Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-14


provided punish conductors Of trains, cngi
neers, aud others enloycd in the transports
lion Of persons by a railway, or by steamboats,
On rivers. Why shoald not the came principle
be applied to acts Of characterization, cowardice,
Or other miconduct on the part of masters and
marines pro1acng injury or doath 70 passengers
ON the high seas, beyond the jurisdiction of any
Of the State, and where sucll dciinquences can
b. reached only by the power Of Congress! The
whole subject is earnestly commended to your
Tht repot of tho Postmaster General, to
which you ae referred for many interesting
details in relstion to this important and rapidly
extending brsach of the public service, shows
that the expenditure Of the year ending jane
80, 1854 Including one hundred and thirty |
three thousaid four hundred and eigty-three
dollars OF baltnce due to foreign officers amour
ted to eight million seven hundred and ten
thousand nine hundred and seven dollars
The gross recsips daring the same period amoun-
ted to six millions nine hundred and hfty-hye
thousand Eve hundred and eighty-six dollars
exhibiting anexpenCiure over income OF one
million seven hundred and fifty-fye thousand
thrse hundredan twenty-ono dollars, and a
diminution of deficiency, as compared with the
last year, of three hundred and sixty-ons thou
sand seSsa, hgndred and Fifty siH dollars. The
incfeE = revenue Of tbs department., for
the "a, - ne 80, 1874, ever the preced-
" ..ndrod ANA seventy thousand
Ns~ 1ety-nine dollars
Gle kate increase, however, can be
aps1 fe current year, in consequence
ofo,MI lgresa of june %, 1854; pro-
Sidihg Br Increased compensation to all Post
masters. From these statements it is apparent
that the Post Office Department, instead OF de-
irayng its expenses, according to the design ut
the time of its creation, is now, and under eX-
isting laws must continue to be, to no small ex-
tent, charge upon tile general treasury. The
cost of main transportation during the year
ending June 30, 1854, exceeds the costs Of the
| precedrm year by four hundred aud ninety five
thousand and seventy~four dollars. Iagain call
yolr attention to the subject of mail transpor-
tati9n by ocean steamsla, and commend the
suggestion Of the Post Master General to your
carly attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million seven
ty thousand nine hundred and thirty-tiye acre.
Of the public lands have been Surveyed, and
eight million one hundred and ninety thousand
and seventeen acres brough into market. The
number OF acres sold is seven million thirty-fv
thousand seven hundred and thirty-hva, and the
amount received therefor rine millions two hun
deed and eighty-fye thousand i've hun1rpd and
thirty -three dollars. The aggregate amount Of
lands sold, located Under military scripand LAND
warrant, selected as swamp lands by states, and
by locating under grants for roads, ia upwards
Of twenty three millions of acres.
The increase Of lands sold over the previous
year, is about six millions OF acres aud the
sales daring the two fret quarters Of the cur.
rent year pres9n = the extraordinary result Of
Eve and halfmillions sold, exceeding by nearly
to1r millions Of acres the sale Of the CORRESPOND
Ing quarter ofthe last year, thus increasing to IL.
extent unparalleled during any like period il
our past history the amount OF revenue proyd
ed from this souree for the Federal Treasury.
THE commondablc policy Of the goycrnMen
in relation to tho setting apart public domai.
for those who served their country in tina o
var, is illustrated by tho fact, that since l7Gl
20 less than thirty millions Of acres have beer
up lied to this object
Tho Suggestion, which submitted in my an
nuul message Of hist year, in reference to grant
of land in aid Of the construction Of railways
were less II and exI ct than the magnitude
Of tho sAbjsct and subsequent Developments
would seem to render proper and desirable. 0
the soundneas< of the principle then assorted
with regard to the litntation nf tho power o
Congress, | ensesnssned no doubt; but IN ap|l
cation It is not enough TINT the value OF ii
lands in particular locality may be enhanced
that, in fact, a larger amount Of money may
probably be received in a given time, for alter
nate sections, than could have been realized fol
all the sections, without the impulse and inau
ence of the proposed improvements
A practical proprietor looks beyond Limited
sections of lis domain, beyond present results
to the ultimate eilct which IL particular line o.
policy is likely to produce upon all his posses
sions and Interests Tfs Government, which
is trustee, in this matter, for the people of the
States, is bound to take tho same wise and CEN
prehensiye view. Prior 10 and during the last
session Of Congress- upwards of thirty millon'
of acres of land wers withdrawn from publ,
sale with view to applications for grants o
this character pending before Congress 4 care
ful review Of tho whole subject led me to drec
that such ord3rs be ahrogated, and the land
restored to market and distractions wera i'm
mediatciy given to that effect The application
at the last session contemplated the construc
ton Of more than five thousand miles Of road
and grants to the amount OF nearly twent,
millions Of acres Of public domain. Even adj
hitting tho right on the part Of Congress to b,
unquestanablc, is it quite clear that tho pro
posed grants would BE- productive Of good, uut
not evil The different projects arc confined
for the present, to eleven States o. this Union
and one Territory The reasons assigned fol
the grants, show that it is proposed to put thu
works speedily in process Of construction
W hon We reflect that since Che commencement
Of the construction of railways i'll the United
States stimulated as they have been BY the Elrg
dividends realized from tie earlier works owe
the great thorougharcs, and between the mos
Important points OF commerce and population
encouraged by State legislation, and pressed for
ware by the amazing energy Of private enter
prise, only seventeen Thousand miles have bee!
completed in all the States ia quarter of
century w hen we see the crippled condition
OF many works eommsnced and prosecuted upos
what were deemed to be sound principles ant
safe calculations when we contemplate til
enormous absorption Of capital withdrawn from
the ordinary channels q AlAiaess, tF' extrava
CANT rates OF lnteress at tliS n.osasan paid t,
continue operations. the bankruptcies not mere
| " III money, ont IN character, and tue lneyl
table effect upon finances generally can i: b.
I doubted that the tendency il TO be run to OK
cess in this matter Is it wise 10 augment thi
excess by encouraging hopes Of sudden wealth
expected to flow from magnificent schemes do
pendent upon the action of Congressl Doc
the spirit, which has produced such results, neet
to be stimulated or checked Is it not tn,
better rule to leave all these works to privat,
enterprise, regulated, and, when oxpedient aid
cd by the cooperation Of States If construct
ed ny private capital, the stimuant and tn,
check 60 together, and furns! salutary re-
straint against speculative schemes and oxtraya
gance' but 1t IS manifest that, with the mos
effective guards, there is danger of going to,
fast and too far
we may well panso before proposition con
templating a simultaneous movement for tn,
construction of railroads, which, in extent, will
equal, exclusive OF the great Pacific rad apf