The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1853-12-13
{ NO. "A.

NeEfpc Hi9nly shtIsl'CtoVJ. HV ".bv"us ~
the public deot, Of all kinds, was, the 4th of
March 1853. 90 million one hundred and
ninety thousand and thirty.sevch dollars
payments on account Of which have been
made. since that period to the amont Of
twelve million seven hundred and three
thousand three hundred an twenty.nine
dollnrs, leaving unpaid, and in the continu-
ous course of liquiduation, the s,'n Of fifty.
six million four hundred and eighty-six
thousand seven hundred and eight dollars.
These payments although made 1T the mar-
ket price OF the respective classes of stocks
have been effected reediy, and to the gen.
eral advantage Of the teasliry. and have at
the same time proved Of signal utility IN thu
relief they have ncidchtly afforded to the
money market and to the industrial and
commercial pursuits Of the country.
The second Of the above metitioned
objects, that of the reduction Of the
tariff, is ofgreat 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 manu-
iacturies, and are not largely, or at all
produced in the country, is comfhend-
ed to your candid and careful pnsid-
Grafton.
You will find 10 the report OF the
Secretary Of the Treasury, also, abun--
dant proof Of The entire adequacy Of
the present fiscal system 10 meet all
the requirements Of the public service
and that while properly administered
it operates to the advantage Of the
community in ordinary business re-
lations.
respectfully ask yon attention to
suridry Suggestions Of improvements
in the settlement Of accounts, especi-
ally as regards the large sums OF out
standing arrears due to the Govern
ment. and of other reforms in the nd
ministrative action Of his department,
which are indicated by the Secretary;
ms also to the progress made in the
construction Of marine hospitals, Gus
tombouses, and Of a new mint in Cali.
fornia. an assay Office in the city Of
New York, heretofore provided for by
Congress and also 10 the eminently
successful progress Of the Coast Sur
vcy, and Of the Lighthouse Board.
Among the other objects meriting
your attention will be important re-
commentators from the Secretaries Of
War and Navy. Lam fully satisfied
that the Navy Of the United States is
not in condition Of strength and
efficiency commensurate with the mag
nitude of our commercial and other
interests and commend to your es-
pecal attention the suggestions on
this subject made by the Secretary Of
the Navy. respectfully submit that
the Army, which, under our system
must always be regarded with the
highest interest, IA nucle'is around
which the volunteer forces Of the ma
ton rally in the hour Of danger, re-
quires augmentation and modification.
TO adapt it TO the present extended
limits and fronteer relations Of the
country and the condition Of the In
dian tribes in the interior Of the con
tincnt; the necessity Of which will ap-
pear in the communication Of the
Secretary Of War and The Interior.
In the administration Of the Post
Office Department for the fiscal year
ending .uhe 80, 1853, the gross ex-
penditurc was seven million nine hun
dred and eightv-two thousand seven
hundred and Gfty-six dollars; and the
gross receipts. during the syme period,
five million nine hundred and forty
two thousand seven hundred and thir-
ty-four dollars; showing that the cur
rent expenses Of the department in tho
sum Of two million forty-two thousand
and thirty-,wo dollars. The causes
which, under the present postal sys-
tern and laws, led inevitably TO the re-
suit are fully explained by the report
OF the Postmaster General one grca1
cause being the enormous rates tho
Department has been compelled to
! pay for mail Service rendered by rail
road companies.
The exhibit in the report Of tho
3. Postmaster General ofthe income and
expenditures bv mail steamers will be
found peculiarly interesting, and OF