Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-06-09

discipline both promptly and efficiently. All
that is required in time of peace is to MAINTAIN
a sufficient number of men TO guard our iOrllh-
cations, to meet any sudden contingency, and
TO encounter the first shock of war. Our chief
reliance must be placed on the militia. They
constitute the great body of national guards and,
inspired by an ardent love of country, will be
found ready at all times, and all seasons TO re-
pair with alacrily TO its defence. Ii will be re-
garded by Congress, doubt not, at suitable
time as one of its highest duties to attend 10
their complete organization and discipline.
The state of the navy pension fund requires
the immediate attention of Congress. By the
operation of the act of the Sd of March, 1887,
entitled "An act for the more equitable admin
istration of the navy pension fund" that fund
has been exhausted. 1t will be seen from The
accompanying report Of Commissioner OF Pen
sions that there will be required for the pay
ment of navy pensioners, on the first of July
next, $S4, ,OO6 O6 l-3, and on the first Of Janu-
ary, l842, the sum of 100000. In addition TO
these sums, about $4,000 will be required to
pay arrears of pensions, which will probably
be allowed between the first of July and the
first of January. lS42, making the whole $780,
006 06 l-3. To meet these payments there is
within the control of the Department the sum
Of $2S, ,040, leaving deficit Of $l2l ,966 06 10
The public faith requires that immediate provi-
sion should be made for the payment Of these
sums.
In order to introduce into the navy desira-
bic efficiency, new system of accountability
may be found to be indispensably necessary.
TO mature plan having for its object the ac-
complishment of an end so important, and to
meet the just expectations Of the country, re-
quire more time than has vet been allowed TO
the Secretary at the head of the Department.
The hope is INDUCED that by the time of your
next regular session measures of importance,
in connexion with this branch of the public SER
vice, may be matured for your consideration.
Although the laws regulating the Post Office
Department only require from the officer charged
with its direction 10 report at the usual annual ses
sion of Congress, the Postmaster General has pre-
sented to me some facts connected with the finan
cial condition of the Department which are deemed
worthy the attention OF Congress. By the accom-
panyng report of that officer it appears that the
existing liabilities of that Department beyond the
means of payment at its command cannot be less
than five hundred thousand dollars. AS the laws
organizing that branch of the public service con-
fine the expenditure to its own revenues, defclen
cies therein cannot be presented under the usual
estimates for the expenses of Government. 1t
must therefore be left to Congress to determine
whether the moneys now due to contractors shall
be paid from the public Treasury, or whether that
department shall continue under its present en-
barrassments. 1t will be seen by the report of
the Postmaster General that the recent lettings of
contracts in several fthe States have been made
at such reduced rates Of compensation as to en-
courage the belief that, if the department re-
lieved from existing difficulties, its future opera
tions might be conducted without any further call
upon the general Treasury.
The power of appointing to Office is one of
character the most delicate and responsible. The
appointing power is evermore exposed to be led
into error. With anxious solicitud9 to select the
most trustworthy for official station cannot be
supposed to possess personal knowledge of the
qualifications of every applicant deem it there
fore proper in this most public manner. to invite,
on the part of the Senate, just scrutiny into the
character and pretensions of every person whom
may bring to their notice in the regular form of
nomination for office Unless persons every way
trustworthy are employed in the public service,
corruption and irregularty will inevitably follow.
| shall, with the greatest cheerfulness, acquiesce
in the decision of that body, and regarding it as
wisely constituted to aid the Executive department
in the performance of this delicate duty, shall
look to its consent and advice" as given only in
furtherance of the best interest of the country
Sidl diSO, dt TIE Earliest proper OCCdSlOH lHNlc
the attention of Congress to such measures as in
my judgment will be best calculated TO regulate
and control the Executive power in reference to
this vitality important subject
shall also, at the proper season. invite your at
tention to the statutory enactments for the sup
preston of the slave trade, which may require to
be rendered more efficient in their provisions
That is to believe that the traffic is on the in
crease Whether such increase is to be ascrbed
to the abolition of slave labor in the British pos
sessions in our vicinity, and an attendant diminu-
ton in the supply of those articles which enter in
to the general consumption of the world, thereby
augmentng the demand from other quarters, and
thus calling for additional labor, it were needless
to inquire The highest considerations of public
honor, as well as the strongest promptngs of hu-
manity, require resort to the most vigorous eff
forts TO suppress the trade
In conclusion, beg to invite your particular at
ton to the interests of this District Nor do
doubt that, in liberal spirit of legislation, you
will seek to advance its commercial as well as its
local interests. Should Congress deem it to be
its duty to repeal the existing ub-Treasury law,
the necessity of providing suitable place of de-
posite for the public moneys which NAV be re-