Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-14
GREEN MOUNT AIN FREEMAN.

exigencies, so long as our peaceful relations re-
main undisurbed.
Of the amount of military contributions col
lected in Mexico, the sum of seven hundaed and
sixty nine thousand six hundred and fifty dollars
were applied toward the payment of the first in
stallment due under the treaty with Mexico,
The farther sum of three hundred and forty-six
thousand three hundred and sixty nine dollars
and thirty cents has been paid into the treasury,
and unexpended balances still remain in the
hands of dsbursng officers and those who were
engaged in the collections Of these moneys
After tho proclamation of peace, no farther dis
bursements were made of any unexpended mon
eys arising from this source. The balances on
hand were di ected to be paid into the treasury,
and individual claims on the fund will remain
unadjusted until Congress shall authorize their
settlement and payment. These claims are not
considerable in number or amount
| recommend to your favorable consideration
the suggestions of the Secretary of War and
the Secretary of the Navy in regard to legsla-
ton on this subject
Our Indian relations nro presented in most
favorably view in the report from the War De-
partment The wisdom of our policy in regard
10 the tribes within our limits, is clearly mani
tested by their improved and rapidly improving
condition.
A most important treaty with the Menomones
has been recently negotiated by the Commission.
or of Indian Affairs in person, by which all their
land in the state of Wisconsin-being about
four millions tf acres-has been cedod to the
United States. This treaty will be submitted to
the Senate for ratification at an early period Of
your present session.
Within the last four years eight important
treaties have been negotiated with different In
dian tribes, and at u cost Of one million eight
hundred and forty two thousand dollars; Indian
lands to the amount of more than eighteen mill
ion five hundred thousand acres, have been &C.
ded to the United States and provision has been
made for settling in the country west of the
Mississippi the tribes which occupied this large
extent of the public domain. The title to all
the Indian lands within the several States of our
Union; with the exception OF few small res
ervatlons, is now eXtlnguished, and a vast region
opened for settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the secretary of
the Navy gives a satisfactory exhibit of the OPP.
erations and condition of that branch of the pub
lie service.
A number of small vessels suitable for enter
ing the mouths Of rivers were juuciousIY pur-
chased during the war, and gave great efficiency
to the squadron in the Gulf of Mexico On the
return of peace, when no longer valuable for ma
val purposes, and liable to constant deterioration
they were sold, and the money placed in the
treasury.
The number Of men in the naval service au
thorlzed by law during the war, has been re-
duced by discharges below the maximum fixed
for the peace establishment Adequate squad
rons are maintained in the several quarters of
the globe where experience has shown their SER
vices may be most usetully employed; and the
naval ervice was never in Il condition of higher
discipline or greater efficiency.
| invite attention to the recommendation of
the Secretary Of the Navy on the subject of The
Al, 4
the end Of the war required that four officers of
each Of the three lower grades should be drop
ped from the rolls. a board of officers made the
selection; and those designated were necessarily
dismissed, but without any alleged fault. | con-
cur in opinion with the Secretary, that the ser.
vice would be improved by reducing the lands
men, and increasing the marines Such meas
ure would justify an increase of the number of
officers to the extent of the reduction by dismiss,
al, and still the corps would have fewer officers
than corresponding number of men in the
army.
The contracts for the transportation of the
mail in steamships convertible into war-steamers
promise to realize all the benefits to our COM
merce and to the navy which were anticipated.
The first steamer thus secured to the govern
ment was launched in January; 1917. There
are now seven; and in another year there will,
probably, be no less than seventeen ahoat-
While this great national advantage is secured
our social and commercial intercourse is in
creased and promoted with Germany, Great
Britain, and other parts Of Europe, with all the
countries on the West Coast of our continent
especially viii olo6on ""d o"liNlno, ana be-
tween the northern and southern sections of the
United States, Considerable revenue may be
expected from postages; but the connected line
from New York to Chagress, and thence across
the isthmus 10 Oregon, cannot fail to exert
beneficial influence, not now to he estimated, on
the interests OF the manufactures, commerce,
of navigation, and currency Of the United States
AS an important part of the SYSTEM recommend
to your favorable consideration the establishment
of the proposed line Of steamers between Now
Orleans and Vera Cruz. 1t promises the most
happy results in cementng friendship between
the two republics, and in extending reciprocal
benefits TO the trade and manufactures of both.
The report of the Postmaster General will
make known to you the operations of that de,
partmen for the past year.
1t is gratifying to find the revenues Of the de-
partincnt under the rates of postage now estob
lished by law, so rapidly increasing, The gross
amount of the hostages during the last fiscal
year amounted to four million three hundred
and seventy one thousand and seven dollars, cX
ceeding the annual average received for the nine
years Immediately proceeding the passage Of the
act Of the third of March, l845, by the sum Of
six thousand four hundred and ffty-threc doll
ars, and exceeding the amount received for the
year ending the thirtioth of June, 1917, by the
sum of four hundred and twenty five thousand
one hundred and eighy-four dollars.
The expenditures for the year, excluding the
sum of nlnety-four thousand six hundred and
seventy. two dollars, allowed by Congress as its
last session to individual claimants, and inclu-
ding the sum of one hundred thousand five
hundred dollars paid Tor the services Of the line
of steamers between Bremen and New-York
amounted to four millions one hundred ana
ninety eight thousand eight hundred and forty
five dollars, which is less than the annual average
fol the nine years previous to the act OF 1915,
by three hundred thousand Sc zen hundred and
forty eight dollars
The main routes, on the Both day of June last,
were one hundred and siXty-three thousand two
hundred and eighty miles in extent-bclng an
increase during the last year of nine thousand
three hundred and ninety miles. The mails were
transported over them, during the same time,
forty-oHe millions twelve thousand five hundred
and seventy nine miles; making an increase Of
transportation for the year of two millions one
hundred and twenty-four thousand six hundred
and eighty miles, while the expense was less
than that of the previous year by four thousand
tyo hundred NJ Il thirty five dollars