Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-12-11

whether Congress should not direct the establish
sneni OF n rope walk IN connection with the con
tefnplatod Navy ard. measure net only OF
economy, but as highly useful and necessary.
Tho only establishment Of the sort connected
with the service IS located n Boston and the ;ld-
'anta9es of similar establishment, nient
% The hcinp-@rowIng region, must be apparent 10
al.
Tho report of the Secretary presents cher mat
Icrs to your consderat on. Of an important char
acter in connection with the service.
In referring vou 10 the accompanying report oi
the Postmaster General. It affords continued
cause of qualification TO be able 10 advert tho
fact. that the affairs of the Department, for the
last four years have been SO conducted as, from
It's unaided resources. to meet It's large eXpendl-
turos. On my coming into office debt of near
" oop.HOo eXstoI against tho department.
which Congress discharged by an appropriation
from the Treasury. The Department, on the 4;h
of March next. Will be found, nndcr the m &C.
mont Of the present efficient head, free of debt or
embarrassment, winch could only have been done
BY the Observance and practice Of the greatest
vigilance and economy. The laws have contem-
plated, throughout, that the Department should be
self-sustalned; bat it may become necessary,
with the wiscst regard TO public interests, 10 IN
troduce amendments Y alterations IN tho system.
There is strong desire manifested IN many quar-
tcrs so to alter the tariff Of letter postage TO
reduce tho amount of tax at present imposed.
Should such measure be carried into ettoct. to
tho full extent desired il cannot well be doubted
but that, for the first years Of It's operation. d.
ininishcd revenue would be collected. tho supply
of which would necessarily constitute q charge
upon the Treasury. Whether such a result
would be desirable, it will be for Congress. in its
wisdom 10 determine. 1t may in general be as
serted, that radical alteration III any system
should rather be brought about gradually, than by
sudden changes; and by pursuing tiIs prudent
policy in the reduction Of letter postage. the De-
venue which would accrue ty the increase Of let
tiers. The state and condition of the public Trca-
surv has, heretofore, been such as to proc udc
the recommendation OF any material change.-
The difficulties upon tins head have however
ccased. and large discretion IS now left TO tho
GoyCrnmct.
cannot too strongly urge the policy Of au-
thorizing the establishing 4 line of steamships to
regularly ply between ti4is country and foreign
ports. and upon our own waters. for tho trans
portation of the mail. The example of the Brit
ish Government IS we'll worthy of imitation iii
this respect. The belief entertained TINT tho G.
monuments arising from the transportation of
mail matter TO foreign countries, would operate OF
itself us an induccmen! individual enter
prise to undertake that branch OF the task; and
.tlo remuneration Of the GoFcrnment would con-
sist In the addition readily mado TO steam ma
W IN of emergency by the shIps 50 employ
cd. Should this suggestion meet your approval.
manl Of experienced officers of the navy will
not escape Your observation. Tho application
of steam to the purpose OF naval warfare cogen:-
Is recommends extensive steam nlartne as I'M
por:ant in estimating the Gctcnc25 OF the coun-
try. Fortunately. this may be attained by us to
a great extent without mourning any large amount
Of expenditure. Steam vessels to bo engaged III
the transportation of mails on principal wa
tcr-courses. lakes, and parts Of our coast, could
also bo so constructed as TO be efficient
scs Whon needed; and would of themselves con-
stittle Formidable force IN order 10 rcpcl attacks
from abroad. VIC cannot be blind TO tho fact.
that other nations have already added largo
numbers Of steam ships to their naval
mcnts, and that this and powerful agent IS
destined TO revolutionize the condition of the
world. It becomes the United States therefore.
looking to their security, 10 adopt similar polcy
and the plan suggested Will enable them to do 50
at a small comparative cost.
take the greatest pleasure in bearing tcs:mo-
nv to tie zeal and untiring industry which has
cnarac tcrzcd the conduct of the members of the
Executive Cabinet. Each, in his appropriate
sphere. has rendered me the most ciiIcIent and IN
CARRYING ON the Government, and it will not,
trust, appear ont Of place for me to bear tins pub
lie testimony. The cardinal objects which should
ever be held in view by those entrusted with the
administration of public affairs. arc rigidIy, and
without favor or affection so to interpret the ma
tonaI will, expressed In the laws. as that injustice
should be done to none--lustcc 10 all. This has
been the rule upon which they have acted; aud
thus it is believed that few cases. if any. exist.
wherein our fellow-citizcns. who from time t.
time have been drawn to the Scat of Government
for the settlement of their transactions with the
Government. have gone away dissatisfied. W here
the testimony has been perfected, and was esteem
Cd satisfactory. their claims have been promptly
audited and this in the absence Of all lavorItsin
or Partially. Tho Government which is not Just
10 rs Own people. can neither claim their alice
ton nor the respect of the world. VI the same
time the closest attention has been paid TO those
matters which relate more Immediately 10 the
grea, concerns of the country. Order and etll-
cheney in each branch OF tho public service, have
prevailed. accompanied By q system Of the most
rigid responsibility the part OF the receiving
and disbursng agents. The fact IN illustration