The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-12-07

States. 1t does not admit of doubt that
important commercial advantages might
be secured by favorable treaties with
them.
The operations OF the Treasury during
the period which has elapsed since your
adjournment, have been conducted with
signal success, The patr .otism of the
people has placed at the disposal Of the
Government the large means demanded
by the public exigencies.
Much of the national loan has been
taken 10y citizens of the industrial classes,
whose confidence In their country's faith
and zeal for THEN countrys delivcrance
from its present peril, have induced them
to contribute to the support Of the Gov
ernment the whole Of their limited acqui-
sitions. This fact imposes peculiar obi
cations to economy III disbursement and
energy III action
The revenue from all sources, including
loans, for the tincncial year ending on the
30th June, 1861, was -, S,6S3, ,O2T, and
the expenditures for the same period, in
Guiding payments on account of the public
debt, were $S,lj7, ,S03, ,434, leaving bal
ance in the Treasury on the lst Of July Of
81 2j1 $50 93 For the first quarter of the
financial year ending 3 til September,
ing the balance from July lst, were SlG2,
5G2 .jV927, the expenses fOa2a9, l5j O1,
leaving a balance on the lst Of OctoLer,
1861, Of @i92 11G.l8. Estimates for the re
naming throc-quarteis OF the year and Tor
the financial year CT lcU2, together with
his views Of tie ways and means for meet
ing the demands contemplated by them,
will be submitted 10 Congress by the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury.
Il Is gratifying 10 know that the eXpen-
ses mad. neccs,-~v by the rebellion are
not bevond the resources Of the .yyri peo-
rie. and to believe that the same patriot
ism which has thus lar sustained the Gov
eminent viii continue to sustain 1t TIL
peace and union shall again bless The
land
| respectfully refer TO the report Of the
Secretary of War for information respect
ing the numerical strength Of the army,
aud for recommendations having in view
an increase Of its efficiency, and the Wei
being Of the various branches Of the ser
vice entrusted TO his care.
It IS gratifying to know that the patriot
ism O! the people is equal to the occasion
nd the number o! troops rendered. great
ly exceeds the force which Congress au-
thoriz-d me 10 call into the field, | refer
with pleasure, to those portions OF ms re
port which make allgsiou 10 the credit
able degree OF discipline already attained
10y our troops. and to the excellent sanI-
tary condition Of the entire army.
The recommendation by the Secretary
for an organization Of tine militia upon a
uniform basis is a subject OF vital import
tance TO the future safety Of the country.
and is commended 10 thes"riOus attention
Of Congress \ large addition to the reg
ular army in connection with the deiec-
ton that has 50 considerably diminished
the number Of its officers, gives peculiar
Importance to his recommendation for
increasing the corps of cadets 10 the great
er capacity OF the Military Academy
By mere omission. presume, Congress
has failed to paovide Chap.aius for the
hospitals occupied by volunteers. This
subject was brought TO my notice. and
was induced to throw of the form Of a
letter, one copy of which was properly
addressed to each Of the persons, and at
tine dates respectively named and stated
in a schedule containing also the form
of the letter. marked 4, and herewith
transmitted. These gentlemen, | under
stand. entered upon duties designated at
the times respectively stated in the sched-
ulc. and have !aLored faithfully therein
ever siace. !. therefore, recommend that
they be compensated at the same rate as
charlains in the army. | further suggest
that general provision be made for chap
lains to serve at hospitals, as well as with
regiments.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
presents in detail the operations Of that
branch of the service and the activity and
i,ig oh Z.
miLisirat!on and the results Of measures
to increase is efficiency and power. Such
have been the additions by construction
and purchase, that it may almost be said
a navy has been created and brought into
service since our difficulties commenced.
Besides b!ockadiug our extensive coast,
squadrcns, larger than ever before assem-
bled under our tiaC, have been put afloat
and performed deeds which have inc; cas-
ed our naval reuown. | weUld invite
special attention to the Recommendation
Of the Secretary of the Navy for more
perfect organization of the Navy by intro.
GucIng additional grades in the seryice.-
The present organization i defective and
unsatisfactory, and the suggestion submit
ted by the Department WILL it Is believed
if adopted, obyiate the difficulties alluded
to. promote harmony and increase the
efficiency OF the Navy.
/ | respectfully recommend 10 the con
sideration of Congress, the present condi
/ ton of the statute laws, with the hope
/ that Congress Will be able to find an easy
remedy for the many inconveueucies and
I evils whic constantly embarrass those en-
gagged in the practical administrations
/ Since the organization of the Government
/ Congress has enacted some five Thousand
/ acts and Joint resolutions which fill more
than two thousand closely printed pages
and are scattered through many volumes
| Many of these acts have been drawn il
haste and without sufficient caution, :,
that their provisions are often obscure il
/ themselves or in conflict with each other
and at least so doubtful as to render i
difficult for even the best informed per
sons to ascertain precisely what the stat
ute law really Is.
/ 1t seems to me very important that the
statute law should be made as plain anC
ineligible as possible and be reduced tC
as small compass as may consist Will
the iullness and precision of the will o
! the Legislature and the pcrspicuity of it
I language These well done would,
think, greatly facilitate the labors of those
whose duty it is to assist in the admins
I trajlOn Oh TIE !dNS, NOuI' bt ii las III
I benefit to the people by placing before
them, in more accessible and intelligible
| form. the laws which so deeply concern
! their interest and their duties.
| am informed by some whose opinion:
/ l respect, that all the acts Of Congress now
( in force and Of permanent and genera
nature, might be revised and rewritten
so as to be embraced in one volume, or a
least two volumes, of ordinary and convc
nent size, and | respectfully recommend
to Congress. to consider the subject and i
my suggestion be approved, to devise such
a plan, as to their wisdom shall seem mos
proper for the attainment OF the end pro
posed.
| There are three vacancies on the bench
! Of the Surname Cnurt-tWO by the deceast