The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-12-16

W. %, leaving iho balance as already
stated. Tho actual receipts and disbursc.
mcnts for the FIRST quarter, and the cst-
mated receipts and disbursements for ;l,e
remaining three quarters ot the current iis-
cal wear OF 1864 will be shown in detail hv
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury.
to which invite your attention. II is sui
ticicut to say hero, that it is not believed
that the actual results will exhibit a state
of the finances less favorable to tho country
than the estimates of that officer heretofore
submitted. while il is confidently expected
that at the close oC the year both dshursc,
mcnts aud debts will bc found vcry con.
sidcrahly less than has beon anticipated.
REPORT or THE SECRETARY or WAR.
The report of the Secretary of War is u
document of great interest. II consists, lst
OF the military operations of the year, dc
tailed in the report of the ticucralin Chief
ID, of the organization Of colorcd persons
into the war service; 3d, exchange of rris-
oncrs, fully set forth in the letter of Gcn.
Hitchcock; lth. operations under the act
for enrolling and calling out the national
forces, detailed in the report Of the Provost
Marshal General 9Th, the organization of
the Invalid Corps; and 9th the operation
of tho several Departments of the Quarter
master General Commissary General, Pay
master General, Chief of Engineers, Chief
of Ordnance, and Surgeon General. 1t has
appeared impossible to make valuable
summary Ot this report, except such "a
would be too extended for this place, and
hence content myself with referring vour
attention t0 the report itself.
TnE NAVY.
Tho duties dcvolving upon the naval
branch of the service during thc year and
throughout the whole of this unhappy cou-
test, 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
a line, it has so far been impossible TO en-
tirely suppress Illicit trade. From the re-
turns received at the Navy Department, ii
appears that more than one thousand vcs-
sells have been captured since the blockade
was instituted, and that the value Gi prizes
already sent in for adjudication amounts to
over Sl3OQ0,O0O
Thc naval forces of the United States con-
sist. at this time, of 5SS vessels completed,
and in the course of completion, and OF
these - are iron.chd armorcd steamers.
The events of the war give an increased
interest and Importance to the Navy, which
will probably extend beyond tho war itself.
The armorod vessels in our navy completed
and i'll service, or which are under contract
and approaching completion, are believed
to exceed in number those of any other
Power but while these may be relied upon
for hartSr defense and sea coast service,
others, of greater strength and capacity,
will be necessary for cruising purposes,
and to maintain our righttul position on tho
ocean.
Tho change that has taken place in naval
vessels and naval warfare since the intro
duction of steam as a motive power for
ships of war, demands either correspond
ing change in some nf our existing Navy
Yards, or the establishment of new ones,
for the construction and necessary repairs
of modern war vessels. No inConsiderablc
embarrassment, delay and public injury, has
been experienced from the want OF such
Government establishments. Che necessity
of such a Navy Yard so furnished at some
suitable place upon the Atlantic seaboard,
has, on repeated OCCASIONS been brought
to the attention of Congress by the Navy
Department, and is again presented iii tho
report of the Secretary, which accompanies
this communication.
| think it my duty TO invite your special
attention to this subject and also to that of
establishing yard and depot for naval pur-
poRes upon one of the Western rivers. A
naval force has been created on these iutc-
ror waters, and under many disadvantages,
within little more than two years, exceed
ing in number the whole naval force Of the
country at the commencement of the pres
ent administration.
Satisfactory and important as have been
the performances of the heroic men of the
navy at this interesting period, they are
scarcely more wonderful than the services
of our mechanics and artisans III the pro-
ductiOn of our war vessels, which have ere
atcd anew form of naval power. Our
country has advantages superior to any
other nation in Gar resources of iron aud
timber, with ineXhaustibe quantities OF
fuel i'll the immediate vicinity OF both, and
all accessible and in close proximity to nav
igablc waters. Without the advantage Of
public works, the resources OF the nation
have been developed and itB power dIS
played in the construction OF Il navy OF such
EiaZUitude, which has, at the very period
of it's creation, rendered signal service 10
the Union.
The increase in the number Of scamen in
the public service from 1000 men in the
spring of 1851, to about - 900 At the pres
ent time has been accomplished without
special legislation or extraordinary bOun-
ties to promote that increase. 1t has been
found, however, that the operations of the
draft, with the high bounties paid Cor army
recruits is beginning to effect injuriouRly the
naval service and WILL ii not corrected, he
likely 10 impair its efficiency by detaching
seamen from their proper vocation and in
ducing them to enter the army. | therefore
suggest that Congress might
aid both tile army and naval service by all
cquate provisions on this subject which
wOuldat the same time prove 10 he equitable
to the communities more especially inter-
ested.
commend to your consideration the sug-
gestons Of the Secretary of the Navy in
regard to the policy of fostering and train
ing scamen for the naval service, The
Naval academy is rendering signal service
in preparing midShipmea far the highly
responsible duties which, in after life, they
will he required to perform. In order that
the country should not he deprived of the
proper quota of educated officers for which
legal provision has been made at the naval
school, the vacancies caused by the neglect
or omission 60 make nominations from tho
States in insuIrection. have boon filled 10y
the Secretary of tho Navy. The school is
row more full and complete than at any
previous period. aud in every respect en-
titled to the favorable consideration of
Congress.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
During the past fiscal year the financial !
condition of the Post Olicc Department has
been one of increasing prosperity, and am