Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-10

trust reposed il by the Constitution especially in the
application Of the public funds drawn by taxation from
the people, and appropriated to specific objects by Con-
gress. Happily have no occasion to suggest any rad
cal changes in the financial policy Of the Government
Ours is almost if not absolutely, the solitary Power Of
Christendom having surplus revenue, drawn llnme-
diaely from imposts commerce. and therefore mea-
sured by the spontaneous enterprise and national
rty of the country with such indirect relation agr
culture manufactures and the products of the earth and
violate constitutional doctrine and yet vgor
ously promote the general welfare. Neither to the
sourcesf the public treasure to the keep
ing and managing it, does any grave controversy now
prevail there being general acquiescence in the wisdom
1 of the present system.
The report Of the Secretary of the Treasury viii exhibit
in detail the state Of the public finances and the condition
of the various branches of the public service administered
by that department of the Government.
The revenue Of the country levied almost nsensibly
to the taxpayer goes on from year to increasing be-
the interests the prospective wants of the
! Government.
AT the close of the fiscal year ending June 80 1852,
there remained in the Treasury balance of fourteen mil
lion six hundred and hirywo thousand hundred and
thirtysix dollars The public for the fiscal year
ending June 80 1858, amounted to million nine
hundred and thirty thousand eight hundred and sixty
five dollars from customs and to two million four hundred
and five thousand hundred and eight dollars from
public lands and other miscellaneous sources amounting
together sixtyone million three hundred and thirty
thousand five hundred and seventy -four dollars
while the public expenditures for the period excu
sye of payments account Of the public debt amounted
/
sand two hundred and dollars leaving balance
of thirtytwo million four hundred and twenty five thou
sand four hundred and fortyseven dollars Of receipts
above expenditures
This fact of increasing surplus in the Treasury be-
the subject of anxious consideration at very early
period of my Administration and the path of duty in
gard to it seemed to obvious and clear namely first
apply the surplus to the discharge of the pub
lie debt far could udciousy be done and second
H to devise for the gradual reduction of the
nue. to the standard of the public exgences.
OF these objects the first has been in the of
compshment, in manner and to degree highly salts
factory. The amount Of the public debt of all classes,
was on the fourth of March, 1853 sixty million
hundred and ninety thousand and hirty-seven dollars
payments account of which have been made that
PERIOD to the amount of twelve million hundred and
three thousand three hundred and twenty nine dollars
leaving unpaid and in the continuous of quda-
ton, the sum of ftysx million four hundred and eighty
SIX thousand seven hundred and eight dollars These
payments although made at the market price of the
specye classes of stocks, have been effected readily,
and to the general advantage of the Treasury and have
at the time proved of signal utility in the relief they
have incidentally afforded to the money market and to
the industrial and commercial pursuits of the country
The second of the aforementioned Objects that of the
reduction of the tariff is of great Importance and the
plan suggested by the Secretary OF the Treasury which is
to reduce the duties certain articles and to add to the
free list many articles taxed and especially such
enter into manufactures and not largely all,
produced in the country commended to your candid and
careful consideration
You will find in the report the Secretary of the Trea-
sury also abundant proof of the entire adequacy of the
present fiscal system to meet all the requirements of the
public service and that while properly administered it
operates to the advantage of the community in ordinary
! business relations.
respectfully ask your attention to sundry suggestions
Of Improvements in the settlement of accounts especially
as regards the large of outstanding due
the Government and of other reforms in the admnisra
tive action Of his department which indicated by the
Secretary also to the progress made in the contuc
ton of marine hospitals, custom houses and of
and in he city of
heretofore provided for by Congress- and also to the emf
nent successful progress Of the Coast Survey and of the
| Lighthouse Board.
Among the objects meriting your attention will be inn
porant from the Secretaries of War and
Navy | fully satisfied that the navy of the United
States not in condition Of strength and efficiency
mensurate with the magnitude of commercial and
other interests and commend your especial attention
the suggestions this subject made by the Secretary of
the Navy respectfully submit that the army, which,
under system, must always be regarded with the
CHEST interest nucleus around which
nation gather In hour DANGER requires
augmentation modification adapt it the present
extended limits and frontier relations of the country
the condition Of the Indian tribes in the interior Of the
continent the necessity of which will appear in the
muncaons of the Secretaries Of War and the Interior
In the administration Of the Post Office Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80 1853 the gross expend
ture million nine hundred and eighty-two thou
sand seven hundred and ffysx dollars and the gross
receipts during the period five million nine hundred
and fortytwo thousand hundred and thirty -four
dollars; showing that the current failed to
the expenses the Department by the sum of two
million fortytwo thousand and thirty-two dollars The
which, under the present postal system and laws
led inevitably to this result fully explained by the
report Of the Postmaster General great being
the rates the Department has been compelled
to pay for mail service rendered by railroad companies
The exhibit in the report of the Postmaster General
the income and expenditures by mail steamers will BE-
found peculiarly interesting and Of character to demand
the immediate action of Congress.
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the Pension Bureau
tn pht Wit he lasty and in
some instances merited punshmsnts inflicted; but,
fortunately in others, guilty parties have escaped,
through the want Of sufficient evidence to warrant
ycton, but in consequence Of the provisions Of limitation
in the existing laws.
From the nature Of these claims the remoteness of the
tribunals to pass upon them and the mode In which the
proof is, Of necessity, furnished temptations TO crime
have been greatly stimulated by the obvious difficulties
detection The defects in the law upon this subject
so apparent and fatal TO the ends of justice that your
early action relating to il is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year nine million eight hundred
and nineteen thousand four hundred and eleven
the public lands have been surveyed and ten million three
hundred and sixtythree thousand eight hundred and
nnetyone acres brought into market Within the same
period the sales by public purchase and private entry
amounted 70 one million eghtythree thousand four hun.
dred and ninetyve located under military BOUNTY
land warrants six million hundred and
certificates, nine thousand four hundred and twenty
ven ceded to the States as swamp lands sixteen
million six hundred and eighy-our thousand two hun
dred and selected for railroad and other
objects, under acts of Congress- million four hundred
and twentyseyen thousand four hundred and ty-seyen
acres Total amount Of lands disposed of within the fiscal
year. twenty-five million three hundred and forty six thou
sand nine hundred and nney-two acres which is an in
in quantity sold and located under land warrants
and grants OF twelve million two hundred and thirty