The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-16

else in Kansas has solicited it, either by petition for
the redress of grievances in any other usual man
ner The democratic majority outside Of Kansas has
not asked 1t TO do so nor have their adyersaries,
who insist that the Topeka production is valid
and obligatory. demanded il Why, then, should Con-
gress, unlimited, attempt to control the action OF
Kansas in regulating her affairs in her wayY If
Congress- were at liberty to do So without violating
its pledges in the Kansas bill, it would be soon
enough to take such action when those whose rights
and welfare are violated shall have formally submit
tsd their grievances for its consideration. @ nalla
lErstaU ~ fe..
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The first report from the Navy Department under
the administration of Mr. Toucey 10 strictly bust
ness document, presenting condensed yet complete
history Of naval operations during the past year,
and offering various suggestions to promote its eff
iciency and usefulness. The country feels an hon
est pride In the navy, originating with its achieve
ments in defence of the honor and glory of the
public and that pride is not diminished when pre-
vailng peace confines its services to less brilliant,
but not less useful duties Its past history vindi
Gates the assertion that it has always been equal to
the public emergency, and this report contains as
surances that Its condition now is more efficient,
and its preparation for active service complete,
than at any former period. Mr.. Toucey has given
close attention to that arm of the public defence
which Mr. Buchanan has placed in his charge, and
we anticipate for his continued efforts towards it's
Improvement the unanimous applause Of the public,
The home squadron consists of the steam frigates
Wabash and Roanoke the sloops-ofwar Saratoga
and Gyane, and the war steamers Susquehanna and
Fulton. These vessels, with the exception Of the
Cyane, are now on the coast of New Granada and
Costa Rca the unsatisfactory state of affairs in those
countries rendering the presence of an increased ma
val force necessary to protect American interests
The Cyane has been despatched to Cape Haytien to
the relief of an American vessel and two American
seamen, seized upon suspicion by the Haytien gov
ernment., s .. ", . DO
ri The Pacific squadron consisted during the year Of
the frigate Independence the sloops-of-war st.
Mary's, John Adams, and Decatur, and the war
steamer Massachusetts The Independence and Mas
sachusetts have been recently put out Of commits
sion, and the John Adams ordered home. The COM
mander of the st. Mary's visited San Juan del Sur
and aided General Walker and the Americans with
him to escape from Nicaragua. Subsequently, she
visited Jarvis and New Nantucket islands to investi
gate the quantity and quality of their guano depos-
ties Nothing resembling guano was found at either
of those islands The squadron will be reinforced
by the steam frigates Merrmac and Saranac and the
soop Vandalia, now on their way to the Pacific
side. s. ........ .... ...
The Mediterranean squadron consists of the frigae
Congress and sloop Constellation. The steam frigae
Susquehanna was detached from the squadron, and,
after assisting in the unsuccessful attempt to lay
joined the home squadron.
The St. Lawrence, Falmouth, and Germantown
composed the Brazil squadron. The lastnamed ves-
sci has returned home, and the brig Perry will be
despatched in her place. ..
sufficient force has been maintained on the Afri-
can coast to accomplish its main object-being the
observance of the obligations under by the
treaty with England of August 9, ls42 for the sup
preston of the slave trade :...., ~. Of.
The vessels composing the East India squadron
have been the San Jacnto, the Portsmouth, and the
Levant. The latter vessel has been ordered home,
but the squadron will be reinforced by the steam
frigates Minnesota, Mississippi, and Powhatan, and
the sloop Germantown, now on their way out An
insult having been offered to the American flag by
the Cantonese, the squadron attacked the Barrier
forts four in number, mounting l76 guns, and took
were the strongest defences of the Chinese empire,
and commanded the approach to Canton. ~ "@ ~ d
The PEBBLE, the practice ship of the Naval Acad-