Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-12-12


Their amount sis1 ,os0, ,O85 OF, should there /
fore be deducted both from the receipts and |
disbursements. This being done. there re.
mains Hs actual receipts, S720, ,03O, ,0D3 80, |
aud the actual disbursements, S714,1O0,- !
OS5 6S, leaving the balance as already |
stated.
The actual receipts and disbursements for
the first quarter, and the estimated receipts
and disbursement Is for the rcmal ing three
quarters of the current fiscal year, 1864, will
be shown in detail by the report of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, to which l invite
your attention.
1t Is sufficient to say here that it is not
believed the actual results will exhibit a
state of the finances less favorable to the
country than the estimates of that oilicer
heretofore submitted, while it is confidently
expected that at theSlose of the year both
disbursements and debt will be found pret-
ty considerable less than has been anticipa-
ted.
The report Of the Secretary Of War is
document of great interest. 1t consists of
First, The military operations of the year
detailed III the report of the General-in-
Chief
Second The organization Of colored per-
! sons into the war service.
! Third The exchange of prisoners, fully
/ set forth in the letter of Gen. Hitchcock.
! Fourth. The operations under the Act
for Enrolling and Calling Out the National
/ Forces detailed in the report of the Pro
vost Marshal General.
Fifth, The organization of the Invalid
! Corps and
Sixth, The operations Of the several De
partmcnts of the Quartermaster-Gene
Commissary General, Paymaster General,
/ Chief Of Engineers. Chief Of Ordnance, and
Surgeon General. 1t has appeared impossi-
bic to make val,ub'e summary of this re
port except such rs would be too extended
for this place; and hence | content myself
10y asking your careful attention to the re-
port itself.
The duties devolving 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 rs the
navy has been expanded. Yet on Sc long a
line, it has so far been impossible to entirely
suppress Illicit trade. From returns received
at the Navy Department, it appears that
more than 600 vessels have been captured
since the blockade was instituted, and that
the value of prizes already sent for adjudi-
; cation amounts to over Sl3,0 600.
The naval force of the United States con
; sists at this time, of 5SS vessels, completed
; and in the course Of completion, and OF
these 1j are iron clad or armored steamers
The events of the war give an increased
interest and importance to the navy which
, will probably extend beyond the war itself
The armOrCd vessels in our Navy, com
! p,etcd and i'll service. or which are under
: contract and approaching completion, ng,
/ .l...r.
- other power But while these may be relicC
Z urOn for Earhor defence and coast service
> others of greater strength and capacity vii
= he necessary for cruising purposes and tt
: maintain our righttul position on the ocean
The change that has taken place In nara
: vessels and naval warfare since the intro
u duCtiOn OF steam rs II motive power 10
/ ships OF war, demands either II correspond
l ing change in some of our existing Nay,
Yards, or the establishment Of new ones 1u
l the construction and necessary repair q
r modern naval vessels. No inconsidcrab.
t cmharra, sment, delay and public injury hav
/ been experienced from II want OF such gov
e cmmCntal establishments
a The necessity Of such Navy Yard, s.
c itNished at some suitable place upon th
Atlantic sCa.bOGrd, has, upon repeated oC
!. casions. ben brought to the attention O
i Congress bv the Nav Department. and
t again presented in the report ot the SccTc
J, tary. which accompanies this communication
Il l think it my duty TO invite your sPcc'a
II attention to this subject and also TO that
e establishing Il ward and depot for naval puI
So poses, upon one of the western rivers.
&C naval force has been created on thos
l. interior waters and under many disadvan
II mges. within little more than two years
q exceeding in numbers the whole naval fore
of the country at the commencement OF tn
present administration. Satisfactory an'
Z important as have been the performances o
n the heroic men of the navy at tins interest
5, ng period, they are scarcely more wonderful
j. than the success of our mechanics an
artizans in the production of war vessel:
/ which has created new form OF nava
&c power. Our country has advantages supC
rior to any other nation in our resources q
4 iron and timber, with ineXhnustihle quaint
n ties of fuel in the immediate vicinity q
'e both and available and in close proXImit
d To navlgahlc waters. Without the adVGl
~ tarc of public works, the resources OF tn
nation have been governed, developed, an'
c its power displayed in the construction ot
u navy of such magnitude, which has, ut tn
2- very period OF its creation, rendered signt
l. service to the Union.
Il The increase of the number Of scamcn il
i the public service from 1900 men in Ia
y spring of 1861, to about "a coo, at III
n present time, has been accomplished with
eat special legislation, or eNtraordinar
's hounties to promote that increase. 1t la
ic hcrn found, however that the operation {
IS the draft, with the high hounties paid ic
d army recruits is beginning to effect iniur
r 0usly the naval service, and will, II no
So corrected he likely to impair its ctiicicnc
10 by dytaching scamCn from their propt
m calling, ana inducing them 10 enter tn
\ army | therefore respectfully suggest tina
! Congress might aid both the army an
10 naval services by definite provision o
the subject which would at the same tim
he bee equitable to the communities mon
H. especially interested.
ll / commend 10 yOar consideration th
1T suggestion OF the Secretary OF the Navy /
Re- regard to the policy OF fostering and trair
d ing seamcn, and also the education {
De officers ana engineers for the naval scrvic,
r. The Naval Academy is rendering sigu'
l. service in preparing midshipmcn for IL
l. highly responsible duties which, IN aIt'
life, they will lac required To perform,
H. order that the country should not be d'
g privod of the proper quota OF educate
IA officers, for which legal provision has bee
O made at the naval school, the yacanci'
...tt-.l l.t tho n..sl.gt pr omission nah