Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-12-15


sand seven hundred and eight dollars
from public lands and other miscellane-
Gus sources, amounting together to
sixt7pne million three hundred and
thirty-seven thousand five hundred and
seventy-four dollars; while the public
expenditures for the same period, exclu-
sive of payments on account OF the
public debt, amounted to forty-three
million FIVE hundred and fifty-four thou
sand two hundred and sixtytwo dollars;
leaving balance of thirty-two million
four hundred and twenty-five thousand
four hundred and forty dollars of
receipts above expenditures.
This fact, of increasing surplus in the
treasury, became the subject of anxious
consideration at a very early period of
my administration, and the path of duty
in regard to it seemed to me obvious
and clear, namely: first, to apply the
surplus revenue to the discharge of the
public debt, so far as it could judicious-
ly be done; and, secondly, to devise
means for the gradual reduction of the
revenue to the standard Of the public
exigencies.
OF these objects, the first has been in
the course Of accomplishment, in a
manner and to degree highly satisfac-
tory. The amount of the public debt,
of all classes, was, on the fourth of
March, 1858, sixty-nine million one
hundred and ninety thousand and thir-
ty-seven dollars; payments on account
of which have been made, since that
period, to the amount of twelve million
seven hundred and three thousand
three hundred and twenty-nine dollars,
leaving unpaid, and in the continuous
course of liquidation, the sum of fifty
six million four hundred and eighty-six
thousand seven hundred and eight dol
lars. These payments, although made
at the market price of the respective
classes of stocks, have been effected
readily, and to the general advantage Of
the treasury, and have at the same time
proved of signal utility in the relief
they have incidently 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
on certain articles, and to add to the
free list many articles now taxed, and
especially such as enter into manufac-
lures, and are not largely, or at all,
produced in the country, is commended
to your candid and careful considera-
ton.
You will find in the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury, also, abund
ant proof of the entire adequacy of the
present fiscal system to meet all the re-
quirements of the public service, and
that, while properly administered, it
operates to the advantage of the COM
munity in ordinary business relations.
respectfully ask your attention to
sundry suggestions of improvements in
the settlement of accounts, especially
as regards the large sums Of outstand-
ing arrears due to the government, and
of other reforms in the administrative
action of his department, which are in
dicated by the Secretary; as also to the
progress made in the construction OF
marine hospitals, custom-houses, and OF
new mint in California, and essay Of
fee in the city of New York, heretofore
provided for by Congress; and also to
the eminently successful progress of the
Coast Survey, and of the Lighthouse
Board.
Among the objects meriting your at
tention will be important recommends
tons from the Secretaries of War and
Navy. 1 am fully satisfied that the
Navy of the United States is not in a
condition of strength and efficiency
commensurate with the magnitude Of
our commercial and other interests; and
commend to your especial attention the
suggestions on this subject, made by
I the Secretary of the Navy. l respect
fully. submit that the army, which,
under our system, must always be re-
garded with the highest interest, as a
nucleus around which the volunteer
forces of the nation gather in the hour
of danger, requires augmentation, or
modification, to adapt it to the present
extended limits and frontier relations of
the country, and the condition of the
Indian tribes in the interior of the conti-
nent; the necessity of which will ap-
pear in the communications of the Sec
retaries of War and the Interior.
In the administration of the Post
Office Department for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1858, the gross ex-
penditure was seven million nine hun
dred and eighty-two thousand seven
hundred and fifty-six dollars; and the
gross receipts, during the same period,
five million nine hundred and forty-two
thousand seven hundred and thirty
four dollars; showing that the current
revenue failed to meet the current ex-
penses of the department by the sum of
two million forty-two thousand and
thirty-two dollars. The causes which,
under the present postal system and
laws, led inevitably to this result, are
fully explained by the report of the
Postmaster General; one great cause
being the enormous rates the depart
ment has been compelled to pay for
mail service rendered by railroad COM
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