Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-06

of three hundred aud sixty thousand seven hundred
and fifty dollars. The increase of the revenue of the
dep rment for the year ending June 80 1854 over the
preceding year. nine hundred and seventy thousand
three hundred and ninety-nine dollars.
No proporonate increase however, can be anticipated
for the year. in consequence of the of Con-
gress of June 3d. 1884, providing for increased compensa.
tion to all Posmasters From these statements it ar
parent that the Post Office Department. instead of deray.
ing its expenses according to the design at the time Tits
creation is now, and under existing laws must continue
to be- to small extent charge upon the general treas
ury The cost of mail transportation during the year
ending June 3d. 1854 excees the cost of the preceding
year by four hundred and ninety thousand and
tntylour dollars. agaiu call your attention to the SUBJ
iec of mail transportation by steamers and
mend the questions of the Postmaster General to
early attention.
Daring the fiscal year eleven million seventy thou
sand nine hundred and thrty-fve of public lands
have been surveyed and eight millions one hundred and
ninety thousand and seventeen brought into mar.
ket The number of sold is millions thirty
five thousand hundred and thiry-f five, and the
amount received therefor nine millions two hundred and
eigtyve thousand five hundred and thirtythree dollars
The aggregate of lands Sold located under mill
tary scrip and land IS selected swamp lands by
States and by locating under grants for roads, is upwards
of twenty three millions Of acres.
The increase Of lands sold, the previous year. is
about six millions of acres and the sales during the two
first quarters of the Gu rent year presen the extraor
binary result of five and half millions sold exceeding
by nearly four millions of tn, sales of the cores
podng quarters of the last year. thus increasing an
extent unparalleled during any like period in past
history the of provided from this source
or the Federal Treasury.
The commendable policy of the government in relation
to setting apart public domain for those who served
their county in time of war is Illustrated by the fact
that $780, less than thirty millions of acres have
been applied to this object.
The suggestions, which submitted in my annual mes
sage of last year, in reference grants of land in aid of
the construction of railways, less full and explicit
than the magnitude Of the subc and subsequent deve
opments would to render proper and desirable. Of
the soundness of the principle thin ASSERTED with regard
1iYnitn fhp nf
doubt but in It's application is not enough that the val
of lands in particular locality may be enhanced
that, in fact larger amount of money probably be
received, i'll given time, for alternate sections, than
could have been realized for all the sections without the
impulse and influence of the proposed improvements.
prudent proprietor looks beyond limited sections of
his domain beyond present results to the ultimate effect
which particular line of policy likely produce upon
all his possessions and interests. The government which
trustee in this matter for the people of the States is
bound to take the wiSs and comprehensive view
Prior and during the last session Congress- upwards
of thirty millions of acres of land withdrawn from
the public lie with view to applications for grants of
this character pending before Congress. careful re-
view of the whole subject led direct that all such
orders be abrogaed and the lands restored to MARKET
and instructions Immediately given that effect
The applications at the last session contemplated the con-
struc II of than five thousand miles Of road and
grants to the amount of nearly twenty millions Of
the public domain. Even admitting the ght tn. part
of Congress to be unquesonable is quite clear thai tie
proposed grants would be productive of good, and
evil Ihe different projects confined, fer the pres
ent to eleven States of this Union and one Territory
The assigned Tor the grants show that it is pro-
posed to put the works speedily III process
ton.
When we reflect that since the commencement of the
construction of railways in the United States stimulated
they have been by the large dividends realized from
the earliest works the great hOrOughares, and be-
tween the most important points of commerce and popu
laon encouraged by State Legislation and pressed for
ward by the amazing energy of private prise, only
sevent thousand miles have been completed in all the
Sates in a quarter of a century;-when the Grip
pied condition Of many works commenced and prosecuted
upon what deemed TO be sound principles and safe
calcuations;-when we contemplate the alb
sCrpton Of capital Withdrawn from the ordinary channels
of business, the tXtravagan rates of interest this
paid to continue operations the bankruptcies not
merely in money, but in character, and the inevitable Ell
feet upon finances generay;can he doubted that the
tendency is to in this matter Is it wise to
augment this to by encourage hopes Of sudden
wealth expected to flow from magnificent schemes depen-
dent upon the action of Congress Does the spirit which
has produced such results need be stimulated or check
ed Is the better rule leave all these works to
private enterprise regua ed and, when eXpedient aided
by the cooperation OF States Ii constructed by private
capital the sauant and the check go together and fur
nsh sautary restraint against specul tive schemes and
extravaganza. But it is manifest that with the most
effective guards there danger of going too fast and
far
We may well pause before proposition contemplating
simultaneous movement for the construction Of railroads,
which, in extent will equal exclusive of the great Pacific
road and all its branches, nearly Onethrd Of the entire
9Th of such works. completed in the United States
hundred and fifty millions of dollars The dangers likely
to result from combinations OF interests of this character
hardly be over-estimated But, independently of
these considerations where the knowledge The
comprehensive intelligence, which shall discriminate be-
the relative claims of these twentyeght proposed
roads, in eleven States and one Territory Where will
you begn and where end? If to enable these companies
to execute their proposed works. it is necessary that the
aid of the general government be primarily given the poll
cy will present problem comprehensive in its bearings
and important political and social well being
ANALYSIS.
tanning these views recur with satisfaction to the eXpe
rience and action OF the last session of Congress-
nshng assurance that the subject will fail elicit
careful re-eXamination and rigid scrutiny
1t my intention to present. this occasio
suggestions regarding internal improvements by the gem
eral government which want of time at the close of the
last session prevented my submitting the return the
House OF representatives, wi objections, of the bill
titled ian making appropriations for the repair pre-
servation and completion OF certain public works hereto
fore commenced under authority law but the space in
this communication, already occupied with other matter
Ommedate pubic egency consrains me to reserve that
subject for special messages which will be transmitted TO
the two houses of Congress at an early day.
The judicial establishment OF the United States requires
notification and certain reforms in the OF con-
Quoting the legal business of the government,
much needed but as have addressed you upon both of
these ects length before have only to call your
tention to the suggestions then made.
My former recommendations relation to suitable pro-
vision for various objects of deep interest to the nhab
itans of the District of Columbia renewed Many of
these objects parake largely Of national character and
important independently of their relation to the pros
pery Of the only considerable organized community in
the Union, entirely unrepresented in Congress-
have thus presented suggestions on such subjects
appear to to be OF particular interest Importance
and therefore most worthy of consideration during the
short remaining period allotted to the abors of the present
Congress.
Our oreathers Of the thirteen United Colonies in ac-
qurng their Independence and in founding this Republic
of the United States of America have dev0lved upon u.s.
their descendants the greatest and noble
committed to the hands Of man; imposing upon ALL and
especially such the public will may have invested for
the time beng, with political functions, the most sacred
obligations We have to maintain nvioate, the great
doctrine of the inherent right of popular self governments
reconcile the largest liberty of Individual citizen
with the complete security of the public orders render
cheerful obedience to the laws of the land unite in
forcing their cuton; and to rown Indignantly all
combinations to resist them; harmonic sincere and
ardent devotion to the institutions of religious faith, with
the most universal religious oleraon to preserve the
rights of all by causing each to respect those of the oher
to carry forward every social the uttermost
limit OF human perfec Utility, by the free action of mind
upon mind, not by the obtrusive intervention Of msap
Piled forces uphold the integrity and guard the limta
tons of organic law preserve sacred from all touch
of usurpaon the very palladium of political saliva
ton, the reserved constitutional powers OF the several
States and of the peoples TO cherish with loyal eay and
devoted Affection this Unon the only foundation
which the hopes of civil liberty rest administer gov
eminent with vigant integrity and rigid economy; to Gull
tiYate peace and friendship with foreign nations and to
demand and equal justice ALL but do wrong
to none to eschew inermeddng with the national policy
and the domestic epoe of other governments and
pei it from own to shrink from when the
rights and the honor of the country call us to arms but to
cult ate, in preference the of peace seek enlarge
ment of the rights of neutrality and elevate and beraze
the intercourse Of naons and by such just and honora
bic MEANS and sucl only, whilst exang the condition of
the Republic to to it the legitimate influence and
the benign authority of great example among all the
powers Of Chrstendom
Under the soemnity of these convictions the blessings
OF Almighty God is earnestly invoked to attend upon your
deliberations, and upon all the counsels and Of your
government to the end that with zeal aud
mon efforts may, in humble submission the Divine
WILL cooperate for the promotion of the supreme good Of
these United States. FRANKLIN PIERCE.