Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-10

navy mas expanded, YET on so long line, II
has so far been impossible to entirely suppress
illicit trade. From returns received at the
navy department, it appears that more than
one thousand vessels have been captured
since the blockade was instituted and that the
value of prizes already sent in for adjudica-
ton amounts to over thirteen millions of dol
lars.
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 IS
are iron clad or armored steamers. The
wants of the war give an increased interest
and Importance to the navy which will prOba-
bly, extend beyond the war itself. The ar
mored vessels in our navy completed and in
service, or which are under contract and APP
preaching completion, are believed to exceed
in number those of any other power. But
while these may be relied upon for harbor de-
fence and coast service, others of greater
strength and capacity will be necessary for
cruising purposes and to maintain our right
iul position ON the ocean, owing to the change
that has taken place in naval vessels and naval
warfare since the introduction of steam as a
motive power for ships.
a war demands either corresponding
change in some of our existing navy yards or
the establishment of new ones for the CON
vessels. No inconsiderable embarrassment,
delay and public injury, have been expert
enced from the want of such governmental es-
adjustments. The necessity of such a navy
yard SO furnished at some place on the Allan.
tic seaboard has on repeated occasions been
brought to the attention of congress by the
navy department, and is again presented 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 for naval purposes upon one of the
western rivers. A naval force has been Gre
ateI on these interior waters, and under many
disadvantages, 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 men Uf the navy,
at this interesting period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the success Of our me-
chancs and artisans, in the production of ves-
sells, which have created new form OF naval
power. Our country has advantages superior
to any other nation, in our resources of iron
and timber, with inexlauStible quantities of
fuel in the immediate vicinity of both and all
available and in close proximity to navigable
waters. With the advantage of public works.
the resources of the nation have been devel-
oped, and its power displayed, in the con-
struction of a navy of such magnitude, which
has at the very period of its creation rendered
signal service to the Union.
The increase of the number of seamen in
the public service from 500 men in the
spring of 1861 to about $4,000 at the present
time has been accomplished without special
legislation or extraordinary bounties to pro-
mote that increase. 1t has been found, how
ever, that the operation OF the draft with the
high bountiee paid tor army recruits is begin
ning to aft Get injuriousy the Irp~al sarvice
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 10 the communities interested.
also invite attention to the suggestions of
the secretary of the navy in regard to the pol.
icy OF fostering and training seamen, and also
the education of officers and engineers for the
naval service. The naval academy is render
ing signal service in preparing midShipmen
for the highly important duties which in after
life they will be required to perform. In or.
der 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 vacancies by the neglect or omis
sion to make nominations from states have
been filled by the secretary of the navy The
school is how more full and complete than at
any former period, and in every respect en-
titled to the favorable consideration of con-
gress.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
II. Nla.. al
condition of the post office department has
been one of increasing prosperity, and ] am
gratified in being able to state that the actual
postal revenue has nearly reached the entire
expenditure latter amounting to SILL
3l4, 20GS 81, and the former $ll, 1853, 1888,
leaving Il deficiency of but $l50,4l7.25. In
1860 the year Immediately preceding the
rebellion, the deficiency amounted to $780,
705.49, the postal receipts of that year being
81, 645, 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 expenditure on account
of the same has been reduced 30 per cent.
1t is manifest, therefore, that the post office
department may become selt-suStaining in
few years, even with the restoration of the
whole service. The international conference
of postal delegates from the principal coun-
called at the suggestion of tile postmaster
general, on the 18th of May last, CON
cuded its deliberations on the 9Th of June.
The principles established by the conference
as best adopted to facilitate postal intercourse
between nations, and as the basis of future
postal conventions, inaugurate general sys-
TEN of uniform international changes, at re-
duced rates of postage, which cannot fail to
produce beneficial results.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
l refer you to the report OF the secretary of
the interior which is here with laid before you
for useful and varied information in relation
to the public lands, Indian affairs, patents,
pensions, and other matters ofpublic concern
pertaining to his department. The quantity
of land disposed of during the last and the
first quarter of the present fiscal years, was
64I $40 acres, of which lGl,9ll acres were
sold for cash. 81 1856, 5l4 acres were taken up
under the homestead law, and the residue dis
posed of under laws granting lands for mill
tary bounties for railroad and other purposes.
1t also appears that the sale of the public
lands is largely on the increase.
1t has long been cherished opinion of some
of our wisest statesmen, that the people of the
United States had a higher and more endur-
ing interest in the early settlement of sub
stantial cultivation of the public lands, than
the amount of direct revenue to be derived
from the sale OF them. This opinion had
controlling influence in shaping legislation
upon the subject of our national domain. |
may cite, as evidence of the liberal measures
adopted in reference to actual settlers The
grant to the states of the overfowed lands,