The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-09

| clr' ,"y approve Of the proposed apprcn-
i.,c system ior orr national vessels. recon-
La L.! b! tn" Secretary of the Navy.
Int occurrence. during the last few months.
OF marine disasters of the most tragic nature.
involving great loss OF human life. has pro-
dut",! intense emotions Of sympathy and sor-
row throughout the country. 1t NAV we'll be
d]nbtcl whether all these calamitous events
are wholly attributable to the necessary and
inevitable dlnrrrS OF the sea. The merchants.
mariner. and ship-buildcrs of the Cuitcd
States are. 1t Is true. unsurpassed in iar-rcach
inn enterprise. skill. intelligence and courage
bv any Others in the world. But. with the
increasing amount OF our commercial tonnage
in the a"nrccatc. and The larger size and i'm
proved equipment of the ships now cons:ruc-
ted, a deficiency in the supply of reliable sea-
men begins TO be seriously felt. The incon-
vcniencc rlav. perhaps. he met. in part by
due regulations for the introduction, into our
merchant ships, of in,:cntcd apprentices.
Which, while it would afford useful eligible
Orccupatlon to numerous Young men, would
have tendency to raise the character of sea-
men as class. And it is deserving Of Scr
Gus reflection. whether it may not be de>ira-
be to revise the cXi>tin. laws for the main
tcnancc OF discipline at sea, upon which the
security Of life and property on the ocaan
must to so grcat m extent depend. Although
much attention has already been given by
Congress to the proper construction and ar
ranGcncnt o.. steam vessels and all passenger
ships, still it is believed tla. the achievements
o.. science and mcchanica! skill in this dircc-
ION have not been exhausted. No rood rca-
son exists for the marked distinction. which
appears on our statutes between the laws Tor
protecting lIt. and property at sea, and those
for protcctin. them on land LII most OF the
States severe penalties are provided TO pun
ISL conductors OF trains. engineers, ard others
employed in the transportation Of persons
lv railway. or ly steamboats, on rivers. Why
should not the sam" principle be applied to
act Of characterization. cowar'licc, or other
misconduct on III" part Of masters and marl-
ncrS. producing injury or death to passengers
on the l.irh seas. beyond the Jurisdiction of
any Of the States and where such dclinTucn-
cics can be reached only hv the power Of
Congress: The whole subject is earnestly
commended to YOUR consideration.
The report OF the Postmaster General. tc
which YOU are referred for many interesting
details in relation to This important and rap
idly cxtcndin. branch OF ;'e public service
shows that The expenditure Of t." year ending
June 50. ISL. including one hur'.'cd ano
thirtv-,hrcc thousand io;r hundred and c.'"h
tv-thrcc dollars of balance due TO foreign OIL
ccs. amounted 10 cirht million seven hundred
and ten thousand nine hundred and seven dol
lars The gross receipts during the same pc
riol amounted to six million nine hunir.d
fttv-vc thousand five hundred ard eighty
six dollars exhibiting an expenditure over
income OF one million seven hundred and If
ty-Gve thousand three hundred and twenty
one dollars. and diminution of deficiency
as compared with last year. Of three hundred
and >ix:v-onc thousand seven hundred ans
fiiiv-sx dollars. The increase Of the rcvcnu,
Of the department. for the year ending Jun.
80. 1871. over the preceding year. was nine
hundred and seventy thousand three llunlre,
and ninctr-nine dollars. No proporiiona.,
Increase. however. can Er anticipated for tn
current year. in consequence of the act o
Congress Of June 23. 1854, providing for in
creased compensation to all ro>tma>;cr>.-
From these statements it is apparent that the
Pos; Office Department. instead OF dcirayinn
its expenses. according to the DESIGN ut the
time OF its creation. is now. and under exist
inc laws must continue to be. to no small cx
tent a charge upon the general treasury
The cost Of mail transportation, during th,
wear ending June 80. 1851. exceeds the cos
OF the preceding year by four hundred am
nincty-tivc thousand and seventy -four dollars
again cali Your attention to the subject OF
transportation by ocean steamers, and com
mend the suggestions of the Postmaster Gen
cral to vonr early attention.
During the fiscal wear eleven million seven
tv thousand nine hundred and seventy five
acres of the public lands have been surveyed
and eight million one hundred and nnct,
thousand and seventeen acres brought int
market. The number Of acres SOLD is scvc!
,nillion thirty five thousand seven hundrc,
and thirtv-ii,e. and the amount received
therefor nine million, two hundred and eighty
five thousand five hundred and ,hrtr three
dollars. The aggregate amount of land
sold. located under military scrip and Ian,
warrants. selected Is swamp lands by States
and liz locating under grants for roads. is up
wards of twcnty-thrce millions of acres
The increase of lands sole. over the prcvi
Gus wear. is about six millions of acres ali,
the sales during the two first quarters Of th
current year. present the cXtraor binary rcs,iI
of five and hals millions sold. exceeding b,
nearly four millions of acres the sales o. ;h
corresponding quarters o; last year. thus in
creasine to an extent unparalleled during an,
like period in our past history the amount Of
revenue provided from this source for thu
Federal Treasury.
The com;ncndablc policy of the govern
ment in relation to setting apart public do
main for those who have served their com
try in time OF war is illustrated by the tact
that since 80 no less than thirty millions OF
acras have been applied to this object
The suggestions which submitted in m,
annual message OF last year in reference 4
grants OF land in ail of Tie construction o
railways. were less full and explicit than th
magnitude Of Tie suffice and subsequent de
vclopmeNts would seem TO render proper an,
desirable OF the soun,!ncSs of the princip
then asserted with regard to the limitation OF
the power OF Congress. entertain 10 doubt
but in It's aspiration it is not enough tina
the value OF lands in Il particular locality Ma,
lie enhanced that i'll fact, LARGER amour
Off money may probably be received in
given time. Tor alternate sections. than cou!,
have been realized Tor all the sections. with
out the impulse ar! influence Of Ike propose,
Improvements. Apru'!cnt proprietor look
bcyon! linit,,! sections Of his domain Devon,
present results TO the ultimate effect wLicl
aparticular line Of policy is likely to produc,
upon all lis possessions and interests. Th,
government. which is trustee. i'm this matter
Tor TIE people Of Tie States, is bound to tax,
the same wise and comprehensive view Fri