Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-16
The message aud J. Accompanying Documents"


plan adopted by President Fillmore had been con
tinued and fully carried out and copies deposited
with postmasters and delivered to editors at all the
principal points simultaneously on the Geographic
announcement of its delivery to Congress Whether
this was intended to be done not we cannot say
twas not done generally. and unfortunately. It'll
seems that some favoriteism exercised no doubt
by some subordinate, perhaps by the Union of
fee, in which the documents were printed 1t is a
small matter perhaps, but it the press gen
orally, and of course. the press generally should
speak out about it, that such thing may not oc
cur again. By the way, Saturday, the 10th, we
got, by Adams Express, package of g Extra I'm
ons" with the Presidents message, delivered in
Washington City on Tuesday, the 9th. being only
four days after date. and full two days after had
it up ourselves. Great people in this world. But
to the documents:
The MEssAeE-Hns been already published read
! and commented upon throughout the length and
breadth of the land. Generally the reception given
to it has been friendly, and the verdict favorable,
both respects the soundness of its tone and the
ability with which it is written. Some few-very
| few-'s hard papers have attacked it in queru-
lous spirit, with much temper and little force, while
the respectable portion of the press of the op
posite party has generally given praise and always
withheld attack To say of the message that it Is
the greatest message that message
could be message would be a sort Of extravaganza
The sober truth is sufficient praise 1t is plain
statesmanlike paper, fully up to the warmest hopes
and wishes of the Presidents friends and fully and
ably meeting the requirements of the country under
existing circumstances. Let us now turn to the &C
| complaining Documents in the order in which they
are referred to in the message
/ REPORT OF THE SECRETARY THE TREASURY
This report, although not, strictly speaking an ac-
/ companying document, being made directly to the
speaker of the House of Representatives is usually
cassed with the rest and is the first to which refer
ence is made in the message. From this report,
which is able and thorough, but too long for our
columns. learn that the actual lece pts for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1853, $6l,337 ,374
40 four millions less than the estimates but
the balance in the treasury July |, 1852 $l4,-
632136 81 making the total sum for the service of
/ 1853, SIS, 969,71O II. The expenditures of the
year were $54,026,818 81.
The receipts for the first fiscal quarter of 1854
were S2l ,942 S92 S. and the expenditures for the
same quarter I5,OS1, 1888 TO
The estimated expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June go 1854 S57,25l ,2s3 Is, and the
. appropriations liable to be expended in that year
are 1868, A, 981 o. In the estimated expenditures
for this year included SIS. 100000 for redemp-
ton Of principal of public debt.
The estimated resources for 1854 $66, 266,-
6O4 62; expenditures S51 ,O6O,277 IL. Leaving a
balance in the treasury July I. 1855 of $15,206,-
327 so. OF these S5l,06O,277 IL, estimated ex-
: penditures S1O,O00,O00 are for principal of debt.
I, table accompanies the report, giving list of
articles of foreign import which it is proposed to
add the free list, for the purpose Of reducing the
revenue, These articles yielded last year eight mil
e lions of revenue. This table, however. and other
tables mentioned in the report, have not been
ceved.
Mr.. Guthrie proposes to arrange the articles now
paying duty in two classes to pay 100 per cent
and the other 25 per cent This he thinks, will
give much less trouble in collecting the revenue
He suggests specific duty iron, and that salt be
made free, and the fishing bounty repealed, leaving
* that branch of industry to the fair competition
which other maratme enterprises to flourish.
The classification in this manner will further re-
duce the about $4,000 900. This still leaves
the revenue from customs computed upon the imports
of 1853 at about S45 900 00O below which point il
y is proposed to reduce the duties until the public
debt is paid. The change proposed in the rate
of duty is designed to take effect from and after the
l first Of January, 1855.
: The imports OF the fiscal year 1853, including spe
cie have been S267 ,978,647 and the exports have
o been S236.452.250. fair estimate for profits on
exports and the freight of our vessels would cast
the balance of this account in favor. without
tmatng The money brought in by emigrants of which
DO account is taken. The table of tonnage, which al
accompanies this report, shows that tonnage
is 4,407, 0lO tons, and exceeds that Ct any pre-
3 ceed!ng by $4,000 These tables prove
that enjoy prosperous commerce, with an increa
sing capacity TO extend 1t.
Report OF THE SECRETARY THE Navy Mr.
Dobbn recommends strongly the increase and re-
t organization of the Navy, a basis somewhat com
e mensurate with standing d nation, and the
: immense commerce and sea coast which we have to
defend Steam is q most important power, and its
most economical and most suitable mode of appllca-
ton to vessels of is he thinks by means OF the
k screw propeller. He recommends, therefore, that
the department be authorized to have constructed
least six first class steam frgate pr0peers at an
estimated cost of from four to five millions and an
G estimated time of twenty months. He also recon-
mends that the Santee at Kittery. and the Sabine
. at New York on the stocks since 1919, be altered
and finished, substitutes for two frigates of the
same class withdrawn worthless The old ship
ofthe-ne Franklin is being repaired at Kittery, and
/ her model changed, with view of converting her
: into first class steam frgate. Should these re-
: Communications be adopted naval force will be
materially strengthened by the addition of two first
class sailing frigates and of several first class steam
frigates, capable of mounting so guns each-there
being no steamer at present OF more than 10 guns
The Secretary is of opinion that it would be sound
policy to dispose of such vessels deemed unfit
e for service vessels of
8 MIR. Dobbin attributes much of the failure of oul
national steamships to the contract system, and re-
commends the establishment of national machine
shops. To the restoration of foggng in the Navy
he is decidedly opposed He advises retired list
t. discharge of the inefficient, promotion of merit, pay
e according to service, and rewards and punish
n ments and honorable discharge to sailors means
! of encouraging longer enIistments. These rad
ical changes, in which public opinion will supper
: MIR. Dobbn
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF Wharf.-The
, Secretary of War strongly urges an increase of the
" Army, demonstrating its actual necessity for the
,IoAu 4 ID