The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-11

PayraSster- General, Chief of Engineers
Chief Of Ordnshce, and Surgeon Gene
rail- II has appeared impossible 10 make
a valuable summary Of this report ex-
cept such as would be too extended for
this place, and hence I content myself in
referring your attention the report itself.
The duties devolyiBg on the naval
branch Of the service dnringth year and
throughout the whole OF this unhappy
contest have been discharged with fidel-
ity and eminent success. The extensive
blockade has been constantly increasing
in efficiency as the Navy has expanded f;
yetOn so long line It has 50 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 seat in
for adjudication amount 10 over Sl3 000-
0O0 The naval force of the United
States consists Of at this time Of 5S8 YES
seis completed add in course of compile
ton, and of these 75 are iron-clsd ar
mored steamers The events OF the war
give an increased interest and impOr-
lance 10 the Navy, which will probably
extend bsyOnd the war itself The ar
m0red vessels 10 our navy, completed and
in service, or which are under contract
aud approaching completion, are believed
to exceed in number those of any other
other power; but while these may be re-
lied upon for harbor defence and sea-
C Jsst service, others of greater strength
ald capacity will be necessary for eruis-
ing purposes, and to maintain our right
fal position on the ocean. The change
that has taken place in naval vessels and
naval warfare since the introduction of
steam as 3 motive power for chips of war
demands either corresponding change in
some of our existing navy yards or the
establishment of new ones for tae con-
sttuction and necessary repair Of modern
war v, ssels.
No inconsiderable embarrassment, de-
lay, aud public injury have been expe-
rieaced fion the Raat OF such Govern
ment establishments. The necessity of
such navy-yard, so furnished at some
suitable place on the Atlantic seaboErd,
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 accom-
panies this communication. l think it
my duty to invite your special attention
to this subject, and also to that of estab-
fishing yard and depot fer naval pur-
poses upon one of the Western rivers. A
naval force has been created on these in
terror waters, and under many disadvan-
tsges, within little more than two years,
exceeding ia numbers the whole naval
force of the country at the commence
ment of the present Administration.
Satisfactory and important as has been
the performances Of the heroic men of
tie navy at this period, they are scarcely
more wonderful than the services Of our
mechanics and artisans in the production
of war vessels, 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
inexhaustible quantities of fuel in the
immediate vicinity of both, and all &C
eessibie and in close proximity to naVi-
gable waters without the disadvantage of
public risks. The resources Of the ma.
ZION have been developed and its power
in the construction of q navy
Of such magnitude which has, at the very
period of Its creation, rendered signal |
service 10 the Union.
The increase of the number of seamen |
in the public service from 1000 men in |
the spring of 1861 to about p, 900 at the |
present time, has been accomplished |
without especial legislation CT extraordi-
nary boundes. To promote that increase
it has been found, however, that the Ope-
rations of the draft with high bounties |
paid for army recruits, are beginning t. |
affect ipiuriOusly the naval service, and |
will, if not corrected, be likely to impair
its efficiency by detaching seamen from !
their proper vocation, aud inducing them |
10 enter TIE army. | therefore respect |
fully suggest that Congress might aid
both the army and naval service by ade.
quate provision on this subject, which |
would, st the same time, be equitable TO
thu communities more especially inter- |
ested. | commend to your consideration |
the suggestions of the Secretary of the |
Navy in regard TO the policy of fostering |
and training sesmenl for naval service |
The naval academy is rendering signal |
service in Preparing midshipmen for
highly responsible duties, which in after
life they will be required to perform in |
order that tue country should not be de- |
prived of the proper quots of educated |
officers, of which legal provision has been |
made. At the naval school the vacancies,
caused by the neglect or omission to make |
from States in insurrectioD,
have been filed by the Secretary of the |
Navy. The school is now more full and |
complete than at any previous period, |
and in every respect entitled to the favor
able consideration of Congress.
During the past fiscal year the fnAn-
cial condition of the PoslolIics Depart
ment has been one Of increased prosper
ity, and l am graiflsd in being able to
state that the accounts Of postal revenue |
has nearly equalled the entire expendit- |
Gre, the latter amounting to S11 314 600 /
"a and the former to S11,163 789 SO |
leaving q deficiency Of but $3.50 AIT Is. /
In $780, the year Immediately preceding |
the rebellion, the deficiency amounted to |
$685., $50 40. The postal receipts ofthat
year were S264,572, PIG less than those
of 1863 The decrease since 1860 in the |
annual amount Of transportation has been |
only about rs per cent but the annual |
on account of the same has |
b en- reduced IS per cent 1t is mani
fest therefore, that the PostOffics De-
parlment may become self-sustaining in /
q few years, even with the restoration
of the whole service. The international /
conference of postal delegates from the
p.jeSipsl countries Of Europe and Amer
lea, which was called ct the suggestion
Of the Postmaster General, met at Paris
on the 1lth Of May last, and concluded
its deliberations on the Sth Of june. The
principles established by the conference /
as best adapted to facilitate postal inter-
course between nations, and as the basis
Of future conventions TO in3ugurats a
general system Of uniform international 4
charges at reduced rates Of postage,
cannot fail TO produce beneficial results.
I refer you to the report of the Secre-
tsry of the. Interior, which Is herewith
laid before you for the useful and varied 4