Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-01-05

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and they have on all occasions pursued n
course of strict neutrality, in accordance
with the policy of our Government.
The naval force at present in commits
sion j; as large as is admissible.
invite your attention to the recon-
mcndation of the Sc rotary of the Navy
on the subject of reorganization of the
Navy, in its various grades of officers,
and the establishment of u retired list Ior
such of the officers as are disqualified for
active and effective service. Should
Congress adopt some such measure as is
recommended, it will greatly increase the
efficiency of the Navy, and reduce its
expenditures.
Ialso ask your attention to the views
expressed by him in reference to the en-
ployment of war steamers, and in regard
to the contracts for the transportation of
the United States mails and the opera
tlon of the system upon the prosperity of
the Navy.
BY act of Congress passed August IA,
lS4S, provision was made for extending
post offices and mail accommodations to
California and Oregon Excrtions have
been made to execute that law; but the
limited provisions of the act, the made
4uacy of ;he means it authorizes, the III
adoption of our post offie laws TO the stu
alton of that country, and the measure Of
compensation for services allowed by
hose laws, compared with the prices of
labor and rents in California, render those
cxertions, in a great degree, Intellectual.
More particular and efficient provision
by inw is required on this subject.
The act of s45, reducing postage, has
now, by its operations during four years,
produced reduced results fully showing
that the income from such reduced post
age is fully sufficient to sustain the whole
expenses oil the service of the Post Office
Department, not including the cost of
transportation in mail steamers on the
lines from New York to Chagres, and
from Panama to Astoria, which have not
been considere by Congress as properly
belonging to the mail service.
1t is submitted to the wisdom OF Con
gress whether further reduction of pos
tagc should not now BIC made, more par
ticularfy on the letter correspondence.
This should be relieved from the unjust
burden of transporting and delivering
the franked matter of Congress, foa
which public service provision should be
made from the Treasury. / confidently
believe that a change may safely be
made, reducing all single letter postage
to the uniform rate of FIVE cents regard
less Of distance, without thereby imposing
any greater tax OH the Treasury than
would constitute very moderate com
pensation for this public service. and
therefore respectfully recommend such
reduction. Should Congress prefer to
abolish tie franking privilege entirely, it
seems probable that no demand on the
Treasury would result from the proposed
reduction of postage. Whether any fur
diminution should now be made, or the
result Of the reduction to five cents.
which have recommended, should DC
first tested, is submitted to your decision.
Since the commencement of the Inst
session of Congress, a postal treaty with
Great Britain has been received and rati-
fled, and such regulations have been
formed by the Post Office Departments
of the two countries, in pursuance of that
treaty, as to carry its provisions into full
operation. The attempt to extend this
same arrangement through England to
France. has not been equally successful;
but the purpose has not been abandoned.
For q particular statement of the condi
ton of the Post Office Department, and
other matters connected with that branch
Of the public service, refer You TO the
report of the Postmaster General.
BY the act of the Sd of March. la49,
a board was constituted to make arrange
ments for taking the seventh census, com.
posed of the Secretary of State, the AT
torney General, and the Postmaster Gen
eraI; and it was made the duty of this
board to prepare and cause to be printed
such forms and schedules as might be
necessary for the full enumeration of the
inhabitants of the United States; and also
proper forms and schedules for collecting.
in statistical tables under proper heads,
such information as to mines, agriculture,
commerce, manufactures, education, and
other topics, as would exhibit full view
of the pursuits. industry, education and
resources of the country" The duties
enioined upon the census board thus es-
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