The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-12-17


fence and seacosst service, others OF
greater strength and capacity will be
necessary for cruising purposes, and 20
our rightful position on tho
ocean. ....rr.. ...f
The change that has taken place in
naval vessels and naval warfare, since
the introduction Of st'am o. motive
power for ships Of war, demands either
corresponding change in some OF our
existing navy yards, or the establish
ment Of new ones for the construction
and necessary repair Of modern war
vessels. No uncomfortable embarrass-
ment, delay and public injury have
been experienced from the want of such
Government establishments. The ne
cessity Of such navy yard, 40 furnish
ed, at some suitable place upon the At
lantic sesboard, has, on repeated occa-
sions, beeus brought to the attention Of
Congress by the Navy Department, and
is again presented in the report of
the Secretary, which accompanies this
comm unication. .....
l think it my duty to invite your
special attention to this subject and al
so that of establishing yard and depot
for naval purposes upon one Of the
Western rivers. A naval force has been
created on these interior waters and un-
der many disadvantages, within little
more than two years, sxeeedi ng in num-
bers the whole naval force of the coun-
try at the commencement o { the pres.
ent Administration. Satisfactory and
important as have been the performano.
es Of the heroic men of the navy at this
period, they are scarcely more wonder
Hul than the services of our mechanics
and artisans in the production of wor
vessels which have created new form
of naval power. Our country has ad-
vantages superior to any other nation
in our resources Of iron and timber,
with inexhaustible quantities of fuel in
the immediate vicinity of both, and all
accessible and in close proximity to nav.
igabe waters without the disadvantage
of public risks. The resources of the
nation have been developed, and its
power displayed 10 the construction OF
a navy of such magnitude, which has at
the very period of its creation, render
ed signal service to the Union.
The increase of the number OF sea
men in the public service, from 1000
men in the spring of 1861, to about "a
600 at the present time, has been ac-
complished without especial legislation,
or extraordinary bountics to promote
that increase. 1t has been found, how
ever, that the operations Of the draft,
with the high bounties paid for army
recruits, is beginning to affect injuri.
ously the naval service, and will, If not
corrected, be likely to impair its eficien-
cy, by detaching seamen from their
proper vocation, and inducing them to
enter the army. | therefore respectful
ly suggest that Congress might aid both
the army and naval service by adeq uate
provision on this subject, and which
would at the same time be equitable to
the communities more especially inter.
ested:
| commend to your consideration the
suggestions of the Secretary of the Ma.
:, Wy in regard to the policy of fostering
and training seemsn for naval service
The Naval Academy is rendering sigma
service in preparing midshipmen for
the highly responsible duties, which ia
after life they will be required to per.
Il form. In order that the country she ulG
r, not be deprived of the proper quota Ot
!. educated officers, for which legal. pro
d vision has been made at tho nava
.e school, the vacancies caused by tho neg,
y lect or omission to make nomination.
IS from the States in insurrection, hav,
20 been filled By the Secretary of the Ma
rs Wy. The school is now more full an
v complete than at any previous period
rs and in every respect entitled TO the ia
Is Vorable consideration of Congress.
lie THE PosroTFIoE DErARrMENr.
of During the past fiscal year the fnau
a. cial condition of the PoStofice Depart
N ment has been one of increased pro
ed perity, and | am grati6ed in being ab
IS to state that the receipts Of postal rev,
OF nue. have nearly equaled the entire Q,
We penditure, the latter amounting to Gle,
en- million three hundred and fourtes
n thousand dollars and eighty-fOur cent
he and the former to eleven million Of
e. hundred and sixty-thresthOusan nd sew,
hundred and eighty nine dollars 81
W, fifty nine cents, leaving a deficiency
ire but sl5O,4l7 25. In 1860, the ys,
m immediatly pTeesdiDg the rebellion, Il
M deficiency amounted to s5, $50, ,7o5 40
lie The postal receipts Of that year We