Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-12-10

than the estimates of that officer here
tofore submitted, while Il is confidently ex-
peoted that at the close Of the year both dis
bursements and debts will be found very con-
less than has been anticipated
The report of the Secretary Of War is doc
umont Of great interest IL consists of first,
the military operations Of the year, detailed
in the report OF the General chief second,
the organization Of colored persons into the
war service; third, the exchange of prisoners
is fully set forth in the letter OF General Hitch
cock; fourth, operations under the act for en-.
rolling and calling out the National forces,
detailed in the report Of the Provost Marshal
General fifth, the organization Of the Invalid
Corps; sixth, the operat ons of the several de-
partments of the Quartermaster General,
Commissary General Paymaster General,
Chief Of Engineers, Chief of Ordnance and
Surgeon General
Il has appeared impossible to make valu-
able summary Of this report, except such as
would DO too extended for this place, and
hence l content myself in referring your at.
tention to the report itself The duties de-.
volving on the naval brAAch of the service
during the year, and throughout the whole of
this unhappy contest, have been discharged
with fidelity and eminent success. THE ex-
tensive blockade has been constantly increas-
ing in efficiency as the navy has expanded;
yet on 80 long line 1t has so far been impos
sible to entirely suppress illicit trade From
the returns received at the Navy Department.
it appears that more than one thousand yes
sells have been captured since the blockade
was instituted, and that the value of the pri.
zes already sent in for adjudication amounts
to over thirteen million dollars The naval
force of the United States consists, at this
time, of 588 vessels, completed and in the
course Of completion, and OF these Il are iron
clad armored steamers.
The events OF the war give an increased
interest and importance to the Navy, which
will probably extend beyond the war itself
The armored vessels in our Navy, completed
or in service, or which are under contract and
approaching completion, are believed to ex-
ceed in number those Of any other power
But while these may be relied upon for hsrbor
defense, and sea coast service, others of great
er strength and capacity will be necessary for
cruising purposes, and to maintain our right
full position on the ocean The change that
has taken place in naval vessels and naval
warfare since the introduction Of steam as a
motive power for ships of wal, demands either
corresponding change in some OF our existing
nsvy-yards or the establishment Of new ones
for the construction and necessary repair of
modern war Vessels No uncomfortable en-
barrassment, delay and public injury have
been experienced from the want Of such Gov
ernment establishments The necessity of
such navy yard, 50 furnished, at some Suita-
Bile place upon the Atlantic seabo6rd, has, on
repeated occasions, been brought to the attsn-
ton OF Congress by the Navy Department,
aud is again presented ia the report of the
Secretary, which accompanies this communi-
cation. think it my duty to invite your spe-
cial attention to this subject, and also that OF
establishing yard and depot for naval pur-
poses upon one of the Western rivers A
naval force has been created on those interior
waters, and,under many disadvantages, within
little more than two years, exceeding in num-
bers the whole naval force of the country at
the commencement Of the present Admins
tration. Satisfactory and important as has
been the performances of the heroic men ol
the navy at this period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the services of our me
chanics and artisans, in the production oil
war vessels, which has created new form OF
naval power. Our country has advantages
superior to any other nation in our re
sources of iron and timber, with inexhaus
ible quantities Of fuel in the immediate ven
| ity of both, and all accessible and in close
proximity to navigable waters, without the
advantage of public risks, the resources of the
nation have been developed, and its power
! displayed in the construction of q navy Of sucl
magnitude, which has at the very period of it,
creation rendered signal service to the Union
| The increase of the number of seamen in the
public service from 1000 men in the spring
OF 1861, to about $4,000 at the present time
has been accomplished without especial legis
lation, or extraordinary bounties to promot,
that increase. 1t has been found, however
that the operations of the craft, with higl
bounties paid for army recruits, ia beginning
to affect injuriously the naval service and will
if not corrected, oe likely to impair it's eff
cheney by detachng seamen from their prop
er vocation and inducing them to enter tn,
army. l therefore respectfully suggest tina
Congress might aid both the army and nava
service by adequate provision on this subject
which would at the same time be equitable Il
the communities more especially intended
commend to your consideration the sngges
t ons Of the Secretary Of the Navy in regar
to the policy of fostering and training seamei
for naval service. The Naval Academy !
rendering signal service in preparing midshiT
men for highly responsible duties, which i
after life they will be required to perform
In order that the country should not be de
prived Of the proper quota of educated officer
for which legal provision has been made u
the naval school, the vacancies caused by tn
neglect or omission to make nominations fror
the States in insurrection have been filled b
the Secretary OF the Navy The school is no,
more full aud complete than at any previou
period, and in every respect entitled to th
favorable eonGderation Of Congress
During the past fiscal year the Gnaues