The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-12-15


umspt Of great interest," II consists, Lat, Of
the military operations of the year detailed
in the report Of tbs Gsoersl,in-chisf;, 81. Of
the organization Of colorsd persons into the
war service; Sd, exchange of fprsoners. fully
set forth in The letter OF Gen. Hitchcock; Alb,
operations undeE The act for enrolling and
calling out the national forces, detailed in the
report OF the Provost Marshal General; 5lh,
the organization of the Invalid Corps; and
9th, the operation Of the several Departments
Of the Quarter Master General, Commissary
General, Paymaster General, Chief Of Engin
eers, Chief Of Ordnance and Surgeon General.
1t has appesred impossible TO mako avalua.
ble summary of this report. except such as
would be too extended for this place, and
hence coutent myself with referring your
attention to the report itself, s.,.s,., ., -,
The duties deyolying upon the naval
branch Of the service during the year and
throughout the whole Of this unhappy con =
test, have been discharged with fidelity and
eminent success. The extensive blockade
has been constantly increasing in efficiency,
as the navy has expanded. And yet, on SO
long line, it has 80 far been impossible TO-
entirely suppress illicit trade. From tho re-,
turns IeceiSsa- "a the, Navy Departments, il
appears that more than one thousand vessels
have been captured since the blockade. was
established, ami that the value Of the prizes
al,eady sent in for adjudication amounts to
over 81 3,0O0,0 900. S1i,... o,,
The naval forces Of the United States con-
sist, at this time, of 5ss vessels, completed
and 10 the course Of completion, and of these
rs are iron-clad armored steamers. The
events Of the war give an improved interest
and importance to tho Navy, which will
probably extend beyond the war itself. The
armored vessels 10 our navy, completed and
10 service, or which are under contract and
approaching completion, are beloved, to ex.
ceed 10 number those Of any other Power, but
while these may be relied upon for harbor de-
fense and sea coast service, others Of greater
strength and capacity will be necessary for
cruising purposes and to maintain our right.
ful position on the ocean. F'0''1
The changes that have taken place in ma.
val vessels aud naval warfare since the into
duction of steam as a motive power for ships
Of war, demands either a corresponding
change in some Of our existing Navy Yards
or the establishment Of new ones for the con
struction aud necessary repairs Of modern wal
vessels No inconsiderable embarrassment,
delay and public injury has been experienced
from the want Of such Government establish
mehts, The necessity Of such Navy Yard
SO furnished at some suitable. place upon the
Atlantic seaboard, has on repeated occasions
occas,ods been brought 10 the attention cl
Congrese by the Navy Department, and is
again presented in the report Of the Secreta
ry, which accompanies this communication.
think it my duty TO invoke your special
attention to this subject and also to that ol
establishing yard and depot for naval pur
poses upon one Of the West I'm rivers. A ma
val force has been created on these interi.'
waters and under many disadvantages within
little more than two years, exceeding in mum
Der tie whole naval force of the country al
the commencement Of the present admipis.ra
ton.
Satisfactory and important as have been The
performances Of the heroic men OF the navy a
this interesting period, they are scarcely IN r,
wonderful than the services of our mechanic,
and artisans in the production Of our war yes
sells, which has created new form of nava
power.--Our country has advantages superior
| to any other nation in our resources of iror
and lumber, with inexhaustble quantities o
fuel in the immediate vicinity Of both, and al
available and in close proximity to navigabl'
waters. Without the advantage of public
works, the resources of the nation have beer
developed and its powers displayed in th,
construction of navy of such magnitude
which has, at the very period of its creation
sendered signal service to the Union.
The increase in the number Of Of seamen il
the public service from 1000 men in th,
spring Of 1891, 10 about "a 900 at the pres
ent time, has been accomplished without spc
cial legislation or extraordinary boenties I,
promote that increase. 1t has been found
however, that the operation of the draft will
high bouuties paid for army recruits is begin
ming to effect injuriously the naval service, ant
will, il not corrected, be likely 10 impair it
efficiency by detachiug seamen from ,bei
proper vocation and inducing them TO en-
ter the army. l therefore respectfully suc
gest that Congress might aid both the arm,
and naval service by adequate provisions OF
this subject, which would at the same tim,
prove to be equable TO the communities NOR,
especially interested. ob Fnn uia1g
1 commend to your consideration the sug
gestions Of the Secretary of the Navy in re
gard to the policy Of fostering and training
seamen for the naval service. The Naya
Academy is rendering signal service in prepar
ing midsbipmen Tor the highly RESPONSIBLE
duties which in after life they will be require,
to perform. In order that The country shoul,
not be deprived Of the proper quota Of educa
ted officers for which legal provision has beel
made at the naval school, the vacancic
caused by the neglect or omission to max
nominations from the States in insurrecto
have been filed by the Secretary Of the Ma
Wy: The school is how more full and com
plete than at any previous period, and ia eve
~ resbect entitled 10 the favorable considsrs
tion Of Congress- otIl ic go0m t.
During the past fiscal year the financs
condition OF The Post Offi,e Department ha
been one Of increasing prosperity, and an
gratlfied ir being able to state that the re
ccipts OF postal revenue has nearly equaIe,
the entire expenditures, the latter smoantin,
10 Sll ,3l4 ,000.84, aud the former to $ll,
l63,7s0, leaving deficiency Of but $lO5,
4l7.25. In 1850, the year Immediately pre-
ceeding rebellion, the deficiency amounted 4
$5,e5o ,705.49 the postal receipts Of that yea
being s2,645,722.19 less than those Of l sea
The decrease since 1850 in the annual amour
OF transportation, has been only about 25 pc