Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-12-11


and sixty two Thousand eight hum
dred and twenty-one dollars and forty
six cents, il appears that collections have
bean made from the outstanding balan-
ces 70 meet the principal part ofthe cur
rent demanas.
IT is estimated that not more than
two hundred and City thousand dollars
of the above balance can be collected,
and that considerable part Of this sum
can only be realised by aresoTt 70 legal
process. Some improvement in the
receipts for postage is expected. A
prompt attention to the collection OF
nnonsys receiysd by postRasters, it is
believe twill enable the department to
continue It's operation without aid from
the Treasury, unhss the expenditure
shall be increased by the establishment
OF nav mail routes.
A revision of soGo parts Of the post
Office law may be necessary, and il is
submitted, whether i.would not be pro-
per TO provide for the appointment Of
pos.masters, where the compensation
exceeds certain amount by nomina-
ton to the Senate, as other officers of
the gen'l government are appointed.
Having communicated my views 10
Congress, al the COMMENCEMENT of
last session, respecting the encourage
ment which onght to be given 10 Our
manufactures s. the principle on which
i. should he founded, have only to
add that those views remain unchang-
ed, and that the present state OF tllsse
countries, with which we have the
most immediate political relations and
greatest commercial Intercourse, tends
10 confirm them. Under this impress
siop, / recommend a review of the Ia
riff for the purpose of aliording such
additional protection to these articles
which we are prepared to nlanuGc-
.ure, Or which are more Immediately
connected With the defence and in6e-
pendeuce of the country
The actual state OF the public &C
couots furnishes additional evidence Of
the efficiency OF the present system of
accountability, in relation to the public
| expenditure. Of the moucy drawn
from the treasury since the 4th March,
1877, the sum remaining unaccounted
for ON the S0ah Of September last, isl
| more than million aud half OF dol
lars less than on the 30th of 6ep.eu,-
Der preceding; and, during the same
period, reduction of nearly q million
of dollars has been made in the amount
| of the unsettled accounts for monies |
advanced previously 10 the 4th of
| March, 1917. 1t will be obvious.
that, IN proportion as the mass OF &C
counts of the latter description is di- |
minished, by settlement, the difficulty
of settling the residue is increased,
from the consideration, that, in many !,
| instances, it can be obtained by legal
process For more precise details on |
this subject, I refer TO .. report from |,
the first comptroller of the treasury.
The sum which was appropriated |!
at the last session, for the repair. of the /
Cumberland road, has been applied |
with good effect to that object A /,
final report has not yet teen received
from the agent who was appointed to
sUpcrintend it. AS soon as it is receiv-
ed, it shall be communicated to Con.
gress.
Many patriotic and enlightened cjti4
zens who have made the subject an OBJ
ject of particular investigation, have sug- |
gested an improvement Of still greater !
importance.-Yhey are of opinion that |
the waters of the Chesapeake and Ohio |
may be connected together by enc con-
tinued canal, and at an expense far
short of the value and Importance of the
object to be obtained. If this could be
accomplished, it is impossible to calcu-
hate the beneficial consequences which
would result from il. A great portion
of the produce of the fertile country
through which it would pass, would find
market through that channel. Troops
might be moved with great facility, in
war, with cannon and every kind of nu-
milton, and in either direction. Con-
meeting the Atinntc with the western
county,in line passing through the
seat Of the national government, 1t would
contribute essentially TO strengthen the
bond of Union itself. Relieving as | do,
that Congress possess the rights to APP
propriate money for such a national OBJ
ject, (,he jurisdiction remaining to the
states through which the canal would
pass submit it to your consideration
whether itmay not be advisable TO au-
l, 4