Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-12-16

Sd. Exchange of prisoners. tuih ~et
forth in the letter Of Gen. HiIchc"ck
ith. Operations under the sci for enroll
ing and calling out the nationsl forces de.
tailed in the report of the Provost Marshal
General.
5th. The organization OF the Invalid
Corps, and.
OH. The operation of the several De-
partments of the QusrteImssTPr General.
Commissary General, Paymssier Gener-
eral, Chief of Engineers. Chiet OF Ordi-
nance and Surgeon General. Ii has sp-
feared impossible to make valuable sum-
mary of this Report, except such ss would
be too extended for this place, and hence
content myself in referring your atten-
ZION to the report itself. The duties de-
volving on the naval branch Of the ser
vice during the year, and throughout the
whole of this unhappy contest, have been
discharged with fidelity and eminent sue
cess. The extensive block ade has been
constantly increasing in efficiency, as The
navy has expanded. Yet not so long a
line it has SO far been impossible to en-
tirely suppress illicit trade. From the re-
turns received at the Navy Department.,
il appears that more than one thousand
vessels have been captured since the
blockade was instituted, and that the val
ue of prizes already sent in for adjudica-
ton. amount to over Sl3, 100000. The
naval force of the United States consists.
st this time, of 5SSvessels, completed snd'
in the course of oompletion; and of these
75 are iron clad srmored steamers. The
events of the war gives an increased IN
terest and importance 10 the navy. which
will probably extend beyond the war it.
self. The a1mored vessels iii our navy
completed and in service or which are
under contract and approaching compile
ton, are believed to exceed i'll number
those of any other Power: but while these
may be relied upon for harhor defence
and sea coast survey, Others OF greater
strength and capacity will be necessary
for cruizing purposes, and To maintain
our rightful position on the ocean.
The change that has taken place III LEA,
val vessels and naval warfare since the
| introduction of steam as a motive lower
for ships of war. demands either cores
ponding change in some of cur existing
navy wards, OF the establishment OF new
ones. for the construction and necessary
repair of modern war vessels. No ineon-
siderable embaIrass ment, delay and pub
lie injury has been experienced from the
want Of such Government establishments.
The necessity of such navy yards so fur
nished at some suitable place upon the
Atlantic seaboald, has on repeated occa-
sions. been brought to the attention Of
Congress by the Navy Department, andis
again presented in the report of the See
retary, which accompanies this communa.
cation. / think it my duty 10 invite your
special attention to this subject, and also
to that of establishing yard and depot
for naval purposes upon one Of the West
ern rivers. A naval force has been created
on these interior waters and under many
disadvantages within little or more than
two years, exceeding in numbers hewhoie
naval force of the country al the con-
mencement of the present Administra-
ton. Satisfactory and important as have
been the performance of the heroic men
of the Navy at this interesting period,
| they are scarcely more wonderful than the
services of our mechanics and artlzans IN
| the production of war vessels which have
created a new form of naval power. Our
country has advantages superior TO any
other nation in our resources OF iron and
timber with inexhaustible qualities OF
fuel in the immediate vicinity of both, and
all accessible, and in close proximity to
nayigable waters, without the advantage
of public works. The resources of the
nation have been developed, and its pow
er displayed in the construction of navy
of such magnitude, and which at the very
period of its creation, rendered signal ser
vice TO the Union. The increase of the
number of seamen in the public service
from 900 men in the spring OF 1861, TO
about "a, 900 at the present time, has been
accomplished without especial legislation
or extraordinary bounties TO promote that
increase. 1t has been found, however,
that the operation of the draft with high
bounties paid for army recruits is be
ginning 10 affect injuriously the naval
service, and will, if not corrected, be
likely to impairits efficiency by detaching
seamen from the proper vocation and in
ducing them to enter the army. there
fore respectfully suggest that Congress
might aid both the army and naval ser
vice by adequate provision on this sub
liect, which would at the same time be
even to the communities more especially
interested.
l commend to your consideration the
suggestion of the Secretary of the Navy,
lin regard to the policy of fostering and
Naval Academy is rendering signal ser
vice 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 deprived of Its
proper quota of educated officers, Tor
which legal provision has been made at
the Naval School. The vacancies caused
by neglect CT omission TO make nomlna-
. tions from the States in insurrection have
been filed by theaSecretary of the Navy.
The school is uow more full and complete
than at sny previous period, and IN every
respect entitled to the favorable consid'
Grafton of Congress.
: During the past fiscal year the imam
. cial condition of the Post Office Depart
ment has been one of increasing prosper
, ity, and | am gratifed in being able &c
, state that the receipts of postal revenue
have nearly equalled the entire expedl
lures, the latter amounting to eleven mil
lion three hundred and fourteen thousand
dollars and eighty-four cents, and the Tor
mer to eleven million one hundred anc
: sixty-three thousand seven hundred ano
eighty nine dollars and nine cents, leay
ing a deficiency of but one hundred ano
, thirty thousand four hundred and seven
; teen dollars and twenty-five cents. In 1860
5 the year Immediately preceding the re
: bellion, the deficiency amounted to 50,
; CSC, Al; the postal receipts of thai
year being S2,645, 722, l9 less than those o
/ 1868. The decrease since 1860 in the an
: nual amount of transportion has beer
I only about 25 per cent, but the annua
/ expenditures on account of the same, ha'
2 been reduced IS per cent. 1t ismanIfest
: therefore, that the Post Office Depart
e ment may become self sustaining in
? few years even with the restoration OF th'
: whole service. The International Confer
/ ence of Postal Delegates from the princi
e pal countries of Europe and America
' which which was called at the suggestion
: of the Post Master General. met at Pari
4 on the llth of May last, and concluded
: its deliberations on the Sth of June. Tn
s principles established by the conferenc
. as best adapted to facilitate postal inter
!, course between nations, and as a basis o