The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-17
WHOLE, NO., '295.


war, demands either corresponding
change in some of our existing navy
yards, or the establishment of new ones
fol. the construction and necessary re-
pairs of modern war-yessels. No in
considerable embarrassment, q delay,
and publicinjury have been experienced
from the want of such Government
establishments. The necessity of snch
a navy yard, so furnished, at some salt.
able place upon the Atlantic seaboard,
has, on repeated occasions. been
brought to the attention, of Congress
by the Navy Department, and is again
presented in the report Of the Secrets-
ry, which ccompanies this acommuBs
cation. =
think it my duty to invite yogr
special attention to this subject srs
also to that of establishing a. yard, and
depot for naval purpose upon one IS
the western rivers. A naval force has
been created. on these interior waters,
and under many disadvantages, within
little more than two years, exceeding
in numbers, the whole naval force of
the country at the commencement OF
the present A administration. az '.ib no
Satisfactory and important, as has
been the performances of the heroic
men Of the, navy at this sinteresting
period, they are scarcely more won
derfal than the service Of cur necha1.
ics and artisans in the production OF
war vessels. which has created q new
from of naval power. Our country has
advantages superior'to any other ma.
tion in her resource of iron and timber,
with inexhaustabIe quantities Of fuel
in the immediate vicinity Of both. and
in close proximity to, nayigable, waters.
Without'the advantage of pubficworks,
the resources of the nation have been
developed in the construction Of .
navy of such magnitude. which has,
at the very period of its creation,
rendered signal service TO the sUnion.
The increase of the number of seamen
in the public service from 2 900 mens
in the spring of 1861, to about 24.Oo0s
at the present tint, has been accom-
plished without especial legislation and
extraordinary bonntiesf to promote that
increase. II has been foun0, however,
that the operation OF. the draft, with the
high bounties paid for army recruits, Is
beginning to affect injuriousfyd she
naval service, and will, if not correctsd,
be likely to impair the efficiency, BY
detaching seaman from their proper
vocations, and inducing them to enter
the army. l therefore respectfully suga
gest that Congress might aid both
the army and naval service by, ade-
quate provision on this subject, (which
would, at the same time, be equitabie
to the community more especial inter,
ested. ,.... -, -.
l recommend to your consideration
the suggestion of the Secretary ofthe
Navy in regard to the policy of foster
ing and training seamen for the naval
service. The Naval Academy, is ren4
dering signal service in preparing Mida
shipmen for the highly responsible du-
ties which in after life they will be re-
CURED ouperform, oinhorder4 that tha
country should not be deprived ofedu.
Gated officers, for which legal provis-
ions has been made. .i,'s -. ..;f n
At the naval school the vacancies
caused by the neglect or omissicsf TO
make nominations from States in ihFiirs
rection have been filed by the Sc :,
tary 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,
THE POST oFEIcE DEPARTMENT.
During the past fiscal year the fipaps
eial condition of the, Post Office De.
partmeDt has been one of increas ing
prosperity, and am gratifed in being
able to state that the receipts of the
pocf al ;ro,,on,o 4 no rI,, 90 =, iad ha :