The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-25 00:00:00

NATAL MATTERS.

The Report of the Secretary of the Navy, accompany-
ing this, shows the condition of the Navy when this
Administration came into office, and the changes made
since. Strenuous efforts have been made to place as
many vessels in commission, or render them fit for
service, if required, as possible, and to substitute the
sail for steam while cruising, thus materially reducing the
expenses of the navy, and adding greatly to its efficiency.
Looking to our future, I recommend a liberal though
not extravagant policy towards this branch of the public
service.

The report of the Postmaster-General furnishesa clear
and comprehensive exhibit of the operations of the postal
service and of the financial condition of the Post office
Department. Tne ordinary postal revenues for the year
endine. the 30th of June, 1869, amounted to $18,314,510
and the expenditures to $23,698,131, showing au excess of
expenditures over receipts of $5,353,620. The excess of
expenditures o-ver receipts for the previous year amounted
to $6,437,992. The increase of revenues for 1869 over
those of 1868 was $2,051,909, and the increase of ex-
penditures was $967,538. The increased revenue in 1869
exceeded the increased revenue in 1868 by $996,336, and
the increased expenditure in 1869 was $2,527,570 less
than tho increased expenditure in 1868, showing by com-
parison this gratifying feature of improvement —that
while the increase of expenditure over the increase
of receipts in 1868 was $2,439,535, the increase of re-
.ceipts over the increase of expenditures in 1869 was
$1,081,371.
Your attention is respectfully called to the recommenda-
tions made by the Postmaster-General for authority to
change thereto of compensation to the main trunk railroad
lines for their services in carrying the mails ; for having
post-route maps executed; for reorganizing and increas-
ing the efficiency of the Special Agency service ; for the
increase of the mail service on the Pacific, and for estab-
lishing mail service under the flag of the Union on the At-
lantic; and Most especially do I call your attention to his
recommendation for the total abolition of the franking
privilege. This is an abuse from which no ono receives
commensurate advantage; it reduces the receipts for
the postal service from 25 to 30 per cent., and largely
increases the service to be performed. The method
by which postage sbould be paid upon public matter is
set forth fully in the report of the Postmaster-General.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that
the quantity of public lauds disposed of
.during the year
ending time 30th of Juno, 1869, was 7,666,102 acres, exceed
ing that of the preceding year by 1,010,409 acres. Of tit's
amount 2,899,511 acres were sold for cash, and 2,737,365
acres entered under the homestead laws. The remainder
was granted to aid in the construction of works of inter-
naln improvement, approved to the 1.5 41. VA m Itmla
:eh and scrip. the cash receipts
?rem all sources were $4,472,886, exceeding those of the
preceding year $2,840,140. During the lest fiscal year
23,196 names were added to the pension rolls, 4,876
dropped therefrom, leaving at its close 187,963. The
amount paid tb pensioners, including the compensation of
disbursingagents, was 828,422884, an increase of $4,411,902
on that of the previous year.
The munificence of Congress has been conspicuously
manifested in its legislation for the soldiers and sailors
who suffered in the recent struggle to maintain that unity
of government which makes us ono people. The addi-
tions to the pension rolls of each successive year since the
conclusion of hostilities result in a groat degree from
the repeated amendments of the Act of the 14th of July,
1862, which extended its provisions to cases not falling
within its original scope. The large outlay which is thus
occasioned is further increased by the more liberal allow-
ance bestowed since that date upon those who, in the line
of duty, were wholly or permanently disabled. Public
opinion has given an emphatic sanction to these measures
of Congress, and it will he conceded that no part of our
public burden is more cheerfully borne than that which is
imposed by this branch of the service. It necessitates the
next fiscal year, in addition to the amount justly charge-
able to the Naval Pension Fund, an appropriation of
$30,000,000.
During the year 1869 the Patent Office issued 13,762
patents, and its receipts were 8681,389, being $213926
more than the expenditures.
I would respectfully call your attention to the recom-
mendation of the Secretary of the Interior for uniting
the duties of supervising the education of freedmanwith
the other duties devolving upon the Commissioner of
Education.

If it is thc, desire of Congress to make the census which
must be taken during the year 1870, more complete and
perfect than heretofore, I would suggest early action upon
any plan that may be agreed upon. As Congress at its last
session appointed a committee to take into consideration
such measures as might be deemed proper in reference to
the census au•t to report a plan, I desist from saying more.
I recommend to your favourable consideration the claims
of the Agricultural Bureau for liberal appropriations in a
country so diversified in climate and soil as ours and with
a population so largely dependent upon agriculture. The
benefits that can be conferred by properly fostering this
Bureau are incalculable.

I desire respectfully to call the attention of Congress to
the inadequate salaries of a number of the most impor-
tant officers of the Government. lu this Message I will
not enumerate them, but will specify only the Justices of
the Supreme Court. No change has been made is their

salaries for 15 years, and within that time the labours of
the Court have largely increased, and the expenses ofJiv-
ing have at least doubled during the same time. Congress
has twice found it necessary to increase largely the com-
pensation of its own members, and the duty which it
owes to another department of Government deserves, and
will undoubtedly receive, its due consideration.
There are many subjects not alluded to in this Message
which might with propriety be introduced, but I abstain,
believing that your patriotism and statesmanship will
suggest the topics of the legislation most conducive to
the interests of the whole people. On my part I promise
a rigid adherence to the laws, and their strict enforcement.
U. S. GRANT.