Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1853-12-15

amounted 10 tOrty-thrCe mllllOn hVC hundred
and hfty-four thousand two hundred and sixty
two dollars; leaving balance Of thirty-two
million four hundred and twenty-five thousand
four hundred and forty-scven dollars of receipts
above expenditures.
This fact, of increasing surplus in the treas
ury, became the subject Of anxious consdeu-
ton at a very early period of my admnjstra-
ton, and the path Of duty in regard to it seemed
to me obvious and clear; namely, first, to ap.
ply the surplus revenue to the discharge Of the
public debt, so far as it could iudiciousIy be
done and, secondly ITO devise means for the
gradual reduction of the revenue tothc standard
Of the public exgcncies.
OF these objects, the first has been in the
course of Accomplishment, in manner anG to
a degree highly satisfactory. The amount OF
the public debt of all classes, was, on the 4th
of March, 1858, sixty million one hundred
and ninety thousand and thirty-scvcn dollars
payments on account of which have been made,
since that period, to the amount Of twelve mil
lion seven hundred and three thousand three
hundred and twcnty-nnc dollars, leaving un-
paid, and in the continuous course Of lqujda-
ton, the sum Of fily-siX million four hundred
and cighty-siX thousand seven hundred and
eight dollars. 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 incidentally afforded to the
money market and to the industrial and COM
mcrcial pursuits Of the country.
The second of the above mentioned objects,
that Of the reduction Of the tariff, is of great
Importance, and the p Ian suggested by the
Secretary of the Treasury, which is to reduce
the duties ON certain articles, and TO add 10 the
free list many articles now taxed, and cspc-
cially such as enter into manufactures, and are
not largely, or at all produced in the country,
is commended to your candid and careful con-
sidcraton.
You will find in the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury, also, abundant proof Of the
entire adequacy Of the present fiscal system to
meet all the requirements Of the public service,
and that, while property administered, it ope-
crates 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
sums Of outstanding arrears due to the govern
mcnt, and of other reforms in the adminstra.
tive action Of his department, which are indl-
Gated by the Secretary; as also the progress
made in the construction of marine hospitals,
custom houses, and Of Il new mint in Callior-
MIA and assay-office IN the city Of New York,
heretofore provided for by Congress; and also
to the emnentIy successful progress of the
coast survey, and of the lighthouse board.
Among the objects mcritng your attention
will be important recommendations from the
Secretaries of War and Navy am fully sat
sfcd that the navy of the United States is not
in condition of strength and efficiency com
mcnsurate with the magnitude of our CONNER
cal and other interests and commend TO your
especial attention the suggestions on this sub
cct made by the Secretary of the Navy. |
respectfully submit that the army, which under
our system must always be regarded with the
highest interest, as nucleus around which the
volunteer forces of the nation gather in the
hour of danger, requires augmentation or mod
fcaion, to adapt it to the present extended
limits and frontier relations Of the country, and
the condition of the Indian tribes in the ntc-
rior of the continent; the necessity Of which
will appear in the communications Of the Sec
rctarcs of War and the Interior.
In the administration Of the post Office de-
partmcnt for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1853, the gross expenditure WAS seven mil
lion nine hundred and eighty thousand seven
hundred and fitysx doIIars and the gross
receipts, during the same period, five mil
lion nine hundred and torty-two thousand
seven hundred and thiny-tour dollars s.
showing that the current revenue failed to
meet the current expenses of the department
by the sum Of two millions iorty-two thousand
and thrty-two dollars. Tie 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 tie enormous rates thc de-
partmcnt has been compelled TO pay for mail
service rendered by railroad companies.
The exhibit in the report of the Postmaster
General of the income and expenditures by
mail steamers will be found peculiarly inter-
csting, and of a character to demand tie M
mediate attention of Congress,
Numerous and fogrant frauds upon the pen
sion bureau have been brought to light within
the last year, and, IN some instances, merIted
punishmcnts inflicted but, unfortunately, in
others, guilty parties have escaped, not through
the want of sufficient evidence to warrant II
conviction, but in consequence Of tie provls-
ions of limitation in the existing laws
From the nature of these claims, the re-
mocncss of the tribunals 10 pass upon them,
and the mode in which the proof is, of ncccs-
sitv, furnished, temptation to crime has been
greatly stimulated by the Obvious difficulties Of
detection. The defects in the law upon this
subject are so apparent, and so fatal to tie ends
of Justice, that your ear y action relating to it
is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine million
eight hundred and nineteen thousand four hun
dred and eleven acres of the public lands have
been surveyed, and ten million three hundred
and sixty-three thousand eight hundred and