The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-12-29

its construction and support fw further virws
of this and other matters connected with ~ nsme
department. refer you to the report a The stcc-
tary VI the Interior.
recommend early appropriations for Tie con-
struction Of river and harbcr improvements whicl
have been already begun. and also for the con-
struction Of those for which estimates have AREA
dy been made as well as for examinations and CO.
Inmates preparatory to the commencement Of such
Others as tie wants Of the country and especially
the advance Of our population over new dktricts.
and TIC extension Of commence may render ne
cessary. The estimated amount which can be
advantageously expended within the limits Of the
fiscal year under the directions of the bureau Of
the typographical engineers, accompanies ibe re-
port Of the Secretary Of War, to which respect.
fully invite the attention ofcongress.
The cession of territory made BY the late irea.
~ with McKee,, has greatly extended our exposed
frontier and rendered is defence more difficult.
That treaty has al, brought us under other obi.
CATIONS To Mexico to comply with which militia
ry force il requisite but our military establishment
!, not materially Changed as 10 its efficiency from
the condition in which it stood before tile eoli.
meucomcnt of;hc Mexican war
lty an act Of congress Of June Is, lS4S. pro-
vision Was made for extending the post Office and
mail arrangements tn California and Oregon Fx.
ertions have bcen made to execute that law. But
the limited provision Of tie act the inadequacv Of
tie means it auth, rized the i'll adaptation Of the
post flee laws to that country and the measure
Of compensation allowed ty those laws compared
with the prices Of labor and rents in California,
render those eXertions IN great degree incflectu.
al. More particularly an efficient provision Of
law Is required on this subject.
Tie act Of ls45 reducing postage Las now by
It's operations curing four wears produced results.
showing that the income resulting from such fedu.
ccd postage, is sufficient 10 sustain the whole OK.
pcnse Of the service Of the post office department
not including the cost Of transportation Of mail
steamers from New York 70 Chagres or from Par.
anna 10 San Francisco which have not been consid.
cred by congress as properly belonging to the
mail service. II is submitted to the wisdom Of
congress whether further reduction of postage
shall not now be made. more particularly on the
letter correspondence. This should he relieved
from the unjust burden Of transporting and deve-
ring the franked matter Of congress, for which
provision should he made from the treasury
confidently believe that change may safely be
made, reducing all single letter postage to uni
form rate Of cents regardless Of distance with.
out thereby imposing any greater tax on the trea-
sury than that which Constitutes very moderate
compensation for this public service: and there
fore respectfully recommend such reduction - p
Should congress prefer to abolish the ranking
privilege entirely, it seems probable that no de-
mand On the treasury would result from the re-
duction Of postage. Whether any further dimu-
milton should now be made. Of the reduction to 5
cts, which is recommended. should be first tested
is submitted 10 your decision
| Since the commencement Of the last session Of
congress postal treaty with Great Britain has
been received and ratified and such regulations
have been formed bv the post Office departments
of the two countries in pursuance Of that treaty MS
to carry its provisions into full operation. The
attempt 10 extend this favorable arrangement
through England to France has not been equally
successful but the purpose is not abandoned -
For particular view Of the Pc dcpartt and other
relations connected with that portion Of the pub
lie service, refer YOU to the report Of the Post
Master General
| Great embarrassment has resulted rIum the ef-
feet upon rank in the army heretofore given to
/ hrcvct and staff commissions. The views Of the
Secretary Of War on his subject are declined i'm
portant and if carried into effect will it is beev
ed promote the harmony ofthe service The plan
proposed for the retiring disabled officers and pro
Niding for m asylum fcrthe rank and file Who from
age, wounds and other irfimitics occasioned bv
service are rendered unfit for further duties, is
recommended as means Of increasing the eff
cheney Of the army, and rs an act Of justice due
from grateful country to the fpithful soldier
The accompanying report of theSccretary of the
Navy presents a full and satisfactory account of
the condition Of the naval service Our citizens
engaged in the legitimate pursuits Of commerce
have cnioyed its benefits. Wherever our nation
al Ships have gone thcv have been received with
respect Our officers have been received with
kindness and courtescv, and they have on all DC
ca.ons, pursued course ofstaid neutrality in &C.
cordance with the policy Of our government
The naval force at present in commission, Is ~
large rs Il advisable with the number of men nu-
thorizcd by congress TO be employed. ! invite
vonr attention to the recommendation ofthe Sccrc-
tary oftheNayv on the subject Of reorganization i'll
the various GRADES Of officers, and the establishing
of retired lest for such ofhc officers as gro dis.
Qualified for active aud effective service Should
congress adopt some such measure rs has been
recommended it VII greatly increase the efiicen-
cv Of the navy. and reduce its expenditures. |
also ask your attention TO the views expressed by
him in reference TO the employment Of war steam
crs and in regard to the contracts for the transpor
tation of he United States mails end the opera
tions of the system upon the prosperity Of the ma
IVY.
BY act Of the third Of March, 1884 n board was
constituted to make arrangements for taking the
seventh census, composed Of the SecretarN of
State Attorney General and Postmaster Gene
raj and it was made the duty ofthe board To
prepare and cause to be printed such forms and
schedules for collecting in statistical tables, under
proper heads. such information as to mingle ngri
culture, commerce, man ufactures, education, &c-as
would exhibit full the pursuits in industry.
education and resources and Of the country The
duties cnioincd on the census board thus establish
ed having been performed it now rests with you
10 enact n law for carrying into effect the provis-
ions Of the constitution, which requires nn actual
enumeration Of the people Of the United States
within the cn,uing year,
Among the duties conferred by the constitution
upon the general government, is one OF general APP
pcaIion, but not on that account less obligatory.
aude 10 the trust committed TO congress- as the ex-
elusive legislator and sole guardian of the District OF
Columbia, recommend those interests 10 your
kind attention, as the national metropolis, the city
of Washington must he the object OF general inter
est Founded MS it was nnder the auspices OF INN
whose immortal name it beans, its claims 10 The tos
tering care Of congress present it with additional
strength, Whn,oycr can contribute to its plusperl
~ must enlist the feelings Gifts constitutional guar
dIans, and commend il 10 their favorable considela-
ton.
Our government rs one Of limited powers, md ils
successful administration cminen,ly depends upon
the confinement a rn- ordinate branches within