The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18

from tne tecelptS anu disbursements. lnl
being done there remains as actual receipt
S720, ,039 ,039. .19, and as actual disbursement
STA, ,709, ,995.5S, leaving the balance as al
ready stated. The actual receipts and dis
bursements for the first quarter, and tn
estimated receipts and disbursements for tn
remaining three quarters of the current fis
cal year of 1864 will be shown in detail b,
the report of the secretary of the treasury
to which invite your attention. 1t is suffi
cient to say here, that it is not believed tha
the actual results will exhibit state of tn,
finances less favorable to the country thar
the estimate of that officer, heretofore sub
mitted. while it is confidently expected tha
at the close Of the year both the disburse
ments and debt will be found very consider
ably lower than has been anticipated.
THE WAR REPORT.
The report of the secretary OF war is {
document of great interest. 1t consists of
First. the military operations of the veal
detailed in the report of the general in-chief
second, the organization of colored person,
into the war service third, the exchange o
prisoners, fully SET forth in the letter of Gen
Hitchcock fourth, the operations under the
act for enrolling and calling out the ma
tional forces detailed in the report of the
provost marshal general; fifth, the organiza-
ton of the invalid corps, together with the
operations Of the several departments of the
quartermastrr general. commissary general
paymasier general, chief of engineers. chief
of ordnance and surgeon general. II las
appeared impossible to make valuable sum-
mary of this report except such as would be
too extended for this place; and hence l
content mys'lt by asking your careful attea-
tion to the report itself.
THE NAVY.
. The duties devolving on the naval branct.
# 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 incre ,>ing. in efficiency. But al
though the navy has expanded, vet on so
long line it has so tar been impossible to
entirely suppress illicit trade From the
returns of the receipts at the navy depart
ment. it appears that more than one thous-
and vessels have been captured since the
blockade was instituted, aud that the value
of the prizes already sent in fer adjudication
amounts 10 over thirty millions of dollars.
The naval force of the United States con-
sists at this time of five hundred and eighty
eight vesstls. completed and in the Course
of completion. and of these seventy-fve are
iron clad or armed steamers. The events of
the war give an increased interest and i'm
portance to the navy which will probably ex-
tend b.yond the war its,lf The armed yes
sels in our navy, completed and in service or
which are under contract and approaching
completion, are believed to exceed in num-
her those Of any other power: but. while
these may be relied upon for harbor defehse
AMI coast service, others of greater strength
and capacity will b. necessary for cruising
purposes and to maintain our rightfll posi-
;!un on the ocean. The change that has
taken pl see in naval vessels and naval war
iAre since the introduction of steam as
motive power for ships Of war, demands
either corresponding change in some Of
our existing navy yards or tn establishment
of new ones for the construction and necss-
sarv repair of modern naval vessels. No
embarrassment, delay and
public injury have been experienced from
the want uf such governmental establish
men:s The necessity Of such a navy Yard
50 furnished, at some suitable place upon
the Atlantic seahoard. has on several occa-
sions been brought to the attention of Con-
gress by the navy department, and il is again
presented in the report of the secretary OF
the navy, which accompanies this communi-
cation. think it my duty to invite your
special attention to this subject, and also to
that of establishing yard and depot for
naval purposes upon one of the western NV
ers. 4 naval force has been created or those
interi Dr waters and under many disadvan-
tages. within little more than two years,
exceeding in numbers the whole naval force
of the country at the commencement OF the
present administration. Satisfactory and
important as have been the performances Of
the heroic mrh of the navy at this interest
iGg PERIOD they are scarcely more wondei-
q ui than the success Ct our mechanics ai.I
artisans in the production of war vessels.
which has created a new form of naval pow
er. Our country has advantages superior to
ANY other nation, in our resources of iron
and tim0er. with inexhaustible quantities of
fuel in the immediate vicinity of both. and
ali available amd in close proximity TO navi-
gable waters Even without the advantage
of public works, the resources of the nation
have been developed and its power displayed
in the construction Of navy of such mag
nitude, which has, at the very perloi of its
creation, rendered signal service to the Union.
The increase of the number of seaTen in
the public service, from 800 men in the
spring of 1861 TO about 81 900 at the present
time. has been accomplished without special
legislation or extraordinary bounties to pro-
mote that Increase. Ii has been proved,
however, that the operation, of the draft, With
the nigh boun,ies paid for army recruits, is
going to effect irjuriously the naval service,
and will, if not corrected, be likely TO impair
its efficiency by detaching seamen from their
proper vocation and inducing them to enter
the army. ! therefore respectfully suggest
that Congress might aid both the army and
naval service by definite provision on this
subject. which would, at the same tine, be
equitable to the communities more especially
interested.
EDUCATION FOR THE NAVY.
also commend to your consideration the
suggestions of the secretary of the navy in
regard 10 the policy of fostering and training
seamen, aud also the education of officer:
and engineers for the naval service. The
naval academy is rendering signal service ii
preparing midShipmen for the higher respon
sible duties which, in after life, they will b,
required to perform. In order that tn,
country should not be deprived Of The prop
| er quota of educated officers for which lega
provision mas been made at the naval school
the vacancies caused by the neglect or omis
sion TO make nominations, from the states il