Washington telegraph., 1856-01-30
Reports of Departments.

ls the most interesting of the annual docu-
ments- After showing that there has been
no increase of the expenditure in the naval
service. thesSecretary proceeds to say
Perhaps no event, either Legislative or
executive, touching the history of the navy,
has attracted more earnest attention, or ere
ated more profound sensation, than the ac-
tion of the Naval Board And vet, such
was the condition of the navy, as urged by
secretaries and conceded by statesmen, Off
GERS and citizeus-such the loud cry for
prompt reform echoed and reechoed throug gh
the country. that Congress in Its wisdom
falling to pass the general and more COM
prehenslve bills orig ginally reported by the
committees, instituted this summary tribunal
with signal nnajoritiss. The officers selected
to compose the board were, in term. highly
Mandatory. pronounced fit men for the deli
cate task Indeed, when their names we're
announced, there was a warm and general
expression of favor and qualification rarely
exhibited The Department, therefore, BY
filing the board with men of high reputa-
tlon and acceptable to the country and the
navy-by surrounding them with safeguards
and restrictions TO secure impartialisy and
justice, and TO remove the opportunity and
the temptation for indulgence in action for
personal gain-by spreading before them
the entire files and records of the Depart
ment, hoped that successful effort had been
made to insure the faithful and satisfactory
execution of law passed with every indi-
cation of earnest solicitude to promote the
efficiency of the navy. The task was del
icate 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 the continued in
qniry, and by calm. dispassionate observa-
ton. The officers of the navy, as a class.
are proud, brave. sensitive, patriotic and
self-sscrifcing and ie 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 regulations due TO injured
merit and while can by no means recon-
mend the adoption of any measure of repeal
or any course of proceeding N 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 pro-
vide years pay for the officers who have
been suddeniy dropped from service on
which they had heretofore SO exclusively
depended. without any consideration for fu-
ture selfreliance. Though the number re-
ported incompetent seems large, and many
will attract attention, is that a circumstance
of itself sufficient to justify reflection upon
Board who are bound. under the law, to
make a careful examination. &c?''
The Secretary of the Navy recommends
the construction vi additional steamers
The Postmaster General suggests the re-
strietion Of the franking privileges. the i'm
position of full rates CD newspapers. and a
rigid enforcement of repayment of post
age He also urges that notice should be
given TO the Collins steamships, tha, their
pay will be discontinued
The report Of the Secretary of the interior
is very interesting. The cash receipts from
sales of lands during the year shows an in
crease of nearly 81 500. 600, and the sales
$500 Geo acres over the preceding year
The decrease in the number of acres located
on script and warrants is upward of coo 600
acres. Efforts are making 10 adjust all the
claims of the States for LANDS. The Mesiila
Valley contains 20. .000. 900 acres, and parts
of it are very productive of grain gold. sill
yer and copper are. also. found on the hills.
The amount of stocks held in trust for the
various Indian tribes is 81 600 600 The
Secretary recommends a more liberal and
generous policy towards the Indians
The Secretary Of States report shows
that Mr Marcy wrote to the British Govern
ment. in decided terms. refusing to yield to
the English Interpretation of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty. to which Lord Clarendon
replied that England would adhere to her
Interpretation O. it.
The Secretary Of War urges increased
compensation TO army Ulcers and revision
of the law respecting their allowances AL
so. that the provision Of the last Congress,
increasing the pay of the rank and file, be
~ tIS1- II lcO
crease of medical corps. and the addition of
five military store-keepers. He recommends
judicious continuance of sea-coast defenses
aud especially renews the suggestion for the
terrifying of Ship Island TO defend the ap-
breaches to New Orleans He presents.
also, neat and forcible argument in favor
Of the Pacific Railroad, as means OF IA
tIonal defense. but avoids recommending its
construction by Government aid, although
ne distinctly intimates disposition TO favor
such aid He shows the actual strength OF
the army to be fifteen thousand seven hun
dred and fIty-swo men. Enlistments du-
ring the last twelve months, ten thou.and
FIVE hundred and forty enlistments re-
fused. twenty thousand five hundred and
twenty-five; number Of casualties, FIVE thou
sand five hundred. Disposition of the troop
remains pretty much As stated in last annual
report
The correspondence relative TO the Sound