Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-13

attention has already 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 mechanical skill in this direction have not
been exhausted. No good reason exists for the
marked distinction, which appears upon our
statutes between the laws for protecting life
aud property at sea, and those for protecting
them on land In most of the States severe
penalties are provide to punish conductors of
trsius, engineers and others employed in the
transportation of persops by railway, or by
steamboats, on rivers Why should not the
same principle be applied to acts of insubordi-
nation. cowardice and other misconduct on the
part Of masters and mariners, producing injury
or death TO the passengers OH the high seas,
beyond the jurisdiction of any of the States,
and where such delinquencies can be rea-heG
only BY the power of Congress? The whole
subject is earnestly commended to your cousd-
Grafton,
The report of the Postmaster General, to
which YOU are referred form many interesting de-
tails in relation to this important and rapidly
extending branch of the public service, shows
that of the year ending June 80, 1854. inclu.
ding one hundred and thirty three thousand
ance due toforeign Offices ,amOuntedto eight mill
ion seven hundred and ten thousand nine I'M
dred and seven dollars. The gross receipts du-
ring the same period amounted to six millions nine
hundred aud fifty FIVE thousand five hundred and
eighty six dollars; exhibiting an expenditure
over income of one million seven hundred and
fifty five thousand three hundred and twenty
one dollars, and diminution of deficiency, as
compared with the last year, of three hundred
and sixty one thousand seven hundred and fifty
six dollars. The increase of the revenue of
the department, for the year, ending June 30,
1854, over the preceding year,was nine hundred
and seventy thousand three hundred and ninety
nine dollars. No proportIonate increase, how
ever, can be anticipated for the current year,
in consequence of the act of Congress of June
%, 1854, providing for increased compensation
to all postmasters. From these statements, it
is apparent that the Post Office Department,
instead of defraying its expenses, according to
the design AT the time of its creation, is now,
and under existing laws must continue to be a
charge upon the general treasury. The cost
Of mail transportation, during the year ending
June 30, 1854, exceeds the cost Of the preced-
ing year by four hundred and ninety FIVE thou
sand and seventy four dollars. / again call
your attention 10 the subject of mail transpor-
tston by ocean steamers, and commend sug-
geSiors of the Postmaster General to your
early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million
seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty FIVE
acre, of the public lands have been surveyed
and eight million one hundred and ninety
thousand and seventeen acres brought into
market The number of acres sold is seven
million thirty five thousand seven hundred aud
thirty FIVE; and the amount received therefor
nine million two hundred and eighty FIVE thou
sand five hundred and thirty three dollars
The aggregate amount of lands sold, located
under the military scrip and land warrants,
sele cted as swamp lands nv States, and bv loca-
ting under grants for roads, is upwards of twen-
ty three millions of acres. The increase of
lands sold over the previous year. is about six
millions of acres: and the sales during the
two first quarter of the current year. present
the extraordinary result Of five and a half mill
ion sold, exceeding by four millions of acres
the sales of the corresponding quarters of the
last year, thus increasing to an extent unpar-
aleled during any like period in our past histo-
~ the amount of revenue provided from this
source for the Federal Treasury
The cOmmendable policy of the government
in relation to setting apart public domain for
Hsr is shs saxss frSsd their country IN time Of
no less than hirtv millions of acres have been
applied to this object
The suggestions, which I submitted in nv
annual message of last -e.- in raiarsnce To
Grants of land in aid Of the construction of rail
ways. were less full and explicit than the mag
nitude of the subject and subsequent develop
ments would seem to render proper and de-
sirahle. Of the soundness of the principle then
asserted, with regard to the limitation OF the
power of Congress, / entertain no doubt; but
in it's application it is not enough that the value
oflands in particular locality may he enhanc-
ed. that, in fact, larger amount of money may
probably be received, in given time, for alter
nate sections, than could have been realized
for all the sections, without the impulse and
influence of the proposed Improvements.
prudent proprietor looks bevond limited sections
of his domain. beyond present results to the
ultimate effect which a particular line OF policy
is likely to produce upon all his possessions
and interests. The government, VII is trus'
tee, in this matter, for the people OF the States
is bound to take the same wise and compre-
hensive view.
Prior TO and during the last session Of Con-
gress. upwards of thirty millions of acres o.
land were Withdrawn from public sale with
view to applications for grants of this character
pendIng before Congress. a careIui rtEie" W
the whole subject led me to direct that all such
orders he obroyated, and the lands restored to
market aud instructions were Immediately
given to tina. effect. The applications at the
last session contemplated the construction OF
more than FIVE thousand miles of road, and
grants to the amount Of nearly twenty millions
of acres of the public domain. Even admitting
The right on the part of Congress to be I'M
questionable is it quite clear that the proposed
grants woul be productive of good, and rot
evil? The different projects are confined, for
the present, to eleven States of this Union, and
one Territory. The reasons assigned for the
grants show that it is prnpns, 10 put the works
speedily in process of construction. When we
| reflect that since the commencement OF the
construction of railways in the United States,
stimulated as they have been by the large dlvi-
| dends realised from the earlier works over the
great thoroug h-fares, and between the most
! importan. points of commerce and population
encouraged by State legislation, and pressed
! forward by the amazing energy Of private en-
! terprise. only seventeen thousand miles have
been completed in all the States in quarter OF
a eentury;-when we see the crippled condition
of many works commenced and prosecuted up
on what were deemed to be sound principles,
and sa calculations; when we contemplate
the enormous absorption of capital Withdrawn
from the ordinary channels of business, the
| extrayaoant rates of interest at this moment