The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-12-13

these statements it Is apparent that The
Post Office department, instead Of de.
frAying its expenses, according to the de. Z
sign at the time of lis creation, 10 now.
and under existing laws must continue 10 :
be, to no small extent. charge upon the
general Treasury. The cost OF mailtrans
portation, during the year ending June 30ys
1854, exceeds the cost Of the preceding
year by $495O74. | again call your tf-
tention to the subject Of mail trsnsporia..
ton by ocean steamers, and commend tho
suggestions of the Postmaster Gen efal 40
your early attention. - = =. =
During the last fiscal yesrr .o70.9S<s
acres of the public lands have been sur.
veyed. and 8,l90,ol7 acres brought into
market. The number Of acres sold 10
7,O35.735. and the amount received there
for $9,285.533. The aggregate amount
of lands sold, located under military scrip
and land warrants, selected ss swamp
lands by States, and by locating under
grants for roads, is upwards. of twenty
three millions Of acres. The increase of
lands sold. over the previous; y ar, lis about
six millions of acres; snd the sales during
the two first quarters of. The current year
y
and half millions sold, exceeding by
nearly four millions OF acres the sales Of
the corresponding quarters Of the last year.
The commendable policy of the Gov.
erDment. 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 1890 no less than thir-
ty millions Of acres have been.applied to
this object. -
The suggestions, which submitted in
my annual message OF last year. in refer.
ence to grants of land in aid OF the con-
struction of railways, were less full and
explicit than the magnitude Of the subject
and subsequent developments would seem
to render proper and desirable. = aOf the
soundness of the principle then asserted
with regard to the limitation of the power
| Of Congress, entertain no doubt; but IN
| its application it is not enough that tho
value of lands in particular locality may
be enhanced; that in fact, larger amount
OF money may probably be received !. in
given time, for alternate sections, than
could have been realized for all Ire Sec
tions, without the impulse and influence
OF the. proposed Improvements. Aprudent
proprietor looks beyond limited sections
OF bis domain. beyond present results, TO
the ultimate effect which particular line
of policy is likely TO produce upon all his
possessions and interests. The Govern
ment. which is trustee, in this matter, for
the people of the States, is bound TO take
the same wise and comprehensive view.
Prior to and during the last session Of
Congress, upwards Of thirty millions Of
acres Of land were Withdrawn from public
sale with view TO applications for grants
Of this character pending before Congress.
A careful review Of the whole subject led
me to direct that ell such orders be abro.
gated, and the lands restored to market;
aud instructions were immediately given
TO that effect. The applications II tho
last session contemplated the. construction
of more than five thousand miles of road,
and grants to the amount of nearly twen-
i ty millions OF acres OF the public domain.
Even admitting the right on the part Of
Congress to be urquestionable, is il quite
clear that the proposed grants would be
productive of good. and not evil7 The
different projects are confined, for the
present, to eleven States ofthIs Union,
and one Territory. The reasons assign
ed for the grants. show that IL is proposed
10 pu. the works speedily in process Of
construction. When we reflect. thai since
the commencement of the construction Of
railways in the United States, stimulated
as they have been by the large dividends
realized from the earlier works over the
grea, tboroughfafes. and between the most
/ important points of commerce and popu-
lation, encouraged by State Legislation,
and pressed forward. by the amaziug ener-.
gy OF private enterprise, only seventeen
thousand miles have been completed in. all
the States in quarter of century; when
we see the crippled condition Of anTafiy
works commenced snd prosecuted upon
what were deemed 10 be Sound principles
and sale calculations; when we icontem-
plate the enormous absorption Of capital
Withdrawn from the ordinary tchsnnelseof
business, the extravagant rates Of interest
al this moment paid TO continue operations,
The bankruptcies not merely i'm money! but
in character, and the inevitable effsot upon
4 finances generally; can il be doubisd ahat
the tendency is to run to excess in this
matter? Is it wise 10 augment this excess
4 by encouraging hopes of sudden wealth.
expected TO flow from ma gnificent schemes
j dependent upon the action Of Congress?
Does the spirit which has produced ssuch
results, need 10 be stimulated or checked?
Is is not the better rule 10 leave all lthese
works to private enterprise. regulated, and
when expedient, aidcd, by the co.opera-
ton o! States? II constructed by private
Icapital, the .s,imulaut and the check 10
Together. and furnish salutary restraint
against speculative schemes aud exirasa-
gance. But it is manifest that, with: the
most effective guards, there is danger of
going TOO fast md TOO isr.s Ta Iea
i = We may well pause before aproposi,ion
contemplating Simultaneous movement
for the construction sof railroads, which,
i in extent. willequal. exclusive of the great
Pacific road and all its bran ches, Ilcasly
one third ofthe entirelengih OF such works,
now completed in the United States; and
which csnnot cost. with equipments, less
than one hundred and fifty millions Of dol.
{ lars. The dangers likely TO result from
4 ieonbinations OF interests Of this oharac-