Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-12-08


high beyond the jurisdiction of any of the States
and where such denquencies be reached only by
the power of Congress The whole subject earnestly
commended to your consideration.
The report of the Postmaster General to which you
referred for many interesting details in relation to
this important and rapidly extending branch of the pub
lie service shows that the expenditure of the end
ing June go 1854 including one hundred and thirty
three thousand four hundred and eightythree dollars
of balance due to foreign Offices amounted to eight
million seven hundred and ten thousand nine hun
dred and seven dollars. The gross receipts during
the period amounted to six million nine hundred
and fifty-fye thousand five hundred and eighty six
dollars exhibiting an expenditure over income of one
million hundred and ffty-fve thousand three hun
dred and twenty-one dollars, and diminutlon of de-
fcency compared with the last year. of three hun
dred and thousand hundred and fty-six
dollars The increase of the of the department.,
for the year endnp June 80 1854 the preceding
year. nine hundred and seventy thousand three hun
dred and ninetynne dollars No propOronate increase
however be anticipated for the current year
sequence of the act of Congress of June 3d. 1854 prov
ding for increased compensation to all poSmasters From
these statements is apparent that the Post Office De-
partment instead of defrayng its expenses according to
the design at the time OF It's creation is now and under
existing laws must continue to be- to no small extent
charge upon the general treasury The cost of mail
transportation during the year ending June 30, 1884
exceeds the cost OF the preceding by four hundred
and nnety-fve thousand and seventy-four dollars.
again call your attention to the subject of mail traspor
tation by steamers and commend the suggestions
of the Postmaster Genetal your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million seventy thou
sand nine hundred and thirty five of the public
lands have been surveyed, and eight million one hun
dred and ninety thousand and seventeen brought
into market The number of sold is million
thirty five thousand hundred and thirty five and
the amount received therefor nine million two hundred
and eightyve thousand five hundred and thirty three
dollars The aggregate amount of lands solo, located
under military scrip and land warrants selected as
swamp lands by States and by locating under grants for
roads, is upwards of Wentythree millions of acres The
increase Of lands sod the previous year. is about
81 first
quarters of the current year present the extraordinary
result of five and half millions sod exceeding by near
y four millions of the sales of the corresponding
quarters OF the last year. thus increasing to extent
unparalleled during any like period in past history
the amount of revenue provided from this for the
Federal Treasury.
The commendable policy of the government in rela-
ion to setting apart public domain for those who have
served their country in time Of war; illustrated by the
fact that since 1890 less than thirty millions of
have been applied to this object.
The suggestions which submitted in my annual mes
sage OF last in reference to grants of land in aid of
the construction of railways, less full and explicit
than the magnitude Of the subject and subsequent de-
veOpments would seem to render proper and desirable
Of the soundness Of the principle then asserted with
gard to the limitation of the power of Congress-
tain doubt but in its application it is not enough
that the 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
ons than could have been realised for all the sections
without the impulse and influence of the proposed i'm
|
sections of his domain beyond present results to the
ultimate effect which particular line Of policy is likely
to produce upon all his possessions and interests The
government which trustee this matter for the peo-
pie of the States, is bound to take the wise and
comprehensive view. Prior to and during the last
sion of Congress- upwards Of thirty millions of
land were withdrawn from public sale with view to APP
pcatons for grants of this character pending before
Congress. careful review of the whole subject led
me to direct that all such orders be abrogated and the
lands restored to market and instructions were imme
datey given to that effect The applications at the las
session contemplated the construction of than five
thousand miles of road, and grants to the amount
nearly twenty millions of of the public domain
Even admitting the right the part of Congress to be
unquestonable is it quite clear that the proposed grants
would be productive of good and evil The differ
ent projects confined for the present. eleven States
Of this Union and Territory The reasons assigned
for the grants show that is proposed put the works
speedily i'll process of construction. When reflect
that since the Of the construction of rail
in the United States stimulated as they have beer
by the large dividends realised from the earlier works
over the great thoroughareS and between the most i'm
portant points OF commerce and population
by State legislation and pressed forward by the amazing
energy of private enterprise only Thousand
miles have been completed in all the States in quartz
Of century when the crippled condition O
many works commenced and prosecuted upon what were
deemed to be sound principles and safe calculations :
when contemplate the absorption of CAPT
tai Withdrawn from the ordinary channels of business
the eXtravagant rates of interest this moment paid
continue operations the bankruptcies merely in
e ney but in character and the inevitable effect upo
finances generally can it be doubted that the ten
dency is to to in this matter! Is it wise
augment this excess by encouraging hopes of sudde
wealth expected to flow from magnificent schemes de
If pendent upon the action of Congress Does the spirit
which has produced such results need to be stimulate
or checked Is it not the better rule to leave all thes
works to private enterprise regulated and when expo
IS dent, aided by the cooperation of States If
sructed by private capital the stimuant and the chez
together and furnish salutary restraint against
ulatlve schemes and extravaganza But is NANTES
that, with the most effective guards there is danger
IS going too fast and too far.
We may well pause before aproposition contemplate
simultaneous movement for the construction Of raj
OF roads, which, in extent will equal exclusive Of the gree
Pacific road and all its branches nearly one-hird of tt
Mt entire length of such works. completed the Tn
is ted States, and which cannot COST with equipments
ct than one hundred and fifty millions of dollars I'll
dangers likely to result from combinations of interes
Of this character, hardly be over estimated Blu
independently Of these considerations where is the
curate knowledge the comprehensive intelligence wh
a shall discriminate between the relative claims of the
OF tWentyeght proposed roads, in eleven States and
lie Territory? Where will you begin and where end
"a to enable these companies to execute their propose
works. necessary that the aid of the general
ment be primarily given, the policy will present pro
lem comprehensive in its bearings and so importa
to political and social we'll being as to claim in
" tlcpation, the severest analysis Entertaining the
~ VIEWS recur with satisfaction to the experience al
action of the last session of Congress- furnishing
surance that the subject will not fail to elicit caef
h denomination and rigid scrutiny.
h 1t was my intention to present ON this occasion SOL
IN suggestions regarding internal improvements by the &c
lv eta government which want of time at the close of
last session prevented my submitting on the return to
ot House of Representatives. with objections of the
y entitled an act making appropriations for the repa
of preservation and completion of certain public wor
ed heretofore commenced under authority of law but
ed space IN this communication already occupied with OF
er matter of immediate public exigencv constrains
al