The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-09

The estimates Of expenditures for The next fiscal
year, submitted 10y the Secretary Of the Treasury,
II Is believed will be ample Tor all necessary pun
poses. II the appropriations made by Congress
| shall not exceed the amount estimated, the means
in the Treasury will be sufficient 10 defray all ex-
penses of the Government; 10 pay off the next
instalment Of S3,OU,0O0 10 Mexico, which will
fall due on the 30th of May next; and still con.
siderable surplus will remain; which should be
spilled TO the further purchase of the public stot
and reduction OF the debt. Should enlarged ap.
| propriations DE maie, the necessary consequence
will be TO postpone the payment Of the debt
| Though our debt, ms compared with that of most
other nations in the world, is small, il is our true
policy, and in harmony with the nature OF our in
situations, that We should present TO the world the
rare spectacle Of great Republic, possessing vast
| resources ard wealth, wholly exempt from ndebt-
dness. This would ado still more TO our strength,
| and give 10 us a still more commanding position
| linong the nations of the earth.
The public expenditures should be economical
aud be confined 10 such objects as are clearly
| within the powers OF Cougress. All such as are
not absolutely demanded, should be postponed;
the payment of the publ: debt at the earliest
| practicable period should be a cardinal principle
of our public policy.
For the reason assigned in my last annual mes
| sage, repeat my recommendation, that branch
of The mint of the United States be established
| the city of New York. The importance of this
measure is greatly increased, by the acquisition of
the rich mines of precious metals in New Mexico
4 anu SdtiOIuidt tS rcCldlll
| repeat the recommendation heretofore made
| in favor Of the graduation and reduction in the
price of such of the public lands as have been long
| offered in the market, and have remained unsold,
and in favor of extending the rights Of pre-emp-
ton TO actual settles on the unsurveyed as well as
| the surveyed.
| The conditions and operations Of the amy, and
the state of the other branches under the supery-
sion of the War Department, are satisfactorily pre-.
scented IN the accompanying report o: ihe Secreta-
| ~ OF War.
On the return of peace our forces were with
drawn from Mexico, and the volunteers, and that
portion OF The regular amy engaged for the war,
/ were disbaDded. Orders have been issued for
stationing the forces of our permanent establish
| ment at various points In our eltended country
where troops may be required. Owing 10 the re-
| moteness OF some OF their positions, the detach-
ments have not yer reached their destination, not
withstanding the limits Of our country, and the
new territories, II is confidently believed that our
present military establishment is sufficient for all
eKisencieS, so long as our peaceful relations re-
main undisturbed.
Ofthe amount of military contributions collected
in Mexico, the sum of 500 $50 was spilled to-
wards the payment of the first insalmesat due an
der the treaty with MEXICO. The further sum OF
S346, 1863 30 has teen paid 20 the Treasury. An
| unexpended balance still remains in tae hands of
discussing officers and those engaged in the col
lection Of those monies After the PROCLAMATION
Of peace no further disbursements were made of
The balances on hand were directed &c he paid in
10 the Treasury, aud the individual claims will
main unadJusied until Congress shall authorise
their settlement and payment Their claims are
not considerable in number or amount
recommend for your favorable consideration
the suggestions of the Secretary of War and the
Secretary Of the Navy, in regard TO legislation on
this subject.
Our Indian relations are presented in a most IA
vorable view in the report from the War Depart
81.
tribes within our Limits clearly manifested by
their improved and rapidly improving condition.
A most important treaty with the Menomines
has been recently negotiated BY the commission
er oflndan Affairs in person, by which all their
land in the State of MISUNDERSTANDING about four
millions of acres has beer ceded TO the United
States. This treaty will be submitted TO the SEN
ate for ratification al an early period Of your ses
sion. -
Within the last fouryears eight important treaties
have been negotiated with different tubes, AT a
cost OF 81 So, 600 Indian ands 10 the amount of
more than is, So, goo acres have been ceded 10
the United States, and provision has been made
for the settling in the country west of the Misss
sipPi the tribes which occupied this large extent
of domain. The title TO all the Indian lands with
in the several States of our Union, with the eX-
eeption of few small reservations is eXIhl-
guished, and a vast region opened Tor settlement
and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the Secretary of the |
AMI condition of that branch of the public service
The number Of small vessels suitable for enter |
Ing the mouths OF rivers were ludiciousiy pur- |
chased during the war and gave great efficiency |
TO the Squadron in the Gul< oil Mexico: On the |
return Of peace when no longer suitable for The |
Naval purposes, and liable to constant deteriora-
ton, they were sold and the money placed in the
Treasury.
The number of men IN the Naval service author |
lied by law during the war has been reduced by /
hal0yE he Qd for - %
establishment. Adequate squsdrorr srs main 1
taiaed in the seveial quarters Of the Globe where
experience has shown their services may be most 4
usefuliy employed, and the naval service was new
eS n a condition Of higher discipline or greater 1
efficiency.
invite attention 20 the recommendation Of the !
Secretary of the Navy the subject OF the Marine |
corps The reduction Of the corps al the end OF |
the war, required that four officers of the lower
grades should be dropped from the rolls; board |
of officers made the selection, and those designa-
ted were necessarily dismissed, but without any
alleged fault concur in opinion with the Sec |
Rotary, that the service would be improved by re-
dueing the number of lardsmen, and increasing |
the marines. Such measure would justify an in |
crease of the number Of officers TO the extent OF
the reduction by dismissal, and still the corps
would have fewer officers than a corresponding |
number of men in the army. The contracts for the
tran smssion of tie mail in the steam ships, con-
verted into war steamers, promises To realize all
"
which was anticipated. The first steamer thus
secured 10 the government, was launched in Janu-
ary, 1s4S There are now sever, and in. another
year there will probably be- not less than seven.
teen afoat. While this great national advantage
is secured, our civil communication and inter
course are increased and promoted with Germany,
Great Britain and other parts OF Europe, with all
the countries Of the West coast OF our continent,
and especially with Oregon and California, be-
tween the Northern and s;outhern secIiors of the
United States.
Considerable revenue may be expected from
postage; but the connected line from Chsgres and
thence across the lsthInus 10 Oregon, cannot fail
20 exert abeneficia influence, not now 10 be esti-
mated, in the interest of he manufactures, COM
merce, 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 New Orleans and Vera Cruz. II promi
SEES the most happy results in cementing friendship
between the two republics, and in extending re-
of both.
The report Of the Postmaster General, viii
make known 70 you the operations OF the Depart
ment, for the present year.
tits gratifying TO FIND the revenues OF the Depart
ment, under the rates Of postage now established
Of postage during the last fiscal year amounted to
"a, 81 on, exceeding the annual average re-
ceipts for the nine years Immediately preceding
the passage ofhe act Of the Sd of March, 1913, by
the sum of SIG, 453, AMI exceeding the amount
received for the year ending the 5th Of June, iSa
by the sum of $40, 1S4
The expenditures for the year, excluding the
sum Of s94 672 ao wed BY Congress NJ its last ses
sion 90 individual cinmisnts, &c, and including
the sum Of 500 So paid for the services OF line
of steamers between Btemsn and New York,
amounted to si,19s ss45, which is less than the