Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-10
sFcaErARY OF TIE NAvY.

General.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
Il has appeared impossible to make 3
valuable summary of this Report except |
such as would be too extended for this |
place, and hence content myself in refer |
ring to your attention t., the Report itself. |
The duties devolsing on the naval branch
of the service during the year, and through
out the whole Of this unhappy contest,
have been discharged with fidelity and
eminent success. The extensive blockade
has been constantly increasing in efficiency
as the Navy has expanded, yet on so long
line it has 80 far been impossible to en-
tirely suppress Illicit trade.
From the returns received at the Navy
Departmental appears that more than o U
vessels have been captured since the block
ade was instituted, and that the value of
prizes already sent in for adjudication,
amount to over Sl3,OO0OO0. The naval
force Of the United States consists, at this
time, Of 5S8 vessels completed and in the
course of completion, and of these seventy
five are iron-clad armored steamers. The
events Of the war gives an increased in
terest and Importance to the navy which
will, probably, extend beyond the war
itself.
The srmored vessels in the Navy, COM
pleted and in service, or which are under
contract and approaching completion, are
believed 10 exceed in number those of any
other Power, but while these may be relief
upon for hsrbor defense and 3, G-cOast CUR
vey, others Of greater strength and ospac-
ity will be necessary for cruising purposes,
| and to maintain our rightful position on
the ocean. The change that has taken
place in naval vessels and naval warfare,
since the introduction of steam as q mo-
tive power for ships of-war, demands
either a corresponding change in some Of
our existing navy yards, or the establish
ment of new ones for the construction and
necessary repairs Of modern war vessels.
No uncomfortable emb8rrassments, de-
lay and public injury have been expert
eneed from the want Of such Government
| establishments and the necessity Of such
/ q Navy Yard, so furnished at some suits-
Bile place upon the Atlantic sesboard, has
on several repeated occasions been brought
to the attention of Congress by the Navy
Department, and is again presented in the
report of the Secretary, which accompanies
/ this communication. 1 think it my duty
/ to invite your special attention to this sub
/ iect and also to that of establishing
/ Yard and Department for Naval purposes
upon one of the westers rivers. A naval
| force has been created on these interior
waters and under many disadvantages
within a little more than two years ex-
ceeding in numbers the whole naval force
/ Of the country at the commencement of the
present administration. Satisfactory and
important ss hss been the performance Of
the heroic men of the navy at this interest,"
ing period, they are scarcely more won
derful than the services of our mechanics
and artizans in the production of war Ves-
sells which has created new form Of naval
power.
sEAMEE.
Our country has advantages superior to
any other nation in our resources Of iron
and timber, with inexhsusisble quantities
Of fuel in the immediate vicinity Of both
aud all sssailable and in close proximity
to nsvigable waters without the advantage
of public works. The resources of the na-
ton have been developed and its power
displayed in the construction Of navy of
such magnitude, which at the very period
of its creation rendered signal service to
the Union. The increase of the number
of sesmen in the public service from 1000
men, in the spring Of 1851, to q, 600
at the present time has been
accomplished without especial legislation
or extraordinary bounties to promote that
increase. It has been found, however, that
tha operation Of the draft, with high boun
ties psid for army recruits, is beginning
TO ect, injuriously, the naval service, and
will, If not corrected, be likely to impair
its efficiency by detaohing sesmen from
their proper vocation aud inducing them
to enter the army. !, therefore, respect
fully suggest that Congress might aid both
the army and naval service by sde-
quate provision on this subject which
would, at the same time, be equal to the
communities more especially interested.
1 commend to your consideration the sug-
gestion Of the Secretary Of the Navy in
regard to the policy of fostering and train
ing seamen fer naval service. The Naval
Academy is undergoing signal service in
preparing midshipmen for highly respon-
sible duties. which in after life they will
be required to perform on the water. That
the country should not be deprived Of
q proper quota Of educated officers, for
which legal provision has been made at the
Naval School. Toe vacancies caused by
this neglect is an occasion to make nomi-
nations from States in insurrection have
filed by the Secretary Of the Navy. The
School is nov more full aud complete than
at any previous period, and in every re-
speet entitled to the favorable considers-
tion of Congress.
Daring the past fiscal yesr the financial
condition Of the Post Ofi5e Department
has been one of increasing prosperity, and
am happy in being sbls to stste that the
receipts OF postal revenue has nearly
equslled the entire expenditures, the latter
amounting to 81, ,314, ,000.84, and the form
er to Sl1l63, 1899, leaving deficiency of
but $50, ,467.25.
In the year $780, Immediately preceding
the rebellion, the deficiency amounted te
| S565,670,5 ,549, the postal receipts of that
year being $264, 4,572,2 PIG less than those of
1868 The decrease since 1880 in the an
nual amount of transportation has been
only about 25 per cent, but the snnusl e1-
penditure on account Of the same has been
reduced 35 per cent. l. is manifest, there
fore, that the Post Office Department may
become self sustaining in few years,
even with the restoratiop of the whole SER
vice. The Internal Conference Of FOstSl
Delegates, from the principal countries Of
Europe and America, which was called at
the suggestion Of the Postmaster General,
met ct Paris on the eleventh Of May
last, aud concluded its deliberations
on the 9Th Of June. The principles estsb-
| lished by the Conference is best adapted
to facilitate the postal intercourse between
nations, and as the basis Of future oonyen-
tions InEugaTste 6 geneFal sygtem Of mil
form international charges, at reduced
rates of ten per oentage, and it cannot
fail to produce beneficial results.