The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-14

iff, is OF great Importance, and tho plan
suggested by the Secretary of the Treas.
ury, which is to reduce the duties on
certain articles, and to add to the free
list many articles now taxed, and espec-
tally such AS enter into manufactures,
and are not largely, or at all. produced
in the country, is commended to your
candid and careful consideration.
You will find in the report of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. Also abundant
proof of the entire adequacy Of the pres
ont fiscal system to meet all the require.
mcnts Of the public service. and that,
while properly administered it operates
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 government. aud Of
other reforms of the administrative ac.
tiou of his department. which arc indi-
Gated by the Secretary; as also TO the
progress made i'll the construction of
marine hospitals. custom-houses and of
a new mint in California and essay Office
in the city of New York, heretofore
provided for by Congress aud also to
the cminently 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. l am fully satisfied that the
Navy of the Uuited States is not in Il
condition Of strength and efficiency COM
mcnsurato with the magnitude of our
commercial aud other interests and
commend to your especial 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, 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 in
terror of the continent; the necessity of
which will appear in the communications
Of the Secretaries eff War and the In.
terror
In the administration of the Post
Office Department for the fiscal year
ending June so, 1858, the gross expcn-
diture was 1882, 756 ; and the gross
receipts, during the same period, S.,
042,734; showing that the current rev.
enue failed to meet the current cxpcn-
scs of the department by the sum of
81, l20 032. The causes which, un-
der the present postal system and laws.
led inevitably to this result, are fully
explained by the report Of the Postmas-
ter General one great cause being the
enormous rates the department has been
compelled to pay for mail service rem
dercd by railroad companies
The exhibit in the report of the Post
master General Of the income and ex-
peIditures by steamers will be found
peculiarly interesting. and of character
10 demand the immediate action of Con.
grcss
Numerous aud fragrant frauds upon
the Pension Bureau have been brought
to light within the last year, and, in
some instances, merited punishments in.
ficted but. unfortunately, in others.
guilty parties have escaped, not through
the want Of sufficient evidence to war
rant a conviction, but in consequence of
the provisions of limitation in the cxis-
ting laws.
From the nature of these claims the
rcmoteness of the tribunals to pass upon
them, and the mode in which the proof
is Of necessity, furnished, temptations
to crime have been greatly stimulated
by the obvious difficulties Of detection
The defects in the law upon the subject
are so apparent, and so fatal to the ends
of justice, that your early action relative
to it is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine mil.
lion eight hundred and nineteen thous.
and four hundred and eleven acres Of
the public lands have been surveyed. and
ten million three hundred and sixty
three thousand eight hundred and nine.
ty'onc acres brought into market. With
IN the same period, the sales of public
purchase and private entry amounted to
one million eighty-three thousand four
hundred and ninety five acres located
under military bounty land warrants, SIX
million one hundred and forty-two thous-
and three hundred and sixty acres To-
Gated under other certificates. nine
thousand four hundred and twenty seven
acres ceded to the States as swamp
lands, sixteen million six hundred and
cighty-four thousand two hundred and
fifty-threc acres selected for railroad
and other objects, under acts of Con
gross, one million four hundred and
twenty seven thousand four hundred and
twenty seven acres Total amount of
tanks disposed of within the fiscal year
twenty five million three hundred and
forty'six thousand nine hundred aud
nine:y-two acres which is an increase
in quality sold, and located under land
warrants and grants, of twelve million
two hundred and thirty-one Thousand
eight hundred and eighteen acres over
the fiscal year Immediately preceding.
The quantity of land sold during the
second and third quarters of 1852, was
three hundred and thirty -four thousand
four hundred and iifty-ouc acres. The
amount received therefor, was 1928.
6S7. The quantity sold the second and
third quarters of the year 1853, was
one million six hundred and nine thous-
and nine hundred and nineteen acres
and the amount received therefor, was