M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1865-12-21
Presidents Message,

OF the operations OF the Post OfiiC
, Department during the year. Til
revenues Of the past year from til
loyal States alone exceeded the max
e ium annual receipts from all til
= States previous to the rebellion, i,
!, q the sum of So, ,038,091, and the an
nual average increase during the lac
four years, compared with the reven
ues Of the four years immediatel
preceding the rebellion, was SO. 533,
845. The revenues of the last fscu
year amc united to $14,556 15S, am
the expenditures to Sl3.694. 72S
) leaving a surplus Of receipts over ex
penditures of S0GI, ,430. Progress
has been made in restoring the posta
service in the Southern States. The
views presented by the Postmaster
General against the policy o! grant,
ing subsidies to ocean mail steamship
lines upon established routes, and in
iavor Of continuing tho present sys
tenn, which limits the compensation
for ocean service to the postage
earnings, are recommended to the
careful consideration of Congress.
1t appears from the report OF the
Secretary ofthe Navy, that, while at
tho commencement Of tie present
year, there we're in commission $50
vessels Of al, classes ana descriptions,
armed with 5000 guns and manned
by 81 900 men, the number OF vessels
at present in commission is III, with
$50 guns and 12,l29 men. by this
prompt reduction Of the naval forces,
the expenses have been largely dimin
ished, aud number OF vessels, pur
chased Tor naval purposes, from the
merchant marine, have been returned
to the peaceful pursuits of commerce.
Since the suppression Cf active hos>
tlllties our foreign sqnadrons have
been re-es ablished, aud conGisrs OF
vessels much more efficient than those
employed on similar servicn previous
to the rebellion. the suggestion for
the enlargement of the navy yards,
and especially for the establishment of
one in fresh water for iron clad YES
sells, is deserving Of C lnslGeration, as
ls also the Recommendation for d
different location and more ample
grounds for the Naval Academy.
In the report Of The Secretary of
War, II general summary ia given of
The military campaigns of 1861 aud
1865, ending in the suppression of
armed resistance to the national au.
tEority in the insurgent States. Tue
operations OF the general adminisra
tive Bureaus Of the War Department
during the past year are detailed, and
an estimate made OF the ap2ropri>
atlons that will be required lGr nlili.
tary purposes in the fiscal year com
mIenclng the Both day OF June, 1866
Ihe national military force on the 1st
OF May, 1865, numbered 10O0,5l6|
men, 1t is proposed to reduce the
military establishment to a peace
itotlng, comprehending sc 900 troops
OF all arms, organized 80 as to admit
OF an enlargement by filing up the
ranks to $4,000, if the circumstances
OF the country should require an aug
mentation of the army. Tho volun
teer force has already been reduced
by tho discharge from service of over
100000 troops, and the Department
is proceeding rapidly in the work OF
further reduction. The war estimates
arc reduced from $516,240, ,131 to
$33, 3,S14, ,46l, which amount in the
opinion of the Department, is ado
quate for a peace establishment. The
measures of retrenchment IN each
Bureau ard branch of the service ex,
hibit diiigent economy worthy OF
commendation. Reference is also
mace II the report to the necessity OF
providing for a uniform militia sys
tenn, and to the prcpriety OF making
suitable provision for wounded and
disabled officers and soldiers,
The revenue system of the country
i subject Of vital interest to its honor
and property, and should command
the earnest considers alton of Congress-.
The Secretary of the Treasury will
lay before you full detailed report
of the receipts and disbursements OF
the last fiscal year. Of the first quarter
of the present fiscal year, OF the prob
able receipts and expenditures for the
other three quarters, and the esti
mates for tn: year following the Both
Of June, 1866. might content
myself With reference to that report,
in which you will frd all the inIor
nation required Tor your deliberations
and decision. But the paramount
Importance of the subject 90 pressed
itself on my own mind, that can but
\