Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The report of the Secretary of War
contains information of interest and i'm
portance respecting the several bureaus
of the War Department and the opera
tions of the army. The strength of our
| military force on the 30th of September
last was $4,000 uien, and it is computed
is the opinion o { the Secretary of War
that within the next year o considerable
diminution of tae infantry force may be
made without detriment to the interests
of the country, and in view of the great
expense atteD ding the military peace
establishment and the absolute necessity
of retrenchmHnt wherever it can be ap.
piled, it is hoped that Congress will sane
ton the reduction which his report re-
commends. While in 1860 sixteen thou
sand three hundred men cost the nation
$l6, ,472, 900, The sum of $65, ,682,000 is
estimated as necessary for the support OF
the army during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1870; as estimated by the War
Department for the last two fiscal years
were, for 1867, S538, l44 81, and for 1868,
$252 056 SO. TIE actual expenditures
during the same periods were, respec-
lively, $95, ,224,-4l7 and 1928, 246, 448.
The estimate submitted December last
for the fiscal We ar ending June 30, 1869,
was 77,l24,70s, and the expenditures
for the first qu arter, ending the 10th OF
September II st, were S27,2l9,ll7, and
the Secretary of the Treasury gives
SCI, 100000 as the amount which
will probably be required during
the RENAL ming three quarters, IT
there shou ID be no reduction OF
the army, making it, in the aggregate,
cost for th e year considerable in excess
Of $95, 900, 900. The difference between
the estimate and the expenses for the
three years, which has been named, is
thus shown to be $l75,345, ,243 for this
single branch of the public service. The
report of the Secretary of the Navy ex.
hibits the operation of that department
and of the navy. During the year
been effected. There are forty-two yes
sells, carrying All guns, in the six
squadrons which have been established
in different parts of the world, and three
of the vessels are returning to the United
States, and four are used as store-ships,
leaving the actual cruising force thirty
FIVE vessels, carrying 1856 guns. The
total number of vessels in the navy is
206, mounting l743 guns. Eighty-three
vessels of every description are in use,
armed with ls6 guns. The number of
enlisted meR in the service, including
apprentices, has been reduced to 800.
An increase of the navy yard facilities is
recommended, which, in the event OF
this being promotive Of economy and
security, more thorough and systematic
survey of the North Pacific ocean is
advised, in view of our recent acquisi-
ton, our expanded commerce, and the
increasing intercourse between the Pa
cifc States and Asia. The naval pen
sion funds, which consists of moiety of
the svails OF captures during the war,
amounts to $4,000
While the United States have, on all
occasions, professed decided unwilling
ness that any part of this continent, or
of its adjacent islands, shall be made
theater for a new establishment of mon
archial power, and as little has been
done BY the United States, on the other
hand, TO attract the communities by
which we are actively and constantly
making TO secure republican institutions
for themselves. II is, indeed. question
Of grave consideration whether our re-
cent and present example is not eAlcu-
lated to check the growth and expansion
Of communiiies, aud make these commu-
mites distrust il not dread q government
which atvill consigns to military domina-
ton States that are integral parts OF our
Federal Union, and make ready TO meet
any atfemufa hv other nationa 10 extend
10 this hemisphere the monarchiAl instr
tutions Of Europe assume 70 establish
over large portion Of lie people rule
more absolute. harsh and tyrannicsl than
any known 10 civilized powers The
acquisition Of Alaska vas made With q
visw Of extending our national jurisdie-