The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-12-30

departments OF tnOSe STATES, ana tuelr 0ppuca-
tion to the payment Of mail contractors for
superintehdenes of ths. local post Offices, and
the oontfacfs for carrying the mail for the
temporary employment Of proper spersous TO
fulfill the duties Of postmasters and contrac.
fors ins urgent Gases, pntl appointnaents can
be made, and for the like purposes, Withous
some legislative provision on che subject, there
is serious risk of the destruction of the mail
BY reason of.the delays1and shardships
suffered bt cqhtracfors under the present sys-
tenn, which requires constant reference to
Riohmond Of their accounts, as well as the re.
turns Of the local postmasters, before they can
receive payment for services rend cred. Like
provision is also necessary in tie Treasury
Departnent; Will, for military affairs, Il
would seem to be sufficient tosauthorize the
President an lsSecretary of War togdeleeate to
the commanding general so much of the dis
cretionary powers vested in them by law a
the exigeneies of the service shall require.
e - NAVY. . 9
4 The report of the Secretary Of The nary gives
in detail the operations of that department.
since January last, embracing information. oil
tie disposition and employment of the vessels
officers and men, and the construction of ves-
sells at Richmond, Wilmington, Charleston,
sSayappah Mobile, Selma, and on the rivers
1soadohSt 4tCasCJ 04CCt .OudJlduOOc1o anu
Tombigbee the accumulation of ship timber
and supplies, and the manufacture of ordna ce
stores and equipments. The foun dries and
workshops have been greatly improved, and
their capacity to supply all demands for heavy
ordnance for coast and harbor defances il on.
~ limited by our deficiency in the requisits
skilled labor. The want of such. labor and Of
seamen seriously affects the operations of the
department -
Z Tho skill courage and activity Of our crnis-
ers at sea cannot be too highly commended.--
They have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy
without suffering single disaster, and have
seriously damaged the shipping interests Of
the United States by compelling their foreign
commerce to seek the protection of neutral
flags.
Your attention is invited to the suggestions
of the report on the subjects of supplying sea.
man for the service, and of the provisions ol
the law in relation TO the volunteer navy. :
POST OFFICE.
The Postmaster General reports the receipt.
of that Department for the fscal-year ending
the 30th june last to have been So, ,337, ,953, 81,
and one expenditures for the same period 81.
662,804 81. The statements thus exhibits an
excess of receipts amounting to $375,048 A
instead Of deficiency of more than million
Of dollars, az was the case in tho preceding
fiscal year. 1t is gratifying to perceive that
the Department. has Thus been made self-sus-
tanning, ID aeeordauce With sonnI .princip1e,
and with The express requirements of the con-
constitution thatits expenses should be paid
out of its own revenues after the LIST March,
1863. sSssss s,
The report gives full and satisfactory ac-
count of the operations Of the Post Once De-
partment forsfhe last year, and explains the
measures adopted for giving more certainty
and reeularity to the service IN the Staten be-
yond the Mississippi, aud on which reliance is
placed for obviatine the difficulties heretofore
encountered in that service.
The settlement of the accounts of the de-
partmeftii is greatly tlelave3Sbv; rsason of the
inability of The First Ai3t3;for to nerform ali
a. 49, - :. - -zEsS M
sne uu'.es e IN p9seu gu MN py1ew. Ing @ ac-
T,.a SSaas - Rail..geu ERl .. o1a. q tl9 NJ
sus = q S..
sissu py saas oacsr, ~ ,n9re fns u
s;.a -. s no.s e..ue ne nsces-
sL - - eAanslpe aru ses''e
.re aocpunss ~, u usPat' nieas 80 extensive as
! gay a',.e = sus ose omce appears urgent, ana
LIS onue ndasion W on tlae snpJsce meets N
= eea y. cEsEsrenc9* ~
- CONDUCT or THE ENEMY.
cannot close this Message without again
advertiDg to the savage ferocity whicls still
marks the conduct of the enemy. in the prose-
cutidn of the war aAfter their repulse from
the defenccs before Charleston, they first
revenge by an abortive attempt to destroy the
an incendiary composition, thrown
by improved artillery fronla distance of four
miles. Failing in this, they changed their
missiles, but fortunately have thus far sue
ceeded only in killing two woman in the CITY.
Their COMMANDERS, Butler; McNiel and Tur-
chin, whose horrible barbarities have made
their names widely notorious and everywhere
execrable, are still honored and cherished by
the authorities at ;Washfngton The first
named, after having been Withdrawn from the
scenes of his cruelties against woman and
Of war Gin reluctant Concession to
the demands Of Outraged Fl manfty in Euf6pe,(
has Just bean Elt IN q
folk, where helpless women and children are
again placed at ms mercy. % :,