Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1863-12-18
OLD SERIES.

@NsAisrA N nc FNlort OF The tfenerAl-Iu-
Chef 2d.-The organizations Of eoIored
persons into the war service. Sd.-The
exchange % prisoners. fully set forth IN the
letter Of General Hitchcock. fth.-The
operations under the act for enrolling and
calling out the national force. detailed IN
the report Of the Provost Marshal 5th -
the organization Of the invalid corps. 9Th.
The operations Of the several depart
raenis Of the Quarter Master General. Pay
master General. Chef of Engineer,. Chief
Of Ordnance and Surgeon Gene raj. II has
APPEARED impossible 90 make a valuab le
summary q this report except such a.
would De too extended for this place. and
henoe ! content myself BY asking your care
ful attention TO the rvport itself
THE NAVY.
The duties devolying on the naval
branch Of the service during the year. and
throughout the whole Of this unhappy con-
t~st. have been discharged with 6delity and
eminent success. The extensive blockade
has been constantly Increasing in efficiency.
II the navy has expanded. vet On 50 long a
line Il has 50 far been impossible 70 entire
ly suppress Illegal trade. From the re-
turns received At the Navy Department. il
appears that morc than one thousand yes-
seis have been captured since the blockade
was instituted and that the value of prizes
already seat IN for adjudication amounts 70
over thirteen millions Of dollars.
The naval force Of the United States con
sists a; this time Of SIS vessels completed
and m the course Of completion. and of
these 80 are irOn-elad or arned steamers.
The events Of the war give an increased
interes; and importance 70 the navy. which
will probably extend beyond the war itself.
Ahe armed vessels completed and IN ser
wee. or which are under contract and ap-
Proaching completion. are believed 10 ex-
ceod m number those % any other power.
but while these may be relied upon for har-
Dor defence and coast service. other, Of
greater strength and capacity will be ne
eessary for cruising purposes and TO main
tain our rightfal position on the ocean.
The change that has taken place in naval
vessels and naval warfare since the intro
dae'ion Of steam a. a motive power for
SHIPS Of war. demands either a correspond
ing change in some Of our existing navy
yards. or the establishment of neu ones.
ior the construction and peccssarv r~pair,
Of modern naval vessels. No incon.isler.-
Die embarrassment. delay. and publie inju-
~ have been experienced from the want Of
such Government establishments.
The necessity of such navy yard 80 fur
nIsbed A. some suitable place upon the At
lantie sea5oArd. has, on repeated OCCASIONS
been brought % the attention Of Concre,.
by Tie NAVY Department. and 70 again pre-
scnied IN The report OF the Secretarv which
accompanies this communication. / think
% my duty % invite your special attention
20 tins subject and also to that of establish
in- yard and depot for nautical purpose.
upon one Of the Western Rivers. A
naval force has been created on those inte-
nor waters and under many disadvantage.
within little more than two years. exceed
ing IN numbers the whole naval force ofthe
country a. the commencement Of the pres
cat administration.
Satisfactory and important as have been
thc pcrfornanccs ~ the heroic men of the
navy al this Interesting period they are
scarcely more wonderful than the success
oi our mechanics and artizans. IN the pro-
daction u var vessels. which has created a
new form Of naval power. Our country
has advantages s-psrior % any other na-
tor. in orr resources of iron and timber.
with exhaustable quantities q fucl IN the
immediate vicinity of both. and an availa-
DO anil i' close prosi1.ty o. na,i-aiio
alt.--. uta1-t Co. advantage Of public
works. The resources of fhc nation have
been developed its power displayed in the
construction Of navy of 'ucb marnitaie.
that it has 81 tho very rcriol of it. crca-
t.on. rendered signal service O. the Union.
The increase Of tbc number of scamon in
ths pubIc pubhc service. from e .500 men
lu the sprinE of i-fi. to about sG.o0Y A.
thc present time. has been arcomrlisbed
sitholt special icgislat.5n or exiraorIi-
nary holniics to promote that increase.
Do las been found. however. that tie op-
erat.on Of the DRAFT. v.th iio high boanties
raii for army rccruits. 3. beginning 90 ef-
f.ct the naval servire. ard wiI f not cor
rs-iei. Pol Ekeiy Co impair iis efficiency ~
detach.ng scam-n from their. former voca-
t.ou and inducing them to enter the army.
!. therefore. respect'aiiy su-gest ihat Con-
gr,ss night al both tho army and naval
service by definite provision on this sub