Demoine courier., 1854-12-21
INK RKMaKMK ca REKR-


ciple be applied 10 acts Of in'ubordina-
ton, cowardice or other misconduct on
the part Of masters and mariners, pro
ducing injury or death TO passengers on
the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction Of
any of the States, and where such delin.
quencies can be reached only by the pow .
er of Congress! The whole subjec, is
earnestly commended 10 our considera.
lion.
The repor, of the Postmaster General,
to which you are referred for many inter-
esting details in relation to this impor
liant and rapidly extending branch Of the
public service, shows that the expendi-
I,ure OF the year ending June 30.h, 1854,
including one hundred and thirty three
thousand four hundred and eighty ahree
dollars of balance due foreign Offices,
amounted 10 eigh. millions seven hundred
and ten thousand nine hundred and seven
dollars. The gross receipts during the
same period amounted $6,955.5S6: ex-
hibi.ing an expenditure over income Of
$l,755,32l, and dimunition of de-
iciency, as compared with the last year,
of $36l,756 The increase Of revenue
OF the department, Tor the year ending
June 30lh, 1854, over the proceeding
year, was $970,399.
! No proportionate increase, however,
can be anticipated for the current year,
in consequence of the act of Congress Of
June %, 1854. providing for increased
compensation 10 all Pos, Office Depart.
ment. instead of defraying its expenses,
according to the time Of its creation, is
now, and under existing laws must con-
tinue to be, to no small extent, charge
upon the general treasury. The cost Of
mail transpor,ations during the year end
ing June 30th, 1854, exceeds the cost Of
the proceeding year by $495,074. |
again call your attention to the subject OF
mail transportation by ocean steamers,
and commend the suggestions Of the
Postmaster General 10 your early a,,en-
ton.
During the last fiscal year ll.O70,935
acres OF the public lands have been
surveyed, S.l9O,Ol7, acres brought into
market. The number OF acres sold is
|7.035.735, and,he amoun.received there.
for $9,285, 533. The aggregate amour,
Of lands sold. located under military scrip
and land warrants, selected as swamp
lands by States, and by locating under
grants for roads, is upwards OF 10000
900 of acres. The increase of lands
sold, over the previous year is about 6,
O00, 900 OF acres; and the sales during
the two first quarters OF The current year
present the extraordinary result of s..
100000 acres sold, exceeding by nearly
A, 100000 OF acres the sales Of tie cor
responding quarters OF the last year.
thus increasing to an extent unparalleled
during any like period in our past histo-
ry the amount of revenue provided from
this source for the Federal Treasury.
The commemorate policy of the Gov.
eminent, in relation to setting apart pub
lie domain for those who have served
their country in time of war. is llustra
ted by the fact. that since 1890 no less
than 10000, 600 of acres have Teen ap.
! piled to this object.
! The suggestions, which submitted in
my annual message Of last } ear, in refer
ence 10 grants of land in aid of the con-
struction of railways, were less full aud
explicit! than the magnitude of the sub
jec, and subsequent developments would
seem to render proper and desirable
OF the soundness of the principle then
asserted with regard to The limitation Of
the power of Congress, l entertain no
doubt; but in its application it is not
enough that the value of lands in par
ticular locality NAV be enhanced; that.
in fact larger amount of money may
probably be received in given time.
for alternate sections, than could have
been realized for all the sections,
without the impulse and influence of the
proposed Improvements. A prudent
proprietor looks beyond limited sections
Of his domain, beyond present results,
to the ultimate effect which particular
line Of policy is likely to produce upon
all his possessions and interests. The
Government, which is trustee in this
matter. for the people of the States. is
bound to take the same wise and CON-
prehensiye view.
| Prior to, and during the present sess
ion OF Congress, upwards Of 10000, 900
of acres of land were Withdrawn from
public sale with view to applications
for grants of this character pending be.
fore Congress. A careful review Of the
whole subject led me to direct that all
such orders be abroga,ed, and the lands
restored TO market; and instructions were
Immediately given to that effect. The
applications at The last session contem.
plated the construction OF more than s..
900 miles of road. anG grants to the a.
mount OF nearly 20.OOO.O00 Of acres Of
the public domain. Even admitting the
RICH. on the part of Congress 10 be un.
questionable, is itquite clear that the pro
posed grants would be productive of good.
and not evil! The differen. projects are
confined, for the present. TO eleven states
o. this Union, and one Territory. The
reasons assined for the grants, show that
10 proposed to put the works speedily
in process of construction.
Il When we reflect that since the CON-
mencement OF the construction Of rail.
,yo ~ IN Tho IIp;toJ Ctotas atm ia ted n