The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11

crca "a 80 that guards can be provided for them 70 OBJ
vmte this difficulty. under the authority Of the Naval
Appropriation act of March 3, 1S4e, You directed
the employment q, two hundred landsmen
rines addition to the two hundred authorized to
rangenent the number employed as pryates in the
corps amounts TO thirteen hundred and SIXTY eight
while the number OF andsncn is thereby diminished
would respectfully recommend, as has been done by my
predecessors that the prvafes of this corps be
Two thousand deemed necessary for the ordinary
detail of the service. 8M.
branch Of the service have recently directed there
be furnished the headquarters c the corps battery
80 Founders and four of nahlgren's field guns that
the officers and men may be instructed In their drill be-
fore being sent 10 sea- They will then be able to act
infantry serve division OF heavy artillery shipboard
or the IL ID pieces on landing.
The Naval Appropriation act Of August L. 1866 appro
prated ninety six thousand dollars for the erection ana
completion OF marine barracks at BROOKLYN New York
and sixty thousand dollars for the purpose al Pesa
cola, Florida.
The site for these a, Brooklyn requiring pilug and all
ing in not yet completed proposals have not been invited
for the erection OF barracks there Proposals for those
Pensacola were invited by my predecessor, but tho
lowest bid was beyond the limit Of the appropriation,
plans and specifications were directed to be made for
smaller buildings ana The 2ls Of september proposals
were again invited. Seventeen were received, and Those
of Mahon Gibbon for fifty three thousand eight hun
dred and forty seven dollars being the lowest, the con
tract was awarded to them
The marine barracks isoscn, Philadelphia and Nor
folk represented TO he contracted and entirely unit
for Use and the commandan OF the corps recommends
that provision be made purchase ground and suit
able buildings al those places.
would respectfully invite your attention to General
Hcnderson report for the general condition Of the corps
Two appropriations, each Of twenty thousand dollars,
have been made for the construction and completion OF
coal depot at Key West, in Florda A wharf has been
built but the foundation having partially failed IL is
deemed unsafe coal shed has been commenced, but
neither covered in paved The constructing engineer
reports that similar parallel TO it. Is needed for soft
COAL that having been designed Tor anthracite that the
sheds will be OF little without substantial and per
malent wharf from which vessels receive their sup
ply that the site OF the present wharf excellent having
depth Of water OF twenty-five feet that the construction
OF two railway tracks from the wharf tn the coal sheds
vii: be necessary and that to cmpcte what be proposes
would require appropriation of one hundred and seven
FIVE thousand dollars, the former appropriation having
been exhausted.
In view OF the admirable position Of Key Yves, for con-
venenty supplying with coal the steamers OF the Home
squadron would earnestly recommend that suitable pro
vision be made. by legislation for the completion, upon
proper scale and in an economical manner Of this mpor
tant public work.
The act Of January 2s 1857 authorized the President
TO purchase ste for a naval depot Blythe island in
the State OF Georgia. and TO erect such buildings and to
make such improvements be necessary to repair
vessels OF and to afford them refuge. board of
officers consisting Of Captain Mcintosh, Commander Hart
stene, Lieutenant Brooke and civil engineer Mr. Calvin
Brown directed To the island aud the ada
cent waters In pursuance OF their report about one
thousand hundred of the southern portion of the
island have been purchased tor Sl30o0 Tho Attorney
General having certified that the title is good. and the
State al Georgia having consented 10 the purchase and
thereby coded the requisite urisao'on, the purchase
prepare the site for the purpose expressed in the act OF
Congress
The war steamer building at Hoboken by the execu-
OF Robert l.. Stevens first authorized ny the
act of April IA 1912 The present contract provides that
Mr. stevens should build the vessel his plan
and deliver her To the government for the sum of
s5s6,7lI sI and that after the sum of s500000 should
have been PAID on account she should be examined by
Board and she should be completed for the balance Of
the appropriation then should be paid This balance
of ssGl7 81 has been appropriated by Congress to en-
able The department, promptly to make the payment when
appointed and in their report of March = 1885, they
estimate that in addition to the sum OF s5o0o0) already
paid there will be required the further OF ssi2 033
is to complete the The balance appropriated Au
gust 1o, 1856, remains ther efore in the treasury.
Mr. Stevens and his executor have expended upon the
vessel the of $702155 81 II Is now proposed by the
that the balance Of the contract prcethai is TO
say the sum OF Ss6il7 SIDE paid 10 him from time TO
after be put upon the vessel the being securedto the
government by pledge Of the whole As the vessel Is al
ready virtually owned by the government and will be OF
little value unless completed ii is deemed proper TO invite
attention the inquiry whether may not be expedeat
to authorize tho application of the balance in aid OF the
of the executor aud in the mode proposed to the
accomplishment Of the work.
Tho Naval Academy at Annapolis under the charge
OF Captain Blake the successor OF Captain osborough in
the administration of this important and delicate trust IL
in fourshrg condition II Is 10 the navy what the Mil.
iory Academy is To the armyan institution not merely OF
great utility, but of indispensable necessity without which,
IN the present state OF science an accomplished and EN-
ccn corps of officers could not be secured. There
now attached TO IT, for purposes OF instruction. '6 acting
mdshlI men. Al the close OF the last academic year
fifteen graduated, and eighty nine have since been ad
mitted
Tie report OF the last annual board of inspecting off,
GERS speaks In Of high commentator Of the dis
ciplne and Police regulations u the institution OF
the performance OF the students in field artillery
and infantry tactics in the exercise OF the great guns
battery and shell and shot practice at the target OF the
admirable requirements az the graduating class and OF
the successful management Of the academy now no longer
experiment II also proposes some measures deserving
consideration and others which in due time ought
10 be carried into effect.
The Joint resolution OF March s. 1857 directing the Sc
cretary OF the Navy medals 70 he struck aud pre-
scented TO Dr. Kane his ofi.ers and men, have been
unable 10 carry into effect Congress accidentally
emitted 10 make an appropriation for that object
when entered upon my duties in this department
found Naval Court Of Inquiry already organized under
the investigation directed by that act should be brought To-
mn early conclusion, Immediately organized two add.
tiona courts. These three courts have prosecuted
their labors with great assiduity. The result In
many cases has been presented to YOU AZ
10 all those in which the courts have
recommended restoration u the active list or 70 the
vice or transfer from furough leave pay you have
approved the action of the courts and when you shall
have presented corresponding nominations 10 The Senate
will have done % them all which this act has com
United a. your discretion As 10 those cases in which the
courts have recommended change the action OF the
President whether be that Of approval or disapproya
will vary the result but leave the parties in ed, quo
there bad been inGGy. The President having no
power change the state Of person already IN the
navy, except by dismissal or by promotion with the ad
and consent OF the Senate 70 restore any person u
II except by appointment, with the advice aud con
sent OF the same body Il Is obvious that ife could be
done 10 remove pailiaie the presumed evil which
the object of that act TO remedy except by The prompt
execution OF the act itself Unwilling 10 be drawn
into any allegation agans, those officers who had been
affected by the action Of the Retiring Board, examined
the act OF Congress 10 any such duty had been i'm
posed upon me- found that IL admitted no latitude Of
construction. II directed definite inquiry. prescribed
the limits Of the investigation. Lett In the depart
mont power 20 enlarge 10 restrict or 10 modify II
directed the physical mental professional and moral
" the officer FOR the naval service W be
BY of inquiry Accordingly, the prccept 20 the
court every directed that precise inquiry lnstruc
tons given the Judge Advocates in every instance
where the party desired ito take the initiative and
present all the evidence which they intended to Introduce
before the party shld be called upon to respond 10
and then 70 give him ample opportunity. They were
directed dispositions when necessary con
venicnt. They were instructed when reasonable obec
ton should be made 10 any court 10 give way TO H. and "a
erpoe obstacle 10 the transfer OF the To another
court. 10 which there should be no objection These
instructions given to insure fair impartial, and
faithful execution 81 the intentions Of Congress.
The policy has been adopted Of shortening the period o
the cruise IN all remote and several ships have been
ordered home in pursuance Of L. The necessity OF the
change has been long felt u Vii conducc 10 the prcser
walton of the health az both officers and men Long ex
posed 10 the enervatng influences Of hot climates they
often broken down their usefulness after life i'm
II will facilitate cnlistmentS Making the