The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-13
THE LANCASTER LEDGER.

"tiVS "o PiONiucu w PUNISH COUuuCLOTS Oh
trains, engineers, and Others employed in
the transportation of persons by railway, or
by steamboats, on rivers. Why should not
the same principle be applied to insubordi
nation, cowardice, 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 delinquences can
be reached only by the power of Congress!
Tic whole subject is earnestly commended
to your consideration.
The repor: Of the Postmaster General
to which you are referred for many intcres-
ting details in collation.. to this important
and rapidly extending branch Of the public
service, shows that the expenditure of the
year ending June 81, 1851. including one
hundred ana thirty three thousand four hum
dred and eighty three dollars Of balance
due to foreign Offices, amounted to eight
million seven hundred and ten thousand nine
hundred and seven dollars. The gross re-
ceipts during the same period amounted to
six ulillions nine hundred and ffty-five thou
sand five hundred and eighty-six dollars |;
exhibiting an expenditure over income of
one million seven hundsr and fly five thou
sand three hundred and twenty lone d liars,
and diminution of deficiency, rs com.
pared with the last year, Of three hundred
and siyty-one Thousand seven hundred and
fifty six dollars. The increase of the reyc-
nue. Of the department, for the year ending
Juno 80, 1854, over the preceding year, was
nine hundred and seventy thousand three
hundred and ninety nine dollars. No pro-
portionatc increase, however, can be antici-
p tied for the current year in consequence
of the act of Congress Of June %, 1854,
providing for increased compensation to all
postm.sters. From these statements il is
apparent that the Post Office Department,
instead Of dcfraying its expenses, accord.
ing to the design at the time Of its creation,
is now, and under existing las must con.
tinuc to b., to no small extent, charge
upon the general treasury. The cost Of
mail transportation, durng the year ending
June 80, 1851, exceeds the cost Of the pre-.
ceding year by four hundred and niurty-tivc
thousand and scvcnty.four dollars. again
call your attention to the subject of mil
transportation by ocean steamers, and com.
mend the suggestions Of the Postmaster
General to your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million
seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty
five acres of the public lands have been sur
veycd, and eight million one hundred and
ninety thousand and seventeen acres brought
into market. The number of acres sold il
seven million thirty-iye thous md seven
hundred and thirty five, and the amount re-
ceivcd 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 rs swamp lands
by States, and by locating under grants for
4 Il - al.
of acres. The Increase Of lands sold, over
the previous year, Is about six millions of
acres and the sales during the two first
quarters of the current year present the eX.
traordinary result Of five and n half millions
sold, exceeding by nearly four millions OF
acres the sales of the CORE spending quar-
tiers 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 commcndablc policy OF the ghgeSsn, IN
| S.'' >" i1 x .--..~I ,i..ir coun.
try in zine of war, IS illustrated by the fact
that since 1890 no less than thirty millions
of acres have been applied to this object.
The suggestions, which ] submitted in
my annual message Of last year, in reference
to grants Of land ia aid of the construction
of railways, were less full and explicit than
the magnitude of the suhjcct and subsequen,
developments would seem to render proper
and desirable. OF the soundness of the
| principle then asserted with regard to the
limitation of the power of Congress, | en-
tertia no doubt; but in its application It is
not enough that the value of lands in n
particular locality my be enhanced; tha,
in ftct, larger amount of money may pro
badly be received, in given time, for alter.
nate sections, than could have been realised
for all the sections, without the impulse
and influence ofthe proposed improvements
A prudent proprietor looks boy nd limited
sections of his domain, beyond pres Mt re.
suits, to the ultimate effect which partic.
ular line of policy is likely to produce upon
all his poss ssions and interests. The gov.
ernrnent, which is trustee, in this m,tter, for
the people OF the States, Is bound to take
the same wise and comprehensive view
Prior to and during the last session of Con.
gress, upwards Of thirty millions Of acres OF
land were Withdrawn from public sale, with
a view to applications for grants of this
character pending before Congress. A care.
ful review Of the whole subject led me Ia
direct that all such orders be abropated, and
the lands restored to market; and instrucr
tons were Immediately given to that effect
The applications Mt the last session contem.
plated the construction Of more than five
thousand miles Of road, and grants to the
amount of nearly twenty millions Of acres
of,the pnblic domain. Even admitting the
right on the part of Congress to be uuques.
tionable, is it quite clear that the proposed
grants would be productive Of good, and not
evil! The different projects are confined
for the present, to eleven St,tes Of this Tn.
ion, and one Territory. The reasons as
| signed for the grants, show that IL is pro.
posed to put the works speedily in process
Of construction. When we reflect tha,
since the commencement ogthe construction
Of railways ia the United States, stimulated
a. they have been by the large dividends
realised from the earlier works over the
great thoroughfares, and between The most
important points of commerce and populs-
ton, encouraged by State Legislation, and
pressed forward by the amazing energy 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 many works commenr-
e1 and prosecuted upon what were deemed
to be sound principles, and safe Gale ulations;
wien we contemplate the enormous ab-