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gagged in agriculture are surrounded tend gradually to draw
of their less civilized brethren from the piecarous means Of
subsistence by the chase habits Of labor and civilization


The accompanying report OF the Secretary of the Navy
presents satisfactory and gratifying Of the condition
and operations of the naval service during the past year. Our
has been pursued with increased activity and with
safety and success every quarter OF the globe, under the
protection of flag, which the navy has caused TO be re-
spected in the most distant


In the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific the officers and
Of squadrons displayed distinguished gaantry
and performed valuable services In the early stages Of the
with Mexico her ports both were blockaded
and recently many OF them have been captured and
held by the navy. When acting in cooperation with the
land forces the naval officers and have performed gallant
and distinguished services land well on water and
deserve the high commentator of the country.


While other maritime Powers adding their nayies
large numbers Of steamers, 1t was wise policy
part TO make similar additions to our navy The four
steamers authorized by the act OF the third of March, lSd7
are IN course OF construction


In addition TO the four authorized by this act
the Secretary of the Navy has, in pursuance of lis PROVISIONS
entered into contracts for the construction Of five steamers
be employed in the transportation of. the United States mail


rom New York TO New Orleans, touching at Charleston,
Savannah, and Havana and from Havana Chagre; for
three steamers to be employed in like from Panama
to Oregon, " so connect with the mail from Havana
Chages the sthmus " and for five be
ployed in like manner from New York Liverpool These
steamers will be the property Of the contractors but to be
built 'under the superintendent and direction of naval
constructor in the employ of the Navy Department. and TO be
constructed render them convertible the least pos
slhle expense into war steamers OF the first class.
A prescribed number Of naval officers, well a post
office agent, be board Of them and authority is
served the Navy Department at all times exercise
troll said steamships" and to have the right "to take
them for the exclusive and service of the United Sates


upon making proper compensation TO the contractors there
for. tf....


Whilst these steamships will be employed in transporting
the mails of the United States coastwise and foreign


es upon annual compensation to be paid TO the owners
they will be always ready, upon emergency requiring il to
be converted into steamers and the right reserved take
them for public will add greatly to the efficiency and
strength of this description OF naval force To the
thus authorized under contracts made by the Secretary of
the Navy should be added five other steamers authorized
der contracts made in pursuance of law by the Postmaster
General making addition, in the WHOLE Of eighteen war
steamers subject TO be taken for public As further
tracts for the transportation Of the mail foreign countries
may be authorized by Congress- this number may be enlarged
indefinitely.


| The enlightened policy by which rapid communication
with the various distant parts Of the globe established by
means of Americanbui steamers, would find ample
rewin the increase of commerce. and in making
country and its avoaby known abroad but
the national advantage is still greater of having naval Off
made familiar with steam navigation and of having the
privilege OF taking the ships already equipped for immediate
service at moments notice. and will be cheapy purchased by
the compensation be paid for the transportation of the mail
4 in them, and above the postages received.


just national pride, less than commercial inter-
es would seem to favor the policy of augmentng the num-
Der of this description Of vessels They be built in
country cheaper and in greater numbers than in any other in
| the world.


refer you the accompanying report OF the Postmaster
General for detailed and satisfactory of the cond
ton and operations of that Department during the past year.


gratifying TO find that within short period after the
reduction the of postage and notwithstanding the great
increase of mail service the received for the year will
be sufficient 10 deay all the expenses and that no further aid
will be required from the Treasury for that purpose


The first of the American mail steamers authorized by the
act of the third of March, s45 completed and entered
upon the service the first OF June last and is her
third voyage Bremen and other intermediate ports. The
other vessels authorized under the provisions of that in
Of construction, and will be put upon the line
completed Contracts have also been made for the trans
portaion Of the mail in steamer from Charleston to Ha
4 vana.


made by the Postmaster General with the authorities of Bre
men, and difficulty apprehended in making similar ar
rangements with all other Powers with which may have
communications by mail steamers except with Great Britain


On the arrival of the first Of the American steamers, bound
TO Bremen, Southampton, in the month of June last the
British post Office directed the collection of discriminating post
all letters and other maiabe matter which she took
out to Great Britain, or which went into the British post oce
their way France and other parts of Europe The effect
of the order of the British post office is subject all letters
and other matter transported by American steamers TO double
POSTAGE postage having been previously paid them TO
the United States while letters transported British steamers
subject 10 pay but single postage This measure was
adopted with the avowed object of protecting the British line
of mail steamers running between Boston and Liverpool
and permitted to continue, must speedily put end TO the
transportation of all letters and other matter by American
steamers, and give British monopoly Of the bu
siness just and fair reciprocity is all that desire, and
this must insist BY our laws, such discrimination
is made against British steamers bringing letters into ports
but all letters arriving in the United subject to the
of postage whether brought in British American
vessels refer you to the report of the Postmaster General
for full Of the facts of the case, and Of the steps
taken by him to correct this inequality He has exerted all
the power conferred upon him by the existing laws.


The Minister of the United States London has brought
the subject the attention OF the British Government and is
engaged in negotiations for the purpose Of adjusting
cproca postal arrangements which shall be equally just
mens and should Great Britain insist enforcing the
equal and unjust MEASURE she has adopted will become
cessay confer additional powers the Postmaster General
order TO enable him TO meet the emergency and TO put
own steamers equal footing with British steamers en-
gagged in transporting the mail between the countries and
recommend that such powers be conferred.


In view Of the existing state Of country trust may
not be Inappropriate in closing this communication TO call to
mind the words Of wisdom and admonion Of the first and
ustrous of my predecessors in his farewell address 10
his countrymen.


That greatest and best Of men, who served his country
long, and loved much, foesaw with serious concern
the danger Union " of chaactezng parties by
phcal dscrminaons-Nrthern and Southern atlantic and
Wcster'-whence designing may endeavor to excite
belief that there is real difference of local interests and
views /" and warned his countrymen against it.


So deep and solemn his conviction Of the Importance Of
the Union, and Of preserving harmony between its different
pas that he declared to his eounymen in that address,
is OF infinite moment that you should properly estimate the
immense value of your national union your collective and
ind han thatv