The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-12-07
WHOLE No 498

Indian relations. The various tribes
brought under our jurisdiction by these
engagements OF our boundaries are rst-
mated TO embrace a population of one
hundred and twenty four thousand.
TEXAS and New Mexico are surround
ed by powerful tribes of Indians, who
ar" Sonrc" of constant terror and an
Fnoyanc" TO the inhabitants. Separating
INTO small predatory bands, and always
mounted, they ovrrr,n the country, de
vaStatng farms, destroying crops, drlv-
ing Off whole herds of cattle, and occa-
SonaIy numbering the inhabitants or
carrying them into captivity.
The great roads leading into the coun-
try are infested with them, whereby
travelling is rendered cNtrrmelv danger.
ous, and immigration is almost entirely
arrested. The Mexican frontier, which,
by the | Ith article OF the treaty Of Qua
d,Inpr llidaIgo, we are bound to pro-
trct against the Indians within our her
der, is exposed 10 these incursions equal
~ with Our own.
The military force stationed in that
country (aIihough forming a large pro-
portion of the army is represented as
entirely inadequate to our own protcc-
ton and the fulGIlmcnt of Our treaty
! atipulations with McAico. The prnci-
pal deficiency is in cavalry, and rec.
ommrnd that Congress should, at az
early a period as practicable, provide
for ihc raising OF one or more rcglnl, hts
of mounted men.
At the close of the last fiscal year,
tn" length of the inland mail routes IN
the United States Mot embracing the
service in Oregon and California; was
one hundred and scvcnt weight thousand
SIX hundred and srvcnty-two miles; the
annual transportation thereon lorty-six
million five hundred and forty thou
sand four hundred and twrniy-thrce
mil"S: and the annual cost of such trans
Ioriatlun two millions seven hundred
and twenty -four thousand four hundred
and forty dollars.
The number Of post Offices in the
United, STATES, on the first day of July
last, was eighteen thousand four hun
drcd and sevcntecn-b"ing an increase
Of sixteen hundred and seventy during
the preceding year,
The gross revenues of thc Department
for the fiscal year ending June 3oth,
1880, amounting To five millions five
hundred and iilty-two thousand ninr
hundred and srynnty-onc dollars and
dollars and ioriy.riglt cents, including
the annual appropriation of two hun
drcd thousand dollars for the ranked
matter of the departments, and cxcIdd.
ing the foreign hostages collected lor
and payable to the British Government.
The expenditures for the same period
were five millions two and twelve thou.
sand nine hundred and tifty-thrce dol
lars and iorty-thrcc ccnts--Ieaving
halanc" of revenue over expenditures Of
tire" hundred and forty thousand and
eighteen dollars and five cents
| am happy {" find that the fiscal con
dition of the Department is such as to
Justify the Postmaster General in rec.
ommcnding the reduction of our inland
postage to three cents the single letter
when prepaid, and five cents when not
prepaid.
~ di>' I'tbiH'li'I'lS tIl,it lllt prepaid
rate shall be reduced to two cents when
ever the revenues of the Department.,
after the reduction, shall exceed its cxs
p"nditures by more than five per cent.
for two consecutive years; that the pos
tagc upon the California and other let
tiers ScNt by our ocean steamers shall be
reduced; and that the rates of postage
on newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals,
and other printed matter shall be mod.
fled, and some reduction thereon made
II cannot be doubted that the propos-
ed reductions, will for the present, di
min>h tn" revenues of the Department.
II is believed that the deficiency, after
the surplus already accumulated shall
be exhausted may be almost wholly
met, either by abolishing the existing
privileges of sending free matter through
the mails, or by paying out OF the Trea-
Sury to the Post Office Department
sum equivalent TO The postage of which
ii is deprived by such privileges. The
last is supposed TO be the preferable
mode, and will, ilnot entirely, SO nearly
supply that deficiency as to make any
further appropriation that may be found
necessary so InconSdrrablr as 10 form
no obstacle to the proposed reductions
| entertain no doubt Of the authority
OF Congress to make appropriations for
leading objects i'll that class of public
works comprising what are usually
called works of internal Improvement.
This authority suppose To be- derived
chiefly from the power of regulating
commerce with foreign nations, and
among the States, and the power of
laying and collecting imrosts. Where
commerce Is to be carried on, and inn
posts collected, there must be ports aud
harbors, as well as wharyrs and custom.