The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-12-11

1892 miles, The annnai transportation thsre-
ON il a65ll ,423 miles. The annual cost OF s0cn
transportation Is s2..2a,4so os. iae increase -
the annual transportation over that Of the proceed
inv wear was 3.991 ,354 miles and the increase OF
cost was 342,440 SO. The number oil post offices
on the Ist OF July last was i8,4ti, being an ~
crease Of | $40 during the pre- eding year. The
eross revenue Of the department for the fiscal
wear ending June Both, 1850, amounted to So
b22,51I SO, including the annual appropriation
Of $40 700 for the ranked matters Of the depart
men,., and excluding the foreign hostages collec-
ted for and payable to the British Goaernment.-
The expenditures Tor the same period were So
cla,953 SO, leaving balance OF revenue over ex-
penditures Of $3,400 IS. am happy TO find thai
the fiscal condition Of the debt is such as to JUS
tty the Post Master General in recommending a
reduction Of our inland postage to three cents the
single letter, when prepaid, or five cents when
not prepaid. He slso recommends that The pre-
paid rates shall be reduced whenever the revenue
Of the department after the reduction shall ex-
coed its expenditures by more than five per cent
for two consecutive years; that postage upon the
California. and those letters sent by our Ocean
steamers, shall be much reduced, and that the
rates Of postage on newspapers, pamphlets. peri
odicals, and other printed matter, shall be modit-
ed and some reduction thereon made. II cannot
be doubted that the proposed reduction will, for
the present, diminish the revenue Of the dep irt-
ment; but il is believed that the deficiency, after
ted, may be almost fully met by abolishing the
privilege OF sending free matter through the mails,
or BY paving out oil the Treasury to The Posi- Of
fee sum equivalent TO the postage OF which it is
deprived BY these privileges. The last is sup
posed TO be the preferable mode. and WILL il net
entirely, so nearly supply that deficiency. as to
make any further appropriation unnecessary. ~
may be found so inconsidetabie as 10 form no OBJ
stacle to the reduction.
enterain no doubt OF the authority of Congress to
make appropriations for leading Objects in that class
ofpualic works called by the general name Of Inter
nal Improvements. This authority suppose to be de-
rived chiefly from the power OF regulating commerce
with foreign nations and among the states, and the
power Of iaying . nd collecting imposts. When
is to be carried and mposts collected, there
must be ports and harbors as we'll as whaIfs and
tom houses IT ships, laden with valuable cargoes.
approach the shore or sail along the coast. light
houses are necessary, at suitable points for the pro
lection Of life and property: other facilities and secu
rites and navigation not less impor
tan and those clauses the Constitution tore
to which Ihave referred, have received from the orr
Gin of the Government, liberal and beneficial con,
structions. Not only have ligh. houses, onoys and
beacons, been established and floating lights been
maintained, but harbors have been cleared and i'm
proved, piers constructed and even breakwaeTs for
from being nied Up and rendered useless BY the &C.
ton o. the have been erected at great eN
the from the conslde ration that II
these works. OF such evident Importance and utility
not to be accomplished by Congress- they cannot
be accomplished al all. BY the adoption OF the Con
sitution, the several States voluntarily parted with
the power collecting du,es lmposis within taer
own ports, ana il Is not 10 be expected they should
raise money by internal taxation. direct or indirect
for the benefit offheiI commerce. after the revenues
from which. do not either hole in part, 60 into
their treasury do perceive any difference
between the power Of Congress 10 make approrria-
tons objects of this Kind the ocean, and the
power to make similar appropri tiops on land or riv
where they are large enough, 10 bear on their
waters extensive trafhc. The ma gnihcent Mssis.
sipp and its tributaries. and the vast lakes OF the
north and north west appear to me 10 fall within the
exercise ofthe power asjusi, and as clearly as the
n n he IN NeN ID ok q IN
gard expenditures made for these Objects
as expenditures for local purposes. The position or
site Of the work is essarily local. but its utility is
general. ship canal around the falls OF ST. Mary OF
less than mile in length, though loca! its consruc
Is il would remove, the only obstruction to the
navigation Of more than thousand miles, and afford
relations with Canada So too, the break water at the
mouth of the Delaware. erected for the exclusive
that name, but aidshe whole coast wise navigation
OF the United States, and, to considerable extent,
foreign commerce. If ship be lost on bar a,
Client depth Of water it would be likely to be
q northern ship, and if steamboat be sunk in any
having been properly cleared Of distractions. it may
be . boat belonging TO either eight States.
may add hat ble that among all the
thirtyone States, there that is great
less ,oou nded the Gulfoi Mex
STEAM In discharsng our nons. III i duties fa
low citizens, this subject in carrying into effect
al Pc NeIs conierea ny tne consttnton."e should con
slider ourselves celebrating and acting for and
the same country, and bear constantly in mind that
our regard and duty, due not to particular part
only, but to the whole. therefore recommend that
appropriations be made for completing such works
have been already begun, and commencing such 9th
public and general importance. The difficulties and
delays incident to the settlement Of private claims
10 to spprehend that ms ny unfortunate edit
ofs Of the GoyeSnme Mt have thereby been una voida
ny ruined. Congress has SO much business of pub
lie character, that il is impossible should give much
en.ion TO mere private claims and their accumula
tien = now 90 g,sai th.i may csimants despair
Of ever being able to obtain hearing. II NAV well
be doubted whether Congress, from the nature of its
organization 10 properly constituted, to decide upon
sueh cases. 10 impossible that each member should
examine the merits of every claim upon which he Is
compelled to vote. and it ask Judge
10 decide case which be has heard. Such de-.
eision may and frequently do injustice either to
the Stste or the claimant. the Government and
the est.blishme of sone tribunaito adisdcs,e on
such claims. beg leave. therefore respectfully
appointment Of Commisson to settle ali npi,a,e
claims against the United States and as an En- pARTE
bearing nun In al contested cases. be very unsatis
factory, also recomme nd the appointmen of Soil
ctor whose duty II shall be to represent the govern.
before such and protect it sgains.
sll lille gal, fraudulent and unjust claims which may
be presented for their adjudication.
TINS district which has neither voice nor vote in
commend its wants to yoar favorable considerasion
with afuil confidence you will meet them not only
with Justice and with liberality.
should be borne in mind that in this citv laid on,
~ Washi and consecrated to his name is loca
ion and the symbol OF our greatness H,e .,aa IN
situated all the public buildings necessary for The
OF overnmsnt, and all these are EXEMPT from taxa
tior. Il should be the pride of Americas ~ 49,
thus place attractive to the people the hole repnh
ic and and safe for the of the
public business and the preservation OF the nnbIic
records. The government should therefore hear a
Deral portion ofthe burthens ofa and use.
ia improsements and nothing can contribute mrs
to the health, comfort and safety Of the c;ty IA ~
security OF the public buildings and records than an
suunaan. supply o. pure water, respectfully recon-
ab,a in |
ssTs, Is IN your wisdom you may deem proper. 'As
Inc aet passed at the last session making cer.ai,
PloIo.ons 70 iexas for settling the disputed boun
gary between That State and New Mexico was tmme.
stately On s passage transmitted by express 10 ire
Governor OF Isxas to be laid by him before the Cen
erai Assembly for its agreement thereto ~ ra.ain.
was duly wiedged but in.ination has as vet
bly, thereon. 1t may, however. BE yery sonn en
e. e ny me terms Of proposition submitted thew
Az ~ ~. rs acteo upon on or before the first
expected that the series or measures nassaS usen