The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-25

and hat the mineral lands he divided into small lots
su table fsr mining and be disposed OF by sale lease
10 awe citizens opportunity procuring
permanent right Of property In the soil This would
agricultural pursuits.
The great mineral wealth Of California and the ad-
vantages which its ports and hsrbors those Of
gon afford TO commerce especially with the islands OF
the Pacific and Indian oceans, and the populous re-
gions Of Eastern Aria make it certain that there will
arise In few years, large aud prosperous commuu.
ties western coast It, therefore, becomes i'm
portant that line Of communication, the best and
mott expeditions which the nature OF the country will
admit. should Re opened within the territory of the
United States from the uavgabe waters of the Allan
tic the Gulf Of Mexico to the Pacific Opinion as
e cit, and expressed by large and respectable
entiopp lately assembled at st Louis and Mem
phis points toa rarosd as that which IL practicable,
will beet meet the wishes and wants Of the country
But while this In successful operation, would be
work Of great national Importance. and Of value to
the country which IL would be difficult to estimate t
ought also to he regarded rs undertaking of
magnitude and expense and one which must 1t be in
deed practicable encounter dic uties In
trueton and use Therefore to avoid failure and dsap
pointnept TO enable Congress to Judge whether in the
condition OF the country through which 1t must pass
the work be feasible and II ~ be found So whether it
should he undertaken national grovement left
to reividusl enterprise and In the latter alternative
what aid any ought to be extended to 1t by the GO
verbmeDt ! recommend asa preliminary measure a
careful Remembrance Of the several proposed routes
by scientific corps and report to the practca-
biiy Of making such road with an estim mate OF the
cost sf its construction aud support
For further views on these and other matters con-
psced with the duties Of the Home Department refer
you the report If the Secretary OF the Interior
recommend early appropriations for continuing the
already begun aud also fer the construction of those
Tor which estimates have been made, well for
smiDations and estimates preparatory To the
Of such others the the country,
ana especially the advance Of population over
necessary An estimate Of the amount which be
sdvantsgeousy expended within the next dscal year
VI der the direction of the Bureau Of Typographical
Engineers accompanies the report OF the Secretary OF
War, To which respectfully invite the attention OF
Csrgress.
The cession territory made by the late treaty with
Nsai has greatly extended posed frontier aud
rendered its defence dilcult. That treaty has
slso brought obligations Mexico TO comply
with which military force IL requisite But mill
tsTy estsblsbmrnt not materially changed as To its
.fciency irom the condition In which 1t stood before
the ccnmer cement OF the Mexican ZONE aadi-
ton to IL will therefore. be necessary; ana
m'nd to the favorable consideration OF Congress in
cr'ste a tbs sevtrsl OF the ut distant
Wtttrn po's a. proposed in the accom- panyns report
a the Secretary Of War
Great embarrassment has resulted from the effect
rank in the heretofore given to brevet aud
s'sf CON si,ns The views Of the Secretary of War
on this subject are deemed important aud If carried
into nsct VIII IL Ia believed promote the harmony Of
he setVice The plan proposed for retiring disabled
ofc.ys and providing an asylum for such OF the rank
and Ole as from wounds and other inrmties
soned by service have become sDGt perform their
resp.ctiv. duties lie recomme nded of
ing the efficiency Of til. army and act of Justice
dp. from eral efni county co the faithful soldier
The accompanying report OF the Secretary Of the
Navy presents nun and satisfactory account of tho
cosoir, and operations Of the naval service during
The p@st year Our citizens engaged In the legitimate
pursuifs Of commerce have enjoyed its benefits.
beIsy.r rational vessels have gone, they have
b.sD received with respect, officers have been
IT. atsd with and courtesy, and they have
all oceniops pursued course Of strct neutrality, In
accordance with the policy Of government.
The pasal force at present. In commission ia as largo
ss Is admissible, with the number OF authorized
by congress to be employed.
invite your attention the recommendation Of the
Secretary q The Navy the subject Of re-orsaniza
toD Of the navy In s various grades OF officers and the
establishing Of retired list such Of the officers
Unqualified Tor active aud effective service. Should
Congress adept some such Is recommended,
AZ will the elias ncy Of the navy and
n duce Its expenditures.
also ask eur attention to the views expressed by
him In reference TO the employment Of steamers.
and In regard to the contracts the Of
the United states mails and the operation Of the sys
TEN upon the prosperity OF the navy.
by an act Of Congress passed August 14th, 1e4s,
provision made tor extending post Office aud mall
have been sds to execute that Law; b.t the limited
provisions OF the act the inadequacy OF the 1t
sutborixer the III adaptation OF post ONCE laws to
the ION Of that country and the measure Of COM
peBsaiop for feryiees allowed by those lass compared
with the prices Of labor and rents in California render
those exertions, in great degree, Intellectual More
particular aud ecsnt provision by Law 10 required on
The act Of lsa5, reducing postage has now, by Its
operation during four years produced results fully
tbovg that the income from such reduced postage Is
to sustain the whole expense of the service Of
the Poet ohce Department. not including the cost OF
snfpertstion In mall steamers on the lines from New
IL 10 sasnit.d to the wisdom Of Congress vhs,hsr
furb reduction Of postage should not be made,
msre particularly on the letter cofrespondenee This
shouts be relieved from the unjust burthen Of trans
and erpg the thanked matter OF Congress-
for winch public service provision should be mad.
the treasury. confidently believe that = change
may fafey be- made reducing all single letter postage
TO the upfo Of I've cents regardless Of distance
without thereby imposing any greater tax on the tres
eat ION Tor this public service; and therefore respect
fully recommend such q reduction. Should Conrsss
prefer TO abosh the franking privilege entirely. ~
~ obsbe that no demand ths treasury would
result frtm The proposed reduction OF postage whs
ther any further diminution ,houid De~ bs made or
the rsspt 81 the reouction to i've cents which have
msnded should be frat tested, Is submitted TO
your decision.
Since the commencement Of the last session Of Con-
gres postsl treaty with Great Britain has been
e,iy.d and rstined. and such regulations have been
formed BY the Poet once Departments Of the two
counties In pursuance OF that treaty ne to Its
pro,itops int full opration. The attempt to extend
this ssns arrangement. through England, to France
has net been equally successful but the purpose hiss
For particular statement Of the condition Of the
Poet Once Department and other matters connected
with that branch Of the public service rsfsr yeu to
the report OF the foetDsst.r General
BY the set Of the ID Of March, 1870. Board was
constituted To make arrangements for taking the
vep,b cen,us Of TIE secretary Of state the
Attorney General and the Postmaster General; aud IL
made the DUTY Of this Board to prepare and cause
TO be print,d such forms schedules might be
tor the full enumeration 81 the Inhabitants 81
the Jpsd st.tss and si.o proper forms ana schedules
tucb ibformstion ss TO mines ssrculturs commerce,
nspniseisr,s education, aud Other topics, ss would
enhitt fpll ,ev Of the pursuits industry educsutn
sns pfces cf the country " The duties snjoiped
upon the u.nsUs Beard thus established, having been
p.iiorn I'd u re,ts With Jongrtts TO enact Law
for .sryirE into effect the provision a the sonsttu
ton which Iuiree sctusi enumsrstiop ~ the
pie cfthe Li'ed States within the ensuing ysar
Among the duti.t assigned by tb. Onsu uion to the
General Government D. one 81 local and limited sppl
cation but not that sccount the les obtigstoryi
sluee TO the tfust committed TO Congress - the
outve estor and eel. guardian OF the interests OF
the District - Columbia I beg 90 commend these In
trests your Kind attention AZ the pstiUSs msropo
lie the city 81 Washington must be object of xsneral
inf.rsst aud founded vac under the auspices OF
him vbose immortal name ~ fesre, its cistms to the
tsrng care o. Lopstess pr.tsnt the ms.yes with ad.
dititnsl str myth whatever cuntributs to It's
pry.iity enlist the feelings OF lite constitutional
guardians, and command their favorable considsra-
ton.
Our government 10 one Of limited powers. and
is successful standardization eminsntly depends on
the confinement q each Of Its ordinate branches
within its own appropriate sphere. The nr.t SEQ
ton ~ The constitution ofdsns that all legislative
Isw,fs therein granted tbsll be vested In Con.
tItts a. the Ubited States, which shsil crpsst OF