The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-12-17

cessity of such Navy-Y Yard, SO furn shed
at some suitable place upon the Atlantic
sen board. has. on repeated occasions been
brought to the attention of Crongress by
the Navy Department. and is again presen-
ted in the 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 fer naval
purposes upon one of the western rivers.
\ naval force has been created on these
interior waters, and under many disadyan-
tages. within little more than two wears. ex-
cce.ling 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 men Of the
navy at this interesting period. they arc
scarcely more wonderful than the services
of our mechanics and artisans in the pro-
duction of the war vessels, which has crea-
ted new form of naval power. Oar coun:
try has advantages superior to any other na
tion in our resources OF iron and timber
with incxhau,tibleqUantite> Of fuel in the
immediate vicinity OF both and all availa-
, bic. and in close proximity to Eavigable
: waters Without the advantage Of public
works, the resource. Of the nation have
been developed and lis power displayed. in
the construction OF navy Of such magni-
tudc. which has at the very period OF It's
creation. rendered signal service 10 The
Union.
l., -. 4
in the public service from 100 men, in
the spring OF 1861. to about a ,02t. at the
presen; time. has been accomplished with
out especial legislation and extraordinry
bounties to promote that increase. L has
been found, however. that the operation OF
the draft. with the high bountes paid for
army recruits is beginning to affect injuri-
ou>ly the naval service. and will. if not
corrected. lie likely to impair its efficiency.
by dctachng seamen from their proper vo
cations, AMI inducing them to enter the
armv | therefore respectfully suggest
that Congress might AID both the army and
naval service By adequate provision on
this subject which would. at the same
time. be equitable to the community more
especially Interested.
! recommend to Your consideration the
suggestion of the Secretary Of the Navy
IN regard to the policy of fostering ana
training sclmen for the naval service.-
HE Naval academy IS rendering signal
service in preparing Midshl men for the
highly Responsible duties which in after
lie they VIII be required to perform in
order that the country should not be de-
priycd of educated officers, fer which lc-
cal provision has been made.
At the Naval School the vacance caus-
ed by the neglect or omission to make
nominations from States in insurrection
have been lilIel by the Secretary of the
Navy The School is now more full and
complete than at any previ)u period, and
/ IN every respect entitled to the favorable
/ consideration Of Congress.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
During the past iiscal year the iinancia
condition of the Post Office Department has
been enc Of increasing prosperity. and
am gratifei in being able to state that the
receipts of she postal revenue have nearly
eauale the entire expenditures, the lat er
amounting TO Sil 5li 600 81. and the
former to Sll G63 $50 %. leaving a def
ency fbut Sl59. 5lS %. In 1869. the
year Immediately preceding the rebellion.
i the deficiency amounted to So 656 1U5 90.
The postal receipts OF that year being So,
5i5 - i9 less than those of 1868. The
deere lse since 1860 in The annual amount
of transportation has been only about %
per cent; but the annual expenditures on
account OF the same have been reduced 80
per cent Ii is manifest. therefore. tina,
the Pos; Office Department may become
sell. suSta .ning in few years, even WI h
the restoration of the whole service.
The international conference of postal
delegates irom the principal countries OF
Eurore and America which was called al
the sug. estion of the Post Master GeI er j.
met at Paris on the llth Of My last. IN
concluded it, deliberations on the S.h OF
june. The principles established by the
conference are best adapted to facilitate
postal intercourse between nations and a.
the basis of inture conventions. inaugurate
Il general system Of uniform internatl-nai
charees Mt reduced rates oil postage. ami
cannot fail to produce beneficial results.
THE INTERIOR EIPoRT
refer YOU to the report the Secreta-
ry of the Interior. which is herewith laia
before YOU. for useful and varied iniorInl-
ton in relation to the public lanls, Indian
affairs patents, pensions, and o her matters
of publc concern pertaining to his depart
meat.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The quantity of land disposed of during
the last. and the first quarter Of the present
fiscal year. was > S4l 5l9 acres of which
6l 81 acres were sold for cash; 406.-
5i4 acres were taken up under the home
stead law. and the residue disposed OF un
der the laws granting lands for military
bouniies, for railroad anl o,her purposes
1t also appears that the sale of the pnb
lie lands is largely on the incecasc. 1t has
long been a cherished opinion of some oi
our wiSest statesmen that the people of the
United States had higher and more en-
during interest IN the early settlement anu
substantial cultivation Of the pu bic lands