The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-07


made fatherless in the efforts to pre-
serve our national existence.
.GH1E- POSTAL AFFAIRS. -
The report of theP Postmaster General
4 presents an encouraging exhibit of the
I operations of the Postofffce Department
during the year. The revenues of the
past year from the loyal States alone
/ exceed the maximum annual receipts
| from all the States previous to the re-
bellion, in the sum OF S6, ,03S, ,O9I; and the
annual average incrense of revenue
during the last four years, compared
i with the revenues of the four years inn
medlately preceding the rebellion, was
IS, $50, ,S45. The revenues of the last
1 fiscal year amounted to $l4,556,h5S and
surplus of receipts over expenditure OF
SS6l, ,4S0. Progress has been made in re-
storing the, postal service in the South
ern States. The views presented by the
Postmaster General against the policy
of granting subsidies to ocean mail
steamship lines upon established
routes, and in favor of continuing the
present system, which limits the COM
pensation for ocean service to the post
age earnings, are recommended to the
careful consideration of Congress.
| CONDITION oFTHE NAVY.
1t appears from the report of the Sec
retary Of the Navy, that while, at the
O1 |LIle present YEAR
there were in commission $50 vessels OF
all classes and descriptions, armed with
5000 guns, and manned by $1,000 men,
the number of vessels at present in COM
mission is III, with $50 guns, and
l2,l28 men, BY this prompt reduction
ton Of the naval forces the expenses of
the Government have been largely di-
minlshed, and a number of vessels,
purchased for naval purposes from the
merchant marine, have been returned
to the peaceful pursuits of commerce.
Since the suppression of active hostili>
re-estabIished, and consist of vessels
much more efficient than those employ=
ed on similar service previous to the re-
Dell1on. The suggestion for tho en-
largement of the navy yards, and
| especially for the establishment of one
in fresh water for iron-clad vessels, is
1 deserving of consideration, as Is also
the Recommendation for adiferent loca-
non and more ample grounds for the
Naval Academy. ~ ,7H'E
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR.
In the report of the Secretary of War,
a general summary is given of the mill
itary campaigns of 1884 and 1855, end
ing in the suppression of armed resist
! ance to the national authority in the
insurgent States. The operations of
the general administrative Bureaus of
! tho Var Department during the past
1 year are detailed, and an estimate made
of thelappropriations that will be re-
I tquired= for military purposes in the
fiscal year commencing the Both day Of
June, 1866. The national military force
onths 1st of May, 1865, numbered !, ,OO0,-
\ 5l6 men. 1t is proposed to reduce the
military establishment toa peace foot
ing, comPrehending fifty thousand
troops OF all arms, organized so as to-
admit of an enlargement by filling np
the ranks to eighty-two thousand sir
hundred, If the circumstances of the
country should require an augmenta-
tion of the army, The volunteer force
has already been reduced by tho dis
charge from service of over eight hum
dred thousand troops, and the Depart
ment is proceeding rapidly in the work
of further reduction. The war esti-
mates are reduced from $5l6, ,24O. l3I- to
SS3, ,Sl4, ,4l6, which amount, in tho opin-
ionrof the Department, is adequate for
peace establishment. The measures
OF retrenchment in each Bureau and
branch of the service exhibit diligent
economy worthy of commendafion.
Reference Is also made in the report to
the necessity of providing fora uniform
militia system, and to the propriety of
making suitable provision for wounded
and disabled officers and soldiers.
A JUST FINANCIAL POLICY RECON-
MENDED. 1'U
The revenue system of the country is
a subject of vital interest to its honor
and prosperity, and should command
the earnest consideration of Congress.
The Secretary of the Treasury viii lay
before you full and detailed report Of
the receipts and disbursements of the
last fiscal year, of the first quarter of
the present fiscal year, of the probable
receipts and expenditures for the other
three-quarters, and the estimates for
the year following the 30th of June,
1866. / might content myself with a
reference to that report, in which you
VIII hnd all the Information required
for your deliberations and decision.
But the paramount importance of the
subject SO presses itself on my own
mind, that cannot but lay before you
my views ofthe measures which are re-
quired for the good character, and I
might say for the existence of this peo-
pie. The life of the republic lies GER
tainly in the energy, virtue, and intel
! Hgence of its citizens; but it is equally
true that a good revenue system is the
life OF an organized government. II
meet you at time when the nation has
voluntarily burdeped itself with debt
unprecedented in bur annals. VAST as is
| It's amount, 1t fades away to nothing
when 1t is compared with the Countless
blessings that will be conferred upon
our country and upon man by the pres-
ervation of the nations life. Now, on
Il Il
| gress since the return of peace, it is of
the utmost importance to inaugurate a
in st policy, which shall at once be put
| in motion, and which shall commend
/ itself to those who come after us for its
continuance. We must aim ut nothing
lees thanthe complete effacement ofthe
financial evils that necessarily followed
n state of civil war. Welmust endeavor
| to apply the earliest remedy to the de:
ranged state OF the currency, and not
shrink frOm devising policy which,
without being oppressive to the people,
shall Immediately begin to effect the re-
duction Of 1.-THE debt, and, II persisted in,
discharge it fully within a definitely
fixed number of years. 8
GRADUAL REDUCTION OF CURRENCY
| ifnG ~ REcoALMENDRD.
1t is our first duty. to prepare in earn
| est for our recovery from the ever-ir-
creasing evils of an irredeemable cur
rency, Without a sudden revulsjon, and
| yet without uttimely procrastination.
For that end we must, each In our re-
spectiye positions, prepare the way. 1
hold 1t the duty of the Executive TO in
sist upon frugality in the expenditures;
and sparing economy is it fself great
national resource. OF the banks to
| TO which authority has been given to
/ issue notes secured by bonds Of the Uni
ted States, we may require the greatest
4 moderation and prudence, and the law
must be rigidly enforced when its lim-
its are exceeded. We may, each Que of
us, counsel our active and enterprising
licountrymenito be constantly on their
! guard, to liquidate debts contracted in
4 q paper currency, and by conducting
business as nearly as possible on sys-
4 tenn OF cash payments or short credits,
I to hold themselves prepared to return