The New York herald., 1864-12-08

II
ss as. ;aise q essss sTsadv adjud,caisd shownt
ana the net amount for d,str,bution.
Joint rss tuition u Congress, approved the 1st o
80 much Of the naval pension fund a. was uoi required
for the immediate payment Of pensions in the registered
o. as Ssa %:
'S1'P " he the ,ss.h.s ~ 20 sum co.
will yield annual income Of SEQ 600 suicens tbs
little grsncation 70 be able to state that our brave ON
Gers ana seamen besides realizing handsome sums Tor
w doubtless, De- ample for the payment Of The author.
lied pension 10 tnse who have been wounded aud to the
eervioe or died from disease contracted n the line Of
duty, without calling upon tho national treasury.
the pension roll on the lst Of November, 1894 was a.
100 nvalids with pensions amounting to- $50 40l
$40 widows and orphans amounting 70 ....l3s 25S
1900 persons receiving total amount or. slss $50
IN this connection ask attention TO the suggestions
tive 70 naval pensions The Of Congress approve
July H. 1852 regulating pensions, makes provision
aors, Ieuteesnt commauaer Sy ac,
0 Congress- on the 10th OF July Of the year. The
should % 80 revised as 20 include these grades and
ID suggested that better adaptation OF tho amount Of
pension TO the responsibility OF the officer might bo
adv.ntagsoualy made Tho highest pay authorized
s thirty dollars per month. the family OF . captain
receiving more than the family OF 4 master com.
mandng, and 10 reduction OF twenty dollars per month
from the amount formerly paid. the act Of Congress
approved the 4,h July last provides that person
In the military service" who shall lose tn feet shall
receive pension OF twenty dollars por month those
who shall lose both hands twenty ave dollars per
month A. the law 10 construed not to include persons
in the naval service those who have suffered similar
In the navy continue to receive but eight ten
dollars per 0nthan inequality which is believed
intended 1suggess such changes 10 ,ho law will
place the sailor upon the footing the solder.
PRIzR LAW
The seventh section Of the relation to abandoned
\ n n rQnt rad
the law OF prize stood prior TO the present rebe cn
and also adudged and applied since the
OF the rebellion by tho courts In their exercise OF prize
jurisdiction IL also for the future the pubic
policy Of the country upon the sub cc as manifested
the legislation of Congress both before the rebellion and
since its commencement up TO the date OF this act.
This abrupt OF settled law and Of public policy
waters Of the nied States BY the forces hereof
was not, apprehend, we'll considered and does noe
Of %nhe the Soa.
se2ad or taken upon any inland waters OF the United
States BY the naval forces thereof comprehend not only
hardly be supposed that Congress intended 10 deny that
naval vessels captured In naval conflict, as at New Or
subject Of prize The same s also Of transports,
armed unarmed, conveying tho troops munhions Of
Bic that to deprive such captures Of the character Of
prize could have been deliberately Intended
states brace the Chesapeake md psawars bays Ss
H'g sss s Hs ssssa'f sssss G naval officer selling
% Ing eoS 70 turn K under the so.
March IL, 1858, 10 the Treasury agent NO one ous
must turn over their seizures TO the Treasury agent
II dicult to perceive the purpose tor whsh ihs avg
c.SnrS sna a. ps or not
be 80 LIABLE he is bound to send II TO the prize court
Why then should ne nave 20 sssn ~ snn,S %
the seizure alone be relieved from the obligation Of
sending IL TO the Treasury agona
character OF prize from all property which may
be captured by naval forces the inland waters Of the
United States u is respectfully submitted whether its
repeal Is demanded by tho highest considerations Of
public policy The inland waters Of tho United states
constitute cruising stations OF vast extent and so stu
aed as to DO OF supreme importance in tho prosecution OF
this, or, indeed OF any maritime war These waters
ua poe.y belonging % those Who arc now
;wagng war against the government The property,
aud along their shores belonging 10 the enemy s under
the public Law OF war; liable TO capture oy naval bel
prize Of war By the exercise Of this right naval force
reach and capture property which should be taken
oocmy, and which Is yet left untouched BY our
Upon the inland waters within tho insurrcctonary
Sesssls are uow in great pumbers ana while the war
lasts viii continue to DO engaged IN beiserent opera.
part Of the navy OF OF primary belligereut
rehtsS 1t certainly could not have been Intended to
cripple tho power OF the navy to cripple the enemy, or
by hedge round and project from capture and
demnat an enemy's property The service on inland
that on tho sea- should be this discrimination
against A. nor has been less useful to the country.
Of ns asy 20 no tho than under
tho law Of because the sixth section authorizes the
allowance Of moissy to 'nfomsrs collectors o. the
lance protecting tho public interest" In taking this
lures and comforting the informsr house
onlcsr the Treasury and country are not benefited
The tight % make capture or prize Of war; In all places
upoa all property subject TO the law of Is one
Of the encouragemens which maritime nations have
extended their navies in all time, and ours has been
no exception until this enactment. The Of this
right in cutting oil OF enemy OF
the chief methods BY which nations seek to bring war
to a close
There s no reason why In this against the rebel
lion ancient and rightnl proceeding should be aban
doned and rule adopted that must operate TO our pa
tonal injury IN all vars l can see no reason upon
which to conclude that In lighting down this rebel
either as against the rebels Yourselves, their abet
tors the property upon which they rely for their re-
serve navy upon all the waters where Goat
or fight all Its rights OF war unimpaired.
sources why, indeed should reinquish any one bel
with these views the expedency Of repeal OF the
seventh section Of the act alluded 10 s recommended
and substitution IN It's place OF some provision OF ike
elect 10 that which Is found IN the last section OF tho ret
upon the same subject approved March H. 1868.
CONTRACTS.
The present contract system is oren to many and
serious objections Whatever may havc been ts merits
when originally established the condition OF the country
and changed 10 render essential modn
tons necessary n abrosaon Of tho system ITSELF
Tho instae Iity OF prices and rising market
difcut anil 10 some instances almost impos.
slblc, to procure offers for contracts TO furnish
yearly supplies for tho from houet and reliable con-
tractors rate which does contemplate the hg 81
market price Of gold well as long delay IN the time OF
payment Any change for the better 10 the condition OF
the country the market will be gain to the contrac
tor who has an annual contract and corresponding oss
TO the government.
proposal made the present for the annual sup
ply OF flax canvass which is mostly imprtod illustrates
ibis pout The bids received when exchange was
nearly the highest rate has attained, and from an
honorable and reliable contractor who has for yoars sup
piled the government faithfully Tho aggregate OF the
offer was Tor pay men 10 currency, 42S,le so, or for
payment IN gold its equivalent at the time each bill
paid s536,9gS There WAS no alternative under the
Law other than accept The currency bid, and the
rate OF exchange has en there has ecen correspond
ing Increase OF profits 10 the contractor
In this case aad others o. IKE character tho truo In
tercst government would undoubtedly be pr tod
the department permitted 10 assume the risk and
omit makng annual contracts relying up purchases
wanted under The direction OF the department, at ibe