The Arkansas banner., 1847-12-20

eenveFtea ia.o var sieamers and the rxht reserved 10 take them for pahlie use VI aad greatly to the emcssaey and strength of this dcscdpiies sf OaF naya force.
 Te the Steamers ihas authorized aud under con. trsets made by the Secretary of the Navy, should ne added se osher steamern. authorized under con tracts made in pursaaoee of law, by the Post Mas ter C~nsfal; making an addition, ia the whole. of eighteen var steamers t1bect to b. tsken for pub isc use As fuFtAer contracts for the transportation of The mails 0 iof~gh countries must bs authorized v Cosgre~. this hamber may be enlarged iadefn- 1 The enlighsened policy by which rapid cnmrnu- nlcsion with different parts ef the gsobo, by Of AWertean built ssennsers. would find an ample eomPenEafien in tse increase of commerce.. and ta HiakG eeastry and sss resources more favor- ssay knewn shsoaA Bot the Nationai advansage Is still greater. of haxing Naval Otiecrs made fA- fnilsar utah ssesm navigation; and Of Aavtng the psvilige Of fAking the ships already equipped. for immediate service at mouaenf's warning; ana wcald be eAearly purchased by fhe compensation 10 be paid Tor the transPoss ssnson of tbs mail h then over and above the postage received.
 Insa national pride, DO lesS than our eoraEner- esai nseresaa would seem to favor the policy above menfioned. augmenting the number of this descrip- ton ef vesselR They can be built in our country cheaper than In any other country in tho world reier yon 10 the accompanying report of the Post Master General, fos deiAiled and satisfactory VI ep ~SANs4Aon @A14 VkpeI4ltohe ot tAAk 0e- Paxtmeat for the past year. It Is gratifying to nd that h @ shoFt time after the reduction of the rates ef postage. and notwithstanding the increaae of mai seEvice, the revenue received for tho year will be sufficient to pay all expenses md no further aid will be required for that purpose.
 | The first of the American steamers authorized by the act of a March. .sss. s~as completed, and en tsred upon the service ihe lst June last and is noH on her a voyage to Bremen. and other inter medinte ports The other vessels authorized under the provisions of that act ia Of consiruc- ton. and will be put upon the line as soon as com. piefed CoDtrsets have been made cr the trans3or- iston of the mail, in steamers, from Charleston to Havana.
 reciprocal and satisfactory postal arrangement has been made by the Postmaster General, with the authorities of Bremen; and DO difficulty Is appre- hended in making similar arrangement with oih- 1 CT Powrrs, with which we may hafe eommunica- ton, by mail steamers, except Great Britain. On the arrival of the American steamer bound to Bremen, at Southampton, in the month of yune last the British Pest Office directed the collection of discriminating Po~iages, on ali letters, and other rsaiiabie matter to Great Britain. or which went into the British Post Office. their way to France or otlser paris of EuroDe. The effect of the order of the British Post Office is, sabect all letters and other matter, 10 double postage,-one postage having been previously paid them in the l. &; while letters transported British steamers arc subject 10 pay but single PorStage.
 This measure was adopted for the avowed object of protecting the British line of mail steamers now running between Bosion and Liverpool and if con- tlnned. must speedily put end to ali transports ton of all letters and other matter, by American steamers, end gire the British steamers monopoly of the business. just and fair reciprocity is all that ve desire, and on tsis must insist By our
 laws on each discrimination is made against British steamers bringing letters into ports but all iet ters arriving in the [. :. subjected to the sae rat1s of postage, whether brought in British or
 nf Postmaster General for fall statement of the facts in the case. and of the steps taken by him 10 rect this inequality. He has exerted all the powers conferred upon him by the existing laws
 The Minister of the U. s. in London has brought the subject 10 the attention of the British Govern meet; and is now engaged in negotiation foF the purpose of adjusting reciprocal postage arrange ments, which shall b. equally just to both countries Should he f&il in concluding such arrangements. and should Great BIiiain insist on enforcing the unequal measure she has adoptesi, it wia become necessary to confer additional power the Post master General. In order fo enab'e hi,a .e meet the emergency. and to put own steamers 1 equal footing with British steamers engaged in transporting the mail between the two countries recommend that such powers be conferred.
 In view of the existing state of cur country. I trust il may mol be inappropriate to call to mind the words of wisdom and adInOnition, Of tbe first and most iussroas of my predecessors. in bis farewell ! of men. who served his country long, and loved it so much, foresaw with serious concern, the dan ger 10 our union, in characterzing parties by geo graphical distinctions-Nor oriheru Southern, Atian- tic, and W Western-whence designing men may deayer to excite belief that there real differ ence of local interests and views, and warned his eountrymen sgains, it.
 So deep and solemn his conviction of the importance of the Union, and of preserving har- mony between its different parts, that he declared 10 his counrymen in that address, It is ef infinite momeat that you should properly estimate the isn- mense value of your National Union, ie your col leciive and individual happiae<s;-,hat you should cherish cordial, hsbitnal, and immoyable attach meni to it;-accustoming yourselves to think and speak of il as the palladium of your political safety and for its preservation with jealous ety.-fiScountenancing whatever may suggest a suspicion thai il can, in any event. be abandoned,-and indignantly frown the first dawDng of every attempt to alienste any portion of country from the rest, enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the varions parts
 After a lapse of hafa century. these admoni,ions tail upon us with all the force of truth. IL is diff eut ,o estimate tie Inmefsse value os our glorious Union of coRlederaied States. to which we are SO mach indebted for our growth in population and wealth. and for all that constitutes great and happy nation. Unimporant are ali onr differences upon minor questions of public policy. compared with its preservation; and how scrspalously sboaid we avoid s agitsng topics which snsy tend 10 agi- tate and divide us into eonending par:ies separated by geographical lines, whereby il may be weaken ed or endangered.
 Invoking the blessing of the Almighty Ruler of tae Universe upon your deliberations, n wiIl be ly highest duy, not less than my sincere pleasure to cooperate with you in all measures which may tend to promote the hcnor and enduring welfare. of our common country. JAMES K POLK.
 Washington, December ', isz7