Litchfield enquirer., 1842-12-15

serving our neutral relations on the boun- dary between us and Texas, and keeping in check the Indians in that quarter, will be maintained so long as circumstances may require.
 For several years angry contentious have grown out of the disposition directed by law to be made of the mineral lands held by the government in several of the states. The government is constituted the landlord, and the citizens of the states wherein lies the land, are its tenants. The relation is an un-
 wise one, and it would be much more con-
 ducive of the public interest that sale of
 the lands should be made than that they
 should remain in their present condition.-
 The supply of the ore would be more abun-
 dautly and certainly furnished when to be
 drawn from the enterprise and the industry
 of the proprietor, than under the present
 system.
 The recommendation of the Secretary in
 regard to the improvements of the Western
 waters and certain prominent harbors on
 the lakes, merit, and no doubt will receive
 your serious attention. The great impor-
 tance of these subjects to the prosperity of
 the extensive region referred to, and the se-
 curity of the whole country in time of war,
 cannot escape observation. The losses of
 life and property which annually occur in
 the navigation of the Mississippi alone be-
 cause of the dangerous Instructions in the
 river, make loud demand upon Congress
 for the adoption of efficient measures for
 their removal.
 The report of the Secretary of the Navy
 will bring you acquainted with that impor-
 tant branch of the public defences. CoRsi-
 dering the already vast and daily increasing
 commerce of the country, apart from the exposure to hostile nroad of an extended seaboard, all that relates to the navy is calculated to excite particular attention-
 Whatever tends to add to it's efficiency,
 without entailng unnecessary charges up- on the treasury, is well worthy of your se- rious consideration. It will be seen that while an appropriation exceeding by less than million the appropriations of the pre- sent year, is asked by the secretary, yet that in this sum is proposed to be included s4Oo,ooo for the purchase of clothing, which when once expended, will be annually re- imbursed by the sale of the clothes, and will thus constitute perpetual fund, with out any new appropriation to the same ob- ject.
 To this may also be added $500O0 asked to cover the arrearages of past years; and $25O,OOO in order to maintain competent squadron on the coast of Africa all of which when deducted will reduce the ex- penditures nearly within the limits of those of the current year. While however the will thus remain very nearly the same as of the antecedent year, it is to add greatly to the operations of the Marine, and in lieu of only 9 ships in and but little in the way of building, to keep, with the same expendi- ture, Al vessels ahoat, and to build l2 ships of q small class.
 A strict system of accountability is esta- blished, and great pains are taken to insure industry, fidelity, and economy in every department of duty. Experiments have been instituted to test the quality of various materials, particularly copper, iron, and coal, SO as to prevent fraud and imposition.
 It will appear by the report of the Post master General that the great point which, for several years, has been so much desired, has, during the current year, been fully ac- The expenditures of the de- ] partment, for the current year, have been brought within it's income, without lessening { its general usefulness. There has been an 1 increase of revenae equal to sSl66, ,000 for | the year 1842 over that of l64l, without, as it is believed, any addition having been made to the number of letters and newspa- pers transmitted through the mails. The Post Office laws have been honestly admin III l accounting for. and paying over by the of the department, the monies which have been received. For the details of the service, refer you to the report.
 l flatter myself that the exhibition thus made of the condition of the public admini- 'tration will serve to convince you that eve- proper attention has been paid to the inte- 'ests of the country by those who have been called to the heads of the different depart nents. The reduction in the annual expen- futures of the government already accom- olished, furnishes sure evidence that eco- ,omy in the application of the public mo- icy, is regarded as paramount duty.
 At peace with all the world-the person. Il liberty of the citizen sacredly maintained, md his rights secured under political insti- utions deriving all their authority from the lirect sanction of the people-with a soil ertile almost beyond example,; and a country blessed with every diversity of cli- nate and production,-what remains to be lone in order to advance the happiness and of such people Under ordi- ,ary circumstances this enquiry could rea- lily be answered.
 The best that could probably be done for people lnhabiting such country, would { )e to fortify their peace and security in the of their various pursuits, by guarding them against invasion from with. ut and violence from within. The rest, for he greater part, might be left to their own 'nergy and enterprise. The chief embar- |, assments which, at the moment, exhibit themselves, have arisen from over-action 1 md the most difficult task that remains to De accomplished is that of correcting and 1 its effects. Between the years lS33 and 1888, additions have been made