at Panama by vessels of this squadron. An
additional Pacific squadron is recommended Our
growing commerce. and the increasing importance
of the Central American States renders it polite
to double our Pacific squadron as soon as vessels
can be assembled in that ocean.
The Behring's Strait Expedition having compile
ted its work has returned.
A large portion of the report is devoted to the
survey which has been made of the bottom of the
sea- and the scientific discoveries in this
of the great deep will be found deeply interesting
Specimens have been produced from the bed of
thelocean, and beautiful charts made. mapping out
its depths at distances of thirty forty, sixty and
one hundred miles, The greatest depth obtained
was two thousand and seventy fathoms-two and q
half niles.
Under the head of ordnance gunnery, the Sec.
retary recommends the establishment of q practice
ship, in which gunnery alone shall be taught.
The great beauty and superiority of the new
steam frigates are alluded to with much pride and
the Secretary says their introduction constitutes
new era in the history of the United States Navy.
He repeats bis Recommendation of last year about
the building of several additional sloops of war.
The subject of enlistment and the good faith of
the government towards the sailors is elaborated
at length, and the policy of the department de
Tended and explained. This, however, is of DO
interest to the general reader.
There are three vacancies in the grade of cap
tain and fourteen in that of lieutenant, some of
which occurred several months since. Mr. Dobbin
10 not unmindful of the causes which prompted =
suspension of executive action, but the interests
Of the service require that they should be filled
either by promotion in the regular way or by nom
nation for restoration to the active list some of
the reserved or dropped officers.
The Naval Academy continues to prosper, and
demonstrates its usefulness. The Secretary re.
commends that, in addition to the Naval Board of
Examiners, q board of visitors, composed of ci-
villains, be appointed.
Mr. Dobbin renews expressions of opinion of the
usefulness of the Marine Corps, and continues to
recommend its enlargement, aad the adoption of
some plan of appointing to it officers of military
education.
The following are the estimates for the Navy and
Marine Corps for 1878: $e9l29 979 05 Expen-
ditures during the year 1856, $s,437,73 81.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIORS REPORT.
The Secretary of tho Interiors Report stat,s the
quantity OF land surveyed since last report aud up
the 50 of September last at 1878 699 acres exclu-
sve of school sections. Tho execution of the grad
uaton act has raised many grave Questions VIII n
important that the matter be promptly disposed OF
either by sanctionins and affirming the action OF the
Land Office, directing the patents to be Issued
without further requirements.
The quantity Of lands sold for cash during the hs-
cal year was over 925O.cOO acres and the receipts
therefor 81, s,s2l,4l4. The total amount OF land dts
posed offs 80 900 900 He suggests neces-
sity for further power being granted to the Coz
sioner OF Pensions to suspend and diminish and dis
continue pensions where the for granting them
has wholly or partially ceased. The number OF pa
tents issued within the year will probably reach
$500 The report says that during the present ad-
mnstr aticn 81 Indian treaties have been negotiated
~ OF which rem ain to be acted upon by the Senate
BY these treaties lndan titles have been extin.
suished to nearly IFS 900 land. The aggregate
money confederation therefor 10 &iI ,l84. The In
dians within our borders supposed to number
about 500 The process of civilization among the
Indians has already been attended with the happest
results, and gives promise Of steady progress in
the Ameoraton of their physical and moi al condi-
ton.
CHANGE IN CoMMITTEEs.-Speake Banks has
made the following changes in Congressional com.
mittees:
Mr. Oliver, Of Mo-, on Elections instead of Mr.
Savage; Mr.. Howard on Ways and Means instead
of BilIinghurst; Fuller. of Maine, on Commerce.
instead Of Mr.. Mcqueen; Messrs. Garnett and
Mcqueen ON Revolutionary Claims, instead Of
Messrs Smith, of Virginia, and Fuller, Of Maine
Mr.. Allen, instead Of Mr.. Bell, on Agriculture;
Messrs Sherman and Cadw alader on Foreign
Relations instead of Messrs. Bayley and Mattison;
Mr. Smith, Of Virginia, on Territories, instead OF
Mr. Richardson; Mr.. Hodges on Roads and Canals,
instead of Mr.. Hughston. Mr. Matteson was ap
,o;pta chairman Of the District of Columbia vice