Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1850-12-12

oplects, Sucn as DuiluIDB oochp ouo "e''
yards and the fixtures attached. These arc
extraordinary objects under the care Of tho
department. which. however important arc
not essentially naval.
A revision Of the code for the government
OF the navy seems to require the immediate
consideration Of Congress. It's system oil
crimes and punishments had undergone no
change for half century, until the last SEES.
sion, though its effects have been often and
ably pointed out, and the abolition Of tho
particular species OF the corporal punish.
ment which then took place, without prov:>
ding any substitute, has left the service in
state Of Effectiveness which calls for prompt
correction. therefore recommend that the
whole subjec, should be revised without do.
lay. and such system established for the
enforcement Of discipline as shall al once be
humane and effectua. .
The accompanying report Of The Post
Master General presents a satisfactory view
of the operations and condition OF that De.
partment.
AT the close Of the last fiscal year the
length Of the inland mail routes in the United
States, not embracing the service in Oregon
and California, was 17S,672 miles. The
annual transportation thereon was 46,541,.
423 miles. The annual cost Of such trans
por,a,ion Of S2,724, 426, So. The increase
of the annual transportation over that OF the
proceeding year was 1897 ,35f miles, and
The increase OF cost was $342, 440 So The
number Of post Offices in the United States.
on the first day Of July last. was 1921
being an increase OF 1910. During the
proceeding year, the gross revenues OF tho
Department. for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1850, amounted TO S5,552,27l So, in
GLIDING The annual appropriation Of S20,.
900 for the ranked matter OF the Depart,
ment and excluding the foreign posages COLI
lected for and payable 10 the British Gov,
eminent.
The expenditures for the same period were
IS. 3l2 ,953 SO. leaving balance ofrevenus
over expenditures OF S3400lS 05.
am happy 10 find that The fiscal condition
OF the Department is such as to justify the
Post Master General, 10 recommending a
reduction OF our inland letter postage to
three cents the single letter when pre- paid. or
FIVE cents when not prepaid. He ALEC re-
commends that the pre- paid rates shall be
reduced whenever the revenue Of The De.
partment after the reduction, shall exceed
its expenditures by more than FIVE per cent.
for two consecutive years. That the postage
upon California, and those letters sent by
our Ocean steamers. shall be much reduced.
and ihst the rates Of postage 90 newspapers,
pamphlets, periodicals and other printed
matter, shall be modified, and some reduc,
ton thereon made.
1t csnno, be doubted that The proposed res
duc.ion will, for the present, diminish the
revenues ofthe Department 1t is believed,
that the deficiency after the already accump.
lated surplus shall be exhausted, may be al.
most fully met by abolshing the privilege OF
free matter through the mails, or by paying
ou! from the Treasury TO the Post Office,
sum equivalent 10 the postage Of which i,
will be deprived by its privileges; the last ia
supposed 10 be the preferable mode, land will, >
if not entirely, so nearly supply its defcieus
cy, as 10 make any further appropriation
unnecessary. 1t may be found so inconsid.
cradle, as TO form no obslicle TO the proposed
reduction.
entertain no doubt OF the authority Of
Congress 10 make appropriations for leading
objects in that class Of public works called
by the general name Of internal mprovs.
menls. This authority, suppose. TO De de.
rived chiefly from the power Of regulating
commerce with foreign nations and among
The States, and the power OF laying and col.
lecting imposts. When commerce is to be
carried on. and impos!s collected, there mus,
be ports and harbors. as well as wharves
and custom houses, And If ships ladsned
with valuable csrgoes approach the shore, or
sail along the coast, light houses are nocesss.
~ at suitable points, for the protection OF
life and property. Other facilities and
securities for commerce and navigation are
less important, and those clauses Of the con.
etlulioD, therefore, to which have referred.
have received from the origin OF The Govern.
ment liberal and beneficial construction
Not only have light houses. bouys, and bes.
cons been established and floating light main,
tanned, but harbors have been cleared AID
improved, and piers constructed. and even
oreakwalers for the safety Of shipping, bu,
sea walls 10 prevent harbors from being fll.
ed up and rendered useless by the action Of
the ocean, have been erected at great expense.
And this construction OF tho constitution ap.
pears the more warrantable from the consid>
Grafton that il these works OF such evident i'm.
Portence and utility are rot 10 be accom-.
Pshed by Congress, they cannot be accom-.
Plshed at all. BY the adoption OF the con:
sIltuIion the several States voluntarily parted
with The power OF collecting duties on i'm.
ports within their own ports. and il is not to
be expected that they should raise money by
internal taxation, direct or indirect, for the
bene f. OF that commerce. the revenues from
which do not, either in whole or in part, 90
into the treasury. Nor do perceive any dir.
ference between the power OF Congress to
make appropriations for objects Of ihis kind
on The ocean. end the power 10 make sp.
ProprIa!ions for similar objects on lakes end
rivers, whenever they ara laroe ennnnh "a