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TIEIORT WSU hllltt, Editor, ROBia ClIOLl.WMPTiTtful in latttlrrtasl, moral and pkyural rttosrffi, Ike land f m tint and homr f tat ifrrttitn." VOL.XLII. RALEIGH, WEDNESDAY MOllNING, DECE3IBER 21, 1851. ISO 52 H-C AkOmM STAR ; ! r; a T1.M8- If ps.14 strictly la advance, 12 ft an smssi gl M U psM vrltkia iix (gonitis; uj $9 at th a4f tk7ar. ADVIRTI8INQ. I (! r (1 lines) Irst insertion $1, sa4 It Matt for ntb subsequent insertion. REPORT OF SECRETARY OF NAVY. NavT DirATx.T. November, 39, 1851. 8m: Th following is the annual report of the public service under the supervision of ihi Depsrtment: Tha former organization of the vessel mplnyed in active service on the ocean imn i i separate squadrons his still been con liuued. The Home squadron, yet under the com mand of Commodore Parker, consists, of the warn frigate Saranac, Commander Pender graft, bearing the broad pendant of the com modore ; the loop-of-war Albany, Command er Plait; the eloop Decatur, Commander Green , the sloop Cyane, Commander Paine, and the steamer, Viien, Lieutenant Commind ing Smith. The vessels of this squadron have been engaged in cruising among the West India Islands, and along the coasts hf the Caribbean sea and of the Gull of Mexi co. The commander of this squadron hav ing been ordered to the. north on special ser vice, was not in position to prevent the late illegal and disastrous expedition Iron) the port of New Orleans against the Island of Cuba, - bat; hastening thither under the orders nf the Department, he was commendahly active in preventing any repetition of theolfence, whilst at the same time affording protection to Amer ican interests in that quarter, and giving as surance thirt-the Itnrtert Stale "would" in giiod" fjsith observe their treaty obligations nnd the law of nations. Commander Piatt, com manding the Albany which happened to be in the port of Havana when the expedition landed deserves also the cotnmsudation of the Department for the propriety and delica cy with which he acquitted himself in the trying duties ot his command, for his vigi lance and industry in procuring and transmit ting early and correct information of. the pro gress of events in the island, and his humani ty in visiting and interceding for the deluded person who, in violation of the law of iheir country, hid been induced to embark in an ad venture of such serious consequence. These occurrences at the south detained the vessels of this squadron from a cruise to its northern limits, which was commenced and proceeded in as far as Havana when the invasion of Cuba took place. - . Th Mediterranean squid ron. Commodore Morgan commanding, consisted of the flag ship the rasre Independence, Captain James son ; the steam-frigate Mississippi, Captain Long, and the frigate Cumberland, CapUin Ijiimer. In June the latter vessel returned, by order of the DepiirtmeuU lu t!m Uniud fiuies, and upon her arrival ihe officers were detached and the SggjlaEhji?JMnmJlMt,tim the Independence, with the commander-in-chief on hoard, has visited Trieste and other ports within his command, . and the Mississippi has been generally employed in active cruis ing. In compliance with a resolution of Con . gres te-tba effect; -order 'Werir1tt'uueseasnh'' ant to the commander of the squadron, di recting this vessel to he held 'in readiness to proceed to the cosst of Turkey and receive on board the distinguished Hungarian, Gnv . ernor Kossuth, snd his associates in rib, trrf ' convey them to the United Stales, so soon as information should be received from the A merican Minister at Constantinople that they had obtained the Sultan's permission to em bark. She scoor-lir.gly took on board, at the Dardanelles, in September, the illustrious es ile and his family and party, in number sixty persons, brought them on the homeward voy age to Gibraltar. Here Governor Kossuth, having determined to visit England, took pas sage in a mail stejmer Tor ihsicoiuitr,, intend g to corns tiience iy a like, conveyance to the United States, and the Mississippi s tiled with the remainder of her passengers direct to New York, where she arrived early in No vember. . The Independence being the only vessel remaining in the Mediterranean, and, from her large draft, unsuited for winter cruising in that tea, this consideration, together with the fact that the enlistment of herjjrew and the; term ot the commander oL the aq u adron w ill xpirs in the ensuing spring, induced the Department to recall her. also, and ordersj to thai effect, were despatched in October. Th new sleam-trignte San Jacinto, ilestined for' the squadron on the coast of Brazil, is preparing with all practicable expedition for a and will aaif in a few days for the Med iterranean, to watch over our interests in that quarter until the arrival of a new squadron early in the spring. The squadron on the coast of Africa con tinued under the command of Commodore Giegory until the month of May, when, af ter an energetic and efficient service on that station, he was relieved, and it wee transferred io Commodore Lavalette. This squadron comprise the sloop-nf-war "Germamnwn, the flag-ship of the squadron, Commander Nicholas j the sloop Dale, Com mander Pearson ; the sloop John Adams Com mander Barron the brig Perry. Lieutenant Commonding Foot ; the brig Porpoise, Lieu tenant Commanding Lardner, ' These vessels have been assiduously em ployed m the duties of their cruise j and the ervatKo of another year justifies the con elusion expressed in my last annual report, - that the glance and activity of this squad ron, together with that of Great Britain, have oppressed the (lave trade on the west coast of Africa, and that it is now earrieJ . 1 on th. south coast, more than a thousand ..nuke distant ftom the vtxtion at the rape del VmA IJ. J ..n't a a- , csianiisnea . ana msintained wc the conclusion of the treaty of Washing ton, in die year 1843. - : - - Ti . a. -. I ." ' -i mis result lias led to Ilia consideration of in expediency or removing the depot of sup. plie for the sqmdrut down lite roast to t. raui ue ixwnuo, oofbefc, JWQI ou the nth. rfi toast ' ut siiice Si i,.b,h;tin k it.n of III African slave trade among her subjects, K i doubtful whether it is necessity to con jMlfi. thiaqiwcrMWrw fmM&rfflSSwjf wnerealong the African shore; and it i ac cordingly proposed that nouc be given to the British government of the termination on our part of tlie eighth article of the treaty above mentioned, a therein provided, It i believed thst Brazil and the Spanish Weal India, Islands are th otrty "eonnirie to hkh slave haw bora imported in any con siderable numbers, for many years past, and bv strenrtheninr the aauadron on the eoaal of Brazil, and requiring of its vessels periodical visit to the coast of Africa, the traffic can . . . . . ... probably be more effectually checked than by keeping up the squadron on the African coast ; while, in regard lo the Spanish West Indies, the vessels of the Home squadron will suffice to prevent the use of our flag for its protec tion among them. The climate of the Afri can shores is notoriously insalubrious, and the, health and comfort of the officers and crews would be greatly promoted by the fthaifge proposed of this squadron. The squadron on the coast of Brazil, Com-1 modore McKeever still being in command, consists nf the frigate Congress the flag-ship of the squadron. Captain Mcintosh ; the eloop-of-war Jamestown, Captain Downing f the brig Bainbridgq, Lieutenant Commanding Manning; and the stores!) ip Relief, Lieulen-I ant Commanding Thatcher. Orders, howev er, have been despatched directing the Bain- bridge to relieve the hriir Ferrv. in ihe African squadrnn, which, owiur to the approaching termination of the enlistment of her crew, has beeu ordered lo return to the United State. The general duties assigned lo this squad- ron, in ifivina- protection to our commerce and interests between the mouth of the A mason j river and Cape Horn, in preventing the us ) of the American flag to cover the African ! slave rrafdp," and fa-Wrwiwrour neutral righwi and relations in the slate of hostilities which have long prevailed between ihe' Argentine Republic and the Banda Oriental, and more recently between the former and Brad. an - peaT-urha-ve ' teeA" e;itousty" and TaiUifuIIy performed ; and the reports of its commander are quite satisfactory. The Pacific squadron. Commodore MeOau ley commanding, consists of his flag-ship, the frigate Raritan, Commander Mckean ; the frigate Si. Lawrence! Captain Dulaney ; the slonps-of-w?r St. Mary's, Commander Magruder; Vaudalia, Commander Gardner; Falmouth, Commander Pearson j Vincennes, Commander Hudson ; ' Portsmouth, C oin mender Dornin ; Warren, unseaworthy and used as a slorehip ; the steamer Massachu setts, Lieutenant Cammanding Knox ; the stnieship Lexington, Lieutenant Commanding Ra'nford ; and the slnreship Southampton, Lieutenant Commanding Turner. The frigate Savannah, Captain Page, re cently relumed from thisslatieu, in consequence of the expiration of the lime of service of her likewise on her hnireward voyage. These will be replacrd respectively bv the frigate St. Iwrenceand the sloop-nf-war Ports mouth, about to proceed to the Pacific. The several vessels of this squadron have been constantly and usefully employed in ap propriate service. The flag-ship and the Vin ceuutJ nave visited the prinerpnl prrrur on th American coast, from Oregon to Chili. The A'jmdaJisvJl4MllwleeVTTa wich Islands at periods when the presence of s man-of-war was highly essential to our in terests in that Kingdom ; and the Falmouth and St. Mary's, in addition lo touching at ports on the mainland and the Sandwich Is lands, have extended iheir cruising to ihe Society? MarquemsraeV Fejee. Islands. The necessity of maintaining, al sll limes, sn effective fleet on thai ocean, and ol adapt ing our naval laws and system to the new re quirements of the service, in consequence of pur aetuements n California mod Oregon; was urged in my last annual communication, and cannot too early engage the attention of Con gress. Tha so,sdmn for the East India and China seas. Commodore Aultck commanding, com prehends his flag-ship, the steam-frigate Sus quehannah, theslnops-of-war Plymouth, Com mander Kelley ; Saratoga, Commander Walk er; and Marion, Commander Glendy. The two vessel last-named are on their station the two former are on the voyage out. Marion will be relieved onUieir arrival, and return home by way of the Cape of Good Hope, bringing, it is expected, valuable varie ties of the seed or root of the sugar cane, and also of the tea-plant, collected under the or ders of the Department lor distribution in the sections of our country adapted to their cul tivation. Tlie Dolphin, Lieutenant Cam manding r. J. Page, which had hern attached to this squadron, returned to tlie United Stales, by way of Cane Horn, in the month of June. Th StisqueTiaiinaTi, which is one of the new war-steamers, htiili nndcr the provisions of the act of Congress of the 3d of March, 1847, sailed from Norfolk in June last, by way of Rio de Janeiro, conveying to (haSJIplace his excellency M. Macedo, late minister of the emperor of Brazil in this couiilrfr the Hon. R. C. Schenrk, United Slates minister pleni potentiary to Brazil : and the Hon. J. S. Pendleton, "Cllargaale Affaires to the Argen tine Republic. She arrived at Rio de Janei ro with some derangement in her machinery and equipments, but these were repaired with out much delay, and, when last heard from, sh was shout lo depart, by way of the Cae of GimhI Hope, for ber ultimate destination. A lavnrable impression for our interests and commerce is expected to be created, in th pe culiar countries of the East, by the addition of this new and well-appointed (team-frigate to our squadron in that region. The steamer Michigan, Commander Bul lus, has continued to cruise on the upper lakes, for the protection and assistance of our trad ing vessels in Uiose waters, arid baa on sever al occasions furnished important assistance to the civil officers in arresliog and bringing to justice iMliitiou-ol-persona charged with offences against th law of the United Slates. ' . In this review nf the sea service of our cruisers, I have the satisfaction to announce that :W-iivi4-kbvinttrfnmp and treatment have been nol.otily respectful, but cordial, and that not merely the interests of commerce-,-iiut iaa-rnmlrtiial peace and friendship, are likely to be promoted by these visits ot our armed vessels, and tlie display of our flag on foreign Shore. " T: The expedition tinder LieiitenantCom TnanUtng De lTavenib tfi "Trnuc eas, in search of th British commander, Sir Jolih Franklin, and his companions, returned to the poA.LJVlHsT J'ork iaOelobew haMf iuwo ered only supposed trace of th objects of wnicn it was in quest, and leaving in enure uncertainty their actual fate. The vessels of the expedition proceeded in 'the direction where, in the opinion of the best-informed of ficers, the missing navigators are lobe sought, and on which the trace in oneslinn ' were found. Though ailing in the main object of their SMrca, lAeut L llava d bw onv cer verified by their explorations many facts i before unknown to science, but indicated in .1.1. r .u- : the course nf the investigations carried on at the Naval Observatory, concerning the winds and currents of the ocean, and to which re ference was made in the instructions for the expedition. In this expedition the officers and men were all volunteers. In its prosecution they en countered the grcatcm dangers and hardships. To mention a single exam pie, their vessels were caught by the ice and frozen up hi the open sea. In this perilous situation they were confined for nine months, and drifted to and fro in the ice for more than a thousand miles. By the skill of the officers, and the mercy of a superintending Prodvidence, they were re leased from their celd imprisonment, and re stored lo their country snd friends not a man hiving been lost on the expedition. They have received no other pay than would have been their due on a cruise lo Naples or the Levant ; and I respectfully suggest that ' they be allowed the same pay and emolu- ' menu that were granted 10 those in like posi. ' lions in the late exploring expedition lo the j Souih Seas. Mr. Henry Grinnell, ihe owner of the ves- sels employed by Lieutenant ))e Haven, has .generously offered them for another cruise in search of Sir John Franklin, should Congress cd her entire efficiency as a nian-ol-war, and think proper lo authorize a second expedi-, ihe general conduct and luanagnmvnt of the lion. ,j vessel and Imr crew reflects the hijhesl credit, Th-.tf.-Cnir f-Mareh a. IfMfcVfroii liu isimii jtnlir. ' She wilTCe Iransferred authorized ihe employment of three small ves-1 ; sels of Ihe navy in testing new routes on the I ocean pointed out by the Superintendent o , the Observatory, on his wmtl and current chails7 iriil ill collecting "information to enable him to perfect these charts. After the return of the brig Dolphin, as already mentioned, she was lilted out and detailed on this service under the command of Lieutenant S. P. Lee. an otlicer of great experience and and intelli gence as a surveyor and htdrographer; mid interesting and valuable results are expected from the cruise. ; At the instance of the Executive Commit- flee of citizens of the United States desiring to send Torward specimens of the productions of American genius, skill, and labor to the Great Industrial Exhibition in London this year the frigate St. Lawrence was, with the approbation of the President, despatched thi ther from the port ol New York, under the command of Commander Sands, to transport the articles Inr exhibition, free of charire. It it hoped that the trtmnphs of our eotinttrioeu in the wipetftiori's for prizes in the inven tions pertaining lo agriculture alone the most ancient and useful art known to man will justify the countenance and liberality thus shown to them by the Government. On her return, the St. Lawrence conveyed our Charge des Affaires in Portugal from Southampton to Lisbon ; and in the pons both, of JingUuU snd Portugal was received with demonslra- lions of respect and hospitality. The nrrmbrmf officers of the navy em ployed during ihe present year on the coast survey was ninety. Having communicated to Congress at its last session my opinion, that in consideration of tlie nature of Ibis work, and the connexion ol the officers iof the navy with it, the public interests would be promo- tcd hy .the .transfer uf iM.Auulu.ct .and super. vision to tins Department, I have but to re peat the conviction then expressed, as strength ened by more mature consideration) In pursuance of the inlenliou'expressed in my last' allhual;pnni' a Briari of Engineers of the army was, at my request, detailed to mske a survey and examination of the Mem phis navy yard, with a view to overcome a difficulty which had been encountered in find ing solid foundations for the buddings of the yard. The report of this Board, of w hich a copy is appended, affords an interesting dis cussion' of the question involved, and will merit the attention of Congress. The large stone dock al the Brooklyn na- heljry-yanl, which has been ten years inprcr gress, was so far completed, with all Us ap pendages, in August last, as lo be surrendered up lo the commandai.t of the yard. Its en tire cost, as shown in the report of the Chief of ihe Bureau of i ards and Docks, has been 2,1 40,255 30. The floating sectional dock, basin, and rail- Lway at Philadelphia, has likewise been re ported as ready for delivery, but, owing to the want of smTicienl depth of water imme diately adjacent to ihe basin, the experiment required, of raising a vessel for the purpose of testing these works,-eould not be msdw Dredging operations are now going on to rem edy this defect, and the lest is expected to be made within the month of December. The floating balance dock, hasin, and rail way at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is also expected to he finished and tested within a short time thereafter. The balance dock, basin, and railway it Pensacola, has not progressed as rapidly as was expected, and may not be in readiness for delivery before tlie ensuing summer. Agreably la the act of the last session of Congress a modified contract was entered in to with Messrs. Dakin and Moody, and Gil bert and Secor, for the constr iction of a float ing sectional dock no lhe!tJif,San Francis co, to be Completed and delivered for the sum of fll 0,000. I his work is understood lo be iua course of speedy execution, the con tract requiring its comp'etion in two years from the month or May last. Us precise lo cation cannot be determined until the selection of a site for a navy yard on tlie waters of thst bay, for which purpose a commission will be sent out early in the ensuing spring. Il.wiU.be aeusaaary to provide.. pier m- bitstn lo render this dork capable of .use. The lo cation of tlie dock having not vet been deter mined, the Department postpones the question of Jrrfefenc.betive,e.n...lbeae. lwn. Slruetures md th reoort of tbe- pcopoeed ttotrd shall be received and full local information ob tained. :....,.':.,.-. It being generally expected and desired by h owners of American merchant vessels thst the us of ihe dock in question shall be allowed lor tlie repairs of such vessels, when WlFlllUEdJlfLiCi that Congress shall determine tha proper reg ulations for the purpose, snd direct whether th dock and fixture shall be leased with carry on uie wort, uirougn own gems, and on what term. The necessity of navy yard and station on that coast is so obvious, as well lo secure and work th dock as for general naval pur poses in those waters, as to need no illustra tion." I therefore recommend that Congress shall authorize such sn establishment there, and task adequate appropriations therefor.: According to the authority conferred on the Department, and an appropriation of a sum nil exceeding 080,000 for lhat olyect, a con tract was concluded with Messrs. Wells and (owin of Boston, lo remove the wreck of the steam-frigate Missouri from the Bay of Gibraltar for the sum of 930,000. Security was taken for the fulfilment of the contract, and the contractors are engaged in the work, with no doubt, on their part, of success. Of the four war-steamers, rated as frigates, directed to be built by ihe act of Congress approved March 3, 1847, ihe Naranac was put in commission during the last year, the Stisquehannah and San Jacinto durinii the present, snd Ihe i'owhatlan remains unfinish ed. Measures have been taken to expedite the completion of this vessel, and it is now expected that she will be ready for sea iiTthe course of the ensuing spring. The Fulton and Allegheny, steamer of the first class, have recently undergone extensive alterations and repairs, and sre each nearly prepared for ser vice; and steps have been taken to rebuild the Princeton, n steamer, also, of the first etas. The steam-frigate Mississippi, in her long cruise of near two years aircKa half in the Mediterranean, underwent no repairs except such as were effected on board, but yet retain- to Philadelphia, lor the purpose of testing the dock al that nnvy yard, and lo undergo such- repairs and improvements as may be found DtTe.s414r.y-... Having taken occasion a year since to re view ihe legislation .of Congress in reference to the radutd increase of the navy, and to demonstrate that no system of naval policy bad been adopted defining ihe number and i description of ships supposed to bo required by the warns of tlie country, I esteem it now only necessary to remark lhat, while I do not concur in the policy snmetiirw advocated. that the United Stales should apportion their naval vessels and loree to those of Ihe navies of the principal nations ol Kurope with which by possibility they may have collisions, we should by no means oinil lo avail ourselves of alt lh-ards a fTbriti'r by " science and experi ence in the improvement of our naval estab lishment, and at the same lime enlarge our capacities for increase" to nv needful extent whenever ihe public exigsreies -shall require it; :lnrrthm"piiruiijji armament, and equipment of vessels of war, the scrutinizing and active mind of the pre sent age lias not been idle, Merchant vessels of large draft have been recently built and rigged in our country, which have sailed, by the force nf the winds alone, one thousand statute miles in three days, and with an np oroaelt -to-the like ratr"rf speedTri liiiig voy ages. Improvements and discoveries in onl 1 04c ami ginmery have "been introduced, "by means ,nf which, in the opinion of well-iu- lormed officers, a ship of inferior rating, say of thirty-iwu guns, may be so built, and rig ged, and armed, ns to prove more than a match for the stoutest Pine-of-battle ship of the old construction snd armament. How far the power uf steam miy be added to increase the superiority -of the--rrmrlcW-"V'Si(cTs" Tir'speed, destructivencss, and other points of a man-of-war, is also a fruitful theme of speculation and experiment. ...Wiii.ilim realized or only in prospect, before our eyes, it were vain to rest content with the old mod els, and armaments, and appliances nf vessels, which, however excellent in their day, may have been superceded by more recent inven tions. While, therefore, all proper cautions are observed, and nothing, however specious, should be adopted without full investigation, it appears to he our obvious policy to continue to build shins, not only lo sunnlv the olactts of thoe decayed or losybiitjrj test juiil keep Trace with The improvements of ihe age. It hss been suggested, as a matter of economy, that suclfceiperimental ships be' built of while oak instead of live oak, that being the cheap er material and generally used in merchant ships. In illustration of one of the improvements in war-steamers, it is represented to the de partment lhat the boilers of the Mississippi, planned fifteeu years sine, and with the best intelligence of th day, may be reduced near ly one-ball in their dimensions and weight, and nt the same: time made to double the pow er of the vpjsr-1 wlllt ahoiil the same expendi ture of fuel as at present. The letter of the engineer discussing, in detail, this particular improvement, and its recommendation on the score of economy, is herewith submitted. I therefore' recommend that authority he given to build, every veer, two nw vessels. one sail and the other steam, upon such mod e'laHs shall he approved ; and as old vessels may he f-timd unserviceable, f.om fault of model or other cause.7 tltey may be sold or broken np. In this connexion, I invite the favorable consideration nf Congress In the recommen dation of the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, thst machinery be erected, in oue or more of the navy yards of the country, for the building nf steam-engines, and construc tion of Mar-steamer complete. A class of am ill vessels is much wanted, l.i give employment in command to senior lieu tenants, many of whom are kept in long and tedious inaction before their promotion lo commanders, and would be highly Useful as ' cruisers, especially thoo propelled hy steam, by reason of their ability to penetrate into hrborindTtvers Inaccessible to ships of lar ger class. Having, also, in my Inst annual rommurir cation, presented for the ronnderalion of Congress proonsitinmr to- reduce .lhe.flunlet Of trfBcer IS ln grades of captain,-command-e'r, and lieutenant of the navy, I beg leave. respectlully, to reler thereto for the review or Ui officers in those grades, anil th com mands snd innloy men's to which they may he railed, in th present stale of the service. While tn number in these grade might be arcuMiTbemg mean- enttion wrri-ther the nurrrbet of matters should not be enlarged, and th g red of second liea- lenani estaniisnea. . :,r - - Ahhnmh 'i" master Isreei)gnised a a neces sary officer on board of every vessel in coin mission, and at every navy yardto seventy six vessel snd eight navy yards iher ire bom upon th register the name of but ihij:y masters, snd jrf the nineteen irerTOt of the line of promoti sre superannuated, or otherwise incapacitated for duty at sea. ' If the ni mber of masters were raised to fifty,' excIustv-of those not w the line of promotion, (who must neals be removed hy dfitK in the course, of a few years.) and the'grade of second lieutenant in terposed between them and lhat of Unit lieu tenant, all of which could he arranged with out adding lo the number of officers below the rank of commander no in ihe service, it would not only be an improvement in the proportions of the different grades, but would exert a cheering influence on the younger offi cers, who are now doomed lo linger in th in ferior grade ol passed midshipmen, until the aidor of youth" is passed, and professional distinction ins lost much of its attraction, The series of promotions held out to a na val officer com pared to that in the annv is ex ceedingly limited, without Inking into the ar count brevet runk.wjnL frhirh distinguished service in the tatter may be rewarded. And these additional grades cannot but be regarded as new objects ol hope, and new incentives to ambition among tha aspirant in the naval service. ti'or reasons simitar to ihe foregoing, as well as others of great cogency, I repeat the recommendation formerly made lo elevate the ranks of the service by legalizing that of commodore and establishing two officers of rear-admiral. As a reward for the gallant conduct of some of those surviving veterans who, morn than a third nf a century ago, il lustrated our arms in conflicts on the ocean, and as a stimulant to others to emulate their ..XiU)i,pljJuu.up lul diaunetHms on Hie pvl of me Government, and the position wc occupy among ihe naval and commercial powers ol the world renders heir immediate rw-ogiiUion a . mUM oLiui. duuhted policy;" Willi one such officer em ployed near the dead of the Department in Washington, ii ihe disposition and stipervi-i sion of ihe personnel of the Navy, and the other slammed at San Francisco, with power to issue ordurs to onr squadrons in the Pacific and China scus, as well as la all olficcrs re ttlin west vif the Rrteky mountains, subject to general directions and supervision from the Department, irucli it ia bclievod could be efj fected in giving promptness and vigor to the service in the remote regions of iho world, in imparting to it uniformity and system, and iu relieving inferior officers from difficulties and re sponsibililica arising from unforeseen frwrtsi 1 also most earnestly renew th recommen dation lo establish a retired list, to which offi cers 4nav 4 transferred on reduced rates of psy, who may be invalided from lime to-time on account . of siijeriiniiuaiiojior. jtfier auss, this would burdeinhe treasury with a new class of pensions, the answer is, that th evil already exists ; the question being between full ana half psy, or even a lower rale ; between denying to the vigotous, the willing and aspiring, who per forin the duties, ami must constitute our reli ance, it) viinc.jjf danger, dw position and emoluments in which they may improve their talents and etonjjrirjiis)Mi- t. .iiiil rr naming" on J promoting, as of the effective force, all who have been admitted into the service, without reference to intervening dis abilities or disqualifications. No reform is of greater moment a regards the efficiency ol the navy, and none can be more obviously just. . .XfeiLJt'l-l"'"-","''"l f-vwnih''Wwgir the sea officer and civil officers of the navy, and between the aeveral grade of officers of the army and. navy, and the reports of tlie boards of officers summoned to consider these sjuWrniW-"lt'1glf1Ss' stteiitjou of Congress in a special communication at the last session, and are again recommended to its consideration. Perceiving that tlie laws for the govern ment of the navy, passed more than fifty year since, were .defective snd nnsuiied lo the present state of Ihe service, I hsve caus ed them to be revised by t board of officers, with instructions to prepare proper stnend- ments and additions; and am-prnpared ' to lransmH4hcir-TvrrroTt-i Congress, and respectfully recommend that the code therein proposed be taken a basis of legislation on this subject. Or, if there be ho disposition to adopt the report in general, it will be found to be highly necessary to ac commodate the aw til tie new condition of affair, arising from our settlement on the shores of the Pacific the ports of Cslifornia and Oregon being nowwiihin.the .United Stales." To require orders ioTssu from Washing ton, even for the convening a couil-msrtial in the Pacific, to iryiaiiy officer or seaman, and for summoning wiinessei, must greatly delay and embarrass the enforcement of discipline. Yet it is only the commander, of t fleet or squadron "acting oat of ihe United StaU-" who has power to order such courts, snd p prove iheir sentences. This i cited, howev er, is but a single instance of the want of adap tation or Ihe present naval laws to th actual slate of naval affairs. But the most material delect in our naval code is that occasioned bvMhe failure to pro vide any punishment by wsy of substitute T when corporal chastisement was abolished. To supply, in some degree, this deficiency, I presented snd recommended al llin last ses sion of Congress a substitute proposed by s bo-ird of ollicers, to whom Ihe subject had been referred. In the present state of the law, thew. is no power lo inflict any punishment except confinement, in irons or without, unless by the sentence of a court-martial. Such court must consist of not less than five nor more than thirteen commissioned officers, snd be ordered by th President of the United Slates, Secretary of the Navy, or eommsnderil u .uoBvwjunrn x-iiog uui 111 1110 uni ted Slates." It Is manifest, therefore, that there can be no other punishment, during a cruise, whether long or short,- exeepl tn ves sels within the immediate tfrh , ol hf mn-. mvnwrn, ron H-itmuron, nun iniiv men, u inrre be St least Ave commissioned officers superior to all legal exception, who can be'dVuilcd ou a couit. It being known that two' vessel rarely cruise together, but that lingl ships sre despatched on distant service, and are. of ten separated from the flag-ship and from home for many month, it n apparenj i.tbirt wnne in ennnnemcnt, I a erou gretvan,- W him.' But, when it is renieintwml that- tfwr-endvrjf rrflnisliiiient on hipbord are not merely lor the sake of example and reforma tion, but to secure faithful and specific, exe cution of the contract of enlistment with the Government at the- very time when duly is re quired, and lo protect the rights of the dutiful. the honest, unrpeacelul and orderly', sny pun- must be speedy and cestuun. Vonnnement is ordinaruy a means of securing tha a censed from escape, and of preventing a repetition ol positive wro.ig j but lo obstinate, indolent, or vicious men, some of! whom will perhap be found in every ship's I company, notwithstanding any precautions of enlistment, it is not sutlicienl remedy tn en force the performance of positive duties. In civil life no provision is made by law for th specific fulfilment of contracts or duties, except, in a few equitable rase, where the time of performance is not rhatirtal. The only reme dy for lailure, in all others, is hy indemnifica tion in mouey, to be awarded hy-courte of jus tice, held l period regulated by convenience oi in community, in military affairs, at sea or on land, it is far otherwise. Time.aa well 41 alacrity in performance, sre of tlie very essence of the contract, and upon them may depend the safety of the ship and company trow disaster "trsHtTsji welf as the honoY of her ling, Again, theft, unlawful violence, and other wrongs, must be kept under w hnlesnme re straints, by the terror of punishment, at ses as well as on shore. But a public ship, carry ing no superfluous men, the service cannoi, without injury, span from daily duty those who commit offences during the lime neces sary for their punishment by imprisonment, even if that were the sppmpriate punishment, tn ray nothing of weakening the ship's com pany by this process, and the imposition up on good men of double duty, and ihe menial S!aCga!liPJmfeihlew whiUlhw'Tiirc prisoned. I he rnnsequences of the change hove been. thus far detrimental lo the service, and, it is apprehended, will become more serious unless peli)y-reinvilied; - i . t hen vessels arrive in port, after a cruise. it is found impossible to keep the, men on board until a proper muster, exercise at quarters, and inspection have taken place, which sre the means adopted lo ascertain whether offi cers iave done their duty in keeping their hips ami crews in effective condition. And independently ofnumerous case of delinquen cy overlooked or disposed of by discharge, honorable or dishonorable, tjir.r have been nearly one hundred trial of enlisted men by courts-martial since the psraaga of the law in question. These details sre exhioitetl.notiiicontravene 'thr'ptiTiRnT'lhefjFgrslatuK.. but to demons trate that the experiment of the abrogation of w h i ppi ng can not he effectually- tried mitU Con gress shall prescribe some substitute. Wheih-i erthtvaliall wiliy th adoption of ihejysteiTi recommeBdrd-rytbffftftn referred to, providing thai courts martial may lie ordered by each officer in command of a ship, and summarily held to determine guilt, and then graduating punishments as tierein stated, as well as holding out rewards, by soma other snd more approved method, i re ferred to the determination nf.Congres. The iiuildings or the Nsvy Academy. at Annapolis, an in the .course of completion, nnd the appsnpristien mI t ttw-hwTfWr sion of Congress, slid tha slonp-of-war Preble has been attached loth academy a a practice ship for instruction in practical seamanship. Alter trie examination, in June, the pupils of uie insu iimon were emoarKed in tins vessel and proceeded on a cruise to our northern boundary, and thence, jpiJcUipl,-piei. parport iXlTio'Uiiiied States between Portland and the capes of Virginia, returned in'the lat ter part of September. ' On revision of ihe regulation llwasde- teriniutd to uken fmponant chng Irt the plan ot education heretofore approved. ; Thi consists in requiring a continued course of sludy of four year st the academy, without going H sea, except lhat the vacation of three months in eacly ear is spent in a cruise in the practice-ship, the former course requiring two year at the academy, three at ea, and then two more at the academy. A class of fifty acting midshipmen was admitted in October last.nnd wilt constitute the Jtrsl class lo which ibis new system ed that for all the purposes of nsval education the academy affords advantages equal to those for military education at West Point; and un der the efficient command of the present u- penntenilent.Uotnmaniler Strtbling, it is hoped lhat these advantages will be fully realized. ThKpnrtofa hoird of examiners, appoint ed according tn regulations, to superintend the examination of candidates for promotion, and ihe general state of the- ticademy,"1irOcliber fast, I J).ew tth tranjoiiileil, With great deference to the opinion of Con gress, I again etigreatthal it is highly expedi- ent and prrrpertij illlnw lh appointments of ten midshipmen to lie made '-of arg-s, by the 'resident. In analogy to the regulation respect ing cadets in the Military Academy, over and above those apportioned among th Congres sional district. The Nnval Ohservaiorv and Hydrographi es! Odice have been in active and vigorous operation during th year. A second volume o Astronomical Observation hss been pub lished, and already laid before you. The wind snd current cherts planned hy Lieutenant Mliiry, th Superintendent of the Observalo-, ry. snd prosecuted under his direction with much industry, sr being extended tn lb Pa cific and Indian oceans. This work I viewed iih great interest and saiisfaction by our seafaring communities, snd all those interested in ihe safe and speedy navigation of the ocean. Il ha materially shortened the passage along the highways bv which our commerce pisses mlo and through ihe' southern hemisphere, bringing the ports of those distant parts of, ihe world somo ten d.iyr, nnd ime eversl weeks nearer to us-ltiau before. A letler from jfteJSuprw wlurli accompanies this communication, slate the important fact that vessel sailing from ih Atlantic to the Pacific port of th United Stales, with the Instructions afforded by these ;c4wi1V'IMir;4vt-yl upon Hie svrage, than those Sai.ing without them snd that lliere is reason to hop th time miy be still further rvdiifcd. "' "r ' I heeipcdinon for astronlmical observations si Santiago de Chili appears, from the report of Lieutuiiam Gill s, to" have been actively conducted, and will probably be brought to a Mose.in,liie,Lvtle -psrsrf WM!M-Tirv l ne nautical Almanac, umlrr Hi supertn tendence of Lieutenant Davis, Il also in a sntis- fsetorf tnfof pTOgrSsi; snd'ihe first 'publics- npn or Die work may be expected to be mad ia the course of ill next fiscal ) ear. ' 1 lie commission appointed in examine con denser for supplying ihe boiler of marine- engine with fresli water has not yet comple ted its libors, a will appear front tlie letter of the commissioners, hereto appended. It is, however, promised in thi communication at an early day. . ; The further experiment of Professor Page on uie application ol electro-magnetism a a motive power in th mechanic will b Vutiod in his report, which is subjoined, Th last experiments f" Professor EVrtV, in meteorological observations, onder ihe spprn pnstions heretofore made, and hi expectations in respect'10 the completion of his lalfors, are set forth In his letter, which is annexed. My predecessor brought to the notice of Congre, in hi annual report dated Decem ber 1st, 1819, Ihe contract of Mr. Kolwrt L. Stevens for building war-stesmer lo be shot and shell proof, which he considered to have been abandoned by the contractor, and no lon?er obligatory on the Department, snto reaffirmed by new legislation. Acting on thi decision, I directed certain material for thi teaiir, whHShlHrd beenrorchased wlh th mean of the Government, to be sold ; bill, at the request or Air. Stevens, suspended lh or der, until he should have, foruW- opportunity to submit his rase to the deirisionnf Congress; and it is therefore commended so early consid eration. . ... . The line of msil-sle'amers between N.ew York nd Liverpool erltitinue in be hurhl uccessfal in ihe speed of it voyage acros tn ocean, and tha fiwtmaster General ha no lifisd this Department that he deemed it expe dient to increase the lervlce of. thi line lo twentyrsix trip in the yeir Instead pf twentyt in oilier words, lo one irin evcrv. hitluichl. at-. 1 (T tndisenbrpny' prt rn upon the present . cjiupensuiion, . ail (uniect will Be, by him, presented to tit consideration of Congress, The number of steamers on this tine si this !mMMii6IA.hktt Hwrlted for in-" the eontnrt with the owners. , ; ,. v Under the provision of sn set of the last session of Cnngres to that effect, the officer : of the navy who had cted wsleh oMcer on this lin have been withdrawn from il, with the consent of tho contractors. Sinco th latt annual report from this De partment, two steamers, the Ohio and th lit a- -nois, have been Inspected snd received on the line between New York snd Cltagre, Th mail strvice pa thi line is perfoimed regular : iv nvtnree steamer, built and completed ae- ; cording lo contract, and a fourth, which was accepted for temporary servics, lb ronlraet BMrmff wv4'"'"f"'"f-"f'hi4TT' " 1 he Pacifie Mail Steamship Company. owning th line between Panama and San l-rane'O snd Asttrris, have added lo Iheir line a new (learner called th "Golden Gate," inakuig Jix m aUr ajaoVhave-fulftlled their run- tract in Uie number nf vessels ami the perform ance of service to the dale of the last settle ments, According lo the provisionsof the art t of Congress at the last session.in conjunction won uie i-ostmasur Usuerall entered into a new contract with iht company for semi- montlily Instead of monthly service, on Ihrs ! 4tnr-eventy'fire pt cenluin per nnum T" upon the old rate of compensation and also allowed compensation forieml-moutbl vie performed prior lo th convrset, according lo the direction of th uid ict, th Utter sub ject being open for further consideration, upon uie production i lurlliar evidenc by Ui cou tractors. : ! , . I append the reports of Ihe several Head of Bureau of thi Department, and of th . 'enmnrmlnra exhibiting iiitj vbiiiiihvcs i or me sufmn ui ine navy ana Marine Corp for the year ending the 30th day of June, 1 803 1 together with an aggre gate of the appropriations required for eUob.. jecti under the Control oi this Department, pre senting aggregate ol 8,040,093 08 From which deduct special ob- juct S.084,230 99 Leaving for th suf port of th Nry and Marin rorp tS.8S0.4TI 19 The amount estimated for this , , - purpose last yesr hoing 8,000,631 99 The sum estimated for special . ..j. onjerts last year we . , X.3ip,B89 OO -rHvttt be seen lhat trier is sn races in die present estimales. over and ahov thai sum, of 9473,310 80, which, is occasioned by the addition of pay for iiuireased service lo lb racilte Mail Slenmshlp tiorrrpanv, directed by the act of th last session of, Congre. Ui cotnploiion of the dry dK-k in California, and some additions under the head of improvement in nnvy yerus, ouiiiitng, ana , mseninery. - To these must be added such smount ssmsy ' ' be appropriated for pier or basin lo b ap- ' lltnJi-.JloljB dock in California, and ettavy yard ou that staiinn, if Congress shall eoneur in ihfl ecommentUtwn for thai ehjecti I avail myself of this connexion tn repeat the recommendation contained In my Isst an nual report, that the appropriation foriheeup port of the N4jy snd Marin Corp be-ep-ratcd frtmi list for pernunent improvement tn navy yards and object of fixed and local nature I and more particularly from thos for , tha mail sieam sorvice, and all other extraor dinary objects. - The total amount drawn front th' treasury during th fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 18.11, a shown by the suiteinetit of appropri alions for the naval service prepared by Urn Sednd Comptroller of the I reasnry is OlOIH.OSl OS From which lied uct re)ay. melils, . . 1,379,434 97 . .- And there remain the sum of 99,044,597 1 1 As the, lolal expenditure ori all objeci under Ihe upet vision of lhi DeosrlmenL Of this sum, titer wasexpenj- ed lor special ohjecis. 3,198.817 91 LeaVfg7nlfie'lrtie exiiendi- lure f.ir the navy and marine corps 05.885.770 90 The nncxpendad balances in the treasury. of ihe appropriation ... Ihe .nsral erviee, , marine corps, and special objects, under th control of the Navy Department, on the SOih ofJituc, 1N51, was 94.183,300 131 11 of which will be required lo meet outstanding obligation du on account of th object for which these appropriations were made. 'rjia recommendation of the Chief of th Bureau of Provisions snd Clothing- thst .... t fcitryTieTstliTihed at the nsvy ysrd in New Yo'k for th preparation of bread for Jlije.seof jit. nuiyT-dwwvts.-jMvni.isi fotor-- aw onsidcration. I' odor the contract sys tem which now prevail, it is impossible, by any inspection which ran be adopted, lo pre vent imposition in thi most essentail of ait articles of food, poring the last two yours a quantity 'W bread ha been condemned ss unfit for use nearly equal, in the s mount of it ebit, to Uie value of such hull hi -s an 1 fixture a will be required for this n : ', ment. M likewise invite attention to liis p-cp i to exempt eortain other artick s of prun-
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 24, 1851, edition 1
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