Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-12-09

,es,ion Of the same report, ihat appropria. !
ions for the naval service proper should
Do separated from those fol fixed and per.
maRent objects. such as building docks and
navy yards, and the fixture attached; and |
from the eStrao. .dinary objects under the
care OF the Department which, however
important, are aos.esseniially naval.
A Arevi>ienof the code for the government
Of the navy seeas',o require the immediate
Of Congress. Its system of
crime and punishment had undergone no
change for halsa century until he last ses.
sion, though It's defects have been'often and
ably poinled oul, and the aboliion.efa a par.
,icslar species Of .corporeal punishment,
which then took place. without providing
any substitute, has .leG..he service in q stale
of defecrivenrss, which calls for pronpt'cer-
rection. therefore recommend that the
whole subject be revised without delay ,and
such system established for the enforce
ment Of discipline, as shall be .ai,once hu.
name and effec,ual.
The accompanying report Of the Post
master General, presents q satisfactory
view Of the operations and condition Of that
Department. .
At the close OF the last fiscal year, the
length Of The inland mail routes in The Uni.
ted States (not embracing the service ia
Oregon and California; was one hundred
and seventy. eight thousand six hundr. j and
seventy.two miles, the 'annual iransporta-
ton thereon fosty-sM millions five hundred
and forty.one thousand four hundred and
tweR,y.three miles; the annual cost OF such
transportation two millions seven hundred
and twsnty-four thousand four hundred and
twenty y.six dollars. ..-o...
The increase OF the annual transporta-
ton over that Of the proceeding yeur, was
three millions nine hundred and ninety
seven thousand three hundred aud fifty
four miles and the increase in cost was
three hundred and forty.two thousand four
hundred and forty dollars.
The number Of post offices in the United
States, on the lst day Of July last. was
ls,4l7-being an increase Of 1919 during
he preceding year.
The gross revenues Of the Department
for ibe fiscal year ending June -30;h. 1850,
amounted to IS. 552. GIL 4s. including the
annual appropriation Of $3eese00 for The
franked matter Of the departments, ahd ex.
Gliding the foreign posiages collected Cor
and payable to the British Government.
The expenditures for the same period
were $5.2l2, ,953 43-leaving balance Of
revenue over expenditures Of $340.0lS 05.
Il am happy 10 find that the fiscal condi-
lion of the Department is such as to justify
the Postmaster General in recommending
the reduction Of our inland postage to three
cents the single letter when prepaid, and
five cents when net prepaid. He also
recommends that the prepaid rate shall'be
be reduced to two cents whenever Me rev.
enues Of the Department. after the reauc-
ton, shall exceed its expenditures by more
than FIVE per cent for two consecutive
years; that the postage upon California and
other letters sent by our ocean steamers
shall be much reduced; and that the rates
Of postage on newspapers, pamphlets. peri.
odicals, and other printed mailer shall be
modified, and some reduction thereon
made. t~a+. -5sas 81
It cannot be doubled that the proposed
reductions will for the present, diminish
the revenues Of the Department. It is be-
sliesed that the deficiency, after the surplus
already accumulated shall be exhausted,
may be almost wholly met, ei,he, by abol.
ishing the existing privileges Of sending
free matter through the mails. or by pay.
ing out Of the Treasury to tie Pos, Office
Department sum equivalent TO he post.
age of which Il is deprived By such privil-
eges. The last rs supposed 10 be The pre-.
ferable moae, and will. if not entirely, so
nearly supply that deficiency as to make
any farther appropriation that may be
found necess sary 90 inconsiderable as 10
form no obstacle 10 the proposed reductions.
! entertain no doubt Of The authority OF
Congress to make appropriations for head
ing objects in that class Of public orks
comprising wha: are usually called works
Of interval impro ement This authority
supposed TO te derived chiefly from the
power Of regula ing commerce with for
eign nations. and among the States, and
the power Of l,.i G und collecting imports.
When com 1erce is to be carried on, and
imports COLLECTED, there mas, be ports and,
and hareors, as well as wharves and Gus.
toms.houses. Ii ships, laden with valuable
cargoes, approach the shore. or sail along
the coast, light houses are necessary ai
suitable points for the protection Of life and
property. Other facilities and securities
for ocmmercs and navigation are hardly
less impartan'; and those clauses Of the
Constitution therefore. te which | have re.
ferred, have received from the origin OF
the Government liberal and beneficial
construction. Not only have lighthouses.
buoys, and b'ucons been established, and
floating lights maintained, but harbors
have been cleared ard improved. piers con
siructed. and even breakwaters for the safe
,y Of shipping and sea walls to protect har-
bors from be n filled up. and rendered USE
less. by the ,c on Of the ocean, have been
Effected a, very great expense. And this
ccnstrsctien of the Constitution appears
the more reasonable from the considera
ton, that if these works, of such evident
Importance and utility. are not to be ac-
cOmDEshed bv Congress thew canHDi be