Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-06

ganization, and the Federal authority is al
legged to be excluded from all participation in
the governmental affairs of the Territory, be-
yond mere hollow show. In this connection
the hazardous march Of Capt. r. B. Marcy
from Fort Bridger to New Mexico, is com
mented on at considerable length and that
officer and his command receive the highest
encOmiums for their intrepidity and courage.
In referring 10 the Quartermaster's Bureau,
the Secretary states that if the appropriations,
granted by Congress in June last, could have
been obtained in January, at least IS per cent.
Of the expenditures for the purchase of supplies
for the Utah expedition could have been saved.
As II was, in order to start the expedition at
seasonable time, the purchases had to be made
under the disadvantages of credit, or with
money obtained from private sources: Inc
disbursements amount to nearly SlO,OOo,O0o
during the year; and yet every account has
been closed, and the vouchers filed, except for
S2S 600, not yet received, on account OF the dis
lance of the officer making the disbursement
from the seat of Government. The Secretary
takes occasion to relieve this bureau from I'm
just animadversions, by stating that, whilst pay
ments are necessarily made through its agency,
it has no voice in directing when, how, or to
what extent they shall be made. In the Com
missary's Bureau there was no inadequacy Of
funds, and supplies of a better quality were
purchased, at lower rates than for years past.
economy, the increase Of the army; and also
an increase of the national defences, by
gradual process but thinks that it is incum-
bent upon the Government to secure eligible
locations for their erection, as early as possible,
before private enterprise shall avail OF them
for other purposes. Lengthy chapters are de-
voted to summaries of operations in the con-
struction of military roads, and conducting
explorations and surveys. The Immediate in
PRODUCTION of thousand camels, for transport
ing troops and baggage over the plains, is
recommended as n measure of wise economy.
Highly beneficial results are believed to be at
tainable by the conversion of the asylum at
Hsrrodsburg, Ky, into a cavalry depot, whore
recruits in the cavalry arm of the service may
be drilled. The Artillery School at Fort Mon
roe is reported to fully realize the most san
guine expectations, and the purchase of an
adjoining piece of ground is recommended, so
as to afford a sufficient range for practice with
heavy guns. The appointments of an additional
Inspector General is recommended; as is also
the consolidation of the Corps of Engineers
and Typographical Corps; that staff officers,
from the heads of bureaus down, be required
to serve periodically in the field that three
additional Brigadier Generals be appointed;
that the buildings at the Washington Arsenal
be improved, and that volunteer claims be
settled.
On the subject of expenditures. the Secretary
remarks that the disbursements through this
Department embrace many subjects entirely
disconnected with the Army proper, such as
Notifications along the sea coast, improvement
of rivers and harb ors, and the construction of
public buildings and other works The attempt
has been made to curtail the disbursements as
far as possible; aud the estimates for the next
fiscal year are less by 50, 100, 4S9 80 than the
appropriations, and by So, 735, 40S 35 than the
estimates for last year. They amount, in the
aggregate, to SIS ,0I0, O90 %.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
This document which fills fifteen pages, is also
highly interesting. 1t opens with an account
of the arrest of Walker in Nicaragua, and fol-
lows this with sketch of the operations to pre-
vent the visitation and search of American yes
sells by British war steamers, and statement
OF the progress made in the Paraguay exped-
ton. The Secretary recommends the purchase
of the steamers now chartered for that purpose,
as the additional cost, beyond that VIII ich will
have to be paid for their charters, will be only
81 ~ zoe for the six propellers and S2l7 900 for
the three side-wheel steamers
The fitting out Of the expedition under Lieut.
Brooke, to survey the routes across the Pacific,
from San Francisco to China, and to prepare
charts thereof, Is next noticed, and then follows
short notices OF the capture of the SLAYER Echo,
the laying Of the Atlantic able. the capture of
the ketch yacht " Brothers" the return to
Africa of the Echo cargo of slaves, &c
The five steam sloops-of-war authorized to
be built by the act of March 3 1851 il is sta ted
will soon he completed. They are all of the
first class sloops, and will be swift and effective
for the service. The seven steam screw sloops-
Ot-war and the side wheel steamer, authorized
by the act of June, 1855 are also in a state of
great forwardness Five of them will be
launched this month, and ready for sea in May
and fhnr l..
spring, and ready for trial by June The side
wheel steamer will be finished August next.
The plan of construction Of all these has been
with q view to make them most seryiceable and
OF highest speed
The Secretary urges the Importance of a
further increase Of the Navy, and recommends
that authority be given for the construction OF
at least ten more steamers of light draft. The
enlargement and improvement Of the Naval
Academy at Annapolis is also recommended
| and the deficiency of midshipmen and officers
IN the service urged argument in its
| favor Several other recommendations are
made, among which may be enumerated the
addition Of 20 Surgeons, 20 Assistant Surgeons,
and ID or 20 Pursers, and the increase of the
Marine Corps 10 =, O0O prIvates from ,56S the
present number. After stating various other
matters OF interest, 20 nearly all OF which, how
ever, illusions have already been made in the
newspapers, the report concludes with an ac-
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, the
estimates are Sl3 500, $40 So including 1914 600
for completing the eight light draught steam.
ess, and not including the usual compensation
OF $685. $50 for steamship mail service which
| is less than the estimates for 1859 by about
| 81 ,l00,O eco.
REroRr OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREAS.
URr.-This is lengthy document. and con ,ains
a large quantity of statistical matter Owing
to the depletion Of the Treasury, there has been
no little speculation concerning it; and the
mooted alteration Of the tariff law has excited
great deal Of interest everywhere, and gene
| rated intense anxiety in some circles. From
the array of facts presented by the Secretary,
1t seems evident that there has already been a
sufficient revival Of trade to insure, under the
existing tariff law, an adequate revenue in a
l little time; but the estimate for the ensuing
year apprehends a deficiency of 81, 9I4, 576.
DeemiDg loan inadvisable, the Secretary sug.
| gests that the only remedy is a modification OF
the tariff, and adds that the same principle
| should apply in making these notifications that