The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-08

the year ending June 80, 1854, inclDdin.
| dred and thirty-three thousand fon, one AM
eightythr dollars of balance due to dred All
amounting to eight million seven bnUSaga oSca
| thousand nine hundred and seven AM and Ia |
gross receipts during the same period ara n. /
SIX million nine hundred and tifty-fye tba.ulteis 4
hundred and eighty-sixS dollars exbEt;usSs &,
penditure over income of one million savoa a q
and fifty five thousand three hundred am aOAd
one dollars, and dininution of defcenocr Wet
pared with the last year, of three hundred 500
| one thousand seven hundred and fftv-sv G IN SrH
The increase of the revenue of the depa,tm@... %
the year ending June 80, 1854, over the ,ss''1a,h
year, was nine hundred and seventy thourrosSeSN !
hundred and ninety-nine dollars. No pronnD. as
increase, however, can be anticipated for tbo <
year, in consequence of the act of Congress ,SHNe
%, 1854, providing for increased compens.e ~
all postmasters. From these statements i SNat
ent that the Post Office Department, instead "
fraying its expenses, according to the design =,
time of its creation, is now, and under exiStn",
must continue to be, to no small extent n
upon the general treasury. The cost of mail y
portation, during the year ending June 80 Is:,
exceeds the cost of the preceding year by to,E''
dred and ninety-fve thousand and seventh
dollars. l again call your attention to the ri; .I
of mail transportation by ocean steamers, and S
mend the suggestions of the Postmaster Genes.
your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million soro,,
thousand nine hundred and thirty five acres q n /
public lands have been surveyed, and eight mill /
one hundred and ninety-thousand and seyewa'
acres brought into market. The number Of Any,
sold is seven million thirty-fve thousand seventh
dred and thirty-five, and the amount received t@
for nine million two hundred and eightv-fye b~
sand FIVE hundred and thirty-three dollars. Il.
aggregate amount of lands sold, located under MI
itary scrip AND land warrants, selected as swan,
lands by States, and by locating under grants 4
roads, is upwards of twenty -three millions Of a,.
The increase of lands sold, over the previous year
about six millions of acres and the sales during IL
two first quarters of the current year present the
'traordinary result of five and half millions soil
exceeding by nearly four millions of acres the sas
OF the corresponding quarters of the last year, thu
increasing to an extent unparalleled during any liz
period in our past history the amount of reyena
provided from this source for the Federal Treaur
The commendable policy of the government
elation to setting apart public domain for thoS
illustrated by the fact that since 1870 no los Maa
thirty millions of acres have been applied to this
object.
The suggestions, which submitted in my ann,
message Of last year. in reference to grants of laDI
in aid of the constructions of railways, were less fun
and explicit than the magnitude of the sub jet and
subsequent Developments would seem to renl,
proper and desirable. OF the soundness of h,
principle then asserted with regard to the Imitas
of the power of Congress, entertain no doubt; h
in its application it is not enough that the value
lands in particular locality may be enhanced; that
in fact, larger amount of money may probably
received, in given time for alternate sections tn
could have been realised for all the sections, witho
the impulse and influence of the proposed improve
ments. A prudent proprietor looks beyond Limited
sections of his domain beyond present results 10th
ultimate effect which a particular line Of poIy
likely to produce upon all his possessions and it,
terests. The government, which is trustee, in th
matter for the people of the States, is bound taxi
the same wise and comprehensive view. Prior
and during the last session of Congress, upwacld
thirty millions of acres of land were withdrawn from
public sale with view to applications for grants
this character pending before Congress.
careful review of the whole subiacl led ne
to direct that all such orders be abroghtrd and@ |
lands restored TO market {; and instructions ~sn |
Immediately given TO that effect. The apph& |
tons att the last session contemp dated the consmc
lion of more than five thousand miles Of road
and grants to the amount Of nearly twenty NIL
lions Of acres OF the public domain. Even o.
hitting this right on the part of Congress lob
unqueslionable, it is quite clear that the propose .
grants would be productive Of good, and hOt evil |.
The different projects are confined for the Pc /
sent, 20 eleven States of The Union, and one lt |
rtory The reasons assigned for the ganni
show that-it is proposed 10 put the works sVerdHy
IN process Of construction. When VIC Tsnrc
that since the commencement Of the constructs
Of railways in the United States, stimulates
they have been by the large DIVIDENDS real~
from the earlier works over the great thorOTt
fares, and between the most important pomb'
commerce and population, encouraged by D"
Legislation, and pressed forward by the amalF
| energy of private enterprise, only seventeenth"
sand miles have been completed IN all The St'I
in quarter Of century ;-when we see IheoTt
pied condition Of many works commences ~
prosecuted upon " hat we're deemed to De S""
principles, and safe calculations when SeG'
template the enormous absorption oil caPI" WY
drawn from the ordinary channels oil bOsH'
the cxtravagant rates of interest at this m0nn
paid TO continue operations, the bankrupt
not merely in money, but in character aD0
inevitable effect upon finances generally GO"
be doubted That the tendency is 10 run 10 eA~
in this matter? Is it wise to augment this exc
by encouraging hopes of sudden wealth exGs'"
TO flow from magnificent schemes DEPENDENT
the action OF Congress Does the spirit 'as NV
has produced such results, nerd 10 be stmu'
or checked Is il not the better rule 10 eaEI
these works TO private enterprise, regulated
when expedirnt, aided, by the co.oPersM
State If constructed by private capital ',
simuIant and check go together, and urO"J
sa utary restraint against speculative scheme, y