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Jims,
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1863.
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.
{Fellow-citizens of the Senate and Bouse of Represents
lives :
Another year of heAlth. and sufficiently abundant
harvests has passed. For these, and especially for
the improved condition of our national affairs, our
renewed and profound gratitude to G-od is due. We
•remain in peace and friendship with foreign Powers.
The efforts of diEloyal citizens of the United States
to involve us in foreign wars, to aid in inexcusable
insurrection, have been Unavailing. Her Britannic
&Xajesty’B Government, as was justly expected, have
exercised their authority to prevent the departure
of new hostile expeditions from British ports. The
'Emperor-of France has, by a like proceeding, prompt*
ly vindicated the neutrality which he proclaimed at
the. beginning of the oontoit, Questions of groat
intricaoy and importance have arisen out of the
blockade and other belligerent operations between
the Government and several of the maritime
Powers, but they have been dUoussed and, eo far as
was possible, accommodated in a spirit of frank
nesß, justice, and mutual good will. It is especially
gratifying that our prize court®, by the impartiality
of their adjudications, have commanded the respeot
and confidence of maritime Powers.
The supplemental treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, for the suppression of the <
African slave trade, made on the'nth day of
February last, has-been duly ratified and carried
into execution. It Is believed that, so far as Ame
rican portß and American citizens are concerned,
that inhuman and odious traffic has been brought to
an end.
I shall submit for the consideration of the Senate
as convention for the adjustment of possessory claims
Jn Washington Territory, arising out of the treaty of
the 15th of June, 1846, between the United States
and Great Britain, and which have been the source
, ol some diiquiet among the citizens ol that now
vapidly improving part of th£ country,
A novel and important question, involving the
extent of the maritime jurisdiction of Spain in the
waters which surround the island of Cuba, has been
debated without reaching an agreement, and it is
proposed, in an amicable spirit, to refer it to the ar
bitrament of a friendly Power. A convention for
}hat purpose-will be submitted to the Senate.
1 have thought it proper, subject to the approval
l of the Senate, to conour with the interested com
t jnerolal powers in an arrangement for the liquida-
Ationof the Scheldt dues, upon the principles which
■have been heretofore adopted in regard to the im-
navigation in the waters of Denmark*
long-pending controversy between this Govern-
ana that oi Chili, touching the seizure at Si-
Kds, in Peru.* by Chilian? oflUers, of a large amount
Hn treasure belonging to citizens of the United
■states, has been brought to a close by the award of
Majesty the‘King of the Belgians, to whose ar-
Vbitration the question was referred by the parties.
m The subjeot was thoroughly and patiently examined
H by that justly-respected magistrate, and, although the
■ sum awarded to the claimants may not have been
Hbo large as they expected, there is no reason to dis-
the wisdom of his Majesty’s decision. That
was promptly complied with by Ohili when
■ intelligence in regard to it reached that couatry.
A The joint commission under the act of the last
Veession for oarrying into effect the convention with
HfPeru, on the subjeot of claims, has been org&ulzed
■at liima, and is engaged in the Dußlaess entrusted
■to it.
I Difficulties concerning inter-oceanic transit
through Nicaragua ate la course of 'amicable ad'
Kustment. In conrormity with principles set forth
Fin my last annual message) I have received a re*
Lpresentative from the United States of Colombia,
■and have credited a minister to that republic. ;
F Incidents occurring in the progress of our civil
■War have forced upon my attention the uncertain
■state of interuatiODal questions touching the rights
■of foreigners in' this country and of the United
FStates citizens abroad. In regard to some Govern
; mente, these rights are, at least partially, defined by
treaties. In no instance, however, is it- expressly
stipulated that, in the event of civil war, a foreigner
' residing in. this country, within the ilaes of the in
surgents, is to be exempted from the rule which
classes him as a belligerent, in whose behalf the Go
vernment of his country cannot express any privi
leges or immunities distinot from that character. I
regret to say, however, that such claims have been
put forward, and, income instances, in behalf of fo
reigners who have lived in the United States the
greater part of their lives. >
There is reason to believe that many persons born
In foreign countries who have declared their inten
tion to Beoome citizens, or who have been fully natu
ralized, have evaded the military duty required of
them by denying the faot, and thereby throwing upon
the Government the burden of proof. It has been
found difficult or impracticable to obtain this proof
.from the want of guides to the proper sources of in
formation. These might be supplied by requiring
She clerks of courts where declarations of intention
may he'madr, or naturalization effected, to send pe
riodically lists of the names of the persons natural- '
ized, or declaring their Intention to become citizens;
to the Secretary of the Interior, in Whose depart
meat these names might be arranged and printed
for general information. There is also reason to be
lieve that foreigners frequently become citizens of
the United States for the sole purpose of evading
the duties imposed by the laws of their native coun
try, to which, on becoming naturalized here,'they at ;
once repair, and, though never returning to the
United States, they still claim the interposition of
this Government, as citizens. Many altercations,
and great have heretofore arisen out of
this-abuse. It is therefore submitted to your seri-r
ous . ponsideration, it might be advisable to fix a
limit beyond which npxuzizen'or~iutr-Tr* S iWAjat«.taa.._
residing abroad, may culm the interposition of his
Government. The right of suffrage has often been
assumed and exercised by aliens, under pretenoes of
.naturalization, which they have disowned when
Crafted into the military service. Psubmitthe ex
pediency of such an amendment of the lawa as will
make the faot of voting an estoppel against any
pf exemption from military service, or other
civil obligation, on the ground, of alienage.
Tn common withothej western powers, our rela
tion* with Japan haVe been brought into serious
jeopardy through the perverse, opposition of the
hereditary aristocracy of the. empire to the en
lightened and liberal policy of the Tycoon, designed
to bring the country into' the society of nations.
It is hoped, although not. with entire confidence,
that these difficulties may be peacefully overcome.
Z &sk your attention to the claim of the minister
residing there for the damages he sustained in the
. destruction by fire of the residence of the legation at
•yeddo. - •• " -•
Satisfactory arrangements have been made with
.the Emperor of Russia, which it is believed will re
sult in effecting a continuous line of -telegraph
through that empire from our Pacific coast. I re
commend .to your favorable consideration the sub*
jeot of an international telegraph across the Atlantic
ocean, and also of a telegraph between this capital
*nd the national forts alODg the Atlantic seaboard
and the Gulf of Mexico. Such communication, es
tablished with any reasonable outlay, would be eco
nomical as well as effective aids to the diplomatic,
military, and naval service.
The consular system of the United States, under
the enactments of the last Congress, begins to be
self-sustaining, and there is reason to hope that it
may become entirely so, withtheincreaae o! trade
whioh will ensue whenever peace is restored. -
Our ministers'abroad have been faithful in defend
ing American rights. In protecting bur commercial
interests, ouc consuls have necessarily had to en
counter increased labors and responsibilities, grow
ing out of the war. These they have, for the moat
nart, met and discharged with zeal and efficiency.
TWa Acknowledgment justly includes those consuls
who, residing in Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Japan,;
China, and other Oriental countries, are charged with
complex functions and extraordinary powers.
The condition of thnseyeral organized Territories
is generally satisfactory, although the. Indian dis
turbances in New Mexico have not been entirely
suppressed. The mineral resources of Colorado, Ne
vada, Idaho, New Mexico, and Arizona, are proving
far richer than has been heretofore understood. I
lay before you a communication on this subject from
the Governor of New Mexico. I again submit to
your consideration the expediency of establishing a
system fbr the encouragement of immigration. Al
though this source of national wealth and strength
is again Sowing with greater freedom than fox seve
ral years before the insurrection occurred, there Is
still a great deficiency of laborers in every field of
industry, especially in agriculture, and in our miQes,
as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals.
'While the demand for labor is thus increased here,
tens of thousands of persons, destitute of remunera
tive occupation, are thronging our foreign consu
lates and offering to emigrate to the United States
If essential but very cheap assistance can be afford
ed them.. It is easy to tee that, under the sharp disci
pline of civil war, the nation is beginning a new life.
This noble effort demands the ala and ought to re
ceive the attention and support of the Government.
* Injuries unforeseen by the Government, and unin
tended, may, in some cases, have been inflicted upon
.the subjects or citizens of foreign countries, both at
tea and onland, by persons in theservice of theUnlted
States; As this Government expects redress from
other Pomis when similar injuries aro inflicted by
persons in their aervioe upon citizens of the United
States; we must be prepared to do justice to foreign'
era. If the existing judioial tribunals are inadequate
to this puipose, a specialoourt may be authorized;
With power to heAr and-decide such claims of the
character referred to as may have arisen under trea
ties and the public law. Conventions for adjusting
the claims by joint commission have been proposed
to some Governments, but no defioitive answer to
the proposition has yet been received from any.
In the Q&urte of the session I shall probably havB
occasion 16' request'you to provide indemnification
to daimanl3 where decrees of restitution have been
tendered and damages awarded by the Admiralty
tourtg, And in other cases where this Government
znay be aclaowledged to hej liable in
inhere the amount of that liability ‘ MM J’eea Moer-
Gained by an informal arbitration, the proper
->,f the Treasury have deemed themselves required,
hv thl’law of the United States upon the subject, to
demand a tax upon the incomes of foreign consuls
?«th£ country. While such a demand may not, in
. itrffltness. bc a derogation of public law, or perhaps
of any existing. I treaty between the United States
country, the expediency of so far modi
rc“as to exempt from tax the income of
SrSFiSSiStii as are not citizens of the United States,
’ indicated, the United States, I think, ought not to
*?exceptionally illiberal to international trade, ana
the Treasury during theTsat
ve»r We teen sucoca.fully conducted. . r k e ®??y!
meat by Copgress'of a National Kinking law haa
■ proved a valuable aupportofthe public credit, and
the general legislation in relation to loans has fully
answered the expectations of its favorers. Some
amendments may Ire required to perfect exlstiog
law 3, but no change in their principles or general
acopeis believed to be needed.
Surse these measure, have been in operation, all
demands on the treasury, including the pay of the
armv and ravy, have been promptly met and fully
satisfied. Wo considerable body oi troops, it is be
lieved, vveie ever more amplyjprovided and more
■ liberally and punctually paiu, and, it may be added,
that bv no people were the burdens incident to a
Sreat war evirmoiecheerfully home. Thersoelplo
urine the tear from all sources, including loans
andthebalance in the treasury at its commence
-■ Stent, were 6501,125,674 80, the aggregate disburse
rnenti 4615,750,030.65, leaving a balance on the Ist
•: 'of July. 1863 of $532,904 421. Of tHfe receipts there
, were derived fiom customs. $60,059,642,40 ; from in
ternal revenue, $37,640,787.95 fr0m , direct taxes,
481 485 103 61 from lands, $167,017,17 ; from miscel
laneous sou ret-b, $804,661,530, /and Irom loans,
Jriß 682,301 57, making the aggregate $901,125,074.86.
Of the disbursements there, werp .for the eivlleer
. vice $23,263,922; for pension, and Indiana, $4,216,-
620%; for interest on public debt, $24,729,846 51 -,
for the War. Department, $599,293,600 83 ; for the
Wavv Department, $63,211,105 27; for payment of
funded and temporary debt, $181,056,635 07, making
' the aggregate $895,796,039,65, and leaving the ba
lance 0? $6,329 044 21. V
But the payment of, the funded and temporary:
debt having been made from moneys borrowed du
ring the year, must be,regarded as merely nominal
payments, ard the. moneys borrowed to make them
as merely , nominal -receipts, and their amount,
$lB lOB 6G3 607, should therefore be deducted both
’jft*720,0?.9,03t) 7ft, and the actual disbursements $7L4,-
709,995. 68, leaving the balance as already stated. .
t acitial receipts and dlsbucßements forthe first
quarter, -aIU the estimated receipts and disburse
meats /or the remaining three- quarters of the cur
tent ear of 1861 will be shown la detail by
VOL. 7-NO. 112.
the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to which
I Invite your attention. It is sufficient to say here
that It is not believed that the actual results will ex
hibit a state of the finances less favorable to the
country than the estimates of that officer heretofore
submitted, while it is confidently expected that at
the dose of the year both disbursements aod debts
will be found very considerably less than has been
anticipated. .
The report of the Secretary of War is a document
of general Interest. * It consists of—
First. The military operations of the year, detail
ed in the report of the GeneraMn-Ohlef.
Second. The organization of colored persons into
the war service. ~
Third, The exchange of prisoners, fully set forth
in the letter of General Hitchcock.
. Fourth. The operations under the. act for enrol
ling and calling out the national forces, detailed in
the report of the Provost Marshal General;
Fifth. The organization of the Invalid Oorpaf; and
Sixth. The operation of the several departments
of; the Quartermaster General, Commissary Gene-'
ral, Paymaster General, Chief of Engineers, Chief
of Ordnance, and Surgeon General.
It lias appeared impossible to make a valuable
summary of this report, except such as would be too
extended for this place, and hence I content myself
by aeking your attention to the report itself.
The duties devolving on the naval branch of the
service, duiing the year and. throughout the whole
of this unhappy contest, have been discharged with
fidelity and eminent success. The extensive block
ade has been constantly Increasing in efficiency as
the navy has expanded, yet on so Tong a line it has
so far been impossible to entirely suppress illicit
trade. From the returns received at the Navy De
partment, it appears that more than one thousand
veimels have been captured since the blockade was
instituted, and that the value of prizes already sent
in for adjudication amounts to over $ 13.000,000.
The naval force of the United States consists at
this time of 583 vessels, completed and in the course
of completion, and of these 75 are iron-clad armored
steamers. The events,of the war give an increased
interest and importance to the navy, which will
probably extend beyond the war itself. Tbe ar
mored vessels in our navy, completed and in ser
vice, or which are under contract and approaohlag
completion, are believed to exceed in number those
of any other Power *, but while these may be relied
upon for harbor defence and coast service, others of
greater strength and capacity will be ncoessary for
cruising purposes, and to maintain our rightful po
sition on the ocean. The chmge that has taken
place in naval vessels and naval warfare, since the
introduction of steam as a motive power for ehips-of
war, demands either a corresponding change la some
of our existing navy yards, or the establishment of
new ones, for the construction and necessary repair
of modern naval vessels. No inconsiderable embar
rassment) delay, and public iojury have been ex
perienced from the want of auoh Government esta
blishments. . .
liUThe necessity of such a navy yard, bo furnished,
at some suitable place upon the Atlantic seaboard,
has. on repeated occasions, been brought to the at
tention of Congress by the Navv Department, and is
again presented in the report of the Secretary which
accompanies this communication. I think it my
duty to invite your special attention to this subject,
and. also to that of establishing a yard depot for
naval purposes upon one of the western rivers. A
naval forcehas been created-on these interior
waters, and under many disadvantages, within
little more than two years, exceeding in numbers
the whole naval force of the country at the com
mencement of the present Administration. Satis
factory and important as have been the performances
of , heroic men of the navy at this interesting
period, they are soaroely more wonderful than the
success of our mechanics and artisans in the produc
tion of war vesselß, which have oreated a new form
of naval power. >
Our country has advantages superior to any other
nation in our resources of iron .and timber, with in
exhaustible quantities of fuel in the immediate vi
cinity of both, and all available and in close proxi
mity to navigable waters. Without the advantage
of public works, the resources of the nation have
been developed and its power displayed in the con
struction of a navy of such magnitude which has,
at the very period of its creation, rendered signal
service to the Union.
The increase in the number of seamen in the public
service from 7,600 men in the spring of 1861 to about
34,000 at the present time.haß been accomplished
without special legislation or.extraordinary bounties
to promote that increase. It has.been found, how
ever, that the operations of the draft, with the high
bounties paid for army recruits, is begiuning to af
fect injuriously the naval service, and will, if not cor
rected, be ;likely to impair its efficiency, by detach
ing seamen from their proper vocation, and inducing
them to enter the army. I, therefore, respectfully
suggest that Congress might aid both the army and
naval services by a defioite provision on this sub
ject, which would at the same time be equitable to
tbe oommuDittea more especially interested.
I commend to your consideration the suggestions
of the Secretary of the Navy in regard to the po
licy of .fostering and training seamen, and also the
education of officers and engineers for the naval
service. The Naval Academy is rendering signal
service in preparing midshipmen for-tbe highly
responsible duties which in after life' they will be
required to perform. In order that the oountry
should not be deprived of the proper quota of edu
cated officers, for which legal provision has been
made at the Naval School, the vacancies caused /
by the neglect or omission to make nominations
from the States la insurrection Uave : been filled
by the Secretary of the Navy. The school is now
more full and complete than at any former period,
and in every respect entitled to the favorable con
sideration oi Congress.
During the past fiscal year the financial condition
of the Post Office Department has been one of in
creasing prosperity, and l am gratified id being able
to state that the actual .postal revenue has nearly
equalled the entire expenditures, the latter amount
ing to $11,314,206 84, and the former to $11,163,789 69,
leaving a deficiency of but $160,417 25. In iB6O, the
year immediately preceding the rebellion, the defi
ciency amounted to $5,656,705 49, the postal receipts
of that year being $2,645,722 19 less than those of
1863.-The decrease, since iB6O, in the annual amount
Ox H&CtpOTl^tlClX.- Kq... Kooil
per cent., but the annual expenditure on accbunt of
the same has'-been deduced thirty-five per cent. It •
is manifest, therefore, that the Post Office Depart
ment may become self-sustaining ia a few years,
even with the restoration of the whole service.
; The International Conference of postal delegates,
from the principal countries of Europe and America,
which.was called at the suggestion of the Postmas
ter General, met at Paris on the 11th. of. May last,
and oonclucied its deliberations on the Bth of June.
The principles established by the Conference as best
adapted .to facilitate postal intercourse between
nations, and as the basis of future conventions, in
augurate a general system of uniform international
chargee, at reduced rates of postage, and oannot fail
to produce beneficial results.
Ireier you to the report of the Secretary of the
Interior, which is herewith laid before you, for
useful and varied information in relation to the
p.ublic lands, Indian affairs, patents, pensions, and
other matters of public concern pertaining to hia de
partment.
■ The quantity of land disposed of during the last
and the first quarter of the present fissal years was
three million eight hundred and forty-one thousand
five hundred and forty-nine acres, of which 161,911
acres were sold for cash $ 1,456,514 acres were taken
up under the homestead law, and the residue dis-.
posed of under laws granting lands lor military
bounties, for railroad and other purposes. It also
appears that the sale of the public lands is largely
on the increase. It has long been a cherished
opinion of some of our wisest statesmen that the
people of the United States had a higher and more
enduring interest in the early settlement and sub
stantial cultivation of the public lands than in the
amount of direct revenue to be derived from the sale
of them. This opinion has had a controlling influ
ence in shaping legislation upon the subject of our
national domain. I may cite, as evidence of this,
the liberal measures adopted in reference to actual
settlers. The grant to the States of the overflowed
lands within their limits, in order to their being re
claimed and rendered fit for cultivation, and the
grant to railroad companies of alternate sections of
land upon the contemplated lines of their roads,
when completed, will largely multiply the facilities
for reachiog our ;dißtant possessions. ■
This policy has received its moßt signal and bene
ficent illustration in the recent enactment granting
homesteads to aotuai settlers. Since the first day of
January last, the before-mentioned quantity of one
million four hundred and fifty-six thousand five
hundred and fourteen acres of land has been taken
lip under its provisions. This fact, and the amount
of sales, furnish gratifying evidence of increasing
settlement upon the public lands. Notwithstanding
the great struggle, in which the energies of the na
tion have been engaged, and which has required so
large a withdrawal of cur citizens from their accus
tomed pursuits, I cordially concur in the recom
mendation of the Secretary of the Interior, suggest
ing a modification of the act in favor of those en
gaged in the military and naval service of the Uni
ted States. . I doubt not that 'Congress will cheer
fully adopt such measures as will, without essen
tially changing the general features of the system,
secure to the greatest practicable extent its benefits
to those who have left their homes in the defence of
the country in this arduous crisis.
I invite your attention to the views of the Secre
tary as to the propriety of raising, by appropriate
legislation, a revenue from the mineral lands ox the
United States. The measures provided at your last
cession for the removal of certain Indian tribes have
been carried into effect. Sundry treaties have been
negotiated, Whichjwill in due time be submitted for
the constitutional action of the Senate. They con
tain stipulations for extinguishing the possessory
rights ol theTndiana to large and valuable tracts of
land. It is hoped that the effects of these treaties
will result in the establishment- of permauent
friendly relations with such of these tribes as have
been brought into frequent and bloody collisions
with our out-lying settlements and emigrants.
Sound policy and our imperative duty to these
wards of the Government demand our anxious and
constant attention to their material well-being, to
their progress in the arts of civilization, and atovo
all to that moral training which, unaer-the blessing
of Divine Providence, will , confer upon them
elevated and sanctifying influence, .the-heu'—
. monsage the pro-
Dtietv of remodelling our Indian system. Subse
quent events have satisfied me Of its necessity, The
1 details set forth in the report of the Seoretary will
evince the urgent need for immediate legislative
* I the benevolence of the institutions
established or patronized by the Government in this
District to your generous and fostering care.
The attention of Congress during the last seafion
was engaged, to some extent, with a propositioh for
enlarging the-water communications between the
Mississippi river and the northeastern eeaboard,
which prcpußittea, fe9W®v??i for ulu e ‘
triune Hit'll, upon a yew of tivr gryotvet - Ji
-a convention has”been .called at CMcago npon the
same subject, a summary vleWilis,con
tained in a memorial addressed to the President and
Oonaresß, and which I now have tho honor to lay
before you. That this interest is one which ere long
will force its own way I do not
while it is submitted entirely to your wisdom as to
what can he done now. Augmented interest is given
to this subject toy'the 1 actual commencement ot
work upon the Pacific Hatiroftd. Under auspices so
favoi&ble to its rapid progress and completion, the
enlarged navigation becomes a palpable need to
61 | transmit the second annual report of the Com
missioner of the Department of Agriculture, asking
your attention to the developments in that vital in
terest of the nation. ...
When Congress assembled a year ago, the war
h.e .lrrftdv lasted nearly twenty months, and
fniL n.u heenmany conflicts on both land and
sea tithvawlng” suite. The rebellion had been
me’seed bactinfo riduced limits, yet the tone of
public feeling and opinion,, at home and abroad,
was“otsauShetoiy. With
lar elections, then just passed, ™ «ld
among ourselves; while amid mush that raid
and menacing the kindest worfs coming from Eu
rope were uttered in accents of * on? com
too blind to surrender a hopeless c81 «®- “S
mercc was suffering greatly by a few Br= “®;, I X,® a
built upon and furnished from foreign ebores, anu
we wore threatened with such additions from the
same quarter as would sweep our trade irom tue
tea, and raise our blockade. We had failed to elicit
from European Governments anything hopoful.upon
. this subject. . .. _
The preliminary emancipation proclamation,
which was issued in September, was running its
assigned period to the beginning of tbe hew year.
A month later the final proclamation oame, in
cluding the announcement that oolored men ol
suitable condition would be received into the war
service. ‘
The policy of emancipation, and of employing
black soldiers, gave to the futurea new aspect, about
which hope and fear and doubt contended in un
certain conflict. . ~ „ -
According to our political system, as a matter of'
civil administration, the General Government had.
no lawful power to effect emancipation in any
State, and for a long time it had been hoped that
the rebellion could bo suppressed without resorting
toitas .a military measure, It was all the white
deemed possible that the necessity for it might
ooine. aml that if it should, the'crlsia ol the contest
would then be presented. It caiuo, and, as was por
tended, it was followed by dark and doubtful days.
Eleven months having now passe* wo are per
mitted to take another review*
The rebel borders are pressed still further baok,
and by the complete openiog of the Mississippi river
the country dominated by tbe rebellion is divided
into distant parts, with do practical communication
between them* Tennessee and Arkansas have been
substantially cleared of insurgent control and influ
ence, and the citizens in each, owners of slaves and
advocates of slavery at the beginning of the rebel
lion, nowdeolare openly for emancipation in their re
spective States. Of those States not included in the
emancipation proclamation, Maryland and Mis
souri—neither of whioh, three years ago, ; would
tolerate any restraint upon the extension of alavery
imo new Territories—only dispute now as to the best
mode of removing it within their own limits. >
Of those who were slaves at the beginning of the
rebellion, full one hundred thousand are now in the
United States military service—about one-half of
whioh number actually bear arms in the ranks—thus
giving the double advantage of taking bo much
labor from the insurgent oause and supplying the
places which otherwise must be filled with so many
white men. So far aB tested, it ie difficult to say
that they are not as good soldiers as any. Noser
vile insurrection or tendency to violence or cruelty
has marked-the measures of emancipation ami
arming the blaokSj*These measures have been much
discussed in foreign countries, and cotemporary
with such discussion the tone of public sentiment
there is much improved. At home the same mea
sures have been fully discussed, supported, criti
cised, and denounced, and the annual eleotioaa fol*
lowing are highly encouraging to those whose
offluial duty it is to bear the country through this
great trial.
Thus we have tbe new reckoning. The crisis
Which threatened to divide the'friends of the Union
is past.
Looking now to the present and future, and with
reference to a resumption of the national authority
within tbe States wherein that authority has been
suspended, I have thought fit to issue a proclama
tion, a copy, of which is herewith transmitted. On
examination of this proclamation it will appear, as
is believed, that nothing is attempted beyond what
is amply justified by the Constitution. True, the
form of an oath is given, but no man is coerced to
take it. A man. is only promised a pardon in case
he voluntarily takes the oath. The Constitution
authorizes the Executive to grant or withhold the
pardon at his own absolute discretion, and this in
cludes the power to grant on such terms as ie fully
established by judicial and other authorities. It is
also proffered that if “in any of the States named,
a State Government shall be in the mode prescribed
setup, such government shall be recognized and
guarantied by the United States, and that under.it
the State shall, on the constitutional conditions,
be protected against invasion and domestic vio
lence.”
Tbe constitutional obligation of the United States
to guarantee to every State in the Union a republi
can form of government, and to protect the State In
tbe cases stated, is explicit and full. But why tender
the benefits of this-provision only to a-SfcateGo
vernment set up in this particular way ? This section
of the Constitution contemplates s esae wherein the
element; within a State favorable to a republican
form of government in the Union may be too feeble
for an opposite and hostile element, external to and
even within the State; and such are precisely the
cases with which we are now dealing. An attempt
to guarantee and protect a revived State govern
ment, constructed in whole or in • preponderating
part from the very element against whose hostility
and violence it is to be -protected, is simply absurd.
There must be a test by whioh to separate the op
posing elements, so as to build only .from the sound;
and that test is a sufficiently liberal one which ac
cepts as sound whoever will make & sworn recanta
tion of his former uneoundnees.
But if it be proper to require as a test of admis
sion to the political body an oath of allegiance to
the Constitution of the United States, and to the
Union under it, why not also to the laws and pro*
damations in regard -to slavery! Those laws and
proclamations were enacted and put forth for the
purpose of aiding in the suppression of the rebel
lion. To them their fullest effect, there had
to be a pledge for their maintenance, In my judg
ment they have aided, and will further aid, the cause
for which they were enlisted.
To Rive up this principle would be not only to
relinquish a lever of power, but would also be a.
cruel and astounding breach of faith. I may add,
at this point, that while I remain in my present
position I shall not attempt to retreat, or modify
the emancipation proclamation. Nor shall I return
to slavery any person who is free by the terms of
the proclamation or by any act of Congress.
For these and other reasons, it ia thought beat that
tbe support of these measures shall be included in
the oath, and it is believed the Executive may law
fully claim it in return for pardon and restoration
ol forfeited rights which he has a clear constitutional
power to withhold altogether, or grant upon the
terms which he shall deem wisest for the public in
terest.
It should be observed, also, that this.p&rfc of the
oath in subject to the modifying and abrogating
power of legislative and supreme judicial decision.
The proposed acquiescence of the National Execu
tive in any reasonable temporary State arrangement
for the freed people is made with the view of possi
bly modifying the confusion and destitution which
must, at best, attend all classes by a total revolution
of labor throughout whole States. It is hoped that
the already deeply afflicted people in those States
may be somewhat more ready to give up the‘ cause
of their, affliction, if, to this extent, this vital matter
be left to themselves, while no power of the National
Executive to prevent an abuse is abridged by the
proposition.
The suggestion in the proclamation, as to main
taining the political framework of the States on
what was called is made in the hope
that it may do good, without the danger or harm.
It.will Save labor ahd avoid great confusion. But
why any proclamation now upon the subject! This
question is beset by the conflicting views that the
step might be delayed too long or be taken too soon.
In some States the elements of resumption seem
ready for action, .but remain Inaotive, anparenthr—
-A,r-^«.+-wr-»'r<nryiiig*poiin=iTa*pisiror action, why.
shall A adopt the plan of B rather than B that of
A? ;and if A and B should agree, how can they
know but that the General Government here will
reject their plant By the proclamation a plan is
presented which may 6e - accepted by them as a ral
lying.point, and which, they are assured in advance,
will not be rejected here. ’ This may bring them to
act sooner than they otherwise would.
The objection. to a premature * presentation of a ;
plan by the National Executive consists in the dan*
ger. of committals.on points which ,bould be more
safely left to further developments. Care has been
taken to so shape the document as to avoid embar
rassment from this source. In saying that on certain
terms certain.classeß will be pardoned, * with their
rights restored, it is not said that other classes on
other terms will never be included. In saying that
a reconstruction will be accepted if presented in a
specified way, it is not said that it will never be ac*
cepted in any other way. '
The movements, by {State action, for. emancipa
tion, in several of the states not included in the
emancipation proclamation, are matters of profound
gratulation; and while I do not repeat in'detail
wbat I have heretofore so earnestly urged upon this
subject, my general views and feelings remain un
changed, and I trust that Congress will omit no fair
opportunity of aiding these important stops to the
great consummation. In the midst of other cares,
however important, we must not lese sight of the
lact that the war power is still our main, reliance $
to that power alone can we look yet for a time to
give confidence to the people in the contested re
gions that the insurgent power will not again over
run them. Until that confidence shall be established
little can be done anywhere for what 1b called re
construction ; hence our chiefeat care must still be
directed to the army and navy, who have thus far
borne their harder part so nobly and well.
And it may be esteemed fortunate that, in giving
-the greatest efficiency to those indispensable arms,
we do also honorably recognize the gallant men,
from commander to sentinel, who compose them, and
to whom, more than to others, the worldftnust stand
indebted for the home of freedom disenthralled, re
generated. enlarged, and perpetuated.
• . ABRAHAM: LINCOLN.
Decekueh 8, 1863. '
The following proclamation is appended to the
message
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, In and by the Constitution of the United
States it is provided .that the President shall have
power to grant reprieves and pardons for'offences
against the United States, except in cases of im
peachment ; and whereas, a rebellion now exists
whereby the" loyal State Governments of several
States nave, fora long time, been "subverted, and
many persons have committed and are now guilty of
treason against the United States; and whereas,
with reference to said rebellion and treason, laws
have been enacted by Congress declaring forfeiture
and confiscation of property, and liberation of slaves,
all upon terms and conditions therein stated, ana
also declaring that thB President was thereby autho
rized, at any time thereafter, by proclamation, to
extend to persons who may have participated- in the
existing rebellion in any State or part thereof par'
don and amnesty, with Buch exceptions, and at such
times and on such conditions as he may deem expe
dient for the public welfare; and
IF/ureas.The CoDgreaaionaldeelaration for limited
and conditional pardon accords with well established
judicial exposition of the pardoning power; and
Whereas, With reference to said rebellion the Pre-
sident of the United States has issued several pro
clamations with provisions in regard to the libera-?
tion of slaves; and
Wheteasi It is now desired by some persons hereto
fore engaged in said rebellion to resume theiralle
giance to the-.United-States, and to reinaugurate
loyal State Governments within and for their re
spective States*
Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, .do proclaim, declare, and make
known to all persons who have directly, or by im
plicatl6n,'particlpated in the existogjcebeiii^^-'
KM
the“ffi&»» of all right!! of property.exoept as to
mayes, and in property casea when the rights of third
parties Bhallhave Intervened; and upon the condi- i
lion that every such person shall take-arid aubicribs
an oath, arid theneeforwardkeep and maintain ■said
oath inviolate 5 and which oath shall, be registered
for permanent preservation, andshall be of the tenor
and effect follow ing, to wit: r A 1
“I do solemnly swear,’ in the presence ot Al
mighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully sup
port* proteot, and defend the .Constitution of the
United Statea and the Union of the States thereun
der : and that I will, in lihe manner, abide by and
faithfully support all acts of Congress passed during
the exiting rebellion with reference to slaves, bo
loair and so far as not repealed, modified, or -ield
void by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme
fWt I Will, IWUt. \
/aith/uily support all proclamations of the Preslaeat
made during the existing rebellion
to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or as*
dared void by the decision of Supreme Court, so
persons excepted-from the benefits, of the
foieeoiDg provisions are all who are. or shall have
been, civil or diplomatic officers or agents of the
so-called Confederate Government;
left Judicial stations under the United States to aid
the rebellion ; all who are or shall have been mill*
taiv cr naval officers of said Confederate Govern
ment above the rank of colonel in the or of
lieutenant in the navy j all left in tne
United States Congress to aid the rebellion, all
ivho resigned their commissions in the army or
navy of the United Statea, and afterwards aided
the rebellion, and all who have engaged in any
wav iii treating colored persona, or white per
sons, in charge of such, otherwise than laWr
fullv SB prisoners of war, and which persona
mav be found in the United States aervloe
as soldiers, seamen, or in any other oapacity.
And I do further proclaim, deolare, and make known,
that whenever in aoy of the States of Artcanaaa,
Texas Louisiana. Miaeiaaippl, Tennessee, Alabama,
eforMS
llna, a number of persons not less than one-ten thin
number of the vote cast in such State, a* tb®.. Resi
dential election of the year of our Lord iB6O, each
having taken the oath aforesaid, and not hay
irg since violated it, and. being^a quAlined,
voter by the election law of the state, exist- ,
intr Immediately before the so-called act of oeces
jiion, and excluding all others,. shall; establish
a State Government whioh ahall.be republican,
and in no wise contravening said oath, Buch shall
be recognized aB the true Government ofthe State,
and the State shall receive thereunder the benefits
of the constitutional provision which declares that
the United Statee shall guarantee to every State in
this Union a republican form of government, and
shall protect each ot them against invasion, and, on
application of the Legists ure, or the Exeou ive
when the Legislature cannot be convened, against
pioolslm, declare, and make
and which may yet be consistent, as a
With their, present con-
I'luon al 1 * laboring, landless, and homeleis class,
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1863,
And it ie suggested aB not improper that, in con
structing a loyal State Government in any State,
the name of the State, .the boundary, the subdi
visions, the Constitution, and the general code of
laws as before the rebellion be maintained, subject
oniy to the modifications made neoessary by the
conditions hereinbefore stated, and' such others, if
any, not contravening the said conditions, and
whioh may be.deemed expedient.by those framing
-the new State Government.
To avoid misunderstanding,it maybe proper to
say that this proclamation, so far as it relates to
State Governments, h&s no reference to the States
Wherein loyal State Governments have all the
while been maintained.
And for tbe same reason it may be proper to
further Bay that, whether members of Congress from
any State shall be admitted to their seats constitu
tionally rests exclusively with the respective
Homes. and not to any extent with the Executive.
And still further, that this proclamation is intended
to present to the people of the States wherein the
national authority has been suspended, and the
loyal State Governments have been subverted, a
mode by which the national authority and loyal
State Governments may be re-established within
the said States, or in any of them; and while the
mode prerented is the besfthe Executive can sug
gest with his present impressions, it must not be un
derstood that no other possible.mode would be ac
ceptable.
Given under my hand at the eity of Washington,
the eighth day of December, A.. D. one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Indepen
dence of the United States of America the eighty
eighth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
Wm, H. Sbwaro, Secretary of State.
SECRETARY OE THE KAVPS REPORT.
Navt Department, Dec. 7, 1833/
Sir: The naval operations of the year have been va
ried and more arduous, as well as far more extensive,
than ever before under the Government. A blockade
commencing at Alexandria., In Virginia, and ternii,-
natlrg at the Bio Grande, has been effectively maintain
ed. The extent of this blockade, according to an accu
rate table of measurement carefully prepared at the
Coast Survey office, covers a distance of three thousand
five hundred and forty-nine statute miles, with one
hundred and eighty-nine harbor'or rlver«!bpenißffg or
: indentations; and mnen of thB coast presents a double
shore to he guarded. - In addition to the coast blockade,
a naval force of more than one hundred vessels has been
employed in patrolling the rivers; cutting off rebel sup*
plies, and co-operating with the armies in the suppres
sion of the rebellion. The distance thus traversed and
patrolled by the gunboats on the Mississippi and its tri
butaries iB 3 615 miles, and the sounds,. bay us, rivers ’
and inlets of the States upon the Atlantic and the Gulf,
covering an extent of about 2,000 miles, have also been
penetrated and watched with unceasing vigilance
‘The blockade is becoming more effective ana complete.
Progress has been.made in repelling .the rebels from the
coast, and circumscribing their limits. The Mississippi
.and its tributaries have, after a protracted, persistent,
and eevere struggle, in which the whole energies and
'efforts oLthe insurgents were engaged to obstruct.and
prevent our. success, been, reopened to navigation and
- conf mere©/ •As the rebels Have never possessed an .
port-.for either belligerent operations or commercial pur- .
pofes; nora naval or commercial marine, their mari
time trade and proceedings have been chiefly derived „
from foreign adventurers and foieign capital, If, in the
early period of the war, the unscrupulous and, unprin- .
cip.ed traders who. in violation, of law and public mo
rality. embarked in illicit schemes to violate the block
ade, and furnish the rebels wUh/suppliea, were success:
ful, the general results of the year, now" near'its close,'
have been to . them most disastrous. The vigilanca of
our naval forces and the'stringency'of the blockade
have operated with great severity, on those who have
risen, in arms against their country, and have caused
heavy losses io thoie who have abottad, or have bsoa
in sympathy with.the rebellion Ido not propose imhis
report to ent«r upon the details of our naval operations'
since my last annual communication, but shall append
the official reports of the officers themselves, whtchjjest
' narrate their respective labors and achievements. No
nobler encomium can be awarded them than the plain
statement of their deeds, and no summary can do jus
tice to their unaeguminff communications Tbecrnuing
grounds of the several blockadingsquadrons remain ua
, changed since my last report.
V a NORTH-ATLANTIC SQUADRON..
Acting Rear Admiral Lee continues in command of the
North-Allantic SqnadroD, faithfully and ably dis
charging hisduties m a position of great responsibility,-
and, in some respects, of great embarrassment. Seconded
and sustained as he las been by officers of seal and effi-;
' ciency, the rivers of Virginia and thesounda of North
Carolina have been penetrated, watched, and gnat-dad,
as well as the entire go that aU intercourse with'
the rebels has been ent off, with the single "exception of
the.port of Wilmington, ;io close which has been difli
cult Jrcmits two inlets, thirty miles apart, by
extensivebatteries - 6orue of the fastest sleamars From
the Clyde and other quarters, of light draught, .have,
undercover oJ darkness, succeeded in eluding capture;
but most of even that description of vessels have fallea
into our hands or-been driven on shore. ;-With these
exceptional ca>es, all foreign and coastwise commerce,
with the rebels has ctased inlhat quarter. At Washing* |
ten, Newbern, and elsewhere on the inner waters of i
North Carolina*, anc also" on the-Nansemond, York, and !
oilier rivers of Virginia;’ our naval officers have been
sleepless sentinels, arid they have exhibited examples of
heroic bravery and daring in repelling the rebels and
protecting and succoring the arny when in difficulty,
which reflect hon?r on themselves and the service.
SOUTH-ATLANTIC SQUADRON.
The South-Arlautic Squadron 1 has continued to enforce
;. the blockade with vigilance and effect. It is not known
i that any vessels now elade the vigilance of the fleet or
, effect communication with the rebels on that coast. So
long as the blockading force remained off Charleston.,
I instead of getting .within the bar. the illicit trade at that
jjoint was prosecuted with some success, and no vigi
lance or activity could wholly prevent’ it; With a vie W
ol interdicting all traffic, and, if possible, of capturing
Charleston itself, the original seat of insurrection and of
disunion, preparations were made by this .Department, .
commencing more than a year ago, for the occupation or
the harbor and the redaction ol' the defences. The com
pletion of the iron-clad vessels was urged forward with
a all the energy the Department could infuse into the,con- /
tractor*, and such other efficient vessels asould be made
available were ordered to the squadron to add to its
power and efficiency. Delays and difli mlties intervened,
and it was not until the 7th of April that a demonstrar'
tion was made On the afternoon of that day Rear Ad
miral Dupont, in the New Ironsides, accompanied by
seven turreted-vessels of the Monitor-class and the gun
boat Keokuk, proceeded up the harbor and made a vigo
rous assault upon Fort Sumpter- From some difficulty
or defect, the Admiral’s ship was unable to gst iiito ac
tiohi but the others proceeded onward to the attackand_
« (orriftc HfCTrz'oru'mrm.axaas Dit
terieß. 1 ' ' , * / .•••''•
. Owing to the submerged obstructions, the character
of which was not understood, it was notdeeined advisa
ble to attempt a-passage up to the city, and after a con
test of less than two hours, the signal was: given .to
wilhdrawthe:fleet Rut comparatively slight injury
was sustained by the turreted vessels, ; and only os e
life was lost in this remarkable contest. No ships ever
btfore'BUßtained such'a concentrated lire, and the eh-,
during qualitiss.of this class of vessels were folly, proved. •;
It was intended to have renewed the attack on the
following day, but this intention wasvsubsequently' .
abandoned, and the vessels were withdrawn from the
harbor, under an' apprehension that they could’not
withstand the storms of the season and the fire of the
rebel batteries. But important-considerations rendered
it proper that the force should remain inside-the bar, and
orders were tent to Rear Admiral Dupont to that effect.
I The report of the superintending engineer as to the
I ir juries which the tnneted vessels had sustained was
j satisfactory, and confnmed the Government; in its de
! , termination to close effectually and completely the port,
I to as to prevent the ingress or egress of a single vessel,
and also to promote operations against the defences in
the harbor. ""
Rear- Admiral Dupont having expressed a willingness
to relinquish the position which ha had occupied'for
eighteehmonths, Rear Admiral Andrew H. Foote was
detailed to reli 3ve him. That brave and distinguished
officer prepared with great alacrity and promptitude for
the duty, but, when on his way to his command, was
seized with, fatal illness and died in.N*w York./- His.;
associate and second in command, Rear Admiral John “
A. Dahlgren, proceeded immediately to Pjrfc -Royal. ;
and, and on the 6th day of July, assumed command of -
the squadron A combined operation of naval and
army forces, the latter under GeteraT Gilmore, wa-i
instituted for the occupation and possession of Uor
Tie Island, on the south side of the entrance to Charles
ton harbor. After along and severe straggle, the arm 7
operating upon land with the efficientco-operation of.
the Monitors and the Ironsides, Morris Island, with all .
its batteries, wascaptnred. Sumpter was soon made a;
pile of ruins by the fierce artillery of our forces, ;
though the rebels contri veto continue a small batpower
less force there under the protection of the surroundiog
batteries. '- In the slow operations of this protracted siege :.
of over five months, as well as in the demonstration of
the7th'of April, both, the redialing and attacking pouter
of the Monitors has been illustrated and proven.
- SiTce the fleet.under Admiral Dahlgren ha». remained
iußide thebar, and we have had of Morris
ltiand, the commerce of Charleston has ceased. Not a
single blockade-runner has succeeded in reaching the.
city for months, and the traffic which had been to some
extent, and with large profits, previously carried on is
extinguished. .As a commercial mart. Charleston has no,
existence ; her wealth withher trade has departed. In.
a military or strategic view the place is of little couse-
Qiitnce:; and whether the rebels are able by great sacri
- flee and exhaustion to hold out a few weeks more or less
: is of no importance.
The most marked and extraordinary conflict within
tie limits of thiß squadron, or indeed in the service da
rlxg the year, and in some respects one of the most sig- ,
niflcant and instructive naval -battles of the war, took
plac** on the 17th of June, in Warsaw Sound,- between.
the Weehawkeh. a vessel of the Monitor class,-and the
formidable armored steamer Atlanta ' Like the contest,
in Bamptonßcads; in March,-1£62, when the Monitor ’
and the Merrimac wereengaged, thisbattlo was between
armored vessels and of great disparity in size, but the
result wasvastly.more spe6dy:and decisive.. The At
lanta was a powerful steamer, had been iron-plated , by
the rebels, and prepared for war purposes at immense
ln tbe confidence of, certain victory over her
comparatively diminutive antagonists, the Weehawken
and the'Nahant, she was accompanied by boats loaded
with gay parties to witness her triumph, but the brave
officers and men of our turreted vessels knew their
power and sought the encounter. This battle was to
te!*t not only the vessels but the new -flftecn-fuch . ord
nance, then for the first time brought iuto naval war
fare,, and concerning which there had been, a 3 well
with respeht to the vessels themselves, some variety of
opinion. The conflict wa's so brief and decisive that
only one of the two Monitor vessels, though not widely
s*-parated and each eager for the fight, was able to par
ticipate in the engagement, Tka. Nahant, having no
pilot, followed in the wake of.the Weehawken, but
before she could get into action the contest was over.
Such was the brevity of the fight that the Weehawken,
in about fifteen minutes, and withonly .five shots from
her heavy guns, overpowered and captured her formida
ble antagonist before the Nabaot which was hastening
to the work, could discharge a single shot at the Atlanta.
This remarkable result was an additional' testimony in
favor of the Monitor class of vessels for harbor defence
ahd coast service against any naval vaftMjitt-ihartbajre,, .
beefior are likely to be constructed
It appears also tcL.hay.P^as^s'Sad"of .withstanding our
"naval power by naval means
-• EASTERN GULF SQUADRON
Acting Rear Admiral Bailey has continued in com-,
wand of the Ea&tern Gulf Squadron, .closely-blockading
the Florida peninsula from Cape; Canaveral, on; the
ea> t, to Pensacola, on the west.. Thoro; having been no
imuorlant military movements wlthim these-limits, a .
close watch of-the coast and of the ad]aoont waters has
. been -in ain taix ed by the navy, icsuliiufi- 'A ,the capture
of maß3' prizes, and the almost entire aiuwhila.ion of all
,illicit traffic. Seme important boat expeditions for cat
ting out vessels and destroying, rebel salt-works have
been projected and executed with Lying adja
cent to Cuba. aud net far distaut from Nassau, the coast
of >lorida presented many available-points for eluding
the blockade chiefly by small vessels, wMch'were capa
be of penetrating the shallow harbors and inlets which
ii dent its shores. Bui the trade has not been carried on
with impunity—more than ; ono-hundred craft of various
de.cjriptt<msliav« been cptarod or- destroyed by tills
equadvon duricK tue carreiit year. ,
- WEEMBK-CT-LI?‘BOTJJIHOW.
Tha dntios-of tie VVasieiiß flat/ Sauadron ’
divefs)fi«a,[md MRCtiaa. It® a: eoDSUemWe nut of the
leav. Ktar Admiral Fdrratrttt felt liimself compelled to
employ many of,hi* most efficient vessels in active river
service, co-operating.wiih the army, with a view to re- ,
openieg the navigation of the Mississippi, andexpslunE .
b osiilAforces from its banks. Impressed with the gTeat
importance of thiswor<, and aware of the determina
tion, of ihe Government to promptly and firmly
blfeh the national authority In that auartoiyso that the
ocean outk-t cf the great ceotral valley of the Union
should be unrestricted and secure, R9#.r Admiral Farra-
Eut committed the subject of the coast blookade/to others
of his command, srd devoted his unremitting personal
attention'to the energetic and vigorous prosecution or tbo
curqcest of the rebels, to overcomingand reducing their
batteriefi, and to removing every obstacle with which
thf'sought to oppose the nsvigation of the river, or.to.
r.feiEt the authorixies of the Union, boon after cap
ture of New Orleans, in the spring of 1862. and. as the
uHJuial result of that event,- the-naval forces formed a
junction; and could the army at that time have furnuhed.
Hn adequate co-onerailua land force,.the reduction of
Virksburg might have been accomplished, and the .occu
rntion and navigation of the river earily secjirQd. But
the omission to do this.gave the rebels opportunity to
immensely strengthen.\icksburg, and also ,to_ tortlfy
lVn Hudson and Grand Gulf iu addition. What.there
fere, mlghthave been acts implished with comparatuely
JiitJo effort in the summer ,of 18G2, was a worit oMm
jr.eneo and almost incredible labor and difficulty in 18G1,
k was indispensable tha t. commumcato should be
opcncdwlih Wr Admiral:Porter, of-the Mississippi
tJSdron, and General Grant, both of whom were opo
rating uguinst Yicksbnrg. Roar Admiral iatrajm-,
\l er< fore; mb rod up in ft trong force from Bomre m
Minch, intending to pttsa the diatioriM at J oitHnl|Oh,
bi t only hia own, Ilag-sbiPv thf and ttw Alba
t: oss were tucceflsful.' With vhofca he in ap, .
nothing Yieksbnrg, and in coMUDwattns.withJßean
Admiral Porter.across. thopeniasula. Ihisxaliantnot ;
of Rear Admiral Farragut being effMtedt'tbenavyhjid. i
conimsno of the river between /roksburg and Fort Hud
son, and was enabled to establish .a bloekade of Hod ,
livtr, and thus intercept lha supplies from- ,
lined forth© rehol amioa. telt this to b©r
c ne of tho most serious aud ihtal blows inflicted on them
diring the year, and efets of it they'have,
Sevrr reci.vered:' Tbis';3f^orapllsnod, the Admiral laft;
his flag-ahip, the Hartford, and returning below av of;
the At chafalaya,he vesumodoperiUfpnßfor.aflnjd aasault
onTcrt Hudson. To meet the cf tho occa
f-ini ft forcowas kej4 alwa? areidy to with
t) e aimy in its movements; and on the part of the pun r
cmtiAom sieUSif 9ttl>o pla.ee fKin,.BlwtKboaU.
vMtels, and a nai4>l tottoiy on shore, wui
mm, was mai^Uur.ed;, &H-ondinu th© Hii'
ihTee theumnd 13-incii shells were thrown Into t
works by the mortar vessels aid the naval .batteij of j
fout9-m\h suS. uitr, &s a breaching
good. »©rvtco. In cocsequauca d.tbe captiu« oi
burg/on the 4th of -Tulv. tne reduction of X orb Hud so a.
fiuall y <*A.*
ou the Qfh of Jnly, to General Banks, who for % florae
weeks had besieged the place. :
Inis was the iaet stronghold of resistance to thffpna
authority on the banks of the Mississippi,
fne river being now opened to. peaceful eoramerci *1
pursuits. Rear Admiral Farragut turnoil over to
Admiral Porter the entire control of the Western waters
above Is ew Orleans, and departed himself for that city.
Deeming that ais long-service and useful laborß of eigh
th inon»bs entitled this gallant officer to special con
sideration, the_Department tendered him a respite,which,
ha accepted, and Commodore B. H. Bell, the n«*xt officer
inrank, was appointed to command the squadron in his
absence.,.. ,
The blockade of the Gulf has been, in the main, efficient
,£■?<» successful, although, reverses at- Galveston and ba
bm® Pass occurred; and, for a time,reckless adventurers
aQ d foreign c&pitalUts to some extent succeeded, by per
verting neutral privileges and fraudulently abusing
peutrarrtghts on me Rio Grande, in carrying on Illicit
trade witn the rebels through Matamoros. The Bio
Grande, being tho boundary between the United States
and Mexico, is open to the navigation of both countries,
and could .not, therefore, be blockaded.' With a know*
ledge of tliia fact.a multitude of schemes were projected*
and, under the disguise-of neutral trade, Matamoros
suddenly became a great commercial mart for the rebels
and their friends. But the shrewdly devised schemes
/oOn interrupted with disastrous consequences to
most Of those who participated tn them, and the occnpa
tion of the Bio Grande'find Brownsville has put a float
tennination to tbe lately extensive commerce of Mata
moros, which.is becoming as insignificant as it was be
fore the rebellion,
’ ; MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON,
The Mississippi squadron has been actively engaged
in successful efforts 10 overcome the rebels and restore
.national ascendency in tho great central valley of
the Union. - :
Bear-Admiral Porter, whoee activity, energy, and
. readyuss of resources emiuently fitted him for that com
mand, has exhibited extraordinary vigor in' various
t naval expeditions on the Mississippi and its tributaries,
and in zealous co-operation with the army in most of Us
important operations. £
The captui e of Arkansas Post, on the White river, in
January,^the destruction of the batteries at Grand
Gulf m May. and, in co-operation with the army, the
reduction of-Vicksburg, which finally surrendered on
the 4th of July, are the most prominent of tha remark
able achievements of this squadron, ; somo of which
are marked ;by incidents of singular and romantic
daring. In the appendix to this report will be found
correct records of the extraordinary adventures attend
ing the efforts to ges control of the Yazoo by sweeping
from its chatfnel .the. .network of torpedoes, explosive
machines, ahet contrivances for-submarine warfare,
nearits continence with the Mississippi. These efforts .
were followed by the novel and singular “Yazoo Pass
Expedition,” and the expedition of *'Steel’s bayduaui
i e«r: c«ek.On the right bank of the Mississippi 6cenes
of interest were also.enacted by the hardy sailors and
boatmen on the rivers of Arkansas and northern Lou si
ana. “ The Cumberland and the Tennessee have been ac
tively patrolled.by our vigilant'and skilful naval officers,
excitingebaseof Morgan by our steamers on tha
Ohio, over adibtancebf five hundred miles, intercept
ing him and his band when attempting to escape, nata
rally attracted-the attention of the country. But the
. great and important exploit** of ibis squadron were in
the vicinityof Vickiburg, where tbe main-strength of
the naval as well as of the military forces were cen
tred, . The magnitude of the defence's of thi* place,which
weie intended to-repulse any force, naval ormilitary, or
both combined, whic a could be brought against them,
made the siege forinidable, and seemed for a time to de
fy all attemptsattheir'reducfcion. ln.overcomirg them,
■ tbe'navy necessarily : performed a conspicuous and es
sential x an. For forty- two days, without intermission,
the mortar boats were throwing shells into all parts of the
city,,and,even .into the works beyond it. Heavy guns,
mounted on scows commanded the Important water batte
, ries. and forrfourteend&yfr maintained au iuce<Bant fire
upon themr Thirteen heavy guns were landed from the
voeselw, and -.officers and men : (where they could be
spared) were sent to man' The gunboats below
tbe city, in co-operation with the army, were continual
ly engaged in shelling the place. During the siege six
teen thousand: shells were thrown from the mortars,
gunhoats/and naval batteries, upon the city and its de
fences before they capitulated. •
The creation and organization of this large -squadron,
Which has done such effeetivtfserviceon the Upper. Mi
ssissippi and its tributaries, extending over a distance of
mors than three thousand miles, may b© justly considered
acidug tbe most wonderful events of the time. It is but lit
tie over two years since wehad hot a naval vessel on aU
these waters, where wenow have a squadron of 100..
vei sele, carrying 462 guns, vvilhcrews amounting in the
aggregate to about 5, 500 men. Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Arkai sas, tbe upper portions of Mistijsiopiaad Lou
isiana,'and tbe southern portions of those Scales which
border on the Ohio river on the north,, have been re
lieved and liberated through, the" instrumentality of tha
gunboats acting by themgelvee, or in earnest and cor-_
dial co-operation with the armies. Re«r Admiral Por
terhas-well sustained tfcexrenown which the gallant
and lamented Foote so nobly earned, and 'hw carried
forward to f.uccessfui results a larger and morepo ver
fiil Arcs than was ever nt the disposal of thafcheroic offi
ce r.:ln creating and organizingtnis squadron, and arm
ingand.manning the vessels, it mus, not be forgotten
thatibe service labored'under many and. great disad
vantage®, forth© Government liao no nayy yard or es
tablishment of-its own on which , the Department could
depend. . In the absence of any “governmental yards,
shops, storehouses, and-other necessary facilities and
aids for a naval establishment, and also of mechanic <
and'Workmeu, it became necefesary to collect and send
out and receive supplies'from some central and secure
position.” This work has been performed chiefly at Cai
ro,-under the superintendence and management of offi
cers who have devoted themselves to their less conspi
cuous but notless indispensable:, work with au assidui
ty and labor not surpassed even by their more active.
asscclates : who were facing the enemy.
: : POTOMAC'FLOTILLA;
Allured by high prices and th'e prospect of gain, mer
cenary adventurers as well as rebels and rebel sympa-'
thlzers have contin ned to carry on to some extent illicit..
and contraband traffic between Maryland and. Virginia, ,
rendering it necessaiy to maintaina considerable force
onthePotomac The flotilla, under command of Co<h
modoio Harwood, has kept a close watch and goa*d to
intercept and prevent, as far.asposßible, communication
with the rebels, and many captures^have, been made;
but the punishment inflicted on those who attempt to
deal witntraitors and furnish them supplies has been S 3
light that'these potty contrabandists, as well'aa the
morejopen blockaderjrunners, have carried on their em- •
ploy ment with some degreeof impunity. In one or two
instances armed'Jaodieß of men have appeared oa‘the
Virginia shore, aa4f with-the intention of molestliig na
vigation, butthey have abruptly fled on the approach of .
a gunboat To guard against possible contingencies at
the time of the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
which terminated in the battle of Gettysburg. • vessels
Were stationed at what were deemed available points
along the upper waters of the Chesapeake to co-operate
with the military authorities. ~A gunboat was sent up 'I
the.Bu\qdehanna to -Havre d& 'Grace, another up the I
Gunpowder, a third up tiie Backwater, while one. was !
also posted at Annapolis, and'anotherat Wilmington,
r - . • PACIFIC SQUADRON. ,v. ;
lathe Pacific remains the same as at the date
ana the Farallons, storertrip, at Acapulco. ' . •
Acting Rear Admiral Charles H. Bell continues in cam?
mand of the squadron, and has attended to our Interests
in that quarter • The vigilance of this officer and of Cap
tain Thomas 0. Selfridge, commandant of the navy yard
at Mare Island, with the actiye co-operation of the cna
tom-henee aidrevenue anthoritleson onr western coa«.t,
has intercepted and suppressed all attempts to fit out re
bel piratical.cruisers,on the Pacific. - . -
The schooter J. C Chapman was detected in the har
bor
seized by the CJyane, w T ith men, armament,
and military supplies on board, evidently intend© 1 to ; I
piey-upon curcoranTerce. - Some indications of a scheme
io fit out a rebel cruiser having been communicated -by j
our consul at Victoria, Admiral Bell despatched the Sagi
naw ti) Washington Territory to ascertain die facts. and,
if necessary, to lake prompt measures in. regard tothem.-
Altbough it was ascertained that some proceedings had
taken place sufficient to give rise to reports ©fa--de#igtt
to fit cut a piratical craft under the rebel fldgfrom -Bri
tish. waters, there were, no substantial grounds to -ap
prehend that such a schißne could.be carried into ©Sect,
especially in’viewof ihe-friendly-disposition and earnest.
resolve of the colonial authorities to discountenance and
prevent- such illegal proceedings. The Saginaw? there -
fore, returned, to ban Francisco from a satis 'actory mis
sion to the northwest coast. The vessels of this squad
ron have during the year visited the principal, ports on
the Pacific coast, and by their presence strengthened
«our diplomatic and consular representatives, and im
parted a feeling of security American citizens aud
American int-rests wherever they have appeared.
- VESSELS HI THE EAST INDIES.
In the East India and China seas the Jamestown and ’
the Wyoming have American interests during
the past pear, and, with the exception of a disturbance
which is' to he regretted occurred at -Japan, all has re
mained quiet in that region. la the month of July,
while the Wyoming was awiYokohama, information was
nceivedlliat the American steamer Pembroke had been
filed npon by Japanese vessels. Commander Me Donga 1
immediately proceeded to the locality-of the outrage;
where he was fired upon from six land batteries, and a
naval force consisting of a steamer, and a brig.
An action of one hour followed, in which it is stated
that the steamer of the enemy was blown up, the bark
suck, and the brig made a complete wreck in her upper
v? orks. while considerable damage was dene to. the land
batteries. The Wyoming withdrew after thus vindi
cating the honor of-the American flag, having sustained
a loss of eleven killed and wounded.
; , THE NAVAL FORCE .
I have mentioned in former reports that the naval force
at ; the commencement of this Administration consisted
of 76 vessels, and of these only 42 wers in commission.
The additions which have since been made have ele
vated the country into.ft first-class naval power. In the
following table an exhibit is presented of the actual
nnmber and description of our naval vessels at the date
of my last report and at the present time:
Comparative Exhibit of the Naviii>l>£cenibei\ 1862 and
• 1863,.
- In consequence of the omission of Confess to taka any
action on the subject of enlarging the present circum
scribed navy yard at Philadelphia, onto signify Us ac
ceptance or rejection of League Island.tendered to the
Government for naval purposes by the city of Philadel
phia, or in - conformity ■with my suggestions to initiate
means for establishing a suitable yard, workshops, and
docks for an iron navy and the machinery and armature.
which modern improvements .render necessary, no pro
gress has been possible during the year on that import
' ' ant subject. The Government is. destitute of a suitable
t ■ ■ . .. . - establishment for the construction or repair of iron ves-
J " " —a? S £ eels, their machinery or armature, nor has it any place
. , o~ S * for preserving them when laid up inordinary. Some
• . 'q « * a proper and suitable accommodations for vessels of this
it ®. o description are necessary where there is freshwater*
L ___ and, as stated in my communicatioiis to the last Con
, . , . . - coa . .. gress,ifchas appeared to me that no place combines so
Navy at the date of present reporti... . 583 4,J|B 407,967- many advantages as are to be found on the Delaware, in
Navy at the date of last report...• 427 3,*63 341,036 the vicinity of*Philadelphia. A commission of naval
. , ~ ..r and scientific gentlemen was appolnted under fcne autho-
Increase, exclusive of those lost-...•. 161 l,l»o 127,931 ijty of Congress to examine League Island, and also to
■ jr*~ n *7 a rw lea* * c * make a survey and examination of the harbor of New
Vessels of the Nasy Lost St*ice December, 1562. London. Connecticut, and its surroundings, with refer* !
" — .. ' • . • ~ ence to its capacity:and fitness for a naval d6pot and
v, - a S navy yard; and whether the public interest will not be
r °-3 0 5 * promoted by establishing a.naval depot and navy yard"
In what manner lost. **- g • la or near said barter of New London, instead of League
® Island, and that they also make the sam9 investigation
.. ■ E-* . in regard to the waters of Narragausett Bay. ” The ma*.
_ ... — —~ . - 0 V - Q ,_ jorHyof this board recommended the establishment of an
Captured.....V 45 ®*“ 47 additionslnavy yard atNewLondon. On that subject
Deßtroyedtopreventfauinginto hands . 0 OQ , it is unnecessary teat tlie Department should exprees.au -
of rebels.....«’ sx? opinion. It is a question for Congress, which instituted
Sunk in battle or by torpedoes 4 2,|{)L the inquiry, to decide whether an additional navy yard
Shipwreck,-fire, and collision..• • la bl. -l.So* on the old plan is wanted at New London, aad, should
' ol> * ltu T. rt Q , it be in the affirmative,it will bethe duty of this Depart
lotai..... too lo,vo) ment to carry that decision, when made, into effect.
Vessels Placed Under OonsMion Since Dee. , 1862,
f _• <$ modations and more ample facilities on the Delaware
i-u 5 a w than we now have-in the narrow and whoUy insuffi- r
0r ® S d cifnt limits of the iiavy yard at Philadelphia. Those
dg . a limits, as stated by-the chief of tho Bureau of Tardsand
2;® 3 g Docks in his able and practical report, can be ea'arged
- • ' • - ■ • •" ' ** ;to about double the present area by purchase at anex
toni-.L-?- , 81 _ - a .
D«-ble-turret ironclads—r37ljw tons. 4 ».«2» . a6 The wants of the'Government require. ‘lt would-ua-
Clipper screw- sloops •. .;»• ',y% .200 tons 12 90 36*400 . doubtedly be the:part of wisdom and true economy to
>crnw-i>looi», spar-deck....2,-2go tons. & .160 17,60 J ; pro cn r e grouud..-wtth ample water-front for such aues
f cr6W-sloops of great speed. tons. 5 40 16,000 fftbUshment as the incTcasing public wart 3 demijid, in
Screw-slocp* of great speed.S.<ooo tons 2 lb b,uuu the vicinity PhUadelphia ; and. so scon aa .it can be
% "nq ~4V> "qq nio made available, to dispose of the present arouuds. and
Total ........ on 45- .aij.UlU flTi: ,iv the proceeds towards improving tho new location.
: 11 — : : ; — T “'\ - The chit! of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, whosa.
General Exhibits/ the.Navu io?ien the Vessels Unaei experience and-judgment entitle his opinions to conside-
Conslruction.cwd Completed. Winn. another locality than League Island—at
* —: —— . ~ A , SJarcus Hook, afew miles below Philadelphia, on the
. - « a right bank of the Delaware, which he supposes may,
. ; c >% g, S perhaps, be.procured at a reasonable mte. Trom.the ex-.
o'g 3 3- amination which I have been enabled, to give this sub
-2 iect, lam not prepared to say that the advantages are.to
. my mind,-snt,h as to counterbalance those attainable.at
Iron-clad.eteamers, inland service,... »i Ma i4*517 near Jdarcn? B Hook canbeprocured aiany piica. Either
Side-wheel steamers., 203 1,240 UG.5i7 5? a a c V hJ^er.might, I app r ehend..*e,satu-f : .cfcory,and
fciit-w eteamers.v 198 187,892. .ferhave already stated to Corsre^thereisno L doubt.
bailing vessels H- that, for the-purpofes of a navy y a?S, and esfcshliehmant
, , cn ri | ,i(> in-i ftijn fmnmiron.na.vy find its ’wantii tho bftiiKSOl tu.o_DQlB.*.
-r r— 653 tn»c »nbo« to tieranaa.oior
T 1 ere Have been aoded to'the bavr, darie K the put t .vrbere lb, tie ?f»«> •
of the steameis were-qaptured in endeavoring to violate by.ihis Dapartmcnt with all possible acuvity.
the blockade. NAVAL DEPOT ON TIS MtBSIB3IB!PL
IMPKOVEMENTS IN NAVAL VE3SBLB. - I deem it proper-to-again'allside to .the expediency, of
: Upon tt e aspumptiaa that the United States ara tooccu* ey tabiishiss at 20 distant day anaval d6p<: t. yard.raO'
pv ft leading position among maritimenations, a pnmary foundry at semo accessible aiSt suitable pejnt onone of
'Object with the Government must be the maintenance of livers in tlie volVdy of the-A4ißsissippi. The selection
a naval force adequate for dofenco aaainst all ioreign ag- 0 f an,cppropviute.locatiou for.bhlepurposevWhero vessels
grefsion. The thorough transformation which has taken ca - n }, e constructed and is a.question of
Place inthe charaator of naval warfare Is the result of a importance. The Umled State* have thisjaae
chanso hot legs complete in the character and structure, one hundred naval vessels c,n the Mississippi and vtetn
of nayhl vesse-s. The sailing ships-of-wav, whose con- buim iep. Iron and coal,.as well as vsoed. with rjl the
stiuction had beanbrougbt almost to perfection, were. jy trials for ihips-of-waa aro abundant, and may be
ainemcleo first by paddle-wheel steamers, and they in,. ..fcni.d contiguous to eliglaUsittmtioiife . ,
tui n fcavo givan place to vessels propelled by submerged. Steemersot iron will enrinre for ymsin fresh wate»»
ecTfeW-s. Steamer, however, are liable to disastes in- aud tho naval vessels GoTernmont may .place,
battle from whi oh saiiinp vessels are exempt A single' on those rivers will be preserved, should the .projected
chance gbotniAv totally disable tho most powevful steam- a ter communication, ecnnactingi the Northern lakes
ei • and this, exposure, randering-vesseis of this class pa- sreat interin*rivei*s by enlarged ship canal
asfa and'd&i zerous; lias led to preoautnons and safeguards ; carried into effect, t&eKississippl eqaadron could be.
for tliejr= protection in- the: form of iron armature, by, . available ior the defence oi. { our Northern frontier
■Which a class man-of-war is EOftde iavalner.aoie,to. circumstances required 5k
the ordntmee formerly used m navia warfare. _Bat this, , -. •
new foxm'OfdofeDce lias aevelopeuwlthrtacowwpong, Toattain an d true position as a naval
•ing improvement in the foim and. ftree oraUMGk,ana, tilent in-the country must be found.
thxs the Piocer naval and Sower hero - Imong the offlema who arcU conducs Ihe varied opara
so<fU^?Bnt^i^naußtot^for"l" first* rate mau-of-wasstoamar, and accomplishment of ouv. officers will ba unavailing to
sufficient lor ui a Q smd °-ive the naval suvoriorlty v. 9 should obtain.
-properly, 'amorfed; and with suiSabls and & iveus
room for supplies,-.requires p f, o^^fc^n C h ans- new coins is eiSnSftedinto the naval eervica of men
view seem enormous. 'Yet without such greatly ang- new cogs shill and genius,:
mnsßßiHttH
- - This form and 1 description of vosseji wlycfi -1 hijheßt public c« advantage In giving slml-r
.cf them to makocnv .harbors secure, but. wheivofen It is squesl • _J p^cer 0 f the line oughtnafctohe
V a, btm
J j*J* o? 1 * “pet they carry guns of a heavier calibre
55* -T e heretofore been used at lea, bat in order to
*v. ng cruises, and to cope successfully with any
force, these vessels must have all possible strength. en«
an< * Their structure, mast, therefore.
SSS^nSSrS? 0 ?* 11 for Bailin K power, and for the
SJi\Si7f i ?i and the large supply of
k®®P it at work. Being, unlike the other
x maritime nations, without distant colonies, where
coal dupftta can be established on the shore of almost
JT e foust conform ta the necessities of our coo
\ capacity Gnoagh to take on
fuel sufficient for a long cruise. The space for oth
er, vapplies. for munitions oi war. and for the acCommo
dat.'on of officers and crew/, should also be ample, and,
in addition to this, each of these vessels mu6t, in order
to accomplish Us work, present in its construction, ar
mor, .armament, and propulsion, all tbe power that the
resoui cesof modern invention and mechanical science
and art can furnish for attack, resistance, and purtuit
Avessel of this description must, of coure*. costa, jargo
price. Fat then a wise statesmanship will not fail to
perceive that the posgeerion of evea a very fsw such un
conquerable ships must, while vasSly augmenting tue
force and roaovrn of our navy, afford us, at the same
time, an inestimable guarantee of pease with foreign na
tions; nor, in counting the cost of aueh struc
tures, can forget that, large as that coat may
be, it yet sinks into insignificance in contrast with the
expenditures and sacrifices of a single year, or e76n a
month of foreign war.
Jn order that w? may have at our command a navy
which ihall fulfil these unexampled and exiting condi
tions of efficiency; a commensurate public establishment
for its construction and pr6pat ation is indispensable A
navy yard on a larg&acale, aid. in many respact*. of a
new plan, amply furnished with all the proper facilities
and aids for its operations, where machinery forßtoam--
-erg can be.manufactured, iron vessels constructed, iron
-armature made and tested, and repairs of every descrip
tion executed, is an absolute necessity. -In view of these
fade, I had the honor, on successive-occasions, to urge
this matter upon the attention of the last Congress; ahd
the omission of that bodyto take even the preliminary
measures to wards the procurement and formation of such
an establishment is a misfortune which the country is
now made to feel. -
The nature of the bstvlcb to which our naval vessels
vhave been subjected by long aad continuous blockade,
their exrosure during all weathers and seasons, the ne
eeeeity.of keepingtbem under constant steam or their
fires banked ready for any emergency, have put them to
severe tests Of course, all vessels must at times he
withdrawn for repair aud refitment, and steamers sub
ject to each hard usage must often beteeriously d ainaged.
WfeekB, and sometimes months, have been required for tbs
renovation tnd restoration of their engines and 1 ma
chinery,. Such delay bas beenstill furtherprotracied by
tbeinability of bur pnblic;yards and shop 4 to execute
the work, and the Department, depending in & great de
gree or,'private Industry, has been in a constant struggle
a to despatch tbe steamers sent iu for repairs. The limited
jacilities for manufacturing and repairing sleam -machi
nery at the public navy yards render them totally inade
quate to meet a moiety of the demands made upon them;
Xveu with the aid of private establishments, no inconsi
derable portion of cur naval force is waiting, unemploy
ed, and detained from active service to the Injury of the
country. As an instance of tho delay attending the re
pair of. our ships and the insufficiency of our public
works to meet our wants, it may bs mentioned that the
steam frigate ordered to Boston-for repair
and refitment, was detained fourteen months for its
completion. .1 again, therefore, most earnestly invoke
the attention of Congress to the manifest and inauspicious
fact that our Government has made no sufficient provi
; 6ion in tts-public establishments for the existing require
ments of naval warfare. So long aa our ships or war
were to te built of wood and propelled by sails; our fa
cilities for their construction were ample and complete.
At former period s the Government, in view-of its then
present and prospective wants for naval purposes, in
curred large expense in establishing dock-yards and ;
‘ otherwise providing for tbe service, bat new defences
aod armament, vessels of iron, now motive power, aud
: different material In their structure, require new dock
yfcrds and worksbopß; the introduction of steam, the
submerged propeller, the iron vessel, the armored ship,
call for a different description of artisans, as well as dif
ferent materials and workmanship. Our country is bet
ter prepared fortfcis change than alniOßt any other mari
time nation, for we'have hut few sailing vessels of the
large clafs, and these few to which steam canuot be ap
plied .may be used to advantage for other than fighting
purposes; one of them, the Vermont, has been fitted ana
used as a storeship, and the New Hampshire, formerly
the Alabama, a ship of-the-line* is being prepared for a
similar purpose-. They are each available and uieful for
thi<« object, are adapted to it in every respect, and can be
madecapableof defence against attack. . Bdtfor cniisiag
and theobjeots held in view in their construction. the3e
magnificent specimens of the old naval architecture and
of the skill.of our mechanics, although in their day
they elevated the naval dignity and attested the power
of the Republics have now become comparatively use*
; Jess. •
The strength, and durability of ■wooden vessels are, ia
some respects, in'erior to those made of iron, and conse
quently they are less capable of sustaining the heaviest
armament,, and ■when they are plated with iron the dis
parity is increased. Consequently large eh.ips-of-vrar,
by which maritime supremacy is to be achieved and
maintained, will, in ail probability, be ultimately con
structed chiefly of iron. The comparative'advantages
and disadvantages of Iron and wood, as the materialjco
be used in the constraction of vessels, are obvious and
practical. : Among the considerations in favor of iron
clad vessels with hulls of wood are the rapidity with,
which they can he built,.the abundance of material on
our whole coast, and the facility with which workmen
can be procured. Srci vessels, moreover, can be cop
pered, and iltereby. retain their epted for a longer pe
riod. They will be less affected by a solid shotbelow
the armature or plating, and the fracture made by the
shot can bo more easily mended. The disadvantages of
wooden vessels are want of strength, as compared with
thoseof iron structure, and the more rapid decay.of the i
material, particularly when covered with iron, plating;
the action of the immersed iron armor on the copper
sheathing near it. causing the copper to become foul and
the immersed armor plates to waste; the difficulty of
keepingibe vessels tight under thearmor plates, and the
probably greater damage to which they are exposed
from shells Oil the other hand, the greater strength of
iron permits the constrnctionof ships of greater size and
finer lines;-and having greater internal capacity, tney
can be, at any time, inspected In all their parts, are safe
from fire, and are better pTOiectea from great leaks, as
the> canhave water-tight compartments; their repairs ,
can generally be more easily made, and, 'from their '
great durability, they are probably, in the end, not
more costly. An-iron vessel, moreover, can be taken
from the water and placed on land for preservation,
which cannotbe done with wooden vessels.. The disad
vantages of iron vessels are the serious .local weakness
of the thin plates composing the bottom of an iron ship;
the danger that would result from getting on rocks or.
submerged obstructions; their liability to rapidly be
come foul in salt water, whereby their speed becomes
greatly impaired, thus requiring to be frequently docked
for cleaning; tire great danger from a shot striking below
the armor piating as they roll; the injury caused by the
splinters of iron when the plates are broken or smashed
by shot; the corrosioninside from bilge-water; the diffi
culty in making temporary repairs of shot holes; ana the '
limited number of artisans ‘y et to be procured having,
skill in this defcript'on of employment. It ihould also
be borne in : *niind that. while we have several navy
yards for building wooden vessels, the- I Government
pos#fi»ses not a ringle yard and establisbmenffor con- 1
stincting those of iron, nor even for making plates and
shafting.
"While the principal attention of the Department has.
in this crisis of ofir affairs,' been necessarily given to
present and more pressing necessities, it has. neverthe
less, kept in view the important ead of establishing our
naval power on. a permanent basis. Proposals were is
sued for au iron-clad ship of. fha largest class, (under the
authority : contained in the appropriation bills,) but the
cost, as shown;by the propositions received for a ship of
the .neceessry magnitude, was so great that it was
deemed advisable to enter into no contract involving so
large an expenditure, except by the express sanction of
Congress. /
Jn order, however, that justice should, in some de
geee. be done t > the naval branch of the public service,
at a that it might be able to sustain its rightful position
upon the ocean-in the event of a foreign war, the parties
competing for the large steamers were invited to make
Sroposals for one of about half-the proposed tonnage.
ne offer made 'under this invitation, at the most rea
sonable rate that could be obfcained.andwhich. it was
deemed the interest of the Government not, to exceed,
was,.with some modifications, accepted.
There are no parties in this country fallv prepared to
build iion vesseis of the magnitude and description pro
posed, and tha present high prices of material and labor'
unavoidably enhance the cost. The Government itself
is unprepared to execute any such work, having no suit
able yard . and establishment, ’ and is consequently
wholly in the hands of private parties, to demand wlrso
they think proper, and prescribe their own tsnns- On
former aDd repeated occasions, and elsewhere in this re
port,, the Department has folly expressed its opinion of
this policy and the necessity why the Government
should be prepared lo build iron vessels, andtheneces
sary machinery, of.the largest class.
Besides tbe tnrr6ted vessels for coast defence and large
armored ships for naval conflict, we need and should
have steamers of high speed constructed of wood, with
which to sweep the ocean, and chase and hunt down
the vessels of an enemy. Fortunately, we are able to
supply ourselves with vessels of this description, and a
competent and healthful competition exists for their
construction. A large portion of the establishments
adapted to the. constraction of nautical engines have
been enlisted by tbe Department in tbe manufacture of
steam machinery for veeselß building at the navv yards
and at private establishments. , : *
NAVY’ y AED AND ESTABLIS 3MEN V FOR lEON
VESSELS AND MACHIHkRY. ;
THREE CENTS
should be furnished by the Government, and it tfpold
lie well if every midshipman were to receive instruction
i.v this now important branch of hie profession. If the
public is not yet prepared to combine what at present are
tw<' distinct pursuits, and make every naval officer an
engineer as well as a sailor, I would recommend the
formi>iion of a class at the Naval Academy of youths,
giving a preference to those who may have already
evinced", skill and aptitude for engineering, who might
be educated with special reference to their profession as
engineerfcV After two years'.itudy they could be re
ceived !nt{pfche corps by conferring on them the appoint
ment of third assistant engineers and assigning tbera to
dnty. The naval service actf the country nave suffered
injury that can scarcely bo estimated from the want of
thorough, capable, and well-educated engineers. Many
of our moat efficient vesselfsrhave bean disabled: and crip
pled in the midst of their cruise, and sometimes even at
the very commencement of their service, in coßce3aeu.ce
of the incapacity of the entfueers, whereby thecouutry
has been deprived* not only of the user of the vessel for
weeks, and sometimes for months, buU the officers and
crew hive been constrained tij&activityinatea i offceiug
employed against th? enemy. Soma meaoures are rtcces
saiv to correct and prevent th&& disasters, solnjoribus
to the, country, aua ffenow of none so thorough, and
complete as that of purely educating and training en
gineers to the service, The branch of
study ; at She Naval Academy if,- very appropriately,
watneiisbSpr A general knowledge of the application and
use of atoaib and of practical mechanics should follow as
almost equally essential. lAne officers of the aavy, of
whatever rank, should, mroreover, hp,ve the privilege of
attending Zesfuxea and pursuing the study of steaia, me
chanics, and,.indeed, every'branch that may hetbught
at the Naval*Academy, ana'it Is recommended thstk,ar
rangemenlte be made for carrying into effect these
tions. Having recommended* tfts enlistment and train
ing of boys for the navy, I dtfesn lees im
portant to suggest the policy'of giving employment Jo
our seamen in - tim* of peace, O'ar commercial‘mari-5e
and fisheries have been and a?fc-valuable nurseries fo? 1
sailors, on wSififa She Governnoonf must rely in time cf
war for such addition* as may be nee&asary to its force of
thoroughbred naval seamen. Eat to build upand sag
tain a navy that'shall be capable ef 7 asserting and main
taining the rigbUr'and honor of the country, she Govern
ment. in peace as Well as in war, foster that hardy
and adventurous claat who, in every conflict, at home
and abroad, have always gallantly-upheld the flag. ; A
formidable navy afr' tho eomnencensont of our present
difficulties would cave closed foreign nations to abstain
from aiding the rebels aisd brought tfrowur to a speedy
conclueion. Why might bot fch* Government in tjjxreof
peace, employ .its owff’faai steamers for ocean mail ser
vice, Bnd, perhaps, otKerisoportant transportation, such
as carrying specie anchpa< Usages of small bulk but high
value ? A’slight armament of few guns-onvtt-edioaal ves
sels w'ould be sufficient- to 1 exercise the men-sndto give
character Mid the ship. Prouttiig as our
country does on. the two great oceans, this syotem would
insure to ns: -Ist, vessels built and ready, at-all times,
for fish ting purposes; 2d,, an organization 0? able and
efficient officers, with well-trained and educated seamen,
actively employed ana-'always ready for naval service;
Sd,: rapid mail communication with different parts of the
world; the whoie.famishing & nucleus for thu navy,
where both its officers and bettor class of seamen would
be constantly improving and filling themselves* for the
higbept public usefulness. No hatter, school ort-aining
could-be instituted for modern naval warfare* wheu'sea-,
manship is so much in advance of that which prevailed
when only sailing vessels were known to the &*vy.
Such a system would: besides being a nursery for the
navy*, contribute to the expansion of our commerce,
which, it would : stimulate and encourage, and with
Whicli'it would not come in competition. Under it the
naval and merchant service would fraternize and be
educated together when the country is at paace, and in
time of war would combine the power of both for na
tional purposes.- Such employment of our national ves
sels would conduce to the interests of peace. These sug
gestions are intended to invite the attention of Congress
to the important subject of establishing some system for
the permanent benefit of the navy after the present hos
tilities have ceased.
- VOLUNTEER 1 OFFICEES-PROMOTIONS, to. .
The important service rendered by volunteer officers,
and the courage and skill displayed by them, as also
their adaptation, to the profession, commends them to
the consideration of Congress; While it cannot be ex- - '
pected, and ■would not be desirable, to incorporate per
manently into the navy all who hold temporary appoint
meals, there are among them some whose abilities and
worth should not be lost to the service. • Those who
have served long and faithfully, and by their contact,
zeal, and'ability merit it, should be promoted to volun
teer lieutenant, commanders, - and a limited number of
volunteer officers might be brought into the line..
It would doubtleßSconduceto the benefit of the service
were officers of the line to undergo an examination for
promotion-to successive grades after leaving the acade
my until they attain the rank of commander. Sacha
regulation would avoid the necessity for retiring boards,
and be an incentive to excellence and a iust reward to
thosewho strive to acquire professional knowledge after
graduating'from the academy, and entering on their
career of active duty. Such a rule ia established with
the engineer corps and medical officers, and is produc
tive of beneficial results. A like rule should be esta
blished with assistant paymasters, who ought hot to be
promoted until after the ordeal of an examination.
Suitable means should be taken to receive, prepare,
and train boys for the naval service. For this purpose
one of the old ships of the line, now useless for cruising,
might be stationed at some suitable place, peihaps at
the Eaval Academy, where boys between the agas of
tu elve and eighteen might be enlisted and educated as
seamen. 'The sons of sailors and others in the public
naval and military service should be entitled to con
sideration for admittance to this school-ship, and it
Would be well to select aonnally from those most profi
cient,at least five to be transferred to the Ifaval Acade
my as midshipmen • The same ship might, if judged
expedient, also answer for such a gunnery practice ves
sel as has been frequently recommended by the Bnrean
of Ordnance
PIRATICAL BOYERS,
The recognition of the rebels as belligerents by, the
principal maritime PowereJaLthe commencement of hos
tilities, gave strength and character to the insurrection,
which it could never have had but for that recognition.
A. declaration of neutrality between the belligerents
went abroad from Governments with which we were in
aifiity, carrying with it the semblance of fairness; hat
which in its operation is most unjust towards this Go
vernment and. country The UnitedlStates had aa ex
tensive commerce which, penetrated evtry sea, while
the rebels were without commerce or sliip3. Tne United
States had a navy, ‘ and squadrons on almost every
ocean; the rebels had hot a single armed vessel at hom9
orabroad. With a full knowsedgeof these facts, the
principal maritime Powers of Europe hastened to recog
nize the' rebels as belligerent, and to declare that both
the belligerents should be treated alike in their port*:
that-the public armed vessels of neither should, remain
mofo than twenty-four hours in their harbors nor re
ceive supplies or assistance, except such as might be ab
aolutely necessary to carry them home, and for thcee
months thereafter they should hot again receive supplies
in any: of- the poi;s of those Governments. While this
proclaimed neutrality did not affect a single ship of. the
rebels, for they had not one to b 9 affected, it excluded
thenaval vessels of the United States from the ports of
the principal maritime Powers throughout the world,
except under tie restrictions enumerated. - ■
•' When the Sumpter, avesael stolen from our merchants,
made her.escape and went abroad armed, but without
a recognized nationality, to seize and destroy our mar
chantmen upon the high seas, she found, unlike the
Algerine corsairs, refuge and protection within the .
maritime jurisdiction of the great; European Powers
with whom the United States were in "friendship; and,
finally, after being followed by our cruisers into the
harbor of Gibraltar, she was permitted by the authori
ties to remain not only twenty-four hours, but more
,tbahiW6lve months, and was eventually transferred to
an English purchaser, went to an English port, was re
fitted and. left the English shores with a contraba&d v
cargo, and has since run the blockade, carrying sup
plies to the rebels.
The Alabama, the Florida, the Georgia, are armed
ciuisers built in England, have an English armamea;
on hoard, and are manned b y crews wno are almost ex
clusively European. Sailing sometimes under the En-,
glish and sometimes under the rebel flag, these rovers,*
without a port of their own which tbe7 can enter, or to
which they cen send a single prize for adjudication,
have roamed the seas, capturing and destroying the
commercial ships of a nation at peace with Great Britain
and France; but yet,- when these corsairs have needed
repairs or supplies they have experienced no difficulty
in procuring them, because it had been deemed expe
dient to recognize the rebels as belligerents. iNot one of
the many vessels captured by these rovers has ever been
Judicially condemned as a legal capture. Wanton de
struction has been the object and purpose of the captors,
who have burnt and destroyed the property of their
merchant victims. ■ *
This theory of recognizing rebels as belligerents as
soon as tbsyllft ftaeir arms against the Government,
and tljns declaring them entitled to national privileges.
on the high seas and in the harbors of the world, al
though withoat a port or navy of their osyji, is the in
auguration of a new policy in the history of nations.
For a long succession of years ith&B been an important
point in the progress of civilization, and particularly
among the maritime Powers, that the - police of the sea
should be guari ed and maintained by the subjection of
captures to the adjudication of tribunals administering
the law of nations, which receive from the hands of the
captor his prize into the custody of that law to be dis
posed of by its rules; but the coarse pursued in fostering
and giving enccuragoment to the rebel robbers who,
without a recognized national fl±g or a port at their
command, or auy means of bringing their captures to
judgment, are committing their predatory acts, ig a re
storation of that Algerine and Tripolitan system which
long afflicted the civilized world, but which, under the
lead of our Government, was exterminated in the early
pait of the preseni century.
Thus far these rovers have escaped capture While in
the West ladies, they were Iprotacted Jwhenever they
were enabled to flee into a neutral port, or get within a'
marine league of the shore of a neutral Government—.!
Srivilege that was never in any quarter extended to the
lediterranean corsairs. Unfortunately, most of the
colonial authorities, and no inconsiderable portion of
the population of the European dependencies, influenced
by the professed neutrality which elevated insurgents,
and sought to degrade the national., authority to an
equality with them, were in sympathy with the preda
tory rovers, and while lending them aid and often fur
nishing them with information,', obstacles
and manifested unfriendly feelings to the lawful opera
tions of the naval forces of the Ohio®. *
Compelled, as we have been, to- withdraw to a great
extent our foreign squadrons, in osder to establish and
enforce the blockade, the commerce of the United State;,
spread abroad upon every sea, has been annoyed, and
often plundered and destroyed, by these unlicensed
rovers. "With none of the nobler attributes or gallant
and daring qualities which characterize naval warriors,
and particularly the American sailor, those robborsof
the sea shun a naval, antagonist Their prowess ex
hibits itself in plundering peaceful .commerce, and their
victims have been unarmed merchantmen. Traversing
the seas as theydo. without a country of their owa to
which they can resort, it has been difficult to trace or
meet them; ard thus far they have, with the shelter and
assistance of Governments whish recognize them a 3
belligerents and equals, managed to em.de out craisers-
Their early.operatidns w» re in*the West Indies, where
we have an. extended commerce-, and where they had
coadjutors among those ioreign adventurers who wero
engaged in illicit traffiCb&na sympathizers in a large
portion of the colonial .authorities. To protect ourin
terests in that quarter, and especially to guard the trea
sure-ships, in their transit to:andjrom'A-.pinwall. a
filing squadron was established in the autumn of 1562,
and u’aced unde> the cojcnmacd of Acting Heir Admiral
WilSes. That officer, by hisrsnsrgy and decision, con- .
tributed to break, up,one of the several lin«i.of
traders organized to fttfFEjjftsm&TOS. out with cargoe
ships to Texas.
having a contio s nt - seizing that class ot
ever, he ditplayed ” 66sfQl m creaking up
iy.nckada runners, gftd _ a3::eanjrftTnftnU _h^J
The Department, anticipating that the Alabam a aud*
her associates, would .nndaibjaecessary to a the
neighborhood of the Antilles, and satisfied *-f the
Son they would then take,ordered the Vauderbh.Hoa*
fast steamer, on indeptp4ei.t cruising duty, first iUyft*
'West Indies, *and tbeij. cnjsard to the south The otdere
to Commander Baldwin,, of the VandeibUt, unae^da«-3
of January 27, -1S&.: ware*- v When you,are .perfe^lr.
satisfied that the AlafcsnMuhas left the Gan orth&,W*st
Indies, and gone to some-other locality, you wul.pro~
ceed along the coast.uL-Braffii to Fernando. and
Bio de; Janeiro. mftban&inquiries at •euchplacee.aiiyi©*
.may thick advisable ijoowi Rio continue year course
to the Cape of Good^lppOi 3 * &c , iScj.
In derogation ofrliusse special and exph^-owens*
- Acting Bear Admiral Wilkes on falling m wi*n Van
derbilt, transferred-his- fifeg to. that vessel, and,, attach
ing her.to his Detained her to hi&_ posseasio-u
so long fl-s to defeat the object and purpose ofithe Deoavt
nieut lie did not* release her until the l~tq. of «Puae,
When BaSßwiu proceeded to*sarw oat a»
instructions. Dutvia was looxate For-
AWuly SUeaMfhiUA a*
th6GUi*afld At fiio.db Janeiva on ha
Oft v August tobt, EelWt ipste&d of
going direct to theCupe of Good Hope. iho unfortunate
detention of ins© TSasdeibilt wholly 4elated' the plan;
of the Dfrartmeni&r the capture oi she Alabama-, Flo
rida, a m3.Georgia*. They, asthe Department anticipated*
arrived in thoee-latStudesand visiteddhoso ports in
but the Vanderbilt, Instead of beiE* there to recsive
thur, as intended, was re
tainei ln.thu West Indies uutlL after.tkftjiWjt road l 0
In. addition- the few vessels., stationed abroad_ io
. guard o.ur rational, interests, oUora have fr°5JL {ft
time been despatched in pursuit -offhe -overs au ot
which w-cne. built in, and have son© abroad from
foreign ports* to prey. upon
of all the .measures which haro baen
■nftriTnuni. to this view. it is apt necoss&rs here to dis..,
i ; close Btttwrrti mo-t of vessels engaged ua .
, eiiforcißffltLO blockade, » n -iv wi %?“-, a „ c ''! l a „ t<> ti!«v“li?va
independent ernieers on ° 0 6 ea °m\ mra-iS
fßuhaan unable to encounter those senu pira-n-tii
vessels! whfcb always seek,to evade » ;;tojor;
nist. Were the probabilities, greater than they are*
-however, of encountering,.them., and /Vh l R iaari
naval vessels permitted to enter tae ports ot the>niar
time Powers fier fuel, supplies,j
are tabes. and canse? tint, control tio actiwiot tne uo.
vornment. it be improper to state, tnat one or
* ftSriflSert aienmers, destine for foreign
service *®as ba& detained for mouths, is. consequence
of an inadeqvite. supply-of seamen to man her. C>her.
veseels are ftjso short compleme-t.
SEAMEN.
Thiyopec&iion of the draft has been, in some respects,
detrimental to tie- naval service. Iso exemption of :
sailors oiMnannwaiavlnß been prodded for in
of tlio last Conxsessythese mon, who may bo. deemed!
and era, and. chaiishod by all Govern
ments, and of whom no sufficient supply can, be ob
tained,'are liable to be withdrawn fronL the element to.
w hiAh they havft been educatid, and where they pro
pctfxi’belOßß'; and compelled to serve, as soldiers. In
thJa Yesuet b not only a hardshiivis intticted on the men,
tatthenavy and the country,are linjured. It has bean
. the wise policy of the. Government at 'all times to en«
coume and cherish Ub supply of seamen. By
provision of the act of May. 1793. “all -partners sictnalh?
employed in the sea service of any
within the Butted Spates.” were exempted from mtntia
duty. Bounties have been paid to the fishermen, and by
fovmerlaws. nbt only men-of-wars-men.hut all mariners,
haveheeneseinptfrotamffitlaaervlce.itheittgoaMidered
i’SSSgSW
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PUBLISHED WEEKLY,)
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nullnursunitD *4tum«>... it 1 , at l
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nn wpta. ■—«- —....... 8M
T«» «•••o#
luiter Oinba Hus VtawUl b»»h»Ma«t the ■—
mtopr.
The money mutt altoayt accompany the order. mf~
in no tnetanoe can these terms be deviated from, ae they
•tori very little more than the east of the paper..
Poatmutor, u, moMted to Ht u AioeU let
xtus Wis Fsbss*
**• To the I6iler-M of the Olnh of tea or tWMtr. Mt
*xtra «onr of the F*nr will be ilTes.
ehjboard‘a e nd m fn n ;? aB ? sab l ect ‘o th, draft while oa
HtX7«!rk. a ? alser7lce - Soma of thorn on dl».
•reat incoc.nniinn, 1 ' 68 ?^ 8 ?' 01 !? 4 - drafte[J - and Put to
-l?i?* ce A la tboir efforts to obtain relief, nofi
S^tn e t?^wp'iura? b * 6ctln ( f commander, and the sea-
IPrSViiJ'.SJ.iI!“.O; to embarrawteonf It «ertalnly could
fnAW»r?fM e AflA»if?^?ij^. Cofi ’ ltres9 tbat parsons In no
faithfaHy
lhe ponaltifl « ° ftb *
f,,™£ ! & !l ? irtb9 draf ‘ oa »»7 community which ha*
?., ara ! nnmOer of Bailor., proper dedoctioao
ougm doubtJes* to be made from-the quota reanired for
’ a largo proportion ai'oiro a tho marltimo
M board c A oommitfeoof the iown«hip™r
•mt miu Mastachrsetts, in addraSßloir this D.pirt-
- Bta w that their townßhip-a'.Oßo h,»
lief for the men that they have suppU*u o the navv °aßil
sowlifc othor places'similarly Bitaatel UaleL ihest
factsararightly conaidered ana acted ;\pod, the existing
law will tend to the prejudice” of the naVy; for every
community will encourage its men to go into tho army*
at the expense of the navy, because there is ho rcUei, or
credit, or mitigation of the draft in conseqheace of ea
listments in the naval service. In Another respect the
laws are, m-their effects, made to .operate to the preju*
dice of the The high boouties for.edlistn2eh.ts into
tb s army indiice many aaiior6 t 0 ; enlist as soldiers, al
though their services would be Vastly more nsefui to the
SS.P® thealement to which they'have been trained
and. accustomed, The result is, ttat there are'many
ln l se army, eervin* as soldiers, who have been
w{n rfli^l&?; th t * er J 7 bounties, or othar.causos,
P.®? 136 transferred to the navy, and hive fre-
S° ti , at flTfict. bat It Is uader
n doBB n S I “b-thoriza sach tranefaf. As
aiilunlt to procure educated, trained aadable sea--
men in soch numbers as are wanted, audskilfai and ex
penencea sailors are wbrth more to the la the
navy than they can b? in the array, it would be produc-
Sve of great benefit if the law authorized such transfer
tobe made. >6 well-directed efforts should be spared
to increase our naval strdngtb, for it is mainly oa the
ocean that our rightful position as a nation is to fca'se-
Sii l oP is always and every
irttfvj? fi is fiaff-; :When % in the early days of the
rebexJion, the recreant officers in~ naoibei-d' de'-erteu the
Government to which they owed and had sworn allegi
ance, Shty could not shake the. loyalty and. 'fidelity of
the crews These remained faithful to the flag under
whose folds they had carried Into every sea and to avery
climb the honor and power of the Republic. Xl has. been
tnepolidT of evi xy commercial country to ex-end cn
couragement and give strength to the navy wKicii pro
tects its commerce,; Such should be our clear and un
questionable policy. Under the extraordinary expan
sion of out navy, 'and the pressing demand for seamen,
it *s a public duty not only to permit those teamen who
are in the a-riny to be transferred, bat to encourage such
and, at the same time, in so far as may be pos
on tneir enlistment.No nation,
ted States, can wisely strengthen its army by'weaken
ing its naval power.
: unfortunately for the country, the ’ disunion element
which for some years gave direction to public Affiira so
shKped the measures'of Government as to keep down
and cripple oua-navy. Aware that it waif a br-inch of
the service which could have no sympathy in a dena
tionalizing or disunion scheme, or be subject to re
bel control—knowing, moreover, that there webe no
sailors in the disaffected region, these meh, in anticipa
tion of their, insurrectionary movements, and ia‘their
whole policy und action, wore hostile to the aavy. But :
the cbangedcondition of affaire, the lojaity of our sail
or?, the yreat service which the navy has evsrrwhere
rendered m4he «ause of the Union, and its impartance '
for ourpeace and security abroad and at home, demand
it should have'all due encouragement.
The number of seamen in the service'on Ist of July
last, including the Mississippi Squadron, was about
34,C00. The number of enlistments from Jalfuary Ist to
Oc.obsrlst was IP.OCO, mostly landsmen.' From c2tuie3,
to some of which allusion has already been made,-Ah©*
difficulty of procuring a euffieiex t number of aeameu for
the increase of the setviceha3 been great, and &t timea
vessels have been detained and unable to proceed-to eea.
for the want ot crews. The lack of sufficient seamaii.
arisen from no diminution in the monthly number of en
. Ifonntnte* but from the increased wants of the service.
During the year l£62tbe average number of cnlietmsnta
was 1,529 per month. . Diiringthe.present year the'ave
rage has heen’over 2.COOper month.. Unfortunately, the
policy which it has been deemed necessary to pursue »
sucb as in its eficct to weaken the navy by offering ex
traordinary bounties to soldiers, by subjecting laariner*.
toarmy draft, without permitting them to enter the
na>y if they desired to do so, and by omitting l to make
any provision to relieve from its operation commu
nities which furcish the teaman to man our ships. The
large bounties offered by the General and State Govern
ments, and often, also, by the local municipal
ties, as inducements to tnter the land service, have by?
the effect of enticing into that service many profesdu**l
- who, but lor those extraordinary induce^ o * 9 *
would have enlisted in the navy. Towns onjee sea
ccafct, where the population is, to a great exfcmt. cf a
maritime character, as I have specified in
stance, hs vebeen obliged to furni*b their qdota for army
service, thus largely diminishing thenumberfrom whom
naval enlistments would naturally be expected..
The proclamation of September last must, from thesg •
cause* and the operation of our laws, still farther draw
upon the limited number whose proper field ie upon the
ocean, and who thould by every dictate of policy be en
couraged by the Government to enter the navy; instead,
of being enticed from it by pecuniary hounties-or forcibly?
withdrawn, by draft Betides the exhausting govera
mentsl influence adverted to. we are compelled l to meet
tie high prices and-active- competition of commercial
enterprise.
The present and p T oepective difficulty of procaring-sea** -
men in numbers sufficient to man our ship 3 is sash’as zor
call for the action of Congress, Our legislation should?
not be in its effects detrimental to that branch of the pub
lic service which it is the policy of every wi?e Govern--
ment to promote. Were as large a bounty to be paii'to - '
these who enlist in the iiavy as to thos'o who enter the-'
army—were the quota of towns and communities under'
any call for the increase of the national forces to hi eredi
ted with the men furnished to the navy, and were sea
men who may he drafted permitted the choice of entering •'
either the'land or naval service, the navy would he re
lieved of eeriousembarrassment There is no draft, and ‘
there can be none, to reinforce the navy-ss there may be 5
in the army.- While every able and sound man of proper'
age can be mace aEoldierand put into immediate service,'
there are-comparatively few of our- population who cm '■
he employed as sail on. The latter may be considered- *
experts, andinstead of bountie?, aUurements. or draftsto
withdraw seamen from the element to which they belonxv •
the reverse Rhonldbe the fact. Our mariners have givaa. .
marked and distinctive superiority to the cause o. r th© •
Union, in’this contest The rebels nave so me naval offi- '
cers of reputation and ability, hut not- sailors. Yet that
branch of .the service which in this and every war must -
give character and nationality to the country, has been,
is, aid will be subjected to embarrassments and. deprived
of a portion of its legitimate effective force by tile-opera->
lion of- existing J aws. The whole subject being of great
.importance in every respect, is commended to the early
and considerate action of Congress. ~ ;
NATAL ACADEMY.
The Naval Academy, which at the commencement of
the insurrection was removed from Amiap'.'lis, is still
continued at Newport. Congress having taken no mea
sures relative to its permanent location. The total num
ber of midebirmen on the l'2ch of November was four
hundreo end sixty-three Or these, two hundred and •
eight, standing highest in academic rank, are quartered
or shore in buildings rented for the purpose. The resi
due are on hoard the school-ships Santee and Constitu
tion , the junior class being on the latter ship.
The Macedonian, which haB her full battery on board.
Is moored near the schobl-ehips. AllHhe midshipmen
are stationed at quarters ou board her, and exercise at
stated time-* at divisions and general quarters, in-the
most thorough and careful manner. ‘
In consequence of the reduction of the number of the
officers at the period-when the navy was expanding, it
became important that the lull complement of midship- -
intn should be appointed, and permits were therefore
issued one year ago to supply deficiencies caused by the
- rebellion.' A similar course has been adopted the present
year, in order that the Government shall not be de
prived of its legal quota of properly educated naval ofli- ■
cers, by reason of the insurrection.
For a period the pressure for trained officers was so
great that volunteer- appointments were conferred on
those who left the A cademy and th* regular service, bat
the example and influence were thought to bo unfavora
ble, aid the practice wa& therefore discontinued. No
appointments of this description have ; knowingly been
made during the currei-tyear.
The annual board, of visitors for the Naval Academy
for jS63convened at Newport, - Ehode Island, on the JSfcn- •
of May, and were enaaged until the Ist of June in wit- 1
. nesting the examination of the several classes of mid- -
shlpmen and in inspecting the police and management or
; the institution. In consideratidh of the importance oft
the Academy to the public service, and the interest natu
rally felt in its msnageiaent, it was.- thought proper to
associate some gentlemen in c ; vil life from different parts
of the country with the naval • officers upon the board of
visitors, and the hoard was accordingly composed of
Hear. Admiral L. M. Edward Eve
rett and .Charles Eimee. Sidney Brooks, Esq-, Commo- *■
doroHvK. Hoff,G; 5. Gafchcarr&nd Jacob Batier. Esq?.,,
and Commodore Jt. B. Hitchcocks- In their fall and.
carefully considered report, the members of the board
unanimously expressed a high and even .unanticipated --
degree of satisfaction with the accommodations of the
students, both on shipboard and on shore, .with the or
garizetioa of the commissariat and .supply departments, -
with the sanitary regulations of the- establishment ...and
its discipline and government, and withethe various pro
fessional exercises of the midshipman afloatand RshQte. .
From what they saw of the field exercises, they were
convinced that ample instruct!■mis given and adequate
proficiency acquired at the institution to enable the
young officers to train and command ci’ews of seamen,,
for efficient co-operation with a military force of infantry
or artillery on land, and.in the practical departments ot..
professional education the instruction given tothestu •
'dents, and the skill exhibited by them, merited their
highest commendation.
They re?ard*'«he whole system. o£superiufendence,.po- ..
lice, and discipline under-the presentmanigement of the
institution-as one of its most admirable features, and.
evidence waß -presented to them.ahowiog the abundant .
williogoess of the authorities of the -city, of Newport t'o
co-operate wi f h the government of'the Academy the
endeavor to remove the temptations which are apj to.be
set the footsteps of youth. In their personal intercourse
•with the students, the board., say that-.they were much
impressed by their habitually gentlemanlike manpers .
and-well-bred style of demeanor ' :
In the removal of the academy temporarily to Ihequap
ters at Newport, it is the opinion of the board there hAs .
been no perceptible- diminution of the efficiency or,the
geed order of its .The of altering of the 'stu- _
dents on Ehipboard dnria-g at least the first yoarjof their
attendance is approved of. and is said to possess unques
tionable advantages in-irhe.management of the institu
tion- In the g&oeral plun and organization of the aca-.
demy, the hoard thinlS it will couparefavorably with. .
ihebestnaval schools i-n the world. •
. Sevetal recommendations are raaoe by tne board, ana ..
among.'them, provision- for thorough instruction, both
theoretical ana practical, in steam engineering. Upon
an invitation from th e-rnunicipar authorities of Newport,, r
• they visited Harbor i9land, winch ha? P99U
offered bv ttkt cifcy-ho- the Gc^rpm^S^^ffwopar
&Ptcd for the purpose .
85
reonest of the superintendeevand officers of t .hqacademy,
ami atthein?to}C*o{ his assoelatea, addtesiS a paalic
which, in
its comprehensivs-sna staSssmaolika appsesia|ioti of tha
pcsition 1 8hd iaihseiice of the institution, ite patriotic-
OHSSJk J jeB ;..;
' The-pressiih condition, of our naval, ordnanc^, M w>-
seited iu tha-mport of:irhe chief ad
reau; will ho «ac witli-Juterest Ite*hUHs a. sratlfym*
advance departasut of the thaUu
meneementofiheiaheaiou.anafnrnishesaTiaencetMua
sSfiKjfflSt tbaj
SSK£Sffi|to °k^ valv€SBßis:iav9au ■
armazacut worthy of brlcrdTuffia. report of tha Chief of .
SnSSnM to thiMßMJeritma of Goa
“jfeaia aoro-wwoniiiiMe «■_
finraVr eh ip arcpsaUtleii to resaro.
»8 number of Teasels captured hy the Sttuadroas aud
jfported to the Depaitment to the Ist of flovember, is
j.&iT claEsifioi as follows: .sohoouera, 517; steamsie
Mh; sloops, 1S1; brigs. 26, ships, la; sachts
iii Ttnall 117- Thlsas.. exolusiva of a large nnm
" her desWored on the Jlississipju and other rivers, and on
the coast. A table giv!r,e their names, dates of capini-e,
and other particulars, is appended to this report.
At the class of the war of 1812 there were 301 vessels,
including armed gunboats and tenders, in the navy, and
tenders, ;a the navy the entire number of rapture of.
armed and nnarmeihvessels made bythemwas aal, rive -
hundreds and seventeen-commissioned privateers ware
afloat daring,, the. war,; and .their captures numbered
1,428— mabing tho total number of captures b2-public and..
P pile’s sent to the courts laKtUr 1
Binco-ihe blochade. was established is not »ejs than thir
teem saillion 'tollers. The .value of tho^Bheadyooa-■
desaned. ani of which notice has been received at tna
Department, is *6,SBa«S3 40; the °nMsM®sh!J<s *W®ll
SWiW7.B4, leaving for dtstiibutionSs,B97,971 36,aaap,.
gears hv. th e following table: ;
§ Nat amount
2 Groea am f t Costs aad for dfttri
.. ; o of sales. expenses. Ijution.
"j ■; V - ■ 77T ' chuS’k S2S,ISS ft sB®, 133 71
Boston ............. J» 2 913,263 29 281,MS 07 .1,937.735 21
§SrJ? r £-""" w ‘tm-mia 149.508 05 1.679.512 w
PtiUadolplii-.--' " 1 432.862 SO 133,291 65 1.301,05351
gey West., n jaeßlCffi - 1L958.12 60.909 0S
? -%MS 88 5,993'40 85,625 88
285 6.553.68 i 40 637.40764 5.597.970 3S
18 The paasion roll on the Otli of Ho'c.emb&r
ffiimointed M. and the estimated
doing tie remaining eight souths of the fltealJeMi*-
|« 37*. The moiety orpnre mpnev as spm -
Si fund, mftowaconmnlntine. should be m»de»BJJ-
SiEt tores meat in Menrttms
Were each She case, it Is believed that the annnai mwr
as # tstwM&SBSS
faiiiaStffrtjratefeee
fuha Bow toa( one hundred.
S*?one-hnlf ehaU he invested in
awa of #9.ttB.»tH\*Tf»4»» K *W«^
of court. , .