Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-12-14

appropriate commands those who have been
particularly conspicuous for gallantry and good
conduct While the obligation of the coun-
try to maintain and honor those who to the
exclusion of other pursuits, have devoted them
selves to its arduous service, this obligation
should not be permitted to interfere with the
efficiency of the service ITSELF
am gratiied in being able to state, that
the estimates of expenditure for the navy in
the ensuing year are less by more than one
million of dollars, than those of the present,
excepting the appropriation which become !
necessary for the construction of dock on the
cost of the Pacific, propositions for which are
now being considered, and 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 De sepera-
ted from those for permanent and fixed OBJ
jects, such as buildings, docks and navy yards
and the fixtures attached; and from the ex-
traordiRary objects under the care of the De
partment which, however important are not
essentially naval
-; A revision of the code for the government
Of the navy seems to require the immediate
consideration of Congress. Its system OF
crimes and punishments had undergone no
change for half century, until the last ses-
sion, though its defects have been often and
ably pointed out, aud abolition of particular
species Of corporal punishment which then
took place without providing any substitute,
has left the service ing state of defective
ness, which calls for prompt correction. Il
therefore recommend that the whole subject
be revised without delay, and such system
established for the enforcement of discipline
as shall be at once humane and effectual.
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 mot embracing the service in Oregon
and California; was one hundred and seventy
eipht-thousand six hundred and seventy-two
miles; the annual transportation thereon forty
six million FIVE hundred and forty one thousand
four hundred and twenty-three miles; and the
annual cost of such transportation two millions
seven hundred and twenty four thousand four
hundred and twenty-six dollars.
The increase of the annual transportation
over that of the proceeding year, was three
millions nine hundred and ninety thou
sand three hundred and 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 first day Of July last, was eight
cen thousand four hundred and seventeen
being an increase of sixteen hundred and
seventy during the preceding year
The gross revenues of the Department for
the fiscal year ending June 3oth, 1850,
amounted tofive millions five hundred and fifty
two thousand nine hundred and seventy-one
dollars and forty-eight cents, including the
annual appropriation oftwo hundred thousand
dollars for the franked matter of the depart
ments, and exclud ding the foreign postages
collected for any payable to the British Gov
ernment
The expenditures for the same period were
five millions two hundred and ffty-three dol
lars and forty three cents--leaving balance
of reyenne over expenditures of three hun
dred and forty thousand and eighteen dollars
and FIVE cents
/ am happy to find too that the fiscal condi-
ton of the Department is such as to justify
the Postmaster General in recommending the
reduction of our inland letter postage to three
cents the single letter when prepaid, and i've
cents when not prepaid. He also recon-
mends that the prepaid rate shall be reduced
to two cents, whenever the revenues of the
Department, after the reduction, shall exceed
its expenditures by more than five per cent
for two consecutive years; that the postage
u5sn California and other sent by our Ocear
steamer shall be much reduced; and that the
rates of postage on newspaper, pamphlets
periodicals, and other printed matter shall be
modified, and some reduction thereon made
It cannot be doubted that the proposed re
duction will, for the present, diminish the re
venues of the Department 1t is believed tha
the deficiency, after the surplus already ac
cumulated shall be exhausted, may be aimos
wholly met, either by aboishing the existing
privileges of sending free matter through tht
mails, or by paying out of The Treasury to thu
= the Post Office Department a sum equlvalen
to the postage of which it is deprived by sucl
privileges The last is supposed TO be thu
preferable mode, and WILL if not entirely, ST
nearly so the deficiency as to make any fur
ther appropriation that may be found neces
sary so inconsiderable as to form no obstacle
a to the propose reductions.
Ientertsin no doubt of the authority of con
gress to make appropriations for leading OBJ
iects in that class Of public works comprising
what are usually called works of internal I'M
provemenk This authority suppose to bt
derived chiefly from the power of regulating
commerce with foreign nations, and among
the States, and the power of laying and col
lecting imposts. Where commerce is to b.
carried on, and imposts collected, there mus
be ports and harbors, as well rs wharves and
custum houses Ifships, laden with valuable
cargoes, approach the shore, or sail along tho
coast, lighthouses are necessary at suitabl'
points, for the projections of lifc aud proper
". Other facilities and securities for com
nerce and navigation hardly-less i'm
portant; and these clauses of the Constitu
-tion, therefore. to which have referred, have
s. received from the origin of the Government :
liberal and beneficial construction. Not only
have lighthouses. buoys, and beacons beer
established. and floating lights maintained
but harbors have been cleaned and improved