Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

stages ofthe government, when the nation was mi
infancy, our shipping interests and e6nneic6 eoh'
paIatyeiy 4maH, ma our 5ssepscss limited epS R9pq!s
Of the original thirteen States TINT peiicy ust Sc
seniialY different now that ws aveRrovssl nom three
TO more than twenty millions Of ReoPlsS-7that oHr
commerce. carried in our ships, is found in eve.
ry sea- and that territorial bountsties and settie-
ments have been SO greatly expanded0 heithsrauaf
commerce, nor our long line Of coast en bs ocean end
on the lakes, can be successfully detesded sgepst
foreign aggression by means df fortiacAtieas
alone. B These are essential at i9ePertapt
c mn ial and military points, r99tS, or
chief reliance for this object must be on
lied, efficient navy The benefts resulting rem sgch
navy are not confined to the Atsglie Sfates, The
productions Of the interior which seek market D.
broad are directly dependenton the safety md free
dom Of our comfnerce. The Oceupaaionoftes Raiszb
below New Orleans BY hostile force wonia empatf-
Mississippi and affect the value of fe agieultufsl
products Of the entire valley efthat mghfy tiyerr
ITS tributaries. d., . r .,,..y,, O.. tet.ai ur;.sd
1t has never been our policy 70 rnaihtsin lsrge
standing armies in time Of peace. They are contrary
the genius of OUT free institutions, would impese
heavy burdens on the people, and be- dangerous 70
public liberty Our reliance for ptotecton. and de-
fence on the land must be mainly on our cifizensod
ready in times pus rush with alacry, at the call
of their country to her defence. This description o.
force, however cannot defend our coast hafbofsand
inland seas, protect our commerce tne ocean
the lakes. These must be protected by our navy.
Considering an increased naval force, and especia-
ly of steam vessels, corresponding with OUT gHowlh
and importance as nation, and proportioned TO- the
increased and increasing naval power OF other na,
tons of vast importance regards our safety, and
the great and growing interests 70 be protected ~
recommend The subject to the favomble considere-
ton of Congress. ~ -.
The repent Of the Postmaster General hesewith
communicated, contains detailed statement Of the
operations Of his department during the past year
will be seen that the income from postases will fall
short of the expenditures for the year between one
and two millions of dollars THUS deficiency has
been caused by the reduction OF the rates OF postag
which was made by the act Of the thrdof March la:s
No principle has been more generally aGauiesced ih
by the people than that this department should susa
tain itself by limiting its expenditures TO Its income:
Congress has never sought to'make II a source OF
revenue for general purposes except for short PeT
cd during the last war with Great Britain, nor should
| it ever become charge on the general treasury.
Congress shall adhereto this principle, as ttlnk
they ought, it will be necessary either to cprtail e
present mail service, SO as to reduce the expenoi-
lures or so to mody the oct of the third Of March laet
as to improve its revenues. The extension OF the
mail service, and the ADDITIONAL facilities which Will
be demanded by the rapid extension and increase OF
reputation on our western frontier, will not admifot
such curtament as will materially Ieduce the pIesen
expenditures. theadustment OF the tariff OF Pcsl-
ages the interests Of the people demand that the low
est rates be adopted which will produce the
ry revenue to meet the expenditures OF the depare'
ment. invite the attention OF Congress to the sus'
gesons of General on this subject nn<
der the belief that such modification of the late law
may be made as will yield sufficient revenue without
further calls on the treasury, and With very little
change in the present rates OF postage. - .'".v
| Proper measures have been taken In pursuance Of
the Of the third Of March last for the establish
ment of lines Of mail steamers between this and foA
reign countries. The importance. of this sersies
commends itself strongly to favorable consideration,
With the growth of our country, the public busis
ness, which deyolves on the heads Of the several
! Executive Departments, has greatly increased. In
some respects the distribution of duties among them
be incongruous, and many of these might 10
transferred from one another with advantage to the
public interests. more auspicous time for the con-
sideration Of this subject by ConsIess with view I'd
system in the organization ofthe departmental
and appropriate division fthe public business
will not probably occur. RI, oas -. MIRA
The most important duties Of the State Department
relate to foreign affairs. By the great enlargemet
of the family Of nations, the increase of our COM
merce, and the corresponding, extension Of our con-
sular system the business Of this department has tech
greatly increased In its present organization many
duties of domestic nature, and consisting of deals
are devolved on the Secretary of Sate, Which do mob
appropriately belong to the foreign department. ofthe
government and may properly be transferred seps
other department. One ofithese grows out Of The
law concerning the Patent Office, which, afew years
since, subordinate clerkship but has become q
dstAnea bureau ofgreat Importance: With an excel
lent lnseEnal organization, It is still connected with
the State Department In the transaction of Its BUSH
ness, questions of much importance to inventors, md
to the community frequently arise which, by e4jsts
ing laws referred for decision to board Of which
the Secretary Of State is member These questions
are legal, and the eennexion which ANw exists her
tween the State Department and the Patent Office,
may, with great propriey and advantage, be trans.
ferred to the Attorney General. ..-s.sj.ssi
In his last annual message to Congress, Mr Nsdi-
son invited attention to proper provision for the At
torney General as important in the executiveest
tablishment." This recommendation was repeated
by some of his successors, The official dutes ofthS
Attorney General have been much increased within
few years, and his Office has become one Of greet
importance. His duties may be still further incTeass
ed with advantage to the public nterests As eke
ecutive officer, his residence and constant attention
at the seat ofgovernment are required. Legal ques-
tlons involving important principles and large Ar
mounts af public money, are constantly referred to
him by the President and executive departments for
his examination and decision. The public business
under his official management before the judiciary
has been augmented by the extension Of our ter.
rltory, and the acts Of Congress authorizing suits a.
gainst the United States for large bodies of valuable
public lands greatly TO increase his abors and
sponsbilities. Therefore recommend that the A.
torney General be placed on the same footing the
heads of the other executive departments, with such
subordinate officers, provided by law for this depart
ment, may be required to discharge the additional
duties whice have been or may be devolved upon hm
Congress possess the power of exclusive legislar
ton over the District of Coumbia and l commend
the interests of it's inhabitants your favorable con
sideration The people of this District have no eg-
isative body of their own, and must conde their To-
cal as well as their general interests to represents
tves in whose election they have voice, and over
whose official conduct they have no control. Each
member ofthe National Legislature should consider
himself their immediate representative, and eh6la
be the more ready give attention to their interests
and wants, because he is not responsible to- them,
recommend that liberal and generous spirit may
characterize your measures in relation to Ahem. I
shall be ever disposed to show proper regsrd for
their wishes, and, within constitutional limits, shnl
at a times cheerfully cooperate With you or the ia.
vancement of their welfare '3 t'gs BIS ,lKiiiIG
thrust itmay not be deemed inappropriate 70, the
occasion for me TO dwell for moment on tho memo.
ry Of the most emminent citizen ofour country wio
during the summer thpt has gone By, hos lescenlta
to the tomb The enjoyment of contemplating, at
the advanced age of near four score wears the happv