East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-12-16
EAST SAGINAW MICHIGAN WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 49, 1863

construction and necessary repair of
modern war vessels. No inconsider-
able embarrassment, delay and public
injury has been experienced from the
want of such government establish
ments. The necessity of such a navy
yard so furnished at some suitable
place upon the Atlantic seabord, has
on repeated occasions been brought to
the attention of Congress by the Navy
Department, and is again presented in
in the report of the Secretary, which
accompanies this communication. /
think it my duty TO invite your special
attention to this subject, and also to
that of establishing a yard and depot
for naval purposes upon one of the
western rivers. A naval forcs has
been created on these interior waters,
ano under many disadvantages, within
little more than two years, exceeding in
numbers the whole naval power of the
country at the commencement of the
present administration. Satisfactory
and important as have been the per-
formances of the heroic men of the
navy at this interesting period, they
are scarcely more wonderful than the
services of our mechanics and artizans
in the productions of war vessels,
which has created new form of ma
val power. Our country has advanta-
ges superior to any other nation, and
10y our resources Of iron and timber
with inexhaustible quantities of fuel
in the immediate vicinity of both, and
at accessible points and in close prox-
unity to navigable waters, without the
advantages of public works, the re-
sources of the nation have been de-
veloped and its power displayed in
the construction of navy of such
magnitude, which has ut the very Pc
rind of its, creation. repdered signal
servise TO the Union. The increase OF
the number Of seamen in the public
service, from 600 men in the spring
of 1861, to about $4,000 at the pres
ent time, has been accomplished with
out especial Legislation or extraordin-
any bounties to promote that increase.
1t has been found, however, that the
operation of the draft with high
bounties paid Cor army recruits, is be-
ginning 70 effect iniuriously the naval
service, and will If not corrected, be
likely to impair its efficiency, 10y de-
taching seamen from their proper vo-
cation, and inducing them to enter
the army. i therefore respectfully
suggest that Congress might aid both
the army and naval service by ade-
quate provision on this subject, which
would, at the same time, be equitable
TO the communitiesmore especially in
terested. / commend to your consid-
Grafton the suggestion of the Secretary
of the Navy in regard to the policy of
fostering and training seamen for ma
val service The Naval Academy is
rendering signal service in preparing
Midshipmen for highly responsible
duties, which, in after life, they will
be required to perform. In order
that the country should not be dopriv-
ed of the proper quota of educated Of
licers, for which legal provision has
been made at the Naval School, the
vacancies caused by the neglect or
omission to make nominations from
States in insurrection, have been filed
by the Secretary of the Navy. The
school is now more full and complete
than at any previous period, and in
every respect entitled to the favorable
consideration Of Congress.
PosTorFIcE DEnRTMESL.
During the past fiscal year, the fin
ancial condition of the Postoiiice De-
partment has been ono of increasing
prosperity, and | am gratifed in be-
ing able to state that the receipts from
postal revenue have nearly equalled
the entire expenditures, the latter
amounting to Sll,3l4, ,2OG.Sl, and the
former to 81, ,lG3, 1859, leaving a
deficiency of but Sl50,4l4.25. The
year Immediately preceding the rebel
lion the deficiency amounted to 3d.
CSC, ,705.59, the postal receipts of that
year being $2,G46, ,722.l9 less than
those of 1868. The decrease since
1850 in the annual amount of trans
portation has been only about twenty
five per cent, but the annual eXpendi-
ture on account of the same has been
reduced thirty-iivo per cent. 1t is
manifest, therefore, that the Postoilice
Department may become self-sustain-
ing in few years, even with the res
toration of the whole service. The
international conference of postal del
egatcs from the principal countries OF
Europe and America which was called
at the suggestion Of the Post Master
May ia5 Hd and q dohcqEScdp qES dpq }r5l lh9 dteer q
tons on the Sth of June. Tho prin-
ciples established by this conference
are best adapted to facilitate postal in
tercourse between nations and as the
basis of future conventions inauguratC
general system of uniform inter.
national charges, at reduced rates oi
postage, and which cannot fail to pro.
!, duce beneficial results.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
i refer you to the report of the Sec
rotary. of the Interior, which is here
, with laid before yon, for useful ant
varied information in relation to pub
lie lands, Indian affairs patents, pen
sions, and other matters of public
: conceIn pertaining to his department
, The quantity of land disposed of du
{ ring the last AMI first quarters of th'
, present fiscal year was 3, ,s41, $40 acre
of which l6l ,9ll acres were sold ioi
} cash; /, l,456,5l4 acres were taken VI
} under lhe homestead law and the res
: idue disposed of under laws granting
/ lands for military bountios, for rail
r roads and other purposes. 1t talso ap
Y pears that the sale Of these lands j
B largely on the increase. 1t has Ion,
: been cherished opinion of some 0
r some of our wiscst statesmen that th
0 people of the United States had
l...k.. oxI ,,,n,.o apIurtpfr ptaroct =,