The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-06


the agricultural. It is, therefore, the most i'm.
portant interest of the nation, and has just
claim to the fostering care and protection of the
Government, SO far as they can be extended
consistently with the provisins Of the Constitu.
ton. AS this cannot be done by the ordinary
modes Of legislation, respectfully recommen-
ded the establishment OF An Agricultural Bu-
reau, to be charged with the duty of giving to
this leading branch of American industry the
encouragement which it so well deserves. In
view of the immense mineral resources of our
country, provision should also be made for the
employment of a competent mineralogist and
chemist, who should he required, under the d.
rection ofthe head ofthe bureau, to collect
specimens of the various minerals of our coun-
try, aud to ascertain, by careful analysis, their
respective clements and properties, and their
adaptation to useful purposes. He should also
be required to examine and report upon the
qualities of different soils, and the manures best
calculated to improve their productveness.
BY publishing the results of such experiments,
with suitable explanations, and by the collec-
ton and distribution of rare seeds and plants,
with Instructions as to the best system of cul-
tivation, much may be done to promote this
great national interest +"
The annexation of Texas and the acquisition
of California and New Mexico have given in
creased Importance to our Indian rclations.-
The various tribes brought under our jurisdic.
ton by these enlargements Of our boundaries
are estimated to embrace population of one
hundred and twenty.four thousand.
Texas and New Mexico are surrounded by
powerful tribes of Indians, who are source of
constant terror and annoyance to the inhab-
tants. Separating into small predatory bands,
and always mounted, they overrun the coun.
try, devastating farms, destroying crops, driving
off whole herds of cattle, and occasionally
numbering the inhabitants or carrying them in
to captivity. The great roads leading into the
country are infested with them, whereby trav-
cling is rendered extremely dangerous, and
immigration is almost entirely arrested. The
Mexican frontier, which, by the l1th article Of
the treaty of Guadalupe Hdalgo, we are bound
to protect against the Indians within our border
is exposed to these incursions equally with our
own. The military force stationed in that
country (although forming a large proportion
of the armmy) is represented as entirely made
qnate to our OWL protection and the iulflment
of our treaty stpulations with Mexico. The
principal deficiency is in cavalry, and recon-
mend that Congress should, at as early peri
cd as practicable, provide for the raising of one
or more regiments of mounted men.
For further suggestions on this subject. and
4
and the defence of our frontier, refer you to
the report Of the Secretary Of the Interior and
of the Secretary of War.
lam gratifed in being able to state, that the
estimates OF expenditure fort the navy in the en-
suing year are less, by more than one million
Of dollars, than those of the present, excepting
the appropriation which may become necessa.
ry for the construction Of dock on the coast
of the Pacific, propositions for which are now
being considered, aud on which special report
may be expected early in your present session.
There is an evident business in the sugges-
ton Of the same report, that appropriations for
the naval service proper should be separated
from those for fixed and permanent objects, such
rs building docks and navy yards, aud the fix
lures attached; aud from the extraordinary OBJ
ects under the care of the Department which,
however important, are not essentially naval.
|
At the close of the last fiscal year, the length
Of the inland mail routes in the United States
mot embracing the service in Oregon and Cal
ifornia) was 1852 miles; the annual trans
portation thereon 46, ,423 miles; and the an.
nua cost of such transportation 81, 2,724 ,426.
The increase of the annual transportation
over that of the preceding year, was 3,997,354
miles, and the increase in cost was 1912 ,440.
The number of post Offices in the United
States, OH the first day of July last, was lS,4l7
being au increase Of 1910 during the prcce.
ding year.
The gross revenues of the Depal tment for the
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1850, amounted
to $5,152,97l 4S, including the annual appro-
priation OF 100000 for the fraukcd matter OF
the departments and excluding the foreign post.
ayes collected for and payable to the British
Government.
The expenditures for the same period were
$5,2l2, ,953 43-lcaving balance OF revenue
over expenditures of S340.0lS o..
am happy to find that the fiscal % Idtion Of
tho Department is such as to justify 'the Post
master General in recommending the reduction
of our inland letter postage to three cents the
single letter when prepaid, and five cents when
not prepaid. He also recommends that the
prepaid rate shall be reduced to two cents when
ever tho revenues of the Department, after the
reduction, shall exceed its expenditures by more