Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-27


tent force on the of Africa to prevena fraudulent
use of our flag by foreigners.
Recent experience has shown that the provisions IL
onr existing laws which relate 10 the sale and transfer
of American vessels while abroad, are extremely dc.c
five ADVANTAGE has hecn taken OF these detects tt
give to vessels wholly belonging to foreigners, and ma
vioatino the ocean, an apparent American ownership
This character has been well simulated as 10 aiiofs
them comparative security IN prosecuting inc save
trades traffic emphatcay denounced in our statutes
REGARDED with adherence by our citizens, and OF whcf
the cectual suppression is nowhere more sincerely de
sired than in the United States These circumstance
make it proper to recommend to your early attention
careful revision cf these laws that, without impeding
the freedom and facilities of navigation, or impair
ing an important branch of industry connected wit
IT, the integrity and honor of flag may be carefully
prescryed Information derived from our Consul a
Havana, showing the necessity of this, was commune
Gated to committee of the Senate the close oil tht
last session, but late, it appeared TO be actce
upon 1t will be brought to your notice by the proper
department with additional communications from Other
sources
The latest accounts from the Exploring Expedition
represent it proceeding successfully in It's objects
and promising results less useful to trade and nav
CATION than to science.
the first of July last about 133 500 miles, and the
rate of annual transportation upon them "a ,496S1c
miles The number of post Offices that day was
twelve thousand seven hundred and eighty, and the
thirteenth umo, thirteen thousand and twenty-eight
The revenue of the Post Office Department for the
wear ending with the Both of June last was four mil
lions four hundred and sevcntysix thousand hun
dred and thirty ght dolars-eXhibItInT increase
over the preceding year of two hundred and ortyone
thousand five hundred and sixty dollars The engage
mens and liabilities of the Department for the same
period are four millions six hundred and twenty -four
thousand one hundred and seventeen dollars.
The excess Of liabilities the for the last
two years has been met out of the surplus which had
previously accumulated The cash on hand on the
thireth ultimo was about :s206 70l 95, and the
rent income of the Department varies very little from
the rate of current expenditures. Most Of the service
suspended last year has been restored and most of the
new routes established by the act OF 9TH July, 1885
have been set in operation at an annual cost of $780,
963 Notwithstanding the pccunIary difficulties o the
country the revenue of the Department appears to be
increasing: and unless it shall he seriously checked by
the recent suspension of payment by many of the
banks, it will be able not only to maintain the present
mail service, but in short time to extend it. 1t gra
tfyng to witness the promptitute and fidelity with
which the agents of this Department in general per
form their public duties.
Some difficulties have arisen in relation to contracts
for the transportation of the mails by railroad and steam
boat companies 1t appears that the maximum of com
pensation provided by Congress for the transportation
of the mails upon railroads is not sufficient to induce
of the companies to convey them at such hours a:
are required for the accommodation OF the public. 1t Is
one of the most important duties Of the General Go
vcrnment to provide and maintain for the use OF tn,
people of the States the best practicable mail establish
To at that end 1t indispensable that the
Post Office Department shall be enabled to control tbs
hours al which the mails shall be carried over railroads
as it now does over all other roads Should serious
convencnccs arise from the nadequacv of the comprn
sation now provided by law from unreasonable de-
mands by any of the railroad companies the subject Is
of such general Importance as to require the prompt
| attention of Congress.
~ ta3,c
medy is obvious, and has been suggested by the Post
master. General The War and Navy Departments al.
ready employ steamboats, in their service, and although
it is by no means desirable that the Government should
undertake the transportation OF or freight as
business there can be reasonable objection To run.
ming boats temporarily, whenever may be necessary to
put down attempts at extorton, TO be discontinued as
soon as reasonable contracts can be obtained
The suggestions Of the Postmaster General relative
to the inadeQuacy of the legal allowance to witnesses
in of prosecutions tor mail depredations, merit
vonr serious consideration. The safety of the mails
1uires that such prosecutions shall be efficient, and JUS
ticc to the citizen whose time required to be gwen To
the public demands not on that his expenses shall be
paid but that he shall receive reasonable compensa
| ton
The Reports from the War, Navy and Post Office De.
partments will accompany this communication, and
one from the Treasury Department will be presented
to Congress in few days.
For various details in respect to the matters IN charge
of these departments, would refer you to those I'M
portant documents, satisfied that you will find in them
many valuable suggestions, which will be found well
deserving the attention of the Legislature.
i From re port made in December of last year by the
Secretary of State, to the Senate, showing the trial
docket OF each of the Circuit Courts and the number
of miles each Judge has travel in the performance
his duties, great inequality appears in the amount Of
labor assigned to each judge. The number of terms
be held in each Of the courts composing the ninth
circuit the distances between the places at which they
sit and from thence to the seat of Government, are
represented TO be such render il impossible for the
Judge of that circuit perform in manner correspond
inc with the public cxiGences, his term and cIrcn
duties revision therefore, OF the present arrange
mcnt of the circuits seems TO be called for and
mcndcd to your notice.
think it proper to call your attention TO the power
assumed BY Territorial Legislatures to authorize the
issue of bonds BY corporate companies on the guarantee
Of the Territory. Congress passed law III 1870, pro
vding that no act of Territorial Legislature incor
porang banks should have the force OF law until ap
proved by Congress, but acts of very cxccponable
character previously passed by the Legislature of Flo
da suffered to remain in force, by virtue OF wheel
bonds may be issued to very large amount by those
institutions upon the faith of the Territory. resolu
ton intending to be joint one, passed the Senate a
the same session. expressing the sense OF Congress tina
the laws in question ought not be permitted to remar
in force unless amended in many material respects
but il failed in the House Of Representatives for wan
of time, and the desired amendments have not beer
made The interests involved are of great importance
and the subject deserves your early and careful aten
ton.
The continued agitation of the question relative t.
the best mode of keeping and dsbrsng the public mo
ncy still injuriousy affects the business of the coun
try The suspension of specie payments in 1887, rem
dcred the of deposite banks, prescribed BY th
act of 1896 rather of embarrassment than aid
and of necessity placed the custody of most Of tn
public money afterwards collected in charge of thu
public officers. The new securities for its safety
which this required, principal cause of my con
vening an extra session Of Congress- but in consc
quence of a disagreement between the two Houses
neither them at any subsequent period, has Their
been any legislation on the subject. The effort mad
at the last session to obtain the authority of Congress
to punish the of public money for private purpose
as crime, measure attended under other Govern
ments with signal advantage, was also unsuccessful
from dversities of opinion that body, notwithstand
ing the anxiety doubtless felt by it to afford every prac
tcabc security The result of this is still to leave tn