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About Oregon free press. (Oregon City [Or.]) 1848-1848 | View Entire Issue (July 1, 1848)
OREGON FREE PRESS; POR TUB VOL I.) WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JULY I, 1848. NO. 13. "Here shall Ihc Press the people's rights maintain, Unawed by influence, and unbribed by gain." EXTRACT FROM THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. The following extract from the Message uill be found extremely interesting: The accompanying report of the Secretary of the Na vy presents a satisfactory and gratifying account of the condition and operations of the naval service during the past year. Our commerce has been pursued with increased activity, and uilli safety and success, in every quarter or the globe under the protection of our flag,which the navy has caused to be respected in the most distant seas. in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Pacific, the officers and men of 0'ir squadrons have displayed distinguished gallantry, and performed valuable services. In the early stages of the war with Mexico, her ports on boih sides were blockaded, and more recently many of them have been captured and held by the navy. When act ing in co-operation with the land forces, the naval offi cers and men have performed gallant and distinguished services on land as well as on water, and deserve the high commendation of the country. VVhile other maralime powers are adding to their navies large numbers of war steamers, it was a wise policy on our part to make similar additions to our na vy. The four war steamers authorised by the act of the third of March, 1817, are in course of construction. In addition to the four war steamers authorised by this act, the Secretary of the Navy has, in pursuance of its provisions, entered inlocontracls for the construc tion of five steamers, to be employed in the transporta tion of the U.S. mail "from New York to New Orleans, touching at Charleston, Savannah, and Havana, and from Havana to Chagres; for three steamers to be t m ployed in like manner from Panama to Oregon, "so as to connect with the mail from Havana to Chagres, across the Isthmus;" and for five steamers to be em ployed in like manner from New York to Liverpool. These steamers will be the property of the contractors, but are to be built "under the superintendence and di rection of a naval constructor in the employ of the Navy Department, and to be so constructed as to render them convertible, at the least possible expense, into war steamers of the first class." A prescribed number of naval officers, as well as a post ollice agent, are to be on board of them ; and au thority is reserved to the Navy Department at all limes to "exercise control over said steam-ships," and "to have the right" "to lake them for the exclusive use and service of the United Slates," "upon making proper compensation to the contractors therefor." Whilst these steam-ships uill be employed in trans porting Ihe mails of the United Slates eastward, and to foieign countries, upon an annual expensatioa to be paid to the owners, they will be always ready, upon any emergency requiring it, to be converted into war steamers; and the light reserved to lake them for pub lic use will add greatly to Ihe efficiency and strength of this description of our naval force. To Ihe steamers thus authorised under contracts made by the Secretary of the Navy, should be added five other steamers au thorised under contracts made in pursuance of law by the Postmaster General, making an addilion. in the whole, of eighteen war steamers, subject to be taken for public Use. As further contiacts for the transporta tion of the mail 10 foreign countries may be. authorised by Congress, Ibis number may be enlarged indefinitely. The enlightened policy by which a rapid communi cation with the various parts of the globe is established, by meads of American-built sea steamers, would find an ample reward in the increase of our commerce, and in making our country and its resources more favora bly known abroad; bill the national advantage is still gi eater, of having our naval officers made familiar with steam navigation; and of having the privilege of taking the ships already equipped for immediate ser vice at a moment's notice; and will be cheaply pur chased by the compensation to be paid for the transpor tation of the mail in them, over and above the postage received. A just national pride, no less than our commercial interests, would seem to favor the policy of augment ing the number of this description of vessels. They can be built in our country cheaper and in greater numbers than any other in the world. John Quincy Adasis. Mr. Adams was born on the 31 st of July, 17G7, attaining his 80th year in July last, and has been for G7 years, alraosl without an interval, in the public service always an intent student and ob server of national affairs. In 1781, when but fourteen years of age, he commenced his career as Private Sec retary to Francis Dana, Ambassador to Russia. The range of his public duties has since been of the most exalted character, including the station of Minister Plenipotentiary, Resident Minister, Secretary of Slate and President of the United Slates, in all of which he lias commanded the admiralonand esteem of his coun trymen. Asa cotemporary of the illustrious Washington, and almost a co-worker in laying the foundation of his country's freedom and greatness, the name of John Quincy Adams will he remembered in all future times as one of the most illustrious sous of the American Republic. in the year 1830, shortly after he retired from the Presidency, he descended, neither ungracefully nor without advantage to the nation, to a scat in the House of hepresenlatives, and had, up to the moment of his death, wielded an influence unequalled by any other member of that body, securing also, for himself, a greater share of attention and respect. Polynesian. Items of Foreign News. Lines of steamers are ex pected to be so arranged this summer that one will sail every three days between Europe and the United Slates. II. H. M. ship Modesto had arrived at Portsmouth, aft r a very short passage. The tranquility of the continent of Europe continues to be still distracted by alarms of insurrectionary movements in the Italian Slates. In addition to the late excess at Milan, in Pa via, there seems to have been considerable blood shed, 50 persons being killed and wounded. The debates in the French Chambers ol Peers closed with a signal victory of 121 in l'aor of iiuiznt's Ministry. The Government have transferred Iheir prisoner, Abd-cl-Kad r, to Forte l.amalgue, near Toulon, his future destination being yet undecided. A large war steamer has been suddenly despatched to Naples, where the King's situation seems a little critical. The affairs of Italy are becoming more and mrecomplicat d. The enthusiastic reception of Espartero, in Spain, by all ranks of people after his protracted exile, fur nishes a singular example of the versatility ot the Spaniards, and the intriguing character of the politi cians. His first interview with the queen is represented as highly interesting and aflecUng. i