The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-12-15

poWcT. Dut Nuio tucsc may uo ioiO'
upon for harbor defences and sea coas
surveys, Others ofgreater strength AM
capacity will be necessary for crushin!
j purposes and to maintain our position ol
the ocean. The change that has taKe'
place in naval vessels and naval warfar'
since the introduction of steam as mo
tive power for ships of war demand
either corresponding change in som'
Of sur existing navy yards or the estab
lisbment of new ones for the construc
ton and necessary repair of modern wal
vessels. No inconsiderable embarrass
ment, delay and public injury has beer
experienced from the want Of such gov
ernment establishments. The need o
such navy yard so furnished, at some
place on the Atlantic seaboard, has on
repeated occasions been brought to the
attention of Congress by the Navy De-
partment, and is again presented in the
report of the Secretary which accom-
panies this communication.
| think it is my duty to invite your
especial attention to this subject, and
also TO that of establishing yard and
depot for naval purposes upon one Of the
Western rivers, naval force has been
created on the interior waters, and un-
der many disturbances. within little
more than two years, exceeding in mum
bers the whole naval force of the coun-
try at the commencement Of the present
administration. Satisfactory and i'm
portant as have been the performance OF
the heroic men of the navy, at this in
teresting period, they are scarcely more
wonderful than the services OF our me
chanics and artisans in the production of
war vessels, which has created new
form of naval power. Our courtry has
advantages superior to any other nation
in our resources Of iron and timber, with
inexhaustable qusntiiies Of fuel in the
immediate vicinity Of both, and all as
sailable and in close proximity to navi
gable waters, without the advantage OF
public works. The resources of the ma
tion have been developed and its power
displayed in the construction of a navy
of such magnitude, which has, at the
very period of its creation, rendered sig
nal service to the Union.
The increase OF the number Of men in
the public service from seven thousand
men, in the spring Of 1861, to about "a.
900 at the present time, has been
accomplished without especial legisla
ton, and extraordinary bounties 10 pro-
mote that increase Ii has been found.
however, that the operation of the draft.
with high bounties paid for army re-
cruits. is beginning to effect. injuriously
the naval service, and will. il not cor
rected. be likely to impair its efficiency
by detaching seamen from their proper
vocation and inducing them to enter the
army. l therefore respectfully suggest
that Congress might aid the army and
navy service BY adequate provisions on
this subject which would at the same
time be equitable to the community.
more especially interested. / recon-
mend TO your consideration the sugges 3.
ton of the Secretary Of the navy, in re
gard to the policy of fostering and main
tanning steamers for the naval service.
The naval acadamy is rendering signal
service in preparing midshipmen tor
highly responsible duties. which in after
life they will be required to perform in
order that the country should not be de.
prived of educated officers, for which
legal provisions has been made at naval
schools. The vacancies caused by neg
laN a.
from states in insurrection, have been
filed by the Secretary of Navy. The
school is now more full and complete
than at any previous period. and in ev-
cry respect entitled 10 the favorable con
sideration of Congress.
During the past fiscal year, the finan
cial condition Of the Post Office Depart.
ment has been one of increasing pros
peritv. and am grstified in being able
10 state that the postal revenue has near
" equaled the entire expenditures the
latter amounting TO eleven mlllion three
hundred and fourteen thousand dollars
and eighty four cents, and the former
to eleven hundred and seventy three
thousand seven hundred and eighty nine
dollars and fif,v-nine cents. leaving de.
fciency of but l504l.72i in 1860. the
year Immediately preceding the rebel
lin the deficiency amounted to S565.
67o, 549-the postal receipts of that year
being 1894. 58e. .si6 less than those OF
1864. The decrease since the year 1860
in the annual amount Of transportation
has been on p about "a per cent. but
the annual expenditures on the account
of the same. has been reduced 35 per
cent II is manifest that the Post Office
Depsr tment may become self-sustaining
in few years. even that branch of the
whole service. The International con
ference of postal delegates from priuei.
pie countries of Europe and America,
which was called at the suggestion of the
Postmaster General. at Paris on the | lih
of May last, and concluded its delibera
tons on the 9th of June The princi'
pies establl'hed by The Conference are
bes, adopted 10 facilitate postal inter
course between nations, and as the basis
of future conventions. inaugurate ge n
eral system Of uniform International
charges at deduced rates OF postage. and
cannot fail 10 produce beneficial results
| refer you 10 the report Of the Secretary
4 r IL l., Il u = III L..