The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-01-07

gress. an attempt was made in the spring to termi
nate the Florida war by negotiation. II IS to be
regretted that these humane intentions shouid nave
been frustrated and that the effort TO bring these
unhappy difficulties 10 Il satisfactory conclaSlon,
should have failed. Bat, after entering INTO sol
emn engagements with the Commanding General,
the Indians, without any provocaton, recommend
ed their acts Of ireachery and murder. The re-
uewal of hoslitles in that lerrltory rehders IL
necessary that should recommend to your favora.
bic consideration the plan winch VIII be submitted
that department to conduct them 10 II successful is.
sue
Having had an opportunity # personally inspec-
Ting portion Of tho troops during the last summer
it gives me pleasure To bear testimony TO the Sue
cess of the effort to improve their discipline, by
keeping them in large bodies as the nature of our
service will permit / recommend, thereiors, that
commodous 81 permanent barracks be constructed
at the several ports designated by the Secretary of
War. Notwithstanding the high state of their dis
cpne and excellent police, tho evils resulting TO
the service from the deficiency ofcVnpany officers
very apparent, and recommend that the
staff officers be permanently separated from the
line.
The navy has been usoruy and honoraby en-
ployed in protecting the rights and property oteui
Citizens, wherever the condition Of affairs seemed
to require Its presence. with the exception OF
one instance where an outrage, accompanied by
murder was committed on vessel OF the United
States while engaged in a lawful commerce, moth.
ing is known to have occurred TO impede or modest
the enterprise of our citizens on that element
where it is signally displayed. On learning this
daring act of piracy Commodore Reed proceeded
Immediately 10 the spot and receiving no satisiac-
lion either in the surrender of the murderers the
restoration Of the pundered property, inflicted Sc
we're and merited chastisement on the barbarians
II will be seen by the report of the Secretary of
the Navy respecting the disposition OF our ships of
war, that it has been deemed necessary TO station
a competent force on the coast Of Africa, to PFC
vent fraudulent of our flag by foreigners.
Recent experience has shown that the provisions
in our existing laws which relate 10 tho sale and
transfer of American vessels while abroad, are ex-
tremey defective. Advantage has been taken OF
these defects to give TO vessels wholly belonging
10 foreigners, and navigating the ocean, and appar-
ent American ownership. This character has
been so well simulated as t" afford them compare
tive security in prosecuting the slave trade traffic
alphabetically denounced in our statutes, regarded
with abho.ance by our citizens, and of which the
efcctual suppression is nowhere more sincerely de-
stances make it proper 10 recommend to your oally
attention a careful revision oil these laws, so that
without impeding the freedom and facilities of our
navigation, impairiDg an important branch of
our industry connected with it, the integrity and
honor of our flag may by carefully preserved. In
formation derived from our Consul at Havana.
showing tho necessity of this, was communicated
to committee Of the Senate nenr the close of the
last session. but late, appeared, TO be acted
upon 1t will be brought to your notice by the pro
per department, with additional communlca atoms
from other sources.
The latest accounts from the Exploring Exped-
ton represent it as proceeding successfully in its
objects and promising results no less useful 10
trade and navigation than 10 science.
The extent OF post roads covered by mail service
on the first of July last was about 1885 $50 miles,
and the rate of annual transportation upon them
81 ,4e6,s79 miles, The number of post offices on
that da was twelve thousand seven hundred and
eighty, and on the hrtie1h u'Iimo, thirteen thous.
and twenty eight. ~
The gear ending with the thrtieth of June last was
four million four hundt cd and seventy six thousand
six hundred and thirty eight dollars-exhibiting an
increase over the preceding year of Two hundred
and forty thousand five hundred and sixty dol
lars The engagements and liabilities of the De-
parment for the same period are four millions SIX
hundred and twenty four thousand one hundred IL
seventeen dollars.
The excess of liabilities over the revenue for
the last two years has been out of the surp
which had previously accumulated The cash on
hand on the thrtieth uItimo, was about $2oG70l
95 and the current income OF the Department var
les very little from The rate of current exPendiu'
Most Of the service suspended last year has been
restored and most OF the new routes established
by the act of 9Th July 1885 haze me'n SO, in
Grafton Of an annual cost OF $685. G3 Notwilh-
standing the pecuniary difficulties OF the country,
the revenue of the Department appears to be in
rreasng and unless it shall be seriously checked
by the recent suspension Of payment by so many
of tho banks, it will be able not only to maintain
the present mail service but in short time to ex-
tend it. 1t is gratifying to witness the PromPtltude
and fidelity with which the agents of this Depart
,nent in general perform their public duties.
Some difficulties have arisen IN relation 10 con-
tracts for the transportation OF the mails by railroad
and steamboat companies. 1t appears that the
maximum Of compensation provided by Congress
for The ansporation Of the mails upon railroads
is not sufficient to induce Of the companies to
convey them such an hour as are required for
the accommodation Of the public. 1t is one OF
the most important duties of the General Govern
ment to provide and maintain for the use of tho
people of the States the best practicable mail es-
Establishment. To arrive at that end it is indispen-
sable that the Post Office Dep lrtnent shall be ena
bled to control the hours at which the mails shall
be carried over railroads, as it now does over all
Other roads Should serious inconv eniences arise
from the inadoquacy of the compensation now pro-
vided by law or from unreasonable demands by
anv of the railroad companies, the subject is Of
such general importance to require the prompt
attention Of Congress-.
In relation to Steamboat lines, the efficient
remedy is obvious and has been suggested by the
Postmaster General. The War and Navy Depart
ments already employ steamboats, in their service,
and although it is by no means desirable that the