Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-05
10 come, would serve TO mark the limi "a Of

time to come, would serve TO mark the limits Of
these States.
To make the protection Of the capital com.
plete, In consideration Of the large accession of
territory which Maryland would receive under
ihs arrangement proposed, it would he necessary
that that State. should consent so 20 modify her
Constitution ss to limit the basis Of her represen-
tation TO her white population.
In this connection, It would be the part Of wis
dom TO reannex to the District Of Columbia that
portion OF Its original limits which by act of
Congress was fetroceded to the State of Virginia
IL IL already grave qsestion, what shall be
done with those slaves who are abandoned by
their owners on the advance Of our troops into
southern territory, as at Beaufort district in South
Carolina.
The number left within our control at that
point !: very considerable and similar cases will
probably occur. What shall be doue with them
Can we afford to send them forward to their m is.
ters 10 be by thtm aroused against u.s. or used In
PrSSucta suPpates 10 sustain rebeIlionf ---- -
Their labor may be useful TO us Withheld
rom the enemy, 1t lessons his military resources;
ana Withholding them has no tendency to reduce
the hofrors Of insurrection In the rebel CON-
munitiss.
They constitute military resource, and being
such, that they should not be turned over to the
enemy, is too plain 20 discuss why deprive of
supplies by blockade and volunteers! Give
him men to produce supplies The despotIsm TO
be made Of sIavry by rebels after the close OF the
ism Of Congress
>, The representatives. Of the people will unques-
tionaolV secure to the lOval SHAREHOLDERS eyery
Tight to which they entitled under the Consti.
tution Of the country.
Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
Tie duties OF the navv during the past summer
have been threefcld: to guard the insurgent morris
ana coast line of nearly three thousaI miles. To
protect our marit me commerce and cruise In pur.
sur Oh Pliahcal vessels sent out by the confede-
ratesi and o take part IN combined naval and
military expeditions sgainst North and South
carolina. and the ports Of the Infected dis riots
,.Ts Port OF the Secretary Of the Navy gives de-
jailed Information Of the1oanner In which thtse
houous duties have been performed
vessels nave been sunk In OcTacOke Inlet on
tue North Carolina coast and others IRE about TO
oe sunk In the harbOrs Of Charleston and Savan-
One hundred and ffty-three vessels, OF various
slzrs have beea captured since the institution Of
.ne o!ockade, most Of them in attempting to run
The Naval expeditions were, 1t seems, planned
aIter receiving the reports Cf board of oficers
q. !, oefatsd on the best points TO be attacked
Snn ms board consisted Of Captains
r dupont and Charles Davis OF the Navy;
MAJOR John Barnard, Of the Army; and Pro-
lessor Alexander Bache, of the Coast survey.
eota SsciSary reports that flg ofh 3er A. H
roote, OF the Navy, has organized an efficient
Army. ~ 'Ae
or Privateero, the report states that "sucb Of
these cruisers as eluded the blocka and capture
were soon wrecked, beached or sunk will the
exception OF one, the steamer Sumter which bv
some fatality was permitted to pass the BYookIvn
.oen oloc sading one Of the passes OF the Missis-
Hppi, and after brief and feeble chase by the
Iatter was allowed to proceed on her piratical
voyage. An investigation Of this whole occur.
renee has been ordered by the department.
Inc secretary fully su>tains the set of Csp.ain
wilkes In capturing Mason and Slidell Hesays
admirably:
The prompt and decisive action OF CAPTAIN
wilkes Oh this occasion merlted and receive the
/ lnff fhoA
generous forbeaSance was exhibited by him In
not capturing the vessel which had these rebel
emissafles on board, It may, In view Of the spe-
ciai circumstances, and OF its patriotic motives
be excused; but IL must by no means he nermit
TED 10 constitute q precedent hereafter for the
treatment OF any case Of similar infraction of neu.
commerce or the carrying trade -
Ihefe were. on the ith Of March last in com.
mission and at the service of the Secretary of the
Navy, sN only ~ vessels, carving SIS guns, and
vessels, carrying 557 guns, and over % 600 mrn!
Lnis 10 an immense work to do In little more than
ely ht months Besides this, there will be ready
snoIuyI nity-tWo new steamers, peculiarly
iron-clad.
Ihe Secretary advises the creation of more
giaoss In The naval service, likely to add to the
EN- iency OF the work, by making the rewards
more frequent. Alro, he recommends rule that
onicers De retired with a sufficient allowance
afer forty-fve years service. twenty five act
AcuschohboD Aout uu1ulcQ dnQ tnlfly-thre6
acting masters, and two hundred and nine ms s.
teTs mates, have been appointed, In order 10 have
om GERS enough Tor the SO larg increased navy
Ihefe nave also been acting engineers and sur
veyOTs appointed
The Secretary asks Congress to foster the Ma
val school To such a degree that at least double
Ine usual number Of cadets may be instructed.
fugiIives:n "
''In the coastwise and blockading duties Of the
SaSyl IL mas been not unfrsquent that fugitives
rom lnsurrectionary places have soug ht our shi %
Tor refuge and protection, and our naval com
mandefs have applied to me for Instruction as to
the proper disposition which should be made of
sucn refugees My answer has been that, II insur-
gents, they should be handed over to the custody
OF the Governments but If, on the contrary they
were ifee from any voluntary participation In
tne feDeulon, ana sought the shelter and protec-
non OF our nag, then they should be cared for and
employed In some useful manner, and mig htS De
enlisted 70 serve on our pubic vessels or In our
navy yards, receiving wages for their labor III
such employment could not be furnished TO all
oy the navy, they might be referred to the army,
and II no employment could be found for them
In the public service, they should be allowed to
proceed freely and peaceably, without restraint,
70 seek a livelihood in any loyal portion Of the
country This have considered TO be the w whole
required duty, In the premises, Of our naval
onncersD
The naval estimates for the year ending June
30, 1868, amount 10 s44 625 665; and besid this
The Secretary reports a deficit Of Sl6 $50 coo
needed Tor current expenses to pay for vessels
purchased, and for necessary alterations incurred
In fitting them for naval purposes frr the pur-
chase Of additional vessels, and for the constr G.
uon ana completion OF twenty iron-clad vessels.
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