The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-16 00:00:00

-7 •
/-

. `• .
. .
.
. . .
_ . .
:44. -!,-,.:;-• ,
~ .
- -
', "it y, t', • all -
tiktq'
...
- :....
ek-.1,,,' . , 7. .08
, „. ic,,.,
-
, ,
, . . .... • ,
~, , . .5. •
,• .' ''' AT; . . .
- -
. ~ --, , - ''''. \
ZO%l ' . l''''' l'
-.--.1
‘..'
Agefillt
. ~
,
~ .
, .
(W. ...... . . ' ‘' - -. -. -:
'
'4 sto.
t ~4111111111110.
:i..,...... 1 .-.
-,..
.1-
:::' ',,,-,:"
_ ,
.._ , .74,,5,,,, ..-.., , ~.......- •'. '.'" , -..z
~ e;--.g s.,\.l, ~-1-'-z-.."---- - •gia',,,
4,0_,.--r,zt .ail' "0,... '---....(...._E z'
-,-.-i,.ik..v ..
14L, .N4tis.V--,.4.;„-,_ r''',‘,%,,, c,;,:)1,
~z--.=7,r,- "TI•"1' - cif' N\ - - '''''.

[ PRIOR 4D. STAMPED

revision of the revenue laws, prepared under the direction
of the Secretary to the Treasury, and also legislation upon
some special questions affecting the business of thac depart-
ment, more especially the enactment of a law to punish Lite
abstraction of official books or papers from the files of the
Government, and requiring all such books and papers, and
Lherall public property, to be turned over by the out-going
°MI. to his successor : of a law requiring disbursing officers
to deposit all public moneys in the vaults of the Treasury,
or in other legal depositories, where the same are conve-
niently accessible ; and a law to extend exi.tiug penal pro-
visions to all persons who may become possessed of public
money, by deposit or otherwise, who shall refuse or
neglect, on due demand, to pay the same into the Treasury.
I invite your attention anew to each of these objects.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

The army during the past year has been so constantly
employed against hostile Indians in various quarters that
it can scarcely be said, with propriety of language, to have
been a peece establishment. Its duties have been satisfac-
torily performed, and we have reason to expect, as a re-
sult of the year's operations, greater security to the fron-
tier inhabitants than has been hitherto enjoyed. Extensive
combinations amongothe hostile Indians of the territories
of Washington and Oregon at one time threatened the de-
vastation of the newly-formed settlements of that remote
part of the country. From recent information, we are
permitted to hope that the energetic and successful opera-
tions conducted there will prevent such combinations in
future, and secure to those territories an opportunity to
make steady progress in the development of their agricul-
tural and mineral resources.
Legislation has been recommended by me on previous
occasions to cure defects in the existing organisation, and
to increase the efficiency of the army, and further observa-
tion has but served to confirm me in the views then ex-
pressed, and to enforce on my mind the conviction that
such measures aro not only proper, but necessary.
I have in addition to invite the attention of Congress to
a change of policy in the distribution of troops; and to the
necessity of providing a more rapid increase of the military
armament. For details of these and other subjects re-
lating to the army, I refer to the report of the Secretary
of War.

The condition of the navy is not merely satisfactory,
but exhibits the most gratifying evidences of increased
vigour. As it is comparatively small, it is more important
that it should be as complete as possible in all the elements
of strength; that it should be efficient in the character of
its officers, in the zeal and discipline of its men, in the re-
liability of its ordnance, and in the capacity of its ships.
In all these vations qualities the navy has made great pro-
gress within the last few years. The execution of the law
of Congress of February 28, 1855, " to promote the efficacy
of the navy," has been attended to by the most advanta-
geous results. The law for promoting discipline among
the men is found convenient and salutary.
The system of granting an honourable discharge to faith-
ful seamen on the expiration of the period of their enlist-
ment, and permitting them to re-enlist after a leave of ab-
sence of a few months, without cessation of pay, is highly
beneficial in its influence. The apprentice system recently
adopted is evidently destined to incorporate into the ser-
vice a large number of our countrymen hitherto so difficult
to procure. Several hundred American boys are now on a
three years' cruise in our national vessels, and will return
well trained seamen. In the Ordnance Department there
is a decided and gratifying indication of progress creditable
to it and to the country. The suggestions of the Secretary
of the Navy, in regard to further improvement in that
branch of the service, commend to your favourable
action.

The new frigates ordered by Congress are now afloat,
and two of them in active service. They are superior
models of naval architecture, and, with their formidable
battery, add largely to public strength and security.
I concur in the views expressed by the Secretary of the
Department in favour of a still further increase of our
naval force.

PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents facts
and views in relation to internal affairs over which the
supervision of his department extends, of much interest
and importance.

The aggregate sales of the public lands, during the last
fiscal year, amount to 9,227,878 acres ; for which has bee❑
received the sum of 8,821,414 dols. During the same pe-
riod there have been located with military scrip and land-
warrants, and for other purp%es, 30,100,230 acres; thus
making a total aggregate of 39,328,10 S acres. On the 30th
September last surveys had been made of 16,873,690 acres,
a large proportion of which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to the complica-
tion and progressive expansion of the busines&of the differ-
ent bureaux of the Department ; to the pension system; to
the colonisation of Indian tribes, and the recommendations
in relation to various improvements in the district of Co-
lumbia are especially commended to your consideration.

THE POST-OFFICE.
The report of the Postmaster-General presents fully the
condition of that department of the Government. Its ex-
penditures for the last fiscal year were 10,478,868 dols ;
and its gross receipts 7,628,801 dole—making an excess of
expenditure over receipts of 2,787,046 dols. The deficiency
of this Department is thus, 744,000 dole greater than for
the year ending June 30, 1853. Of this deficiency,
330,000 dols. is to be attributed to the additional compen-
sation allowed Postmasters by the act of Congress of J one
22, 1854. The mail facilities in every part of the country
have been very much increased in that period, and the
large addition of railroad service, amounting to 7,808
miles, has added largely to the cost of transportation.
The considerable augmentation of the income of the
Post Office Qepartmeut under the reduced rates of postage,
and its increased expendittires must, for the present, make
it dependent to some extent upon the -areasury for sup-
port. The recommendations of the Postmaster-General in
relation to-the abolition of'the franking privilege, and his
views on the establishment of mail steam-ship lines, peserve
the consideration of Congress. I also call the special at-
tention of Congress to the statement of the Postmaster-
General respecting the sums now paid for the transporta-
tion of mails to the Panama Railway Company, and com-
mend to their early and favourable consideration the sug-
gestions of that officer in relation to new contracts for mail
transportation upon that route, and also upon the Tehuan-
tepec and Nicaragua routes.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The United States continue in the enjoyment of amic-
able relations with all foreign Powers.
When my last annual Message was transmitted to Con-
gress, two subjects of controversy, one relating to the en-
listment of soldiers in this country for foreign service, and
the other to Central America, threatened to disturb the
good understanding between the United States and Great
Britain. Of the progress and termination of the former
question you were informed at the time ; and the other is
now in the way of satisfactory adjustment.
The object of the convention between the United States
and Great Britain of the 19th of April, 1850, was to secure,
for the benefit of all nations, the neutrality and the com-
mon use of any transit way, or interoceanic communica-
tion across the Isthmus of Panama which might be opened
within the limits of Central America. The pretension
subsequently asserted by Great Britain to dominion or
control over territories in or near two of the routes, those
of Nicaragua and Honduras, were deemed by the United
States not merely incompatible with the main object of
the treaty, but opposed even to its express stipulations.
Occasion of controversy on this point has been removed by
an additional treaty, which our Minister at London has
concluded, and which will be immediately submitted to
the Senate for its consideration. Should the proposed
supplemental arrangement be concurred in by all the par-
ties to be affected by it, the objects contemplated by the
original convention will have been fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and Great Britain,
of the sth June, 1854, which went into effective operation
in 18_5, put an end to causes of irritation between the two
countries, by securing to the United States the right of
fishery on the coast of the British North American pro-
vinces, with advantages equal to those enjoyed by British
subjects. Beside the signal benefits of this treaty to a
largo class of our citizens engaged in a pursuit couneeted to
no inconsiderable degree with our national prosperity and
strength, it has had a favourable effect upon other inte-
rests, in the provision it made for reciprocal freedom of
trade between the United States and the British provinces
in America.

The exports of domestic articles to those provinces during
the last year amounted to more than 22 millions of dollars,
exceeding those of the preceding year by nearly seven mil-
lions of dollars ; and the imports therefrom, during the
same period, amounted to more than 21 millions—an in-
crease of six millions upon those of the previous year.
The improved condition of this branch of our commerce
is mainly attributable to the above-mentioned treaty.
Provision was made in the first article of that treaty for a
commission to designate the mouths of rivers to which the
common right of fishery on the coast of the United States
and the British provinces was to extend. This commission
has been employed apart of two seasons, but without much
progress in accomplishing the object for which it was insti-
tuterd, in consequence of a serious difference of opinion be-
tween the commissioners, not only as to the precise point
where the rivers terminate, but in many instances as to
what constitutes a river. These difficulties, however, may
be overcome by resort to the umpirage provided for by the •
treaty.
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since the commence-
ment of my Administration to relieve our trade to the Bal-
tic from the exaction of Sound Dues by Denmark have not
yet been attended with success. Other Governments have
also sought to obtain a like relief to their commerce, and
Denmark was thus induced to propose au arrangement
to all the European Powers interested in the subject; and
the manner in which her proposition was received war-
ranting her to believe that a satisfactory arrangement
negotiations he
with them could soon be concluded, she made a strong r
with the United
peal to this Government for temporary suspension of a).
de-
finite action on its part, iu consideration of the embarrass-
ment
condition
an immediate
which
adjustment might result t
ofo
therhe Europeanquestion
of June last, and
States.
This request has been acceded to, upon the
that the sums collected after the 16th
until the 16th of June next, from vessels andl cargoes
ered as paid
be-
longing to our merchants, are to be conatt
arrangement between Denmark
under protest and subject to future adjustment. There is
andreason h toe mbaerliiteivmee that
Powersan oarrrEa nuprez
.on the subject will be
enthbee resumed and terminated in
tshooenucnointecdlusdteadt,esanindaythtaht
pending negotiations with
a swatiistfhacstpoaryinmnoannneewr.-
difficulties have arisen, nor has much
progress been made in the adjustmeut of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose of relieving
sourom some
commercial
its
burdens, and
intercourse
P ro
withvid lanngy forill ht
se. more speedy
settlement of local dispute
a growing out of that intercourse,
have not yet been attended
- -

MARITIME LAW.
this SoonSoon after the commencement of the late war in Europe
Government submitted to the consideration of all
maritime nations two principles for the security of neutral
commerce; one that the neutral flag should cover enemies'
goods, except articles contraband of war; and the other,
that neutral property on board merchant vessels of belli-
gerents should be exempt from condemnation, with the
exception of contraband articles.
These were not presented as new rules of international
law, having been generally claimed by neutrals, though
not always admitted by belligerents: One of the parties
to the war—Russia--as well as several neutral Powers,
promptly acceded to these propositions ; and the two other
principal belligerents—Great Britain and France—having
' consented to observe them for the present occasion, a fa-