Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-02


the money to the time when his account shall
be prepared for suit.
Yeu are also requested always to inform the
party so indebted Of his liability to the United
States Immediately after the adjustment Of his
account, and to demand payment of the sum
found to be due; at the same calling his es-
pecial attention to the peremptory require
ment of the act that the delinquent's commits
sions shall be forfeited, and theinterest charged
from the time he received the money, in every
instance where suit shall be commenced aid
judgment obtained thereon.
1t is important that you cause the demand
to be made in such way that full proof thereof
may be returned to your Office to accompany
the authenticated transcript of the account,
whenever suit shall become necessary. If,
after the demand, the party indebted shall
neglect or refuse to pay, you will report the
case to this Office for further proceedings.
/ am, very respectfully, yours,
j. M. BRoDHEAD, Comptroller.
The Reports.-It cannot be expected that
we publish these voluminous documents: in
deed, most of the information which they en-
body has already been published in the Star.
The Secretary of the Navy enters into
comprehensive argument on the action of the
Retiring Board, the action of which he fully
sustains. He says:
"The task was delicate one, and involved
struggles between duty and feeling. They
were mere men, not infallible. 1t would be
strange, indeed, if their work were perfect
and entirely free from error. These errors, if
they exist, will soon and surely be discovered
by the developments Of time, by continued in
quiry, and by calm, dispassionate observation.
a nm Of ha ..l.1
brave, sensitive, patriotic and self sacrificing;
and if the sword of any one of those gallant
men has been incautiously taken from him,
all right-minded men will say, let his country
restore it to him, with all the honors and rep
aration due to injured merit; and while can
by no means recommend the adoption of any
measure ofrepeal or any course of proceeding
in conflict with the general action of the Board,
have no doubt that there should be, and will
be found remedy for any mistake or error of
judgment. if the service has thus been de.
prived of meritorious or capable officer, either
by resignation or dropping. Facts which have
come to my knowledge assure me that it would
be but reasonable to provide years pay for
the officers who have been suddenly dropped
from service, on which they had heretofore
so exclusively depended, without any con-
sideration for future self-reliance. Though the
number reported incompetent seems large, and
u,
stance of itself sufficient to Justify reflection
upon Board who were bound, under the law,
to make careful examination, &c ?"
The Secretary Of War gives detailed state
ment Of the condition and the position of our
gallant army, with valuable documents an
uexed, showing the military operations of the
West. He states the actual strength of the
army to be fifteen thousand seven hundred
and ffty-two men Enlistments during the
last twelve months, ten thousand five hundred
and forty-six; enlistments refused, twenty
thousand five hundred and twenty-five; num-
Der Of casualties, five thousand FIVE hundred.
He presents neat and forcible argument in
favor of the Pacific Railroad, as q means of
national defence, but avoids recommending its
construction by Governmental aid, although
he distinctly intimates a disposition to favor
such aid. He urges increased compensation
to army officers, and a revision of the law res
pecting their allowances. Also, that the pro-
vision Of last Congress, increasing the pay of
the rank and file, be exteneed to all enlisted
men. Also, an increase of medical corps, and
the addition of Eve military store-heepers.
The Secretary of the Interior gives a valu-
ablei STATED paper, explain the condition of
the public lands, pensions, the boundaries,
the census, public buildings, &c. What be
says about the District of Columbia will be
found in our local columns.
The Postmaster General suggests that the
Thanking privilege be restricted to public doc
uments and letters on public business merely;
also, the charge of full rates, when paid quar-
terly in advance. He recommends compuI.
sorry prepayment by stamps of postage on
books, pamphlets, circulars and all other
transient matter. He again urges the six
months notice to the Collins steamers in die.
continuance of the extra pay voted in July,
1852.
The Cause Of it 1t is said to-day among
those usually well informed on such points,
that the President determined in Cabinet
council only as recently as Saturday night
last, to send in the Message Immediately.
The English Parliament is soon to assemble,
and 1t was judged of the utmost importance
TO the future Of our relations with Britain,
that the position of this Government upon the
questions in issue with her should be tho.
roughly and correctly comprehended in Lon
don on the meeting of the English legislature
Nothing could be palmer, it will thus be
perceived, than the imperative duty resting
on the President to protect the public interest
by doing as he did, without standing longer
on point Of etiquette with the House, whose
condition is indeed a serious injury to it.
No Fundamentally find, in an account
of congratulatory dinner" given on the
18th ult., at Boston, in honor Of the Know
Nothing victory in Massachusetts,, additional
proof that Governor Gardner has not endorsed
Mr. Banks. Speaking of the Fusion conven-
ton at Worcester, over which Mr.. Banks pre-
sided, the Governor remarked, that if it b d
nominated him Z" he pouid haze improved tie
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