The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-05

gard 70 certain measures Il reform e the osnylssst
s. wnss wa 1000 w;.h -. SA
The Early atteoOn and b deemed worthy Of the aPPrs
The rsso@ me ndatoa OF tho Secretary Of the Navy.
having rsferencs TO ample provisions Tor tho dis,
cpne ana general improvement In the Of sea
sS 40 er the %oSS ,osr .1orss
considerations. The principles which have controlled
our policy in relation to the permanent military force
But limiting force TO the objects particularly set
orth preceding part Of this We should
not overlook the present magnitude and prospective
tension Of commercial marine, fail to give due
weight 10 the fact that besides the two thousand miles
Of Atlantic seaboard, we have Pacific coast,
stretching from Mexico to the British possessions in the
north tsening with wealth and enterprise aud demand
augmentation Of the navy has not kept pace with the
duties properly and proftably assigned TO II In time of
and i Is for the rs' field Of IT, oH
progressively increasing exigencies Of the wealth and
Of the United States. cordially approve of
recommended By the Secretary Of the Navy
The occurrence, during the last few months, OF marine
S"s. Il has 1s.
pathy and sorrow throughout the country. 1t may
well be doubted whether all these calamisous events
dangers Of the sea. The merchants, mariners,
and ship builders Of the United States are is true
ana courage by any others in the world But With the
increasing amount Of our commercial tonnage In the
aggresste and the larger size and improved equip
very seriously felt. The inconvenience may, perhaps
be met in part by due regulation for the introduction
Into our merchant ships, Of ndented apprentices;
which, while 1t would afford useful and eligible occup&
ton to numerous young men, would have tendency to
raise the character Of seaen class. And II Is de-
serving Of serious reflection whether may not be de-
srablo TO revise tho existing laws for the maintenance
OF discipline sea- upon which the security Of life and
property the ocean must to so great extent de-
pend Although much attention has already been given
arrangement Of steam vessels and ali passenger ships
still il Is believed that the achievements Of science and
cd. No good exists for the marked distinction,
which appears upon our statutes between tho laws
for protecting life and property at sea- and those for
penalties provided to punish conductors OF trains,
engineers and Others employed in the transporta-
Why should not the sam: principle be applied to acts Il
INSTRUMENTATION, cowardice other misconduct the
part or masters and mariners, producing injury or
death TO passengers the high beyond the jur
dcon Of any Of the States aud where such delnquen
ces can be reached only by the power of Congress-
The whole subject is earnestly commended to your con-
The report OF the Postmaster General to which you
are referred for many interesting details relation to
this important and rapidly extending branch Of the pub
lie service shows that the expenditure of the year end
ing June 80, 1854 including hundred and thirty
three thousand four hundred and eighty-thrce dol
lars Of balance due to foreign Offices amounted to
eight million seven hundred and ten thousand nine
nereS to M nps
and ffty-fve thousand Ave hundred and eighty
six dollars exhibiting an expenditure over income
three hundred and twenty dollars, and diminu-
ton Of deficiency, compared with the last year. Of
and Gfty-sx dollars The increase Of the revenue Of
the department. for the year ending June &c. 1854
the preceding year nine hundred and seventy thou
sand three hundred and ninety nine dollars No proper
tomato increase, however Be anticipated for the
current consequence Of the act Of Congress of
June %, 1854, providing for increased compen-
sation to all pcstinasters From these statements it
is apparent that the Post Office Department instead
Of defrsying its expenses, according to the design
ing laws must continue to DO, to no small extent
charge upon the general treasury. Tho cost Of mail
exceeds tho cost Of the preceding year by four hundred
and ninety-fve thousand and seventy -four dollars.
portation BY steamers, and commend the sugges
tons of the General to your early attention
During the lat fiscal year eleven million seventy
lie lands have been surveyed, and eight million one
hundred and ninety thousand and seventeen acres
seven million thirty FIVE thousand seven hundred and
thirty FIVE and the amount received therefor nine mill
lion two hundred and eighty thousand ave hundred
lands sold, located under military scrip AMI land
warrants, selected as swamp lands by States,
wards Of twenty three millions Of acres me
increase Of lands Sold the previous year. about
quarters Of the current year the extraordnary
result Of Ave and hale millions sold, exceeding by
nearly four millions Of acres the sales Of the
ing quarters Of the last year. thus increasing to
tent unparalleled during any like period in past his
tory The amount of provided from this
The commendable policy Of the government in relation
to setting apart pnbc domain for those who have served
that since 100 no less than thirty millions Of acres have
been applied to this object
The suggestions which submitted in my annual mes
of last year. 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-
or the soundness Of the principle then asserted with
gard 10 tho limitation OF the power OF Congress- enter
tho Vus Of IL ocy
enhanced; that, in fact, larger amount Of money
may probably DO received in given time for alternate
TONS without the impulse and influence OF the proposed
Improvements Arrudent proprietor looks beyond limit
ed sections his domain beyond present results the
ultimate effect which particular line of policy Is likely
to produce upon oil his and interests The
ne I i In s mat sr ss
and comprehensive view Prior to and during the last
session Of Congress- upwards Of thirty millions of
applications for grants of this character pending before
Congress careful review of the whole subject led
rostored 10 market and Instructions were mmc
datey given to that effect The applications at the
last session contemplated the construction Of
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 o. Congress be unquestonabe Is is quite clear
that the proposed grants would be productive of good
and evil The Different projects confined for the
present to eleven States of this Union and Territory
The assigned for the guts show that IL il pro-
posed to put the works. speedily N process Of
construction. When reflect that since the
commencement OF the construction Of railways
in the United States stimulated they have boon by
the large dividends realized FROM the earlier works
the great thorougharos and between the most import
ant points of and population encouraged by
State legislation and pressed forward by the amazing
energy Of private enterprise only seventeen thousand
miles have been pleed in all the states in quarter
of . century when the crippled condition Of
mony works commenced and prosecuted upon what
deemed to be sound principles and safe calculations
when we contemplate tho absorption OF capt
tal withdrawn from the ordinary channels Of business
the extrayagant rates Of interest at this moment paid to
continue operations the bankruptcies not merely in
ey but in character and the inevitable effect upon fin
ances generaycan IL be doubted that the tendency Is
TO run 10 excess in this matters Is IL wise to aug
meEt this excess by encouraging hopes Of sudden
wealth expected to flow from magnificent schemes
dependent on the action Of Congress Does
The spirit which has produced such results need to be
stimulated or checked Is Il not the better re TO leave