The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-11

completion, are Oelieveu 10 eAceeu w ""
those of any other power, but WINE 'hes,
may be relied upon for harbor defence anu
coast service, Others Of greater strength anu
capacity will be necessary for cruising pur-
poses, and to maintain our rightfui pos',ioh
ON the ocean. The change that mas 'uheh
plsce in naval vessels and naval warfare since
the introduction of steam as motive power
for ships of war, demands either cores
ponding change in some OF our existing navy
wards. or the establishment Of new ones, Tor
The construction and necessary repairs oil
modern naval vessels. No inconsiderable en-
barrassmen-, delay and public injury have
been experienced from the want OF such Gov
eminent establishment. The necessity OF
such navy-ynrd, SO furnished, at some suit
able place upon the Atlantic seaboard, has OH
repeated occasions been brought to the atteh'
ton of Congress by the Navy Department
and is again presented in the report OF the
Secretary, which accompanies this commune
cation. think ;t my duty to invite your
special attention to this subject, and also 10
that of establishing a yard and depot LOT
nautical purposes upon one OF the western
rivers. A naval force has been created on
those interior waters, and under many disad-
van,ages, 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 i'm.
portant as have been the performances OF the
heroic men of the navy ut this interesting
period, they are scarcely more wonderful
than the success of our mechanics and arti-
zans in the production Of war vessels which
has created new form of naval power
Our country has advantages superior to any
other nation in our resources OF iron and
timber, with inexhaus,ble quantities Of fuel
in the immediate vicinity of both, and all
available aud in close proximity to navigable
waters. Without the advantage Of public
works the resources OF the nation have been
developed and its power displayed in the con-
struction of navy of such magnitude, which
has at the very period of its creation rem
dered signal service TO the Union. The in
crease OF the number of seamcn in the public
service from seven thousand five hundred
men in the spring of 1861 TO about $4,000 at
the present time has been accomplished with.
out special legislation or extraordinary bounty
TO promote that increase. 1t has been found,
however, that the operation OF the draft with
the high bounties paid for army recruits is
beginning TO affect 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 services by definite provision on this
subject, which would at the same time be
equitable TO the communities more especially
inteI ested.
l commend TO your consideration the sug-
ges,ions ofthe Secretary of the Navy in re-
gard to the policy of fostering and training
seamen, and also the education Of officers and
engineers for the naval service. The Naval
Academy is rendering signal service in pre-.
pairing midshipmen for the highly responsible
duties which in after life they will be requir-
ed to perform. In order that the country
should not be deprived of the proper quota
OF educated officers, for which legal provision
has been made at the naval school. the vacan.
cies caused by the neglect or omission to make
nominations from the States in instruction
have been filled by the Secretary of the Navy.
The school Is now more full and complete
than at any former period, and in every re.
spect entitled to the consideration OF Con.
gress.
During the past fiscal year the financial
of the Post. Office Department has
been one of increasing prosperity. and l am
cratiied in being able 10 state that the actual
postal revenues have nearly equaled the ex.
penditures; the latter amounting to 1874
2O6,Si, and the former TO Sll.l63, 7S9, 80,
leaving deficiency of but Sl5O.il7.25. In
1860, the year immediately preceding the re.
bellion, the deficiency amounted TO S5,606,-
705,i0, the postal receipts Of that year being
S2,6i5,732, 10 less than those of 1868. The
decrease since 1860 in the annual amount of
transportation has been only about 20 per
cent, but the annual expenditures on account
of tho same has been reduced 80 per cent. 1t
is manifest, therefore, that the Post Office
Department may become sclfsustaining in
few years, even with the restoration OF the
whole service. The international conference
of postal delegates from the principal count
ries of Europe md America, which was call.
cd at the suggestion of the Postmaster Gene.
raj, met at Paris the llth Of May last, aud
concluded its deliberations on the Sth of
June. The principles established by the con-
ference as best adapted to facilitate postal in
tercourse between nations, and as the basis OF
future postal conventions, inaugurated a gen.
eral system Of uniform international charges
at reduced rates of postage, and cannot fail to
produce beneficial results.
refer you to the report Of the Secretary
of the Interior. which is herewith laid before
you. for useful and varied information in re-
lation to the Public Lands, Indian Affairs,
Patents, Pensions, and other matters of pub.
lie concern, pertaining to his department.
The quantity of land disposed Of during
the last and first quarters Of the present fiscal
year was three millions eight hundred and
forty ono thousand five hundred and forty.
nine acres. of which one hundred and sixty
one thousand nine hundred and eleven acres
were sold for cash, one million four hundred
and fifty.six thousand FIVE hundred and four
teen acres were taken up under tho Home.
stead law, aud the residue disposed of under
laws granting lands for military bounties, for
railroad and other purposes. IL also appears
that tho sale of the public lands is largely on
the increase. II has long been cherished
opinion Of some OF our wisest statesmen, that
the people of the United States had higher
and more enduring interest in the early set.
Element and substantial cultivation of the
public lands, than in the amount Of direct
revenue To be derived from the sale of them.
This opinion has had a controlling influence
in shaping legislation upon the subject Of our
National Domain. may cite as evidence Of
this, the liberal measures adopted in refer
ence tn actual settlers; the grant to States
OF tho overlooked land within their limits, in
order to their being reclaimed and rendered
dt for cultivation; the grants to railway
companies OF alternate sections of land upon
the contemplated lines of their roads. which
when completed will so largely multiply the
facilities for reaching our distant possessions.
This policy has received its most signal aud
benefcent illustration in the recent enac.ments
granting homestead tn actual settlers. Since
the first day of January last the before men
toned quantity Of 1855 acres Of land have
been taken up under its provisions. This fact
and the amount OF sales furnish gratifying evil