If
THE BLESSINGS OP GOVEBSMElfT, LIKE THE DEWS OF HEATEST, SHOCLD BS DrSTIirB;.!? ALIKE TUB HIGH AND TIE LOW, THE RICH AND THE POOC.
0
EBENSBERG, P1,-WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1808
VOL. 6 NO. 5.
. ,nm)iT.t. SP.TI'P1 TS-PTin.
1 l , , WlnrCfta-l7 AT nrn i n or of
hv-e Dollar and v,r..ia i-ci uuuiu,
:;valle in advance; One Dollar and Sevbxty
P t Cents if not paid within six months, and
Xiva Dollars if not paid until the termination
'KoUScription will be taken for a shorter
k; than six. months, and no subscriber will be
ter.'?" J'iWnntinuc his naper until all ar-
S;Ve pall, except at the
option of the
V.'.tor.
subscribing for six months will be
,-tt h mitrs tlio monev is tiaitl
'iivcd o& " J 4
Xdvertlslns Kales.
One insert'n. 2'tco do,
Three do
ri2 lines) v S 50
1 nqimre,
4 lines
1 00
1 50
months
l 50
1 00 2 Oo
2 00 3 00
C do. 12 do
$3 00 $5 CO
36 lines I
Mines or lcs.
isqiuro. f 12 lines
V spares, lines
, .pares, f tt lines
lull a oi.hiinn,
i- r column.
2 50 4 50 9 00
4 00 7 00 12 00
C 00 9 00 14 00
10 00 12 00 20 00
15 00 22 00 35 00
i.Kvrtisements must oe marked with
t'M.'inil'or ,.f insertions desired, or they will be
",:;; lie I ur.t'.l frbil. anil charged accordingly.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
.CONCirDKP
Io August, 1S-V2, the Accessory Transit
Company made its firtt interocoauic trip over
the Nicarnguan route, aLd continued in suc
cfiil operation, with great advantage to
i!.f public, uutil the lOtb of February, 1850,
t.en it was closed, r.nd the grant to this
tcjpany, as well as its charter, was sum
mri!y and arbitrarily revoked by the Gov
ittHiit of Rivas Previous to this date,
Iwvcvcr, in 1554, serious disputes concerning
tie settlement cf their accounts bad arisen
loiween the Company and the Government,
threatening the interruption of the route at
moment. Those the United States in
rain endeavored to compose. It would be
twtaa to narrate the variou? proceedings
!,ir!i took niacc between the parties, up till
time when the transit was discontinued.
'uflice it to s:iy, that since February-, 1850,
it hi rf maim d eloped, greatly to the preju
dice of titi.-ns of the United States Since
hat time the coa. petition has ceased between
tho rival routes of Panama and Nicaragua,
and in conMo4uir.ee thereof, un w ji.st and
unreasonable amount ha been exacted from
our citizens ttr their passage to and from
iVifortia.
A treaty was signed on the 10th day of
N'overuber, 1857, by the Secretary of State
md Minister of Nicaragua, under the stipu
lations of which tne use and protection of the
transit route would have been secured, not
ca'.y to the United SrHU;,
I'.hff nations. How atid
but equally to all
on wii.it pretexts
ibis treaty lias railed t. recuve tne raiiiica
tn cf the Ni'Mi'igu.TU (r veru:ooijt will ap
pear I v the papers, herewith communicated
fmiii the Stare Depariiin-iit. 'i'he principal
cljfct'uu s-Hins to have been to the provision
ixbcriiin the United States to eta t by force
t) keep tin route open, in
(bouM fail to perform her
sp-'ct.
case Niciragui
duty
f
in this re
Troai tlie feelleness of t L : t r public, its
fre.juent changes of government, and the
ectistant internal dissentious, this had become
nst important stipulation, and one csseu
v.vUy nccefsary not only for the security of
lie route, but fur the safety of American
ciiizens passing and repassing to and from
cur Pac'Se possessions. Wcro such a stipu
lation embraced in a treaty between the
Unite. Stated and Nicaragua, the knowledge
of thii fact would of itself most probably
frerent hostile parties from committing ag
gressions on the route, and render our actual
interference for its protection unnecessary.
The Executive Government of this country,
in its intercourse with foreign nations, is lim
ited to the employment of diplomacy alone.
tt'LeL this fails it can proceed no further.
It cannot legitimately resort to force, without
the direct authority of Congress, except in
listing and repelling hostile attacks. It
:uld have no authority to enter the terri
fies of Nicaragua, even to preveut the de
duction of the transit, and protect the lives
ni property of their own citizens on their
passage. It is true, that on sudden emer
gency of this character, the President would
direct any armed force in the vicinity to
t&rch to their relief; but in doing this, he
would act upon bis own responsibility.
Under these circumstances I earnestly
Kcommend to Congress the passage of the
W huthorizius the President, under such
restrictions as they may deem proper, to em
I'pj the land and naval forces of the United
tcs in preventing the transit from being
V.ructed or closed by lawless violence, and
:n protecting the lives and property of Amer
ican citizens travelling thereupon, requiring
w the same time that these forces shall be with
kawu the moment the danger fehall have
pissed away. Without such a provision,
citizens will be constantly exposed to in
Ttiption in their progress, and to lawless
Violence.
A similar necessity exists for the passage
cfEuch an act for the protection of the Pa
aaia and Tehuantepec routes.
J;Dited States, by their existing treaty with
e Granada, expressly guarantee the neu-
tfcf70 tlie Isthiuu3. "with the view that
iree transit from the one to the other sea
interrupted, or embarrassed in
ay future time while this treat? exists."
.'Ha regard tn ihn Tnh
"aich haa hoon .nii.. i J u
C .-w UUrvW .-vw,
u
Vorable ausnices. onr treaty with
SC.0f tLe 30tQ December, 1858, s cures
hujuiko, gur ireaiy
. vua ui iub uuneu oiaies a rigui oi
iise jVer lt 0r ltlT Pers0DS a0(l nierchan
tlali o 8ti?ulates tbat neither Government
llsa , mUi rpose obstacle" thereto. It
concedes to the United States tho "right
'""port icroBB the Ifcthmus, in closed
bags, the mails of the United States not in
tended for distribution along the line of the
communication ; also the effects of the United
States Government and its citizens which
may be intended for transit, and not for dis
tribution on the Isthmus, free of custom
house or other charges by the Mexican gov
ernment "
These treaty stipulations with New Grana
da and Mexico, in addition to the considera
tions applicable to the Nicaragua route, seem
to require legislation for the purpose of carry
ing them into effect.
The injuries which have been inflicted
upon our citizens in Costa Rica and Nicara-.
gua, during the last two or three years have
received the prompt attention of this Gov
ernment. Some of these injuries were of the
most aggravated character. The transaction
at Virgin Bay in April, 185G, when a com-
pany or unarmed Americans, who were in
no way connected with any belligerent con
duct or party, were fired upon by the
troops of Costa llica, and numbers of them
were killed and wounded, were brought to
the knowledge of Congress by my predeces
sor soon after its occurrence, and was also
presented to the government of Costa Rica,
for that immediate inv2stigation and redrcsf
which the nature of the case demanded.
A similar course was pursued with refer
ence to other outrages in these countries,
soma of which were hardly less aggravated
in their character than the transaction at
Virgin Ray. At the time, however, when
our minister to Nicaragua was appointed, in
December, 1S57. no redress had been obtain
ed for any of these wrongs, and no reply
even had been received to the demands
which had been made by this government
upon that of Ciwfa Rica, more than a year
before. Onr minister was instrncted, there
fore, to lose no time in expressing to those
Governments the deep regret with which
thy? President had witnessed this inattention
to the just claims of the United States, and in
demanding their prompt and satisfactory ad-,
justment. Unless this demand shall be
complied with at on early day, it will only
remain for this government to adopt such
measures as may be necessary, ia order to
obtain for itself that justice which it has in
vain attempted to secure by peaceful means
from the Governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. While it has shown, and will
continue to show, the most siucere regard
for the rights and honor of these Republics,
it cannot permit this regard to be met by an
utter neglect, on their part, of what is due
to the Government and citizens of the United
States.
Against N w Grenada, we have long stan
ding causes of complaint, arising out of the
unsatisfied ei;ii ui.-i of our citizens
i . t i
upon that
republic: and to tuese Lave been
more re
cently added tne outrages committed upon
cur citizens at Panama, in April, 18iG. A
treaty for the adjustment of tl esc difficulties,
was concluded by the Secretary of State and
the minister of New Grenada, in September,
which contained ju-t nnd acceptable provis
fCT tLut pu"rnartr '-This treaty was trans
mitted to Hogato, and was ratified ry
government of New Granada, lut with ccr
tain amendment.'?. It .was not, however,
returned to this city until after the close of
the last session of the Senate. It will be im
mediately transmitted to that body for their
advice and consent; and should thi3 be ob
tained, it will remove all our existing causes
of complaint against New Granada on the
subject of claims.
Questions have amen between the two
governments as to the right of New Grana
da to levy a tonnage duty npon the vessels of
the Liutcd States in its ports of the Isthmus,
and to levy a passenger tax upon our citizens
arriving in that country, whether with a de
sign to remain there or to pass from ocean to
ocean by the transit route; and also a tax
upon the mail of the Uuited States transpor
ted over the Panama Railroad. The gov
ernment of New Grauada has been informed
that the Uuited States would consider the
collection of cither of these taxes as an act
in violation of the trsaty between the two
countries, and as such would be resisted by
the United States At the same time, we
are prepared to discuss these questions in a
spirit of amity and justice, and with a sincere
desire to adjust them in a satisfactory man
ner A negotiation for that purpose has
already been commenced. No effort has re
cently been made to collect these taxes, nor
is any anticipated under present circumstan
ces. With the empire of Rrazil, our relations
arc of the most friendly character. The
productions of the two countries, and espe
cially tuoso of an agricultural nature, arc
buch as to invite extensive mutual exchange.
A large quantity of American flour is consu
med in Brazil; whilst more than treble the
amount in value of Brazilian coffee is consu
med in the United States. Whilst this is the
case, a heavy duty has been levied, until very
recently, upon the importation of American
flour into Brazil I am gratified, however,
to be able to inform you that in September
last, this has been reduced from 1.32 to
about forty-niae cents per barrel, and the
duties on other articles of our production
have been diminished in nearly the" same
proportion
1 regret to state that the government of
Brazil still continues io levy an export duty
of about 11 percent, on coffee, notwithstand
ing this article is admitted free from duty in
the United States. This is a heavy charge
upon the consumers of coffee in our country,
as wo purchase half cf the entire surplus
crop of that article raised in Brazil. Our
minister, under instructions, will reiterate
his efforts to have this export duty removed;
and it is hoped thst the enlightened govern
ment of tho Emperor will adopt this wise,
just and equal policy. In that event, there
is good reason to believe that the commerce
between tho two countries will greatly in-
I crease, much to the advantage of both.
The claini3 of our citizens against the gov
ernment of Brazil are not, in the aggregate,
of very large amount; bnt some of these rest
upon plain principles of justice, and" their
settlement ought not to be longer delayed.
A renewed and earnest, and I trust suco ess
ful effort, will be made by our minister to
procure their final adjustment.
On the 2d of June last, Congress passed a
joint resolution authorizing the President 'to
adopt such measures and use such force as,
in his judgment, may be deemed necessary
and advisable" "for tho purpose of adjusting
the differences between the United States and
the republic of Paraguay, in connection with
the attack on the United States steamer, Wa
ter Witch, and with other measures referred
to" in his annual massage. And on the 12th
July following, they made an appropriation
to defray the expense and compensation of a
commissioner to that republic, should the
President deem it proper to make such an
appointment.
In compliance with these enactments, I
have appointed a commissioner, who has pro
ceeded to Paraguay, with full powers and in
structions to settle these differences in an
amicable and peaceful manner, if this be
practicable. His experience and discretion
justify the hope that he may prove successful
in convincing the Paraguayan government,
that it is due both to honor and justice, that
they should voluntarily and promptly make
atonement for the wrongs which they have j
committed against the Lnited States, and in
demnify our injured citizens whom they have
forcibly despoiled of their property.
Should our commissioner prove unsuccess
ful, after a sincere and earnest effort, to ac
complish the object of his mission, then no
alternative will remain, but the employment
of force to obtain "just satisfaction" from
Paraguay. In view of this contingency, the
Secretary of the Navy, uuder my direction,
has fitted out and despatched a naval force,
to rendezvous near Buenos Ayres, which, it
is believed, will prove sufficient for the occa
sion. It is ray earnest desire, however, that
it may not be found necessary to resoit to
this last alternative.
When Congress met in December last, the
business of the country had just been crush
ed by oac of those periodical revulsions,
which are the inevitable consequence of our
unsound and extravagant system of bank
credits and inflated currency. With all the
elements of national wealth ia abundance.our
manufactures were suspended, our useful pub
lie and and private enterprises were arrested,
and thousands of laborers were deprived of
employment and reduced to want. Univer
sal distress prevailed among the commercial,
manufacturing, and mechanical classes.
This revulsion was felt the more severely in
the United States, because similar causes had
produced the like deplorable effects through
out the commercial nations of Europe. All
were experiencing sad reverses at the same
moment. Our manufacturers everywhere
suffered severely, not because of the recent
reduction in the tariff of duties ou imports,
but because there was no demand at any
nrice for their productions. The people were
obliged to restrict themselves, in their pur
chases. tO ?rticles of rime necessity. In the
general prostration of business, the iron t
manufacturers in different Slates probably j
suffered more than any other class, and much
aesiiiuiiou was me lneviiaoie consequence,
among the great number of workmen who
had been employed in this useful branch of
our industry. There could he no supply
where there was no demand. Io present an
example, there could bo no demand for ra'l
road iron, after our magnificent system of
railroads, extending it3 benefits to every por
tion of the Uniou, had been brought to a dead
pause. The same consequences have resul
ted from similar causes to many other bran
ches of useful manufactures. It is self-evi- j
dent that where there is no ability to pur
chase manufactured articles, these cainot be
sold, and consequently must cease to be pro
duced. No government, and especially a govern
ment of such limited powers as that of the
United States, could have prevented the late
revulsion. The whole commercial world
seemed for years to have been rushing to this
catastrophe The same ruinous consequences
would have followed in the United States,
whether the duties upon foreign imports had
reamained as they were under the tariff of
184.6, or had been raised to a much higher
standard. The tariff of 1857 had no agency
in the result. The general causes existing
throughout the world, could not have been
controlled by the legislation of any particular
country.
lhe periodical revulsions which have ex
isted in our past history, must continue to
return at intervals, so long as our present
unbounded sy&tem of bank credits shall pre
vail. They will, however, probably be the
less sovere in future; because it is not to be
expected, at least for many years to come,
that the commercial nations of Europe, with
whose interests our own are so materially in
volved, will expose themselves to similar
calamities. But this subject was treated so
much at large in my last annual message
that I shall not now pursue it further. Still,
I respectfully renew the recommendation, in
favor of the passage of a uniform bankrupt
law, applicable to banking institutions. . This
is all the power over the subject which, I
believe, the federal government possesses.
Such a law would mitigate though it might
not prevent the evil. Tho instinct of self
preservation might produce a wholesome re
straint upon their banking business, if they
knew in advance, that a suspension of specie
payments would inevitably produce their civ
il death.
But the effects of tho revulsion aro now
slowly but surely passing away, Tho ener
gy and enterprise of our citizens, with our
unbounded resources, will, within tho period
of another year, restore a state of wholesome
industry and trade. Capital has again ao
cumulated in our large cities. The rate of
interest is there very low. Confidence is
gradually reviving, and so soon as it is dis
covered that this capital can be profitably em
ployed in commercial and manufacturing en
terprises, and in the construction of railroads
and other works of public and private im
provement, prosperity will again smile thro'
out the land. It is vain, however, to disguise
the fact from ourselves, that a speculative
inflation of our currency, without a corres
ponding inflation in other countries whose
manufactured come into competition with our
own, must ever produce disastrous results to
our domestic manufactures. No tariff, short
of absolute prohibition, can prevent these
evil co2$equences. -
In connection with this subject.it is proper
to refer to ouj financial condition. The same
causes which have produced oecuniary dis
tress throughof the country, have so reduced
the amount of imports from foreign countries
that the revenue has proved inadequate to
meet the necessary expenses of the govern
ment. To supply the deficiency, Congress,
by the act of the 23d of December, 1857,
authorized the issue of 20,000,000 of treas
ury notes; and, this proving inadequate they
authorised, by the act of June 14th, 1858,
the loan of 320.000,000, "to be applied to
the payment of appropriations made by law
No statesmen would advise, that we sho'd
go on increasing tha national debt to meet
the ordinary expenses of the government.
This would be a most ruinous policy. In
case of war, our credit must be our chief re
source at least for the first year, and this
would be greatly impaired by having con
tracted a large debt in time of peace. It is
our true plicy, to increase our revenue so as
to equal our expenditures. It would be
ruiuous to continue to borrow. Beside, it
may be proper to observe that the incidental
protection, thu3 afforded by a revenue tariff,
would at the present moment, to some extent
increase the confidence of the manufacturing
interests, and give a fresh impulse to our re
viving business To this, surely, no person
will object.
In regard to the mode of assscssing and
collecting duties under a strictly revenue
tariff, I have long entertained and often ex
pressed the opinion, sound policy requires
this should be done by specific duties, in ca
ces to which these can be properly applied.
They are well adapted to commodities which
are usually sold by weight or by measure,
and which, from their nature, are of eual
or of nearly equal value. Sash, for exam
le, are the articles of iron of differant clas
ses, raw sugar, and foreign wines and spirits.
In my deliberate judgement, specific du
ties are the best, if not the ouly means of
securing the revenue against false and fraud
ulent invoicces, and such has been the prac.
lice adopted for this purpose by other com
mercial nations. Besides, specific duties
would afford to tho American manufactucr
the incidental advantages to which he is fair
ly entitled under a revenue tariff. The pre
sent system is a sliding scale to his disadvan
tage. Under it, wheu prices are high and
business prosperous, tho duties rise in amount
when he least requires aid. On the contra
ry, when prices uu!, alii he iz struggling
a"aiuat ?'Jversity, the duties are diminished
O T. .......
ia the same prAcrtion, greatly to his iuju
ry
Neither would there be danger that a high
er rate of duty than that intended by Con
gress, could be levied iu the form of specific
duties, It would be easy to ascertain the
average value of any imported article for a
scries of years; and, instead of subjection it
to an ud valorem duty at a certain rate per
centum, to substitute in its place an equiv
alent specific duty.
By such an arrangement the consumer
would not be injured. It is true, he. might
have to pay a littlt more duty on a given ar
ticle in one year; but if so, he would pay a
a little less in an other, und in a series
of years these would countcrbalacce each
other, and amount to the same thing, so far
as his interest is concerned. This inconven
ience would be trifling, when contrasted with
the additional security thus afiorded against
frauds upon the revenue, in which every
consumer is directly interested.
I have thrown out these suggestions as the
fruit of my own observation, to which Con
gress, in their better judgement, will give
such weight as they may justly deserve.
The report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury will explain in detail the operations or
that department of the government. The
receipts into the treasury from all sources du
ring the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1858,
including the treasury notes authorized by
the act of December 23, 1857, were $70,
273, 869 59, which amount, with the bal
lanceof$l7, 710, 114 27 remaining in the
treasury at the commencement of the year,
made an aggregate for the service of the
year of 887'. 983 983 86.
lhe public expenditures elunng the hscal
ar ending June 30, 185S, amounted to
year
81,585, 667 76, of which $9. 634, 837 99 invlts congress w inuu, a 4.SM
were applied to the payment of the public tiny to ascertain whether he expsea .in all
debt, and the redemption of treasury notes the departments cannot be still further re
with the interest thereon, leaving ia the tre- j duxed ; and I promise tuem all the aid m my
- t 1 ia-.9 k ,r,, nower in pursuing the investigation.
ment of the present fiscal year, $6, 398, 317
10.
The receipts in the treasury, during the
first quarter of the present fiscal year, com
mencing the 1st J uly, 1853, including one
half of the loan of 20,000. 000, with the
premium upon it, authorized by the act of
14tu June1858, were $25, 240,879 47,
and the estimated receipts for tho remaining
three quarters to tho 30th June, 1859, from
ordinary sources, are $38, 500, 000, making
with the balance before stated, an aggregate
of $70,120,105 5G.
The expenditures, during tho first quar.
ter of the present fiscal year, were $21,768
103 51. of which 81. 010. 142 37 were ap
plied to the payment of the public debt and
- J the redemption of treasury and the interest
thereon. The estimated expenditures, du
ring tho remaining three quarters to 30th
June, 1850, are $55,157,698 48, making an
aggregate of $4'0Go.906 90, being an ex
cess of expenditure, beyond the estimated re
ceipts into the treasury from ordinary sources,
during the fiscal year to the oOth June, 1.809,
of $3,036,701 44. Extraordinay means are
placed by law within the command of the
Secretary of the Treasury, by the reissue of
treasury notes redeemed, and by negotiating
the balance of the loan authorized by the
act of 14th June, 1858, to the extent of $11,
000,000, which, if realized during the pre
sent fiscal year, will leave a balance in the
treasury, on the 1st day of July, 1859, of
$7,063.208 57 :
The estimated receipts during the next
Cscal year ending 30th June, 1860, are $62
000,000, which, with the above estimated
ballance of $7,063,168 57, make an aggre
gate for the service of the next fiscal year
of $69,063,298 57. The estimaed expend
itures during the next fiscal vcar ending 30th
June, 1860, are $73,139"l47 46. which
leave a deficit of estimated means, compared
with the estimated expanditures for that year,
commencing on the 1st of July. 1859, of
$1,075,848 89.
In addition to this sum, the Postmaster
nnril Trill Mfmipo frnm tl.A trpnnrT? for
the service of the Post Office DepartmelCS
S3.838.728, as explained in the report of the j
Secretary of the Treasury, which will increase
the estimaton the 30th. June, lbOU, to
$7,914,576 83. To provide for the payment
of this estimated deficiency, which will be in
creased by such appropriations as may be made
by Congress, not estimated for in the report
of the Treasury Depar tment, as well as to
provide for the gradual redemption' from year
to year, of the out unstanding treasury notes,
t e Secrccary of the Treasury recommends
such a revision of thj pre; e -t tariff as will
raise the required amount. After what I
have already said, I need scarcely add that I
concur in jthe opinion expressed in bis re
port that the p'iplic debt should not be in
cr.ased by an additional loan, and would
therefore strongly urge upon Congress the
duty or muM.,5;, a w?ir prw .EC?,
necessary provision for meeting there liabil
ities. The public debt on the 1st of July, 1858,
the coiiitueiicjment of the present fiscal year,
was $26,155,977 06.
During the first quarter of the present year,
the sum of $10,000,000 has been negotiated
of the loau authorized by the act of 14th
June, 1858 making the present outstand
ing public debt, exclusive of treasury notes.
$35,155,977 66. There was on the 1st of
July, 1857, of treasury notes issued by au
thority of the act of December 23, 1S57,
unredeemed, the sum of $19,754,900
making the amount of actual indebtedness, at
that date, $54,910,777 60. To this will
be added $10,000 000 during the present
fiscal year this being the remaiuing halfcf
the loan of $20,000,000 not 3-et negotiated
Tho rapid increase of the pablic debt, and
the necessity which exists for a modification
of tha taritl, to m --el even the ordinary ex
penses of tho gov
us an, m onr re
the practice of
of expenditure should bo limited in number,
as far as this may ha practicable, and the ap
propriations necessary to carry the. a into
effect, ou.ht U b? disbi-sjl unlrthe
strictest-accountability Enlightened econ
omy docs not consist iu the refusal to appro
Driate money for constitutional purposes es
sential for the dt fence, progress and propri
ety of the Republic, but in taking care that
none of this money shall be wasted by mis
management in its application to the objects
designated by law
Comparisons between the expenditures at
the present time aud what it was t'venty
years ago, are altogether fallacious Tho
rapid increase of our country in extent and
population renders a corresponding increase
of expenditure, to some extent, unavoidable.
This is constantly creating new objects of
tspcuditure, and augmenting the amount
required for the old. The true questions,
then are have these objects been unnecessa
rily multiplied ? or, has the amount expended
upon any or all been larger than comports
with due economy ? In accordance with
these principles, the different executivs de
partments of the governmsnt have been in
structed to reduce their estimates for the next
fiscal year to the lowest standard consistent
with the efficiency of the service, and this
duty they have performed iu a spirit of
economy.
The estimates of tho Treasury, War, Navy
and Interior Departments have each been in
some degree reduced ; and unless a sudden
and unforeseen emergency should arise, it is
not anticipated that a deficiency will exist
cither the present or the next fiscal year.
The Post Office Department is placed in a
peculiar position, different to the other de
r . . . 1 t 1.111 v e
nartmeuts
ana to tnis 1 snau uereauer xciei
. n . . .... -1
I transmit herewith the reports made to
me by the Secretaries of War, of the Navy,
of the Interior and of the Postmaster Gen
eral. They each contain valuable informa
tion aui important recommendations, to
which I invite the attention of Congress.
Ia mv last annual message, I took occasion
era-nont ought to admonish 10 lue guKruu-.u b iuuch
.. . .l- - ' renuirin' that the rn:u shall be cameu m
pjcuve spueres or uury, iu 1 4, , ,, , .
Tho such vchisles as will accommodate passen-
. , - -j 1
to recommend the immediate construction of pertormea as . iu iu.
ten small steamers, of light draught, for tho New ork and this city,
purpose of increasing the efficiency of the Whilst disclaiming all authority to appro
navy. Congress responded to the T recoui- priata money for the .construction of this road
i,.Jnn nntWilin th construction of (except that derived from tho war making
eight ot them. The progress which has been
ma.lr in cxecutiucr this authority is stated in
the report of the Secretary of the Navy. 1
concur with him in tha opinion tbat a greater
number of this class of vessels is necassary
numoer 01 mis ciass ui vut.acio a
for the purpose of protecting iu a more effi
cient jianner the persons and property of
American citizens on the high seas, end for
eign countries, as well as in guarding more
effectually our own coasts. I accordingly
recommend the passage of an act for this
purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report of
the Sectetary of the Interior, especially
those in regard to the disposition of tha
public domain, the pension and bounty-land
system, the policy towards the Indians, and
the amendment of onr patent laws, are wor
thy of the serious consideration of Con
gress. The Post Office Department occupies a
position very different from that of the other
departments. For ' many years it was th
policy of the government to render this a
self-snstaming department; and if this can
not now be accomplished, in the present con
dition of the country we ought to make as
near an approach to it cs may be practica
ble. The Postmaster General is placed in a
most embarrassing position by the existing
laws lie is obliged to earry these into
effect. lie has no alternative. He finds,
however, that this cannot be done without
heavy demands upon the treasury over and
above what is received for postage; and these
have been progressively increasing from year
t0 Jear til they amounted for the last fis
Jar ending ou the oOth of June, I00S
cal
to
more than four millions and a half of dollats;
whilst it is estimated that for the present fis
cal year they will amount to $6,290,000.
These sums are exclusive of the annual ap
propriation of $700,020 for "compensation
lor the mail service performed for the two
houses of Congress and the other departments
and office! s of the government in the trans
portation of free matter."
The cause of these large deficits is mainly
attributable to the increased expense of trans
porting the mails. In 1852 the sum pail
tor this service was but a fraction above four
millions and a quarter Since that year it
has annually increased until in 1858 it has
reached more than eight millions and a quar
ter; and for the service of 1859, it is estima
ted that it will amount to more than ten mil
lions of dollars.
The receipts of the Post Ofiice Department
can be made to approach or equal its expen
diture, only by means of the legislation of
Congress. In applying any remedy, care
should be taken that the people shall not be
deprived of the advantages, which they ara
fairly entitled to enjoy trom the Post Offiea
Department. Tho principal remedies re
commended to theconsideration of Congress
bv the Post Master General, are to rcstora
the former rate of postage upon single letters
to five cents; to substitute for the franking
privilege the delivery to those now entitled to
enjoy it, cf postage stamps for thoir corre
spondence, and to direct the department, in
making contracts fur the transportation of
the mai , to confine itself to the payment of
the sum necessary for this single purpose,
without rcquiriug it to be transported in post
coaches or caraiages of ar.y particular descrip
tion Under the present system, the expense
rers. lnis Will oe uonc wnuoas pay irom
. 1 .i -.1 1 r
the department, over ell roads where tha
travel will remunerate the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
considerations of Congrcs?.
I would again call your attention to tho
construction of a Pacific railroad. Time aud
reflection have but served to coL-firm me ia
the truth and justice of the observations which
I made, on this subject, in my last annual
message,
to which I beg leave respectfully to
rcic-r
It is freely almitted that it would be in
expedient for this government to exercise tha
power of constructing the Pacific railroad by
its own immediate agents. Such a policy
would increase the patronage of the execu
tive to a dangerous extent, and .introduce a
system of jobbing and corruption, which no
vigilance on the part of federal officials could
either prevent or detect. This can only be
done by the keen eye, and the active and
careful supervision of individual and private
interest.
The construction of the road, ought, there
fore, to bo committed to companies incorpo
rated by the States, or other agencies whosa
pecuniary interesrTwwild be directly invol
ved. Congress might then assist them la
the work by grants of land or of money, or
both, under such circumstances and restric
tions as would secure the transportation of
troops and munitions of war free from any
charge, and that of the United States at a
fair aud reasonable price.
The progress of events since tha com
mencement of your last session has shown
how soon difficulties disappear before a firm
and determiued resolution. At that time
such a road was deemed by wise and patri
otic men to be a visionary project. The
great distance to be overcome, and the inter
vening mountains aim uteris ju me way,
were obstaales which, in the opinion of mauy
could not bo surmounted. Now after tha
lapse of but atsingle year, these obstacles, it
has been discovered, are far less formidabla
than they were supposed to be; and mail sta
ges, with passengers, now puss and repass
regularly twice ia each week, by a common
waon road between Sau Francisco and St .
L.ouis and Memnhis, in less than twenty-five
days. The service has been as regularly
power of the Constitution 1 there : are impor-
tant oouaierai coaswerauuua "6lu5 mv
dertake the work as speedily as possible.
The first and most momentous of these is.
. 4. 1 1
that such a road would be a powcriui . Dona
i - - . .
- cf uuion between the State east and weal
! '
Y,
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