Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-15

average cost of transporting the mails in this
country, as the English two cent rate is in such
a kingdom as that of Great Britain.
The anti proteetionists of Congress evidently
regard as sound policy, the idea of again
making the Post Office Department. self-sus-
tanning establishment. They do not like the
current dispostion in cities to get rid of eli
postage charges, if possible; because they con-
ceive that its triumph smacks of increased du-
ties on importations. There can be no doubt
that if it ever obtains in the legislation of this
government, the cost of the Department d.
rectiy on the treasury would be nearer twelve.
than two millions of dollars annually, owing
to the immense increase Of mail matter which
would occur. a. Aa@ sate ~
AS tar as we can perceive, the tendency of
analrs In Congress is to increase the postage
rates, as we explain above, rather than to their
decrease
The Six New Naval Steamers--We have
reason to believe from what we hear that tie
Secretary of the Navy has determined to build
the SIX naval steamers just ordered by Con-
gress, at the different Navy Yards. The deter
mination is wise one, it strikes US. Every
such ship so built for the Navy, has turned cut
all that could be desired, except in some cases.
in which mistakes have been made in their
machinery Whenever this has been the case,
the difficulty has been traced to dabbling in
patent rights or other experimental work, to
accommodate some personal or political favor
ite AS peremptory stop has already been
put to all such transactions in the service,
there will be no more s'Naval steamer fail
| ures''
The Railroad Iron Biu.-We have reason
to believe that majority of the House Post
Office Committee are in favor of the bill con-
corning duties on railroad iron just introduced
by General Rusk into the Senate In few
few words, it admits duty free all iron to be
imported by railroad companies for their own
use in construction Or repairs, and grants for
every mile of single track, three sections and
of double track, six sections of public lands;
the scrip to be located on any vacant lands
subject to private entry. For these favors,
the railroads availed of them, are to carry the
mails, &C., of the Government free of cost
thereafter. The strict constructionsts for the
most part will oppose this proposition, and
the prOtectionists from regions whore the iron
producing interest is stronger than the rail :
road building interest, will also be pretty sure
to 60 against this bill So also may we set down
gentlemen from the west, who have it in their
heads that Congress must rightfully confne its
donations of the public domain wholly for the
benefit of the States or Territories in which
they lie. The strenuous manner in which
many insist on this doctrine, and at the same
time press schemes for donating lands for the
{ benefit of public land regions, are inducing
more or less of the heretofore strctest COZ i
structionists to cast about them for some plan
by which they can secure for their constitu
ents in the old States, some benefit from what
they may judge to be constitutional division
of all remaining public domain of the confed
eracy.
Navy Officers Ordered Detached, &c.-Licut
J. M Wainwright ordered to the receiving
ship at Philadelphia.
/, Sailmaker George Thomas, detached from
the receiving ship at Norfolk, Va, and sail
maker Robert C. Rodman ordered there in his
stead. az--r ~. GO
Commander Robt. B. Cunning ham detae he'd
from the Norfolk Yard on first of May next
and Commander Samuel Barron ordered to
relieve him
A hidshipman Resigned -Midship man
jeremiah c. Sullivan, has resigned.
Land Graiuation.-The bill of Mr.. Cobb
as it passed the House yesterday, will, we
think, doubtless pass the Senate Its author
deserves the thanks of all friends of the prin-
ciple involved in the measure for whi.n 50
many able and distinguished statesmen have
struggled Of late years, unsucccssfully up to
this time.
Though Col Benton delivered a speech or
remarks in favor of the principle in Congress,
some thirty years ago, the Chickasaw Indians
were the first who seem to have had practi. al
notions concerning it. When they sold out
to the government their lands in Mississippi,
they caused to be inserted in the treaty an
article providing that such of their lands (all
Of which were sold for their beneit) as would
not bring Sl.25 per acre, should next be offer
ell for 81, and so on, down to 121 cents per
acre. Their scheme was duly carried out,
resulting in settling up the Chiekasaw territory
much faster than any similar quality of lands
We're ever sold by the government In this
case too, the sales were almost entirely to
actual settlers. No part of the United States
has hourished more since; the industrial bone,
sinew and'gristle of Mississippi, being at this
time, that same Chickasaw territory
We are free to confess that this is the plan
for the wholesale distribution of the public
domain IF it must be got rid of by whole
sale) which has struck US most favorably
We believe that the country at large will gain
most from the speedy settlement and cultiva-
ton Of the public domain; while at the same
time we think that the settler should pay the
market value for them into the com,no1
treasury for the use of the common proprietor
tho General Government
The Current Operations Of the Treasury
Department.-or yesterday, the 14th of April
there wero of Treasury Warrants entered OIL
the books of the Department.
For the redemption Of stoc ,s..... $50 81
| for fha of of