Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1853-12-15
SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
THURSDAY, DEC. IS, 1853.
News and Gossip,

business. The House elected inc olncers
nominated by the democratic caucus MS men
toned last week. The wings were divided
and seemed to have no regular candidate for
Speaker.
President Pierce's first message will be
found on the outside Of this paper. To say
it is an able and interesting document, will
only be to reiterate what the press have said
and are saying throughout the whole length
and breadth of the country. 1t is highly
spoken of even by many Of our political OPP
ponents, and we trust there are none who
will permit either their prejudces or ndfer-
enCe to let it pass without careful perusal.
1t is an important document, and so well
written that all who wish to be conversant
with the affairs of this interesting country
must be pleased with it. Its political tone Is
just what might have been expected from the
head and heart of President Pierce-high,
patriotic, and purely democratic.
The reports of the different departments
are full Of interest. The Treasurer shows n
balance in favor of "Uncle Sans" pocket
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1858, of
thirty-lwo millions four hundred and twenty
FIVE thousand four hundred and forty-sevcn
dollars, of receipts over expenditures. The
Treasurer's estimate Of expenditures for the
current year is about ffty-one millions. A
reduction Of the present tariff is recommen-
ded, and Secretary Guthrie has presented
list of articles proposed TO be added to the
free list. The principal ones are as follows:
Arsenic; Banks used for medicine and tam
ming; Birthstone; Books; Mahogany, aud all
ornamental woods, and fire wood Brazil
Woods, and other Dycwoods in sticks;
Cochinea; CodIIa or hemp Of tow or flax;
Cream of Tartar; Engravings, e,chngs or
plate; FlaX>eed and Linseed; Hatter's Furs;
Hair; India Rubber; Indigo; Ivory; Linens;
Oils Of Palm, Cocoanut and Olive; Raw
Hides and Skins, of all kinds and in all con-
di,ons; Rags; Salt; Salipelre and Potash;
Raw Silk; Spices Of all kinds; Steel Bars,
Cast, Shear or German; Tin, in plates or
sheets; Tin, in pigs; Watches aud parts of
Watches; Zinc, Spcter or Tcntcneque;
Wines, except Champagne and adulterated
Wines; Opium; SuIpha,e of Quinne; Soda
Ash; Wool worth less than ten cents per
pound.
1t will be seen that the Post Office De-
partment has run the Government in debt the
past year two million forty-two thousand and
thrty-two dollars. The enormous prices ex-
acted by railroad companies for mail service
is the principal cause of this deficiency, but
with the present pIethoric Treasury we pre-
sumo there will be no disposition to increase
the rates Of postage, for the purpose OF maxi
ing this Department pay
The Secretary Of the Interior reports
that during the past year 9,Sl74ll acres of
land have been surveyed, &c, 1868, sol acres
brought into market, and l,0S3, 495 acres
sold. The number of land warrants issued
up to the Both of September last was 266 ,0l2,
of which there were then outstanding &C.
0l7.
The entire area of the public domain is es-
timated at l,5S4 ,000, 900 of acres Its pur-
chase was effected at the rate Of IA 4 | cent
per ncre, amounting to $4,000, 700. Add
the Indian reservation, valued at 81, $50
9O6, and adding the cost Of selling lands sold
previous to June last, the entire cost, cxclu-
ding surveying, amounts to SIS, 1894 OILS
The whole amount accruing from sales up to
June 30, 1858, was Sl42, 2S3, AS, being
S53 ,299, 465 more than the cost of the whole
1t is estimated that the net amount which will
have been realized for them, is the sum of
1891 l5l 1863.
The report Of the Secretary of War,
Jefferson Davis, states the actual strength off
the army as III, All officers and men, almos,
all employed on the frontiers. As an army
three times as large could not guard all the
points OF our frontiers, large bodies have
been and are to be posted on the important
points. He estimates that 1900 recruits will
DC wanted tor the ensuing year to maintain
the full authorized strength of the army, 49,
81. TO proven: desertons and keep the
ranks full, he recommends an increase or
pay to the soldier, and an additional increase
for every five years he shall serve; also pro-
visions for the promotion Of non-commisson-
ed officers to the lowest grade of commits
stoned officers. For soldiers re-enlstng
within one month after an honorable dis
charge he proposes an increased pay Of 50
per month, and the same addition to those
who received a certificate of merit for servi-
ces in Mexico. The report contains histo-
ry of the exploring expeditions.
One OF the most important recommends
tons in the Presidents message is the one
for enacting additional laws for the better
prote ction of the Treasury apainst the dom