The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-01-09

additional provisions required for the
military service. refer to the report of |
the Secretary Of War, ard the accom-.
Ianving documents.
Experience, gathered fir m vents |
which have transpired since my last an
nual message, has but served to confirm
the opinion then expressed of the pro-
rriety Of making provision by retired
list for disabled officers, and for iucreas-
ed compensation to the officers retained
on tho list for active duty. All the rea-
sons which existed when these measures
where recommended on former occasions,
sontinuc without modification. except so
far as circumstances have given to some
Of them additional force. The recon-
mendations heretofore made for partial
reorganization of the Army arc also re-
newed, Tho thorough elementary cdu
cation given to those officers who com
mence their service with the grade of
Cadet, qualities them TO a considerable
exteut to perform the duty of every arm
of the service, but to give the highest eff
hciency to artillery requires the practice
md special study of many years and it
i, not. therefore, believed to be advisa
bio to maintain i'll time Of peace larger
force of that arm than can be usually
employed in the duties appertaining to
the service of the field and siege artller
les. the duties Of the staff in all its vari-
Gus branches belong to the movements
If troops. and the efficiency of an army
in tho field would materially depend up
4. .:,l, L. Al Il,
are discharged. 1t is not, as in the case
of the artillery, a speciality, but requires
Misc an intimate knowledge of the duties
of AN officer of the line, and it is not
doubted. that to complete the education
Of an officer. for either the line or the
general staff. it is desirable that he htll
have served with both With this view
it was recommended on a former occa
sion that the duties of the staff should
be mainly performed by details from the
liuc, and with conviction of the adyan
tagcs which would result from such a
change. it is again presented for the Goa
sideration Of Congress.
NAVY.
The Report Of the Secretary Of tho
Navy herewith submitted. exhibits il
full the naval operations of the past year
together with the present condition o
he service and it makes suggestions o
further legislation to which your atten
ton is invited. The construction Of tn
six steam frigates for which apprnpria
ton, were mad. by the las. Co rgr s. wa
proceeded with III the most satlsfacl or
innuucr. and with such expedition as t
warrant the belief that they will be read
for service carly in the coming spring
Important as this addition to our navu
force is it still remains inadequate t
the contingent exigcncies Of the proteC
lion Of the extensive sea coast and vas
commercial interests o: the Unite
States In view of this fact and of til
acknowledged wisdom Of the policy of
gradual and systematic increase of I'll
navy, an appropriation is recommends
for the construction of the six stca
sluops Of war
In regard to the steps taken in exec
lion of the act of Congress to promo
he efficiency Of the Navy it is uunece
sary for me to say more than to EXPIRE
entire concurrence in the observation
on that subject presented by the Secrc
AIRY in his Report
POST of;rlcr.
1t will be perceived by the Report
the Postmaster General that the gro
expenditure of the department for t
last fiscal year was S9969. 342 and t
gross receipt S7,342 1856 making an c
cess of expenditure over receipts 81 62
BOG That tho cost Of mail transport
ton during that year was Sj7l9j2
greater than the previous year. Mu
of the heavy expenditures to which t
Treasury is thus subjected. is to be
cIibed to the large quantity of print
matter conveyed by the mails, eitl
ranked or liable to ho postage by Ia
or to very low rates ofpostage, compar
with that char ged on letters, and to
great cost Of mail service on ralrof
and by ocean steamers. The sugecs il
If the Postmaster General on the :
jet, deserve the consideration of G.
Srcs!.
INTERIOR.
The Report OF the Secretary OF
Interior will engage your attention,
we'll for useful suggestions which
contains as for the interest and impC
ance of the subjects to which they
fer. The aggregate amount Of pu(
land sold during the last fiscal ye
located with military scrip Or land "
rants, taken up under grants for roa
and selected as swamp lands by Stat
is n, 537 400 acres, of which
portion sold was 1920 574 ac,
Welding in receipts the sum of 81
4S3,3oO. In the same period Of til
S,723, S54 acres have been survey
but in consideration of the quantity
ready subject to entry, 10 additic
tracts have been brought into mari
The peculiar relation of the gem
government to- tie District of Coli
lla, renders it proper to commend
your care not only its material, bu
80 its moral interests, including edr
ton, more especially in those parts