Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-12-14

three thousand four hundred and eighty-three
dollars OF balance due 10 foreign Offices,
amounted TO eight millions seven hundred and
ten thousand nine hundred and seven dollars.
The gross receipts during the Snme period
amounted to six million nine hundred and Of
ty-fye thousand FIVE hundred and eighty-six
dollars; exhibiting an expenditure over IN
come OF one million seven hundred and fifty
i've thousand three hundred and twenty-one
dollars, and a Elimination Of deficiency, as
compared with the last year OF three hundred
end Sixty-one thousand seven hundred and
ffty-six dollars. The increase OF revenue Of
the department, for the year ending June 30,
1854, over the preceding year, was nine hun
dred and seventy thousand three hundred and
ninety-nine dollars. No proportionate in
crease, however, can be anticipated for the
current year, in consequence of the act Of
Congress Of June %, 1854, providing for in
creased compensation TO all poStmasters.-
From these statements il is apparent that the
Post Ofice Department, instead Of delraying
lis expenses, according 10 the design at the
time oil its creation /; is now and under exist
ing laws must continue to be, to no small ex-
tent, a charge upon the general treasury. The
cost Of mail transportations during the year
ending June 30, 1854, exceeds the cost oil the
preceding year by four hundred and ninety-fve
thousand and seventy four dollars. again
call your attention to the subject of mail trans
porlatioR by ocean steamers, and commend
the suggestions Of the Post Master General 10
your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven millions
seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty Eve
aNFHo nf tho pnhlio I anla kaua bna., e,ruar.
and eight million one hundred and ninety
thousand and seventeen acres brought into
market. The number Of acres sold is seven
million thirty-fye thousand seven hundred and
thirty-fve, and the amount received therefor
nine million two hundred and eighty FIVE
thousand five hundred ard thirty three dollars.
The aggregate amount OF lands sold, located
under military scrip, and land warrants, Sc
lected as swamp lands by States, and by loca-
ting under grants for roads, is upwards of
twenty. three millions of acres. The increase
Of land sold, over the previous year is about six
millions Of acres; and the sales during tbetwo
first quarters of the current year present the
extraordinary result oil five and half millions
sold, exceeding by nearly four millions of
acres the sales of the corresponding quarters
OF the last year, thus increasing to an extent
unparalleled during any like period in our
past history 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
those who have served their country in time
of war, is illustrated by the fact, that since
100 no less than thirty millions OF acres have
been applied to this object.
Tha cno0aStinny uuh,ot, 4 .rl,n.Izl = -
annual message of last yea, in reference to
grants OF land in aid of the construction of
railways, were less full and explicit than the
magnitude Of the subject and subsequent de-
velopmentS would seem TO render proper and
desirable. On The soundness OF the principle
then asserted with regard TO the limitation of
the power Of Congress, l entertain no doubt
but In its application 1t is not enough that the
value OF lands in a particular locality may be
enhanced; that, in fact, a larger amount of
money may probably be received in q given
Time, FOR alternate sections, without the i'm
and influence OF the proposed improve.
A prudent proprietor looks beyond
limited sections of his domain, beyond present
10 the ultimate effect which a ~parlicu-
lar line Of policy is likely 10 produce upon all
his possessions and interests. The government.
which is trusted in this manner, fortbe people
81 the States. is bound TO take the same wise
and comprehen sive view. Prior 10, and du.
ring the last session Of Congress, upwards of
thirty millions Of acres of land were withdraw
from public sale with a view to applications
Tor grants OF this character pending before Con-
A careful review Of the whole subject
led me to direct that all such orders be abro.
gated, and the land restored 10 market; and
instructions were Immediately given to that
effect. The applications at the last session
contemplated the construction of more than
thousand miles Of road, and grants 10 the
amount ol nearly twenty millions of acres of
he public domain. Even admitting the right
the part of Congress to be UNREASONABLE,
it quite clear that the proposed grants would
be productive of good, and notevil? The diff.
Ierent projects are confined, for the present, 10
States of this Union and one Territory.
The reason assigned for the grants, show that
1 is proposed &c put the works speedily in
process of construction, when we reflect that
the commencement Of the construction
Of railways in the United States, stimulated
rs they have been by the large dividends re-
ilized from the earlier works over the great
.horoughfares, and between the most impor-
ant points of and population, en-
,~ouraged by State legislation, and pressed for
by the amazing energy OF private enter
only seventeen thousand miles have
been completed in all the States in a quarter
d a century;-when we see the crippled con.
OF many works commenced and prose-
,uted upon what was deemed sound princi-
lies, and safe calculations: -when we con-
the enormous absorption of capital
withdrawn from the ordinary channels of bu-
'inesS the extravagant rates of interest at this
moment paid to continue operations, the hank.
not merely in money but in character
and the inevitable effect upon finances gener-
ally /; can it be doubted that the tendency is to
Iun to excess BY encouraging hopes of sudden
wealth expected TO flow from magnificent
dependent upon the action Of Con-
? Does the spirit, which has produced
such results, need 10 be stimu lated or check.
I'd? Is it not the better rule to leave all these
TO private enterprise, regulated, and,
when expedient, aided by the cooperation of
If constructed by private capital,
he stimulent and check 60 together, and fur
nish a salutary cOnstraint against speculative
and extravaganza. But it is manifest
IupS, w thC noSl ChCOli'C SudiuSs lHtIt Is
of going too fast and too far. We may
we'll pause before a proposition contemplating
Simultaneous movement for the construction
railroads, which in extent, will equal, ex-
of The great Pacific road and all its
branches, nearly one third the entire length
such works, now completed, in the United
States, and which cannot cost, with equip
nents, less than one hundred and fifty mil
lions of dollars. The dangers likely IN result