The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-12-18

'eport OF the Secretary Of tho Treasury. To
which Invite your attention. 1t is sufficient
70 Fay here that II Is not beloved that the
results will exhibit q state Of the r
lancos less favorable to tho country than
no estimates Of that officer heretofore sub
ntted, whilo 1t is confidently expected that
Vt the close Of the year both disbursements
md debts will be found very considerably
ess than has boon anticipated
The Report of the Secretary OF War is a
document Of great interest. Il consists
of--
LIST. Tho military operations Of tho year. !
detailed in tho Report OF the Goneral-in.
Chief
2. Tho organization Of coorod persons
into the war service.
81. Exchange OF prisoners, fully set forth !
10 tho letter of Con. Hitchcock.
4th. Operations under thc act for on
rolling and calling out the national forces.
detailed in tho report of The Provost Mar
shal General.
9th. Tho organization of tho Invalid
Corps. and
9th. Tho operations of tho several Do-
partnen,s OF tho Quartermastcr GuEaral
Commssary General. Paymas,er General.
Chief of Engineers, Chief of Ordnance aud
Surgeon General. Il has appeared impos-
siblo to make valuable summary of this
Report, except such as would be too cx
tended tor this place and hence | content
myselfin referring your attention to tho re.
port itself. Tho duties devolving on the
naval branch of tho service during the year,
and throughout tho whole of this unhappy
contest, have been discharged with Il ieiity
and eminent success. Tho extensive block.
ado has boen constantly increasing in eff.
CLERGY, as tho navy has expanded. Yet on
SO long line IL has 80 far been impossible
to entirely suppress Illicit trade. From the
returns received at the Navy Department.
il appears that more than one thousand
vessels havo boen captured since tho block
ado was instituted, aud that tho value of
prizes already scnt in for adj publication.
amounts to ever $l3OO0.00 Tho naval
force of the United States consists. at this
time, of 6SS vessels. completed and in tho
course OF completion; and of these IS are
iron clad armored steamers. Tho events of
tho war give an increased interest and i'm.
pnrtarce to tho navy, which will probably
extend beyond tho war itself The armorcd
vessels in our navy completed and in SER
vice. or which are under contract and ap.
proaching completion, arc believed to ex
oeed In number those OF any other Power
but whilo these may be rolled upon for har-
Dor defence aud sea coast survey, others of
greater strength and capacity will DO ncces-
sary fer cruising purposes. and to maintain
our righttul position on the ocean.
The change that has taken place in naval
vessels and naval warfare since the intro.
duction of steam as a motive power for ships
OF war. demands either corresponding
| change in some of our existing navy yards.
or tho establishment of new Ones for tho
| construction and necessary repair of mod.
ern war vessels. No inoonsider ablo einbar.
rassment. delay and public injury have been
experienced from the want OF such Govern.
, ment Embellishments. The necessity of such
navy yards SO furnished at some suitable
place upon tho Atlantic seaboard has, on re.
peated occasions, been brought to tho at
'ention OF Congress by tho Navy Depart
ment. and is again presented in tho report
of tho Secretary, which accompanies this
communication I think il my duty to in
| vito your special attention to this subject
and also to that Of establishing yard and
depot for naval purposes upon ono of the
Western rivers A naval force has beou
created on these interior waters. and under
many disadvantages, within littlo more than
two years, 0xcoediug in numbers tho whole
naval force of the country at the commence'
meut of tho present Administration. Salts
factory and important as have been tn,
| performances OF the heroic men of tho Ma
Wy at this interesting period. thev are scarce
" more wonderful than the services of Oul
mechanics and nrtzans in tho production
of war vessels which havo created u now
form of naval power. Our country has ad
van!ages superior to any other nation il
our resources OF iron and timber. with in
exhaustible quantities of fuel in tho imme
date vicinity of both, and all accessible. anC
in close proximity to navigable waters, with
out tho advantage of public works The
resources of the nation have been developed
and its power displayed in tho construction
of navy OF such magnitude. and which a
tho very period of it's creation, rendered sig
vice 10 tho Union. Tho increase Of III,
number of seameD in tho public service frou
900 men in the spr ng of 1861, to a5ou
"a 900 at the present time. has been accom-
pl,shed without special legislation or OK
traordiuary bounties to promote that in
croasc 1t has boen found, however. tina
the operation of the draft with high bountie
paid for army recruits is beginning to al
feet injuriously tho naval service, and wi
, if not col rccted, DO likely to impair its Of
ficiency by detachng seamen from thei
, , proper vocation aud inducing them 10 on
tor tho army therefore respectfully sug
gost shat Congress might aid both the arm
and naval service by adequate provision o.
: this suhjecr, which would at the same tim
+ be oven to the communities more especial
= interested.
!, | commend 10 your consideration tn
. suggestion OF the Secretcry of the Navy
Q in regard to the policy of fostering an
o training seamen for naval service. Th
d Naval Academy is rendering signal ser
= vice in preparing midshipmen for highl
o responsible duties. which in alter life the
will be required to perform in order ,h'
4 the country should not be deprived Of il
r. proper quota of educated officers. fc
II which legal provision has been made {
! the Naval School. The vacancies cause
By neglect or omission to make nomnt
e tions from The States in nsurreclion hav
3 been filled By the Secretary of the Nav.
! The school is now more full and con
:. plete than at any previous period. and
q. every respect entitled TO the iavorab
of consideration of Congress.
4; During the past fiscal year the fnal