, 1864-12-23

tegrity of the Union, was never more firm nor
more nearly unanimous than now.
NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy pre-
sents comprehensive and satisfactory exhibit
of the affairs of that Department, and of the ma
val service, It is subject of congratulation
and laudable pride to our countrymen, that
navy of such vast proportions has been orga-
nized in so brief period, and conducted with
SO much efficiency and success. The general ex-
hibit of the navy including vessels under con-
struction on the lst of December, 1864, shows
total of GIL vessels, carrying 4,6lO guns, and
having tonnage of 5lO,596, being actual in
crease during the year-Oyer and above all los
ses by shipwreck or in battle-of SO vessels 100
guns, and AZ ,427 tons. The total number of
men at this time in the naval service, including
officers, is about 81, 0OO There have been cap
tured by the navy, during the year, 324 vessels
and the whole number of naval captures, since
hostilties commenced, is 800, of which 267 are
steamers The gross amount arising from the
sale of condemned prize property, thus far re-
ported, amounts to Sl4, 1895, 250 81. A large
amount of such proceeds, is still under adjudi-
cation, and yet to be reported The total expen-
ditures of the Navy Department, of every de-
scription, including the cost of the immense
squadrons that have been called into existence,
from the 4th of March, 1861, to the LIST of No
10
Your favorable consideration is invited to the
various recommendations Of the SECRETARY of the
Navy, especially in regard to a navy yard, and a
suitable establishment for the construction and
repair of iron vessels, and the machinery and
armature for our ships, to whiehN reference was
made in my last annual message.
Your attention is also invited TO The views
expressed in the report in relation to the legis-
ation of Congress, at the lastsession, in respect
10, v0rSt an, ir1o
l cordially concur in the recommendation of
the Secretary, to the propriety of creating the
new rank Of Vice Admiral in the service.
POSTAL SERVICE
Your attention is invited to the report of the
Postmaster General, for a detailed account of the
operations and financial condition of the Post
Office Department. The postal revenues for the
year ending June 30 1864, amounted to Sl2,-
438, 2O3 76, and the expenditures to Sl2, 644,-
1856 20. The excess of the expenditures over
the receipts being S206, ,652 49, The views pre-
sented by the Postmaster General on the sub
ject of special grants by the Government in aid
of the establishment of new lines of ocean mail
steamships, and the policy he recommends for
the development of increased commercial inter-
course withadacent and neighboring countries
should receive the careful consideration of Con-
gress.
1t is of noteworthy interest that the steady ex-
pansion ofpostal facilities and the Improvement
in Governmental institutions over the new and
occupied portions ofour country, have scarcely
been checked, much less impeded or destroyed,
by our great civil war, which, at first glance,
would seem to have absorbed almos. the entire
energies of the nation. The organization and
admission ofthe State ofNevada, has been com
pleted, in conformity with the laws of our ex-
cellent SYSTEM and is firmly established in the
mountains, which once seemed barren and un-
inhabitable waste, between the Atlantic States
and those which have grown up on the coast of
the Pacific ocean.