Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-07
SouruI arlA Gourisr.
Wednesday Morning, Dec. 2. ilss1.
The Presidents Message.
TooNrNUrp rEor rrssr PACE.

ICNNNAAANSA4O E-~SA mend to your attention the suggestions con tained in the report in regard to the copdi- tion of our Qualifications, especially our coast defences and recommend an increase of strength of the engineer battalion by which the efficiency of our torpedo system would be improved. I also call attention to the remarks upon the impro yement of the south pass of the Mississippi river; the pro- posed free bridge over the Potomac river at Georgetown; the importance of completing at an early day the north wing of the de- partment building, and other recommends lions of the Secretary of War, which appear in his report. The actual expenditures of the department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, were $42, 122, POL .39. The appropriations for the year 1882 were $44,- 889, 725.42. The estimates for 1883 are $44,-
 541, ,296.91.
 NAvAL. AFFAIRS.
 The report of the Secretary of the Navy
 exhibits the condition of that branch of the service, and presents valuable suggestions
 for its improvement call your especial at tention, also, to the appendix of the report of the advisory board, which he convened to develop suitable measures for increasing the efficiency of the navy and particularly to re- pot as to the character and number Of ves- sells necessary to place it upon footing com nensurate with the necessities of the govern ment I cannot too strongly urge upon you
 
 I national safety, economy and honor lmpera- lively demand 8 thorough rehabilitation of ! our navy. With a full appreciation Of the fact that compliance with the suggestions of | the head of that department and Of the ad- | yisory board must involve large expend1- ' ture of public moneys, earnestly recom- \ mend such appropriations as will accomplish ! an end which seems to me so desirable. | Nothing can be more inconsistent with true | public economy than withholding means nee essary to accomplish the objects entrusted by | the constitution to the national legislature | One of those objects, and one which IS o1 paramount importance, Is declared Dy oul fundamental law to be provision Tor the ! "conmon defense" Surely nothing IS more essential to the defense of the United States
 and of all our people than the efficiency o1 ! our navy.
 ! We have for many years maintained witt | foreign governments the relations of honor | able peace, and that such relations may be permanent is desired by every patriotic cltl' zen of the republic, but if we read the \ teachings of history we shall not forget thai I in the life of every nation emergencies may \ arise when a resort to arms can alone save Ii II from dishonor. No danger from abroad now \ threatens this people, nor have we cause te { distrust the friendly professions of other \ governments, but for avoiding as well as re ' polling danger that may threaten us in the \ future we must be prepared to enforce any | means which we think wise to adopt. Wt must be ready to defend our harbors against aggression; to protect, by distribution ot oul | ships of war over the highways of com | nnerce the varied interests of our forelgI trade, and the persons and property or oul l citizens abroad to maintain everywhere thu honor sof our flag and the distinguished position which we may rightfully cla1n I among the nations of the world.
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