The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-12-10
THK VAR DEPARTMENT

both disbursements nnd debts VII be fonnd
very conslderaoiy less than has been antici-
pated.
THK VAR DEPARTMENT
The report OF the Secretary OF War is n docu.
mea: cf great Interest II consist of the MILL
tnry opsn tons III the year, detailed as follows
LIST, rrpOrts Of the General-iD- Chief %, the
organlzluon OF cOloied persons into the war ser.
wee 81, exchange ~ pri- Cners. fully s0t forth
Ia the letter Of Gen. Hit hcocE 4;h, operations
pnder the act for enrolling aud calling out toe
national forces, d tailed 10 the report of the
Provost harshai General B H. the orgsnis Ation
o. The lgvaid Corps; and 6,h, the operations OF
the several deparments OF the Qaartermastor
Generals, Comnissary Ges erals, faymasier Gen.
era, Cnef OF Engiaeers, Chief OF Ordnance and
SlIvtyOr General. IL has appeare impossible
10 maks O valuable summary Of this report.
tx,eps such IS would be too extended for this
place and hence | content myself II referring
your attention TO the report its.ik.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
+ The duties devolvlng on the naval hrarch OF
The eoiv.ce, DUNG tnc year ard throughout
the whole OF tails unhappy contest, have been
dis harged vita &c eliy aEd eminent success
The tx ensive blockade has been constantly
sncfea iug In enicieucy, as the navy has expand
ed. Vt on 30 long line, II has go
far zen Impossible 10 entirely euppress illclt
trade From the ret rms recsived at tAe Navy
Department II appears that more than l coo
vessels have BEEN captured sl0ce the blockade
was es s'ab.isbed and that the value Of prizes
already sent in for aojudicaii, amounts
TO over Sl3 600 900. The naval fore
OF the United S,ates consists 1T this time OF bSS
vessels completed and IN tho cOugee Of Goa
strGctiou sud II them 20 are iron clad armored
slcau ers- The events Oi the War have given
Increased interest and importance to the navy
which will probably extend beyond the var
i;seif The srMOred vsssels Ia our navy.
completed aud In &c vice, or which are under
contract and approaching COmpleli n ere he.
licved to exceed In number these OF any other
power. But waile these may DO Tellsd upon
for harbOr deerss and sea coast ieivlce.
Others OF greater strength and cspaci.
~ vii he necessary fJr cruising pur-
poses. eEd % maintain our iightful
position on tie ocean. The Change that has
taken place IN naval vessels and naval warfare
since the Introduction Of steam as a motive
power for ships of war den ands either o cor.
Responding change In some OF our existing navy
yards Or the establishment Oi new ones ior the
construction and necessary repair OF modern war
veSels No inconsicerable embarrassment.
delay and public injury has been experienced
from tho want OF such Government estabh.h n.
mentl The necessity for tuch n navy yard.
70 furnished at some suitable place upon l. g
Atlantic eeaboard, las on repeated oe
cas- Ons hecn brought to the attention
vi Congress by the Navy DspaTlm mt and is
asaiu presented Ia tao rep0r, of the Secretary
which accompanies tLis Communication.
think II my du,y 70 invite your fpeclal attea-
lion to this fuljec.. an1 also to tnat of estab.
j ling yard AID pot, for naval purpO.ee
upon ono OF the Western riV ra. A
nEFai foico mas boon created on these
Interior waters ard uncer many DIS
advantages within litsla more inan
Two years, exc aocing IN numb r. The whole |
naval fo-ce ct tie c)uuiD ~ the commence |
ment OF The present administration Sati,iac- |
iOry . d Important as have been tne reform.
enc cf the heroic men vi the navy q. this 4
interesting period, they are fcaTcoy more
wonderful than the services of Oue mechanics |
sni artisans Ia the pro uction Of war
vessels which have created ne f,rm OF naVa. |
p0w7T. Oar country has advaltages euporior
20 any other na.ion in lts resources OF ifon and
.mJer, witt inexhau iube quantities. If |
fuel ~ The immediate vicinity OF both, and
al available add IN csc proximity 10 nav
gable waters. Without the adv niage
ne raaon have been developed and ise
power displayed Ia tle cons .rucuJn oi nsvy
II ir,h magnitude, which has at the very perl
81 81 IL creation rendered signal eeryieo 10 the
jli1p. The Increase II tie numbsr oi
'ssmen 10 the public fcrylce from |
800 mep Ia The spring Of 1861, 70 |
- 4b7u! 2i0o0 at the present lime. his been
&C mpl,sbcd without special leg station o.
.xiIaOrcnlry bogniies 10 pr moJo tnat Ia
.rease- /. mas been found. however, that
he op ration Of TIE draft with high bonn
les paia fOl army recrCls, IL bella. |
ling 70 sff.ct inj1ciclOus'y The naval forcts
nd viii, - rOi Corrtciei. b. ukcly ~ |
npa,r is efiic eucy BY do:achirc sesmen from
htir lTopr vocation and inducing them %
n'cr ihe amy. therefore re- ectfn iy GU
.r-. ila' C.urfss mirH. a'd both ne siny
rd lauk -Crvicl ~ rle1uo'e provision an |
Hi rr HFvLIcr Uou a % 'h9 'aus AL.s ie
q liiahs iO Toe commgLiucs m.fo espccl.iy
ulei a c'. ! lcram 20 g. your c0nsceraii1n |
Dee clF .i-rl of ile Sscretary oi ice kavy in |
,a1fl 'te y1leg ~ i-ste. .ly anl irliL-lg
.sMeu l.r nc lrvN lerr.ce. The NssBl
l,idefoY is r.ricrly s.glN service 10 prep-r-
lg Inia.hipEen ior tie Highly reslons.3le