The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-12-13

cd States. l cordially approve of the
proposed aprrentice-system Tor our ma
tlonal vessels, recommended by the
Secretary of the Navy.
The occurrence. during the last few
months, Of marine disasters of the most
tragic nature, involving great loss of
human life, has produced intense emo
tons Of sympathy and sorrow through
out the country. II may well be
doubted whether all these calamitous
events arc wholly attributable to the
necessary and inevitable dangers of
the sea. The merchants, marines. land
ship builders Of the United States are,
it is true, unsurpassed in far reaching
enterprise, skill, intelligence and cou-
rage, by any others in the world. But
with the increasing amount ofour com
mercial tonnage in the aggregate, and
the larger size and improved equip
ment of the ships now constructed, a
deficiency in the supply of reliable
seamen begins to be very seriously felt.
The Inconvenience may.peih aps, be
met, in part, by due regulation for the
introduction, into our merchant ships,
Of indented apprentices which, while
it would afford useful and eligible ocs
cupation to numerous young men.
would have a tendency to raise the
character of seamen as a class. And
it is deserving of serious reflection
whether it may not be desirable to re-
wise the existing laws for the main
tenance of discipline at sea, uIon
which the security of life and property
on tie ocean must, to SO great an OK
tent. depend.
Although much attention mas al
ready been given by Congress to the
proper construction and arrangement
of steam vessels and all passenger
ships, still it is believed that the
achievements Of science and mechan-
zeal skill in this direction have not
been exhausted.
No good reason exists for the marx.
ed distinction which appears upon our
statutes between the laws for protect
ing life and property at sea, and those
for protecting them OH land. In most
Of the States severe penalties are pros
vidcd to punish conductors Of trains,
engineers, and others employed in the
transportation Of persons BY railway,
or by steamboats, on rivers. Why
should not the same principle be ap-
piled to acts OF insubordination, COW,
ardico, or other misconduct on the
part of masters and mariners, produc-
ing injury or death to passengers on
the high seas, beyond The jurisdiction
Of any Of the States, and where such
delinquencies can be reached only by
the power Of Congress ? The whole
subject is earnestly commended to your
The report Of the Postmaster Gen
cral, to which you ale referred for
many interesting details. in relation to
this important and rapidly extending
branch Of the rublic service, shows
that the expenditure of the yoai end.
ing june 30. 1854, including one ban.
lred and cish;y-thrcc dollars of bal
ancc due to fore On Office. amounted to
eight million seven hundred and ten
thousand nine hundred and seven dol,
lars. The gross receipts during TIE
same period amounted to six million
nine hundred and ffty-fvc thousand
five hundred and eightysix dollars:
exhibiting an expenditure over income
Of one million seven hundred and fif,
ty-fyc thousand three hundred and
twcnty>one dollars, and dimin ution
Of deficiency, as compared with the
last year, Of three hundred and fifty.
six dollars. The increase of the rev.
enue Of the Department, for the year
cndinc June 80, 1854, over the pre-.
ceding year, was nine hundred and
seventy thousand three hundred and
ninety-nine dollars. No proportion
ate increase, however, can be anticipat
ed for the current year,in consequence
Of the act of Congress CT June %,
1854, proviling for increased compen
sation to all ro.tmas'ers. From these
statements it is apparent that the Post
Office Department, instead of dclray.
ing its expenses, according to the de>
sign at the time of its creation,is now,
and under existing laws must continue
to be, to no small extent, charge up
on the general treasury. The cost of
transportation, during the year ending
June so, 1854, exceeds the cost Of
the preceding year by four hundred
and ninety-Evo thousand and seventy
four dollars. Iagain call your atten-
ton to the subject of mail Transports
ton by ocean steamers, and commend
the suggestions Of the Postmaster Gen
eral to your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven
million seventy thousand nine hundred
and thirty-fve acres of the public !
lands have been surveyed. and eight
million one hundred and ninety thous>
and and seventeen acres brought into
market. The number of acres sold is
seven million thirty>tive thousand sew
en- hundred and thirty-fve, and the
amount received therefor nine million
two hundred and eighty five thousand
five hundred and thirty-three dollars,
The aggregate amount Of lands sold,
located under military scrip and land
warrants, selected as swamp lands by
States, and by locating under grants
for roads, is upwards Of twenty>three