Like 440,5g80r, W. JONES. "One Country, Ofle Constitution, One Destiny►." 11110111M10111%) 1162 11 .! *OW 11 - 1111864, 4 7 -MK 141110RGE B. M.CELLAN, fStAlest to the Dmitri** of at Detioerstic gm* Comikaiovi.) , 'lrbil lifok *lto tiros, you so elt. is. MR:6ft reseelutlie 4 for MP. . if %AM awl file vottiallualty std . - , IL 41IL.CLEIALL N. The CeII.IIMUM alit** 4 11"6 4,7 04 E. "(Um Wod, thy AEA " amid ' ri tin Alt they shiAMMNI - aDania To Owe Ostrom. -The coisiimg Crixut: reek sill afford a goad 440itank ihr those indebted to us to make t. are in need of pecuniary help. A froM alph one will relieve us from • meant esubsurassuumts, tug will not distress t polite& of our creditexa. ?re '4 Mame. surrender so much of our *pace, this week, to the Presidentle Message, that we bee ho room Mt ihr toonnants. On the subject orraboustraction, it wig be seen Mr. Lincoln 40111 'whir none of it" without the &Calm - draftoel7 in the revolted States, and liolustaa extetyliug pardon only to such c'iniOUnteSuitlefi P 4 4Suited Rebels as pill elAeollbe to tottiollitilli all the policy of the Atihmairlawilia a its acts and proc hoodhast. Mosnosich the outgivingn of the Predillittnis fhairobstdes contribute to tintishbarstiorteyf panceritad remains to* tianif. 4 Oar 'deliberate conviction is that ; what bay for/ be regarded as the set tled policy of the "powers that be" toward 1411YerY* vsl l y ,110490 ea to "render the rebels more robpilkpa and °haulier* in their maiiphinxt to the government." This was tb**ltk° huit~ of Mr. Lincoln him- Pelf *AY_ tidy days before he lamed his Easonsipadou Einehututtien, and in our view is ahnutihe wisest thing he ever said. "10kreinnmnitta" and "Peace Dam- oorate." We agree with the Ohio Statesman, that "it is arrant folly to get up any such designa tions" as the above, "and can only work mil results. A good Democrat needs no handle to his name, and inconsiderate or sel fish men who are striving to divide the party by the use of such means, are not fit to be cerisidered good advisers. The Democratic party must not only stick together, if it would benefit the country, but it must pur sue such a policy as will draw all men of conservative views, not now acting with it, Leto ko co-oporation and.aid. As to what policy it will pursue when it obtains the control of the Government, is a question we have urged time and tune again, can only be properly decided after the Abo litionists are expelled from power, and hon est constitutional men have succeeded to the administration of public affairs." On this same subject the Bedford (Pa.) Gazette very sensibly remarks: "There are no "War Democrats," neither are there any Peace Democrats. The Con stitution is the platform of the Democracy, and those who stand on it are Democrats without any qualification. A man who must have a handle to his Democracy, is not a Democrat, but something else." The Harrisburg Patriot Sr Union copies the "Gazette's" article, front which we quote, and sod approvingly says, "That's the way to talk it." And so say we, and till sincere well-wishers of the Democratic party. The Commutation Clause. Senator Wilson is averse to any alteration in the Conscription act, but Provost Marshal General Fry vrill recommend the repeal of the three hundred dollars commutation clause, which makes each drafted man go or find a suNititute. There will be strenuous oppo sition to this, as tv , e Secretary of War and others believe that high bounties will bring men, and volunteers are worth more than conscripts. Bonk Stock. We direst the special attention of the read er to the advertisement of the sale of stock in the Farmers' dr Drovers' Bank, belonging to the estate of Thos. Kent, decd. There is no safer institution in the connrty than this Bank, and few that are as well managed. _ _ _ air Thirty,_ printers and editors were among the tined at Chickonanga.---[ Ex change. sfirEieth Hurd was only among the "miss- 111 Sir The Louisville Journal thinks it does very little good to hold public meetings and pass resolutituatokt favor of the war. All the esolutious we need are the resolutions of in dividuals to go into the war. •••• Or The Richmond Sentinel teaks of the "sad, worn and attenuated features of Jeff: J)aris,•' Dismissed the Service. d Li Ge What right had as to think or speak ? The Rejuvenator. !r 1414 0 Stier .144 1 0 4 " FA , Deur' 'gist, Cotner of Smithfield and Fourth streets, Pithilxulhp has recently become Pr°Pristori at an exjamse of several thousand dollars, of 4 i bp rootkofin , this valuable Hair Restore- It has long enjoyed a high repetition irrtdrioe, SA is iiht to be the best antic i of the kimilliVer ollered to the ' public. The high °Mader of Mr. Johnston ie itself a guarantee that it is no quack humbug, but will abuslutely amomplish all-it protessess to. We arise otir readers, whose hair is growing thin, :to give it a trial, and we are confident they will not be disappointed, Sec adver tisement in another column, The Little Pilgrim. This is the -title of Grace Ganntwocal's monthly for the little folks. It is the beat juvenile periodical in the country, and should be in every family. Tamm.... , -Ffty cents a year for single copies. , copies for Two Dollen. 8 and one to getter up of club, $8.50 13 " i 4 5.25 17 " 44 44 Al 6.60 22 " 44 8.25 50 " . 4 .4 17.25 Address, post-paid always, JEAN ER K. LIPPINCOTT, 349 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, TM Oosservatilmis Nossigrete General McClellan. A body styled the "Conservative Union National Committee," and embracing many of the most prominent politicians of the corm try, met at the Burnett Rouse, in Cincinnati, on Friday. The venerable Amos Kendall was *cited permanent Chairman of the Com. mitten. Nearly all of the members expressed an earnest desire for the nomination of Gen eral George B. McClellan for the Presidency, and the discussion had on the subject resulted in the adoption of the following resolution, presented by ion. J. B. Brunner : Resolved, That this Committee of Consul tation adopts and reaffirms the Kentucky platform o 1863, and suggests to the Con servative Union National Committee, the name of George B. McClellan, for the next Presidency, and recommend to the said Com mittee to take such action in regard to the nomination of candidates for President and Vice President, as they may deem expe dient. The Committee at a subsequent session adopted the following resolution upon the motion of Hamilton Pope, of Kentucky : WHEREAS, The advisory Convention held in Cincinnati on the 4th inst., having recom meeded to this Committee the name of Geo. B. McClellan for the Presidency, and none for the Vice Presidency, and it being deemed advisable to have a future meeting of this committee for nominating candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presidency, therefore, Resolved, That the resolution be referred to a meeting of this Committee, to be held at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on the 23d day of this mouth, and that all members be earnestly requested to attend in that city for the consideration of the resolution and such action as may be deemed advisable. Speech of a Georgia Senator. The Hon. Herschell V. Johnson, who was on the Presidential ticket with Mr. Douglas, has just been re-elected a Confederate Sena tor from Georgia, and on the 24th of No vember made a speech of which a summary is given in a letter to the Richmond Dispatch. Among other things he said: There is no step backward. All is now in volved in the struggle that is dear to man— home, society, liberty, honor, every thing— with the certainty of the most degraded fate that ever oppressed a people if we fail. It is not recorded hi history that eight millions of united people, resolved to be free, have fail ed. We cannot yield if we would. Yield to the Federal authorities, never—to vassalage and subjugation! The bleaching bones of one hundred thousand gallant soldiers slain in battle would be clothed in tongues of fire to curse to everlasting infamy the man who whispers yield. The Draft. It may not be agreeable news for those persons who were drawn in the late draft, examined and discharged for disability, to hear that in the next draft, on the sth of January, if drawn, they will have to under go a re-examination. Such is the case, how ever, for it has been so ordered by Provost Marshal General Fry. Cost of an Election. A New York letter says ; Parties in a position to know something about it, say that Gunther spent about $50,000 to wry the election, Boole about $30,000, and Blunt not less than $25,000. Total, $195,000. WrGeneral Hildreth says there are now 50,000 negro soldiers in the service. On the pay roll, it is thought, he should have said, because no 50,000 negroes are any where in the military service, except on the pay roll. Ma-Out of 1800 persons drafted and ex amined in the Milwaukie District of Wiscon sin, only seventy-eight soldiers have been obtained. Almost every one pays the com mutation of $3OO. la'One hundred and four men of Gree ley's "900,000 - were recruited in Boston last week, and the Boston papers are inno cent enough to say "this is doing passably well." is said that President Lincoln has the small-pox or the varioloid. If it should hap pen to be the former, will the Government of the United States be pock-narked ? itarA Richmond paper says : "Meade did well to tall back when he did, as Gen. Lee had planned to seize all the fords in his rear and cut off his retreat." *win Boston, on Thanksgiving night, a young lady died in a ball-room, falling to the floor just at the end of a dance. 14 - Cuurt begins iu this place next week r bli,--- Letter from are indeb i . 414 4 - • • •y , AL, 1 DB =Ur: may - to _ d the part played by the 140th Fa. in the last campaign against Itehifienl We left this map ott the 20th of Ifor., not ex pectiaren see it agaift, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and' triarefied on the "plank road" until near Chancellorsville, which place I doubt not you remember as the scene of our "maiden tght." We then fled .4dttv and ma* . I till Orfinge Colart Mime pike, until we met with an obstacle neeMbhnsm's etia 'tii the fitit* of Ewell's Corps of rebels, We hid the weal marching and countermarching fin. the next three days, not forgetting a most thorough soaking with rain for a die' and night. Oa the morning of the 29th, Gen. Warren, com manding our 24 Corps, started to make' a grand flank movement a la Stonewall Jack son—turn the rebel "right," and play smash generally. We moved up an unfinished Rail Road leading from Fredericksburg to Gor donsville. I had Co's. A. and H. deployed as skirmishers. We soon Lund Johnny, and halted, to rest of course. While lying down, the rebels gave us a vnilev, and killed John M. Spragg, of Co. A., an excellent man, as you know. He fell in the place of honor, the advance of the army. We then charged, driving the rebels in fine style for a consider able distance, until they reached their en trenchments. In this charge, Corporal C.J. Burk, of Co. A., was wounded,—shot through both andes. One of his feet has since been amputated. He was one of the best soldiers I ever saw—never able to keep up with the Company on a long march, but would always he up in time for a fight. Co. A has lost two more of as good soldiers as ever carried a musket. The night of the first of Dec., we left our position at 6 o'clock, p. m., and com menced marching in retreat. We marched all night. I was never more tired and sleepy in my life before we got back to our 011 camp, which we reached at noon of the 2d, having travelled in 24 hours the distance we took four days to go over goin g up. I sup pose the newspaper Generals will raise a great hubbub because Meade did not attack Lee in his entrenchments, and re-enact Fredericks burg. The rebels had a very strong position naturally, and were fortified in every way.— I think the campaign is over for this winter. I wish you would announce these casualties, as the boys are busy making Winter Quar ters, and may not write. nere were no oth ers hurt in the regiment. Yours truly, J. F. MeCULLOUGII. Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. NEW YORK, Dee. 18.--The Tribune's Washington special has the following account at a proposed amendment to the Constitu tion, of which Mr. Wilson of lowa gave no tice on Monday in the House : "Be it Resolved, by the Senate and house Representatwes of the United &atis of America, in Congress assembled, (two-thirds of both Houses concurring,) That the following article be proposed to the Leg islatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of said Constitution, namoly Sec. 1. Slavery being incompatible with free government, is forever pr hibited in this country, and involunt servitude shall be permitted only as a Punishment for crime. See. 2. Congress shall have full pow er to enforce the foregoing section this Article by appropriate legislation. The new Methodist Episcopal Church on Waynesburg Circuit, near the Stone School House, will be dedicated to the worship Almighty God on Sabbath, Dee. 27th, 1863. Preaching in the morning at 10/ o'clock, by Rev. Samuel Wakefield, D. D., of the Pitts burgh Conference. The public are cordially invited to attend. Abolition Blasphemy. Mr. Ward Beecher, in his speech in this city before the Abolitionists, said that God was getting to be in earnest in his provideu ces, with regard to this war. We infer from this !that Beecher meant to say that God has hitherto been fooling with this nation, and that lie is now walking up to His duty and His work with becoming seriousness. Pro fanity like this is shocking to even the most irreligious mind, and yet it was applauded by church-going people. Oh, times ! oh, man ners!—[Philadelphia Mercury. iller-That excellent Democratic journal, the "Waynesburg Messenger," appeared in a now dress, last week, and looked as bright tnul gay as a new-made bride. We congratulate our friends on this evidence of their pros perity. Long may they wave !—[Washingtan Examiner. liiirA paragraph has been going around concerning an old lady who has a moustache on her lip; to which a hateful cotemporary adds that it is not uncommon for young la dies to have moustaches on their lips, but it 18 rarely that they grow there. Hereafter, all obituary notices, including Resolutions of Societies and Lodges on the death of members, will be charged for at the rate of five cents per line when they exceed six lines. Simple notices t)f marriages and deaths will be published gratis as hereto fore. MARRIED, Thursday, December 3rd, 1863, by A. J. Hinerman, Esq., Mr. Robert McCune to Miss Dorcas 8. Booth, both of Marshall Co., Va• On Thanksgiving day, Nov. 26th, 1863, by Rev. W. B. Faris, Mr. IL IL Corm= to Miss 'Wax J. RINGLAAD, only daughter Of Maj. James Riugbwd of Ten Mile, Pa. ARTICLE XIII Dedication. New Rule. CONGRESS. and printed for general information.— Congress met on Monday, Dec. Bth. ere is also reason to believed that : 1, nee f.•, neatly _ become,. citi- The House z 44 e • 11, ~, ' * s i.. e,.L., -Amiiit #t i :ilhe , Schuyler 0014 Hon. Ed f . lifer'hii.inir:, , l' e ,' ' - ; ,• ' y they-lavilir ottile*nOve -: -, , ,.t Sylvania, : A. ,„ , , ~.. y • tu:.Y , t ° * hi ' 1 0 13 " t- n g Ilitatil' - -ct 4rdita r New H ' SerOmt-likaims ; "-.. aintat— . -,, ~ th :jat. dare "repair, std, Goodnow the ate incumbent Door though never returning to the United , ti, 1 States, they still claitughe interposition keeper, and W. S. King, of Unniessotn, lof the Government as citizens. Many Postmaster—all Abolitionists.. On Tues- altercations and great prejutEces have day, at 12/ o'clock, the President co l _ heretofore arisen, out of this abuse. It mimics cd his amni a m essage; which is, therefore, submitted 'to your serious is as follows : .. "'consideration. It might be advisable to fix a limited beyond which no citizen of the United States residing abroad may Claim the interposition of his Gov ernment. The right of suffrage has of been assumed and exercised by aliens under pretences of naturalization, which they have disavowed when draft ed into the military service. I submit the expediency of such an amendment of the laws as will make the fact of voting an estoppel against any plea of exemption from military services, or other civil ob ligation, on ground of alienage. Oar Relations with Japan. from President's Message. Pellotemioens of the Senate and House of Representogris: Another year of health and sufficiently abundant harvests has passed. For these, and especially for the improved condition of our national affairs, otu , renewed and profound grat itude to God is due. We remain in peace and friendship with foreign pow ers. The efforts of disloyal citizens of the United States to involve us in for eign wars and to aid in inexcusable in surrection have been unavailing. Her Britannic Majesty's Government, as was justly expect NI, have exercised their au thority to prevent the departure of new hostile expeditions from British ports.-- The Emperor of France has by a like proceeding promptly indicated the neu trality which he proclaimed at the be ginning of the contest. Questions of great intricacy and importance have arisen out of the blockade and other bel igerent operations between the Govern ment and several of the maritime powers, but they have been discussed, and, so far as possible, accommodated in a spirit of frankness, justice and mutual good will. It is especially gratifying that our prize courts, by the impartiality of their adjudication, have commanded the respect and confidence of otha mar itime powers. On Foreign Relations. The supplemental treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the suppression of the African slave-trade, made on the 17th day of February last, has been duly ratified and carried into execution. It is believed that so far as American ports and American citizens are concerned, that inhuman and barbar ous traffic has been brought to an end.— I shall submit, for the consideration of the Senate, a Convention for the adjust ment of possessory claims in Washing ton Territory, arising out of the treaty of the 15th of June, 184(i, between the 'United States and Great Britain, and which have been the source of some disquiet among the citizens of that now rapidly improving part of the country.-7 A novel and important question, involv ing the extent of the maritime jurisdic tion of Spain in the waters which sur round the Island of Cuba, has been de bated, without reaching an agreement, and it is proposed, in an amicable spirit, to refer it to the arbitrament of a frend ly Power. A Convention for that pur pose will be submitted to the Senate. I have thought it proper, subject to the approval of the Senate, to concur with the interested commercial powers, in an arrangement for the liquidation of the Scheldt dues, on the principles which have been heretofore adopted in ird to the it As ion navy -Ition ternational question touching the rights of foreigners in this country, and of United States citizens abroad. In re gard to some Governments, these rights are at least partially defined by treaties. In no instance, however, is it expressly stipulated that, in the instance of civil war, a foreigner residing in this country, within the lines of the insurgents, is to be exempted from the rule which classes him as a belligerent, in whose behalf the Government of his country cannot ex press any privileges or immunities dis tinct from that mmeter. I regret to say, however, that such claims have been put forward, and iu some instances in behalf of foreigners who have lived in the United States the greater part of their lives. There is reason to believe that many persons, born in foreign coun tries, who have declared their intention to ecome citizens, or who have been fully naturalized, have evaded the mili tary duty required of them by denying the fact, and thereby throwing upon the Government the burden of proof. tilt has been found difficult or imprac ticable to obtain this proof from the want of guides to the proper sources of information. These might be supplied by requirin g the clerk of courts, where declarations of intentions may be made or naturalization effected, to send, per iodieally, lists of the names of persona naturahsed or of those declaring their in tention to become citizens, to the Secre tary of the Interior, in whose depart ment these names *girt be arranged, In common with other Western Pow ers, our relations with Japan have been brought into serious jeopardy through the perverse opposition of the heredita ry aristocracy of the Empire to the en lightened and liberal policy of the Ty coon, designed to bring the country into the society of nations. It is to be hoped, although not with confidence, that these difficulties may be peacefully overcome. I ask your attention to the minister residing there for the damages he sustained in the destruction by fires of the residence of the legislation at Yeddo. Telegraph Line Through Russia. Satisfactory arrangements have been made with the Emperor of Russia, which it is believed will result in effecting a continuous line of telegraph through that Empire from our Pacific coast. I recommend to your favorable considera tion the subject of an international tele graph across the. Atlantic Ocean, and also of a telegraph between this capital and the national forts along the Atlantic sea board and the Gulf of Mexico. Such connection established, within any rea sonable outlay, would be economical as well as effective aids to diplomatic, mili tary and naval service. Our Consular System. The consular system of the 'United States under the enactments of the last Congress, begin to be self sustaining, and there is reason to hope that it may become entirely so with the increase of trade, which will ensue whenever peace is restored. Our ministers abroad have been faithful in defending Ameri can rights. In protecting our commer cial interests, our consuls have necessa rily had to encounter increased labors and responsibilities growing out of the war. These they have for the most part met and discharged with zeal and efficiency. This acknowledgment just ly includes those counsuls who, residing in Morocco, Egypt, China and other Oriental countries, are charged with ex traordinary powers. condition of the Territories. The condition of the several organiz ed Territories is generally satisfactory, although the Indian disturbances in New Mexico haye not been entirely , •esSed. The mineral resources of :olorado, Nevada, Idaho, New Mex _. and Arizona, are proving far richer than heretofore understood. I lay be fore you a communication on this sub ject from the Governor of New Mexico. Encouragement of Emigration. I again submit to your consideration the expediency of establishing a system for the encouragement of emigration.— Although this source of National wealth is flowing with greater freedom than for many years before the insurrection oc curred, there is still a ()Teat deficiency of laborers in every field of industry, espe cially in agriculture, and in our mines, as well of iron and coal as of precious letals. While the demand fill- labor is us increased here, tens of thousands of 3rsons, destitute of remunerative occu ations, are thronging our foreign con- dates and offering to _emigrate to the [kited States, if essential, but very cheap Nistanee can be afforded them. It is easy to see that under the sharp -"ipline of civil war the nation is be lining a new life, and this noble effort remands the aid, and ought to receive the attention and support of the govern ment. Injuries unforeseen by the Gov ernment and unintended may in some eases have been inflicted upon the sub- Tts or citizens of foreign countries, both sea and on land, by persons in the Tvice of the United States, and as this )venunent expects redress from other , veers when similar injuries are inflict by persons in their service upon citi zens of the Unwed States, we must be prepared to do justice to foreigners. If existing judicial tribunals are inadequate to this purpose, a special court may be authorized, with power to hear and de cide claims of the character referred to, as may have arisen under treaties and public law. Conventions for adjusting claims by your commission, have been proffered to some Governments, but no definite answer to the proposition has been received from any. The Operations of the Treasury. The operations of the Treasury during the last year have been successfully con ducted. The enactment by Congress of a National Banking Law has proved a valuable support of the public credit, and the general legislation in relation to loans has fully answered the expectations of its favorers. Some amendments may be required to perfect existing laws, but no change in their principles or general scope is believed to be needed. Since these measures have been in operation all demands on the Treasury, including' pay of the army anti navy, have been promptly met, and fully satisfied. No considerable body of troops, it is believ ed, were ever more amply provisioned, more liberally and punctually paid, and, it may be added, that by no people were the burdens incident to a great war more cheerfully borne. The receipts during the year from all sources, including loans and the balance in the Treasury at its commencement, were $901,125,874 86 ; the aggregate 1 diabursetuentcs 't se l)4oo 65, leaving la balanti . ou: - be 9,044 21. -.• f receipts there ~ 7 Aeriviiii iron! . Customs, $69,059,- 2 40; frontinterrOrevenue, $37,640,, t 67.95 ; from direct taxes, $1,485,103- , # l ;_ . froth lands, $167,617.17 : from mis `cellitneous sources, $3,016,615 35 ; and from loans, $776,68 - 2,361 57, making the aggregate of $901,125,674 86. Ot the disbursements, there were for the civil service, $23,253,922 08 ; for pensions, &c., $4,216,520 59 ; for in terest on public debt, $24,729,846- 51 ; for War Department, $599,298, - 600 83; for the Navy Department, $63,- 211,105 27 ; tbr the payment of funded and temporary debt, $181,036,635 07, making an aggregate of $895,766,630- 55, and leaving a balance of $15,329,- 044 '2l. But the payment of the funded and temporary debts having been made from moneys borrowed during the year must be regarded as merely nominal payments, and the moneys borrowed to make them as merely nominal receipts, and their amount 5181,086,635 07, should there tbre be deducted both from the receipts and disbursements. This being •done, there remains, as actual receipts, 714,- 709,995 SS, leavin , the balance as al ready stated. The actual receipts and disbursements for the first quarter, and the estimated receipts and disbursements for the remaining three quarters of the current fiscal year oflBo.l, willte shown in detail by 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 actuai results will exhibit a state of the finances less formidable to the country, than the estimates of that officer, heretofore sub mitted, while it is confidently expected that at the close of the year, both dis bursements and debts will be found very considerably less than has been antici i.ated. Report of the War Department. The report of the Secretary of War is a document of great interest. It consists of: First. The military operations of the year, detailed in the report of the General-in-Chief. Second. The organi zation of colored persons in the war ser vice. Third. The exchange of prisoners as fully set Ibrth in the letter of General Hitchcock. Fourth. Operations under the act for enrolling and calling out the National forces, detailed in the report of she Provost Marshal General. Fifth. The organization of the invalid corps.— Sixth. The operation of the several de partments of the Quartermaster General, Commissary General, Paymaster Gen eral, Chief of Engineers, Chief of Ord nance and Surgeon General. It has ap peared impossible to make a valuable summary of this report except such as would be too extended for this place, and hence I content myself in referring your attention to the report itself. The Condition of Our Navy. The duties devolving on the naval branch of the service during the year, and throughout the whole of this un happy contest, have been discharged with fidelity and eminent success. The ex tensive blockade has been constantly in creasing in efficiency as the navy has exponded, yet on so long a line it has so far been impossible to entirely suppress illicit trade. From the returns received at the Navy Department it appears that more than one thousand vessels have been captured since the blockade was instituted, and that the value of the pri zes already sent in for adjudication amount to over thirteen million dol lars. The Naval force of the United States consists at this time of five hundred and eighty-eight vessels, completed and in the course of completion, and of these seventy-five are iron-clad armored steam ers. The events of the war give an in creased interest and importance to the Navy which will probably extend be yond the war itself The armored ves sels in our Navy, completed and in ser vice, or which are under contract and approaching completion, are believed to exceed in number those of any other Power ; but while these may be relied upon for harbor defence and sea coast survey, others of greater strength and capacity will be necessary for cruising purposes, and to retain our rightful po sition on the ocean. The change that has taken place in , naval vessels and naval warfare, since I the introduction of steam as a motive power for ships of war, demands either corresponding change in some of our existing navy yards, or the establishment of new ones for the construction and necessary repair of modern war vessels. No inconsiderable embarrassment, delay and public injury have been experienced for the want of such Government estab lishments. The necessity of such a navy yard so furnishsd at some suitable place upon the Atlantic sea-board has on re peated occasions been brought to the attention of Congress by the Navy De partment, and is again presented in the report of the Secretary which accompan ies this communication. I think it my duty to invite your special attention to this subject, and also to that of establish ing a yard and depot for naval purposes upon one of the western rivers. A naval force has been created on these interior waters, and under many disadvantages within little more than two years, ex ceeding in numbers the whole - naval force of the country at the commencement of the present Administration. Satistlictory and important as has been the perform ances of the heroic men of the navy at this period, they are scarcely more won derful than the services of our mechanics and artisans in the production of war vessels,_ which have created a new flout of naval power. Our country has ad vantages superior to any other nation in our resources of iron and timber, with inexhaustible quantities of fuel in the immediate vicinity of both, and all avail able and in close proximity to navigable waters withont the disadvantage of pub lic risks. The resources of the nation have been developed and its power dis played in the construction of a navy of such magnitude, which has, at the very period of its creation, rendered signal service to the Union. The increase of the number of seamen. in the public service from 7,000 men in the spring of 1861, to about 24,000 at the present time, has been accomplished without especial legislation or extraordi-. nary bouaaies to jp.spalote the iticrew.. It has WO found, however, that the o erations of the draft, with high bounti , paid for army reeruits, is begining; t effect injuriously the naval service, an.' will, if not corrected, be likely to impf its efficie b y detaching seamen f r , ( or their pr .r. vocation and inducing tlit it to enter the army. I therefore, respe fully suggest that Congress might both the army and naval service by ad equate provisions on this subject, whicl would at the same time be equitable to the communities more especially inter ested. I commend to your consideration the suggestions of the Secretary of the Navy. in regard to the policy oefostering and training seamen for naval service. The Naval Academy is rendering single ser vice in preparing midshipmen for the highly responsible duties which in after life they will be required to pretian.— In order that the country should not be deprived of the proper quota of eilucated officers, for which legal prove,;ions has been made at the Naval Schools, the va cancies caused by neglect or omission to make nominations from the States in in surrection have been filled by the Secre tary of the Navy_ The Seheol is now more full and complete than at any pre vious period, and in every respect enti tled to the titvorable consideration of Congress. Condition of the Post Mee Department. During the past fiscal year the finan cial condition of the Post Office Depart ment has been one of increasing pros perity, and I am gratified in being able to state that the accounts of postal reve nue has nearly equalled the entire ex penditure, the latter amounting to $ll,- 314,000,84, and the former to $11,163,- 789 59, leaving a deficiency of but $150,- 417 25. In 1860, the year immediately preceding the rebellion, the deficiency amounted to $565,660,547, the postal receipts of that year being $264,572,219 less than those of 1864. The decrea: e since 1860 in the annual amount of transportation has been only about twenty-five per cent., but the annual ex.- penditures on account of the same has been reduced thirty-five per cent. It is manifest, therefore, that the Post Office Department may become self-sustaining in 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 Postmaster Gfeneral, met at Paris on the 11th of May last, and concluded its deliberations on the Bth of June. The principles estab lished by the conference, as best adapt ed to facilitate postal currency between nations, and as the basis of future con ventions to inaugurate a general system of uniform international c arges at re duced rates of postage, cannot fail to pro duce beneficial results. Condition of the Interior Department. I refer you to the report of the Secre tary- of the Interior, which is herewith laid before you, for the useful and varied information in relation to public lands, Indian affairs, patents, pensions, and other matters of public concern pertain ing to his department. The quanity of lands disposed of during the last and the first quarter of the present fiscal year, was three million eight hundred and for ty-one thousand and five hundred and forty nine acers, of which one hundred and sixty one thousand nine hundred and eleven acres were sold for cash ; one million four hundred and fifty-six thous and five hundred and fourteen acres were taken up under the homestead law, and the residue disposed of under laws of granting lands for military bounties for railroads and other purposes. It also appears that the sale of the public lands is largely on thejincrease. 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 1 enduring interest in the early settlement and substantial cultivation .of the public; lands, than in the amount of direct reve nue to he derived from the sale of them. This opinion had controlling influence, shaping legislation upon the subject of our national- dominion. I may cite as an instance of this the liberal measures adopted in reference to actual settlers, the grant to the State of the overflowed lands within their limits in order to their being reclaimed and rendered fit for cultivation. The grant to Railroad companies of al ternate sections of land upon the con templated lines of their road, when con templated, will largely multiply the fa cilities of reaching our distant posses sions. This policy has received its most signal and beneficent illustration in de recent enactment granting homesteads to actual settlers. Since the first day of January last, the before mentioned quail ity of one million, four hundred and fif ty-six thousand, five hundred and four teen acres of land have been take n up. under its provisions. This fact and the amount of sails furnish cheering evidence of the increasing settlements on the pub lic lands, notwithstanding the great slruggle in which the energies of the nation have been engaged, and which has required so large a withdrawal of our citizens from their accustomed pursuits. I cordially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior sugges ting a modification of the act in favor of those engaged in the military and naval service of the United States. I doubt not that Congress will cheerfully adopt such measurs as will, without essentially changing the general features of the sys , tear, extend to the greatest practicable extent its benefits to those who have left their homes in defence of the country in this arduous crisis. Our Indian Affairs. I invite your attention to the views of the Secretary of War as to the propriety of rais ing, by allropriate legislation, a revenue from the mineral lands of the 'Suited States. The measures provided at your last session Jim , the removal of certain Indian tribes have been carried into effect, Sundry treaties have been negotiated, which will, in due taut, be submitted for the constitutional action of the Senate. They contain stipulations for extinguishing the possessory rights of the In dians to large and valuable tracts of land.— It is probable that the effects of these trea ties will result in the establishment of perma nent friendly relations with such of those tribes as have been brought i nto frequent
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