The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-09

protection due 10 them
The Saratoga under Commander Turner and the Ply
mouth under Commander Dahgren touched at the Island
OF Navasa in pursuance Of instructions TO look after the
interests of citizens engaged in removing therefrom
deposit of guano. They had been Interrupted by two
Hyten vessels and ordered to their operations
and leave the island This island is about forytive
miles from st Domingo and seventy five from Jamaica.
Commander Turner the senior officer, had been instruct
ed to investigate the matter and TO give such protection
circumstances should require Finding the complaints
OF citizens TO be well founded he proceeded 10 Port
Prince, communicated the views of government,
and demonstrated against the pursued towards
those who engaged In removing guano from the
Island Of Navassa He afterwards touched again at the
island and found all things we'll The had resumed
their operations and further interruption antcipa
ted.
The sloop-ofwar Plymouth under Commander Dahl
gren while attached TO the home squadron, visited Tam
pco in October in consequence of certain forcd loans
levied upon American residents by General Garza the
governor of Tamauipas Commander Dahlgren, in COM
p,ay with the United States CONSUL had an interview
with General CARA and demonstrated against his
Subsequently,, the arrival of the Plymouth at
Vera Cruz he represented in person to President Juarez
the improper which General Cara pursuing
and obtained from him the that the proceed
ngs complained Of contrary to regulations and that
such levies would be exaeted in future
The Fulton, under Lieut.. Almy, sent in the spring
from the Central American coast TO inquire into the cir
cumstanccs attending the detention of American
chant vessels at Tampco He arrived of the bar April
10. Lieut.. Amy found the two forcesgovernment and
revolutionary against each other The latter un-
der General Cara, beseging the city. Five American
vessels had been fired into and detained seized half
the cargo thrown ashore, and the captain imprisoned
General Cara had established custom house at the
trance a the river where he required all merchant
sells pay duties and detained such refused although
they had already paid duties at the government custom
house at 1ampco Lieut. Amy entered the river with the
Fulton placed her in position with her guns ready, and
monstraed against the action of Gen Garz demanding
the release of the captain and the vessels which de-
tanned, all which was granted Lieutenant Amy course
fully approved by the department The Fulton
manned at Tampoo until May when peace and quiet had
been restored
At San Juan del Sur, in Nicaragua in August, two
citizens of the United States seized in their houses
by the military authorities and unjustly thrown into
prison Captain Kelly of the steamfrgate Saranac then
lying in the harbor satisfied of the injustice of their inn
prsonment, demanded their release and threatened to
effect it by force Before the threat carried into
ecution though not until preparations made for that
purpose they released and the ar passed off with
out serious difficulty the military governor, who had
been absent returning home and disappearing of the
action Of his deputy.
last landed detachment of marines at Montevideo
When he arrived there portion OF the people had taken
up and were advancing to the capital The govern
men applied to the foreign agents to land armed force
to protect the lives and property of the foreign residents
sufficient force thereupon landed from the vessels
present and Flag Officer Forrest selected to command it.
A strict neutrality observed. The detachments
turned to their respective ships in about ten days without
coming into collision with the revoutionss they having
capitulated on their approach to the capital.
These particular instances of direct interference
mentioned as illustrative of the manner in which the
officers and vessels attached to the several squadrons
employed in protecting American interests within the
limits of their respective stations They actively
gagged in visiting important points displaying the Ame
flag in remote seas incrposng when necessary, in
spring citizens in distant countries with feeling of
security and exetng salutnry influence those who
might otherwise be disposed to annoy them At pc
riod when not actually engaged in has the
tbo
year.
To the reports from the several bureaus refer for
particular account of their transactions than have
able give consistently with the brcvity required
in general report. They show the condition of the
navy-yards of the naval asylum hospitals and maya
zines, of the ordnance department proper the Naval
Academy, the Naval Observatory, the shpsof-war
under construction and the complete and ample provs
ions made, with exceptions which have been
noticed for the Of those engaged in the naval
vice. They exhibit statements of expenditures in their
respective branches and estimates in detail Of what will
be required for the ensuing fiscal year TO
incubation in relation to the naval asylum, would par
ticularly advert-that of permitting the disabled or
worn-out seaman who has home of his own, to which
lie has returned to pass the remainder OF his days. TO
main there and receive annual stipend in money, in
stead of compelling him to leave it and resort the
asylum to obtain the benefit of the provision which the
government has made for him out of his earnings
would recommend the enactment of law authorizing
this to be done.
. transmit herewith communication from the Super
nenden of the Naval Observatory, setting forth what
has been accomplished by him and those under his inn
mediate supervision and what the wants Of the
institution Ia reference to Of these wants. would
observe that they arise from egencies of the naval
vice, which deemed imperative than some of
tue astronomical duties which have been supposed to
fall within the scope of the Naval Observatory These
duties committed to the charge of u distinguished
astronomer who is aided in the performance of them by
the professors of mathematics The other duties of the
Naval Observatory connected with the examination of
the logs of vessels transmitted there the acerainng Of
prevailing winds and currents and the preparations of
sailing directions supposed to be within the compe
ency of accomplished naval Officers who have graduated
at the Naval Academy with distinction and in detailing
them for duty at the Naval Observatory special reference
Is now always had their qualifications for this service
In commenting the subject of this communication to
particular attention. should do injustice to my
victons not to express my high appreciation of
the abors OF Commander Naury bestowed upon his Wind
and Current Charts and Sailing Directions for years
past, and Of the benefits conferred by him upon
by giving the results of those abors to the world
They in fact part and parcel of the present universal
policy of civilized nations TO shorten and accelerate the
transit from place to place. FOR all purposes of commerce
and intelligence, to the utmost possible extent.
For the support of the navy and marine corps and all
other subjects under the control of the Navy Department
for the fiscal year ending June So 1853 the estimates
SIS, S03,2l2 II; appropriations, sl4 2i0 247 81
expenditures, ,6sf rs there having been some
curament of expenditures by Of the falling off of
the revenue.
For the fiscal year ending June 80 1852 the estimates
S14 6l6,29S % appropriations, S14 sos, 1854 o.
these having been largely rctrenched in consequence of
the dminuton of the revenue, and again increased by
approprating ST, 100000 for eight lightdraught