The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-01-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Concluded.

Concluded.
ARMY
The army, during the past year, has been
actively engaged in defending the Indian
frontier, the state Of the service permitting
but few and small garrisons in our permanent
fortifications. The additional regiments au-
thorized at the last session of Congress have
been recruited and organized, and large
portion Of the troops have already been sent
to the field. All the duties, which ,lcvolve
on the military establishment, have been
satisfactorily performed, and the dangers and
priyatlOns incident to the character of the
service required Of our troops have furnished
additional evidence Of their courage, zeal,
aud capacity to meet any reguisition which
their country may make upon them. For the
details of the military operations, the distri-
button of the troops, and additional provisions
required for the military service, refer to the
report Of the Secretary of War aud the ac-
companying documents.
Experience, gathered from events which
have transpired since my last annual mes
sage, has but served TO confirm the opinion
then expressed ol the prOpriety Of making
provision, bya retired list, for disabled oil
GERS, and for increased compensation to the
officers retained on the list for active duty.
All the reasons which existed when these
measures were recommended on former &C.
casiOns, continue without modification, ex-
cept so far as circumstances have given to-
some oi them additional fprce.
The recommendations heretofore mad Ell for
a partial reorganization Of the army, are
also renewed. The thorough elementary ed
ucation given to those officers who commence
their service with the grade of cadet, qualities
them to considerable extent to perform the
duties Of every arm Of the service; but to give
the highest efficiency to artillery requires
the practice and special study Of many years;
and it is not, therefore, believed to be adyisa-
bic to maintain, in time OF peace, larger
furce 0i that arm than can be usually employ
ed IN the duties apperiaining to the service
OF field and siege artillery. The duties 81 tue
staff in ali its yaruus branches belong To the
movements o. troops, and the efficiency 0i an
army IN tie field would materially depend
upon the ability with which those duties are
discharged. Ii Is not, as III the case Of the
artillery, speciality. but requires, alsl. ali
intimate knowledge Of the duties of an officer
Of the line, aud il is not doubted that, TO COM.
plete the education 0l an ullieer lur either the
line or the general STAFF, il is desirable that
be shall haze served ia balh. With this view,
il was recommended on former occasion
that the duties Of the staii' shnlld be manly
performed bY details from the line; and, with
conviction Of the advantages which would
result from such change, il Is again pre-
sented for tie consideration oi Congress.
NAVY.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy,
herewith submitted, exhibits IN full the naval
operations Of the past year, together with the
j present condition OF the service, aud il makes
suggestions ol further legislation, TO which
i your attention j. invited.
The construction Of the six steam frigates,
for which appropriations were made By the
last congress, has proceeded 10 the must
] satisfactory nanner, aud with such expedi-
tion as 10 warrant the bellsf that they will
bc ready fuf service early III the coming
spring. Important as this addition 10 our nasai
force is, il still remains illadeqaatc to tie
contingent cxiscncies uf the protection ol tue
extensive sea coast and vast commercial 10.
tcrrsls Of tie United States. In view OF ihi.
fact, aud IT tie acknowledged wisdom u Tic
policy q gradual and systematic increase
Of the navy, an appropriation is recommend
ed for the construction Of six steam slO0p'
OF war.
ln regard to the steps taken in execution
Of the act ~ Congress t. promote the eiilcirn
cy o. The navy, il is unnecessary iorme to "a,
more than to express entire concurrence III
the observations on that subject presented b,
the Secretary IN his report.
rOSr OFFICE.
II will be prercived, by the report Of th'
Postmaster General, that the gross cxpcndi'
, lures IL the department for the last iisca
year was nine million nine hun lred and sixty
eight thousand three hundred aud lOrty.ts
j dollars, aud the gross receipts seven million
| three hundred and iorty.twU thousand Oh
/ hundred and ihir,y.siS dollars, making q
] excess 0f expenditure Over receipts q tn
t millions SIX hundred aud tacnty.sIx thOn.ani
I two hundred aud six dollars; aud that III. cos
/ of mail transportation during that year wa
e six hundred aud seventy -four thousand nin
/ handrcd aud iiIiy.t dollars greater tia
ihc previous year. Much nt The heavy q
! prnditures, 10 which tie Treasury Is thu
J. subjected, is TO be ascribed to the large quar
]. tity ol printed matter conveyed by the mail
e either thanked, OF liable to no poslsgc By las
4 or TO very low rates Oi postage compared vii
i that charged % letters, aud 10 The great CO
IS Of mail service 0u railroads and by utea
II steamers. The suggestions u the postma
J. ter General on the suIject deserve the cons
j dcration Of Congress.
e tNTEEIuR.
1 Tie report u the sccretar. Of ftsc Iutsri