Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-09

peace with Mexico, l recommended the a
doption OF measures for the speedy payment
Of the public debt. In reiterating that re.
commendation, refer you TO the considera-
tions presented in that message in its support.
The public debt, including that authorized to
be negotiated, in pursuance of existing laws,
and including treasury notes, amounted at
that time TO 65,77s,45O dols and Al cents.
Funded stock of the United States, amount |
ing to about half million of dollars, has been |
purchased, as authorized by law, since that |
period, and the public debt has thus been re- |
duced the details of which will be presented |
in the annual report of the Secretary of the |
Treasury.
The estimates of expenditures for the next
fiscal year, submitted by the Secretary of the
| Treasury, it is believed will be ample for all
made by Congiess shall not exceed the a.
mount estimated, the means in the treasury
will be sufficient to defray all the expenses
Of the government; to pay off the next in
stalment of three millions of dollars to Mexi-
CO, which will fall due on the 30th of May
next and still considerable surplus will re-
main, which should be applied tc the further
purchase of the public stock and the reduc-
tion of fhe debt.
IA branch Mint is again recommended at
New York as well as the reduction of the
| piiCC VI tlC puUliC
IOur present Military establishment is con-
sdered sufficient as long as our peaceful rela-
tions are disturbed.
The Military contributions collected in
Mexico exceeds 81, 100000.
Our Indian relations are presented in
most favorable view in the report from the
War Department. The wisdom of our policy
in regard 10 the tribes within our limits, is
clearly manifested by their improved and
rapidly improving condition.
A most important treaty with the Menom-
onies has been recently negotiated by the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs in person, by
which all their land in the State of Wiscon-
sin--being about four millions of acres--has
been ceeded 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
Indian tribes, and at cost of 1,S42,O 900 dolls;
Indian lands to the amount of more than
$500, 900 acres have been ceded to the Uni
ted States and provision has been made for
f settling in the country west of the Mississippi
tho tribes which occupied this large extent of
the public domain. The title to all the lndi-
an lands within the several States of our Uni
, on, with the exception of few small reser-
| vations, is now eXtinguished, and vast re-
+ gion opened for settlement and cultivation.
The Report of the Secretary of the Navy
r gives satisfactory exhibit of the operations
, and condition of that branch of the public
) service.
The contract for the transportation of the mail
in steamships convertible into war steamers, pro-
misc to realize all the benefits to our commerce and
!, to the navy which were anticipated. The first
steamer thus secured to the Government was
launched in January ls47. There are now sew.
en-; and in another year there WILL probably, be nc
less than seventeen afoat, While this great ma.
tional advantage is secured, our social and com.
mcrcia intercourse is increased and promoted with
Germany, Great Britain, and other parts of Eu.
/ rope, with all the countries on the West Coast OF
' our continent, especially with Oregon and Cator
i mia and between the northern and southern Sec
: tions of the United States. Considerable revenues
: may be expected from postages; but the conncc.
r ted line from New York to Chagros, and thence
across the isthmus to Oregon, cannot fail to exert
beneficial influence not now to be estimated, Oh
i the interests of the manufacturers, commerce, nav
igaton and currency of the United States. AS an
q important part of the system, recommend to youl
i lavorsbe consideration the establishment of tn,
i proposed line of steamers between New Orleans
: and Vera Cruz. 1t promises the most happy re
j. suits i'll cementing friendship between the two re
U pubcs and in extending reciprocal benefits to the
l. trade and manufacturers of both.
= The report of the Postmaster General will make
/. known to you the operations of that department
$. for the past year.
IS 1t is gratifying to find the revenues of the de
d partment rapidly increasing The gross amoun
l. of postages during the last fiscal year amounted
, 4,37l ,077 dolls, exceeding the annual average re
If ceived for the nine years Immediately prccedn,
II the passage Of the act af the 3. of March, 1875 b.
/; the sum of 7,453 dolls, and exceeding the amour
received for the year ending the 49, of June, lS47
l. by the sum of 425,ls4 dols
The expenditures for the year, excluding tn
n sum Of 94,672 dolls. allowed by Congress at it
), session to individual claimants, and including til
j. sum of one hundred thousand five hundred dollar
,r paid for the services of the line of steamers be
.. tween Bremen and New York, amounted to 4
,r l9s,S45 dos., which is less than the annual
age for the nine years previous to the act Of ls4s
nj by SOC, ,74s dolls
n The increase Of mail transportation, in thre
,e years. has been millions of miles, at redut
c. ton of expense of Is per cent.
0. During the past year there have been EN-
9 ployed, under contracts with the Post Offic
re Department. two ocean steamers in convey
er ing the mails monthly between New Yor
g. and Bremen and one, since October las,
o. performing semi-monthly service betwee
lie Charleston and Havana and contract ha
y been made for the transportation of the Paci
IN fic mails across the isthmus from Chagres t
in Panama.
a. Under the authority given to the Secretar
OF the Navy, three ocean steamers have bea
i'll constructed and sent to the Pacific, and ar
'e expected to enter upon the mail service be
I'd tween Panama and Oregon, and the interme
s. s. date ports, on the first of January next, and
lh fourth has been engaged by him for the sci
es vice between Havana and Chagres, so that
:, regular monthly mail line will be kept up al
10 ter that time between the United States an
~ y. our territories on the Pacific.
40 Notwithstanding this great increase in tn
NJ y, mail service, should the revenue continue I
w w increase the present year as it did in the las
ID there will be received near 100000 dollar
more than the expenditures
"a These considerations have satisfied tn
"A Postmaster General that, with certain modif
~ cations of the act of 1s45 the revenue ma
4. be still further increased, and reduction q
r. postages made to a uniform rate of five cent.
8 without an interference with the principle
N which has been constantly and properly en-
80 forced Of OaEino that T.