The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-12-07
TELEGRAPHIC,

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The following is an extract from the
Presidents message: 1t appears from the
report of the Secretary of the Navy tina
while at the commencement of the presen,
year there were in commission $50 vessels
Of all classes and descriptions, armed with
5000 guns and named by s., 900 men. The
number of vessels at present in commits.
sion is III with $50 guns and IL, l2S men
| by this prompt reduction of the naval for
ces.
The expenses of the Government have
been largely dimenished, and a number
of vessels purchased for naval purposes
I from the merchant marine have been re.
! turned TO the peaceful pursuits of com
merce. Since the suppression ofactive
hostiities our foreign squadrons have been
re-established, and consist of vessels much
more efficient than those employed on
similar services.
| Previous to the rebellion the suggestion
for the enlargement, W the navy yards and
especially for the establishment of one in
fresh water for iron clad vessels is deserv-
ing of reconsideration. as is also the recon-
mendation for different location--moro
ample grounds for tho Naval Academy.
In the report ofihe Secretary of War. a
general summary is given Of the military
campaigns of 1864 End 1865 ending with
the suppression of armed resistance 10 the
National authority in the insurgnnt States.
The war estimates are reduced from
S5l6, 24O, Ill to So, Sea iSl, which amount i'm
the opinion of the Z 'partment Is adequate
for a peace establishment.
During the war, under the impulses of
patriotism the great body Of the people
without regard to their own comparative
want of wealth thronged to our armies
and filled our fleets of war and held them
selves ready to offer their lives tor the
public good. Now in their turn the pros
perity and income OF the country should
bear their just proportion Of the burden of
taxation. While in our impost system
through means Of (which Increased vitality
is incidentally impaired to all the indus
trial interests of the nation, the duties
should be so adjustedsas to fall most heav-
lily on articles of luxury, leaving the nee
essaries of life as free from taxation us the
absolute wants of the government econom-
ically administered will justify. No ia
vored class should demand free
dom from assessment and thetsxes should
be so distributed AS mt to fail uuduly ON
the poor, but rather on the accumulated
wealth of the country. We should look on
the national debt just as it is, not as ma
tional blessing, but as heavy burden on
the industry OF the country, to be discharg
ed without unnecessary delay.
1t is estimated by the Secretary Of tn
| Treasury that the expenditures for the fis-
cal year ending, 30th of June, lSbts will CA
coed the receipts ll2 la4, @4T, it is crafty
ing however, to state thar it is also estima-
ted that he revenue for the year ending
the S0th of June, 1867. will exceed the ex-
psnditures in the sum of hs6ae,Sls, this
amount, or so mucG as may be deemed
sufficient for the purpose: may be applied
to reduction of the public debt which. on
the 3lst day of October, 1865 was 2..40. Ssh
$50. Every reductions will diminish the
total amount of interest to I've p:siCa, and SO
enlarge the means of still further reduc-
tons until the whole shall be lognidateti,
and this, as will be seen from the esti-
mates of the Secretary, may be accom-
plished by annual payments, then width
er a period not exceeding thirty wears, ]
have faith that we shall do all this within
a reasonable time, that, as we have a.
mazed the wos1@ by the suppressioH ct
civil war which was thought TO be beyond
the control of any Government, so we
shall equally show the superiority of our
institutions by the prompt and faithful!
discharge of our national obligations.
have dwelt thus fully OF orTr domest c
affairs because Of their tralscendent i'm
portance under any circumstances.
Our great extent Of territory, of climate.
producing almost everything that is nee
essary for the wants and even the COM
forts of man, makes us singularly indie
pendent of the varying policy OF foreign
powers: and protects us against every
temptations. while ~ the present moment
the establishment Of harmony and the
strength that comes FROM harmony, will
be our best security against nations who
feel power and forget right; TOR myself. ii
has been and it will be nay constant aim
to promote peace and amity with all for
eign natiods and powers and have every
reason to believe that they all without ex-
ception, are animated by the s;,nle dlspo,
sitiOn.
Our relations with the Emperor Of China
so recent in their orFgin, are most friendly
Our commerce with his dnninsqss IS re-
ceiving new developments and il is very
pleasing to find that tiIe government or
that great Empire tn.luif,'siS satisfaction
with our policy and rrpos"s just confidence
in the fairness Which works our inter
course; the unbroken harmony between
the L. S. and the Emperor OF Russia is re-
ceiving new support from an enterprise
designed To curry lelcvraphic lines across
the continent q Isl" through his domin-
ions and so 10 connect lire L. %. with AL,
Europe by new channel Of intercourse
Our commerce with South America j.
about to receive encouragement 10y di-
rect line Of mail steamships to the rising
Empire Of Brazil.
Oar durne5tic contest, now hapily ended.
has left some tsssces in 0nr relations with
one, at least OF the great maritime powers.
The formal acc"rdanr of be!igerent
rights TO the insurgenl States WAS UMPIRE
cedented, and has no: bsen justified by the
issue, but in the system OF nrufrrlitv pur-
sued by the powers which made that con-
ces sion, tire was a marked difference
The materials of war for the Insurgcnt
States were furnished in N .,rcat Meas
ure from workshops Of Gre"l Britain and