Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-12-13
for a prudent and economical administration o

The estimates presented TO Congress iron
the different Executive Departments, at the las
session, amounted 10 thirty-eight millions fou
hundred and six thousand five hundred anc
eighty.one dollars ; and the appropriations made
20 the sum of ifty-eight millions one hundred
and sixteen thousand nine hundred and fifty.
| eight dollars. Of this excess of appropriations
| over estimates, however, more than twenty mil
lions was applicable to extraordinary objects
| having no reference to the usual annual expend
lures. Among these objects was embraced ten
millions to meet the third article of the treaty
between the United States and Mexico so that
in fact, for objects of ordinary expenditure, the
appropriations were limited to considerably ess
than forty millions of dollars therefore re.
new my recommendation for reduction of the
duties on imports. The report Of the Secreta.
ry Of the Treasury presents series of tables,
showing the operation Of the revenue system for
several successive years, and as the general
principle of reduction of duties with view to
revenue and not protection may now be regarded
as the settled policy of the country, trust that
little difficulty will be encountered in settling
the details Of measure to that effect.
Paragraph 81, recommends an increased mill
tary force for our frontiers, on account of the
late frequency Of Indian depredations.
Paragraphs SO, 81, a5, Sc ind 81, contain va
rious suggestions of improvements in our army
arrangements.
Paragraphs 50 and 80, We quote. They bear
upon point of considerable interest, and are as
follows:
The recommendation of the Secretary of the
Navy, having reference TO more ample provisions
for the discipline and general Improvement in
the character Of seamcn, and for the re-organi-
zation and gradual increase Of the navy, deem
eminently worthy Of your favorable considera-
ton. The principles which have controlled our
policy in relation to the permanent military force,
by sea and land are sound, consistent with the
theory of our system, and should by no means
disregarded. But, limiting the force TO the
objects particularly set forth in the preceding
part Of this message, re should not overlook
the present magnitude and prospective extension
of our commercial marine, nor fail to give due
weight to the fact that, besides the two thous-
and miles of Atlantic scaboard, we have now {:
Pacific coast, stretching from Mexico TO the
British possessions in the north, teeming which
wealth and enterprise, and demanding the CON-
slant presence Of ships. s.of-war. The augmenta-
tion of the navy has kept pace with the duties
properly and prohtably assigned to it in time of
pence, and it is inadequate for the large field Of
its operations, not merely in the present, but
still more in the progressively increasing ext
gencies Of the wealth and commerce Of the
United States cordially approve of the pro.
posed apprentice system for our national YES
sells, recommended by The Secretaryof the Navy.
The occurrence, during the last few months,
of marine disasters of the most tragic nature,
involving great loss of human fe has produced
intense emotions of sympathy and sorrow
throughout the country. 1t may we'll be doubt
ed whether all these calamitous events arc Who'll
ly attributable to the necessary and inevitable
dangers of the sea. The merchants, mariners,
and shp-builders of the United States, are, it is
true unsurpassed in far-reaching enterprise, skill
intelligence and courage, by any others in the
world. But, with the increasing amount of our
commercial tonnage in the aggregate. and the
larger size and improved equipment of the ships
now constructed, a deficiency in the supply Of
reliable seamen begins to be very seriously felt
The inconvenience may, perhaps, be met, in
part, by due regulation for tho introduction into
our merchant ships, Of indented apprentices;
which, while it would afford useful and eligible
occupation to numerous young men. would
have tendency TO raise the character Of sea-
men as class And it is deserving of serious
rehestion, whether it may not be desirable to
revise the existing laws for the maintenance of
discipline at sea- upon which the security of life
and property on the ocean must to so great an
extent depend. Although much attention has
already been given by Congress to the proper
construction and arrangement of steam vessels
and all passenger ships, still it is believed that
the achievements of science and mechanical skill
in this direction have not been exhausted. No
good reason exists for the market distinction,
which appears upon our statutes between the
laws for protecting life and property at sea, and
those for protecting them on land. In most of
the States severe penalties are provided 10 pun
ish conductors of trains, engineers, and others
employed in the transportation Of persons by
railway, or by steamboats, on rivers. Why
should not the same principle be applied 10 acts
Of characterization, cowardice, or other miscon-
duct 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 deinquencies can be
reached only by the power Of Congress? The
whole subject is earnestly commended to your
consideration.
Paragraph 40, briefly states the result deriva-
bic from the Postmaster Generals report, and
concludes with making known the fact that the
Post-Ofice Department is al present charge
upon the Treasury.
The remaining part of the message we give
cntrc as we find it:
"During the last fiscal year eleven million
seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty-fye
acres of the public lands have been surveyed,
and eight million one hundred and ninety thous-
and seventeen acres brought into market. The
number of acres sold is seven million thirty-tive
thousand seven hundred and thirty-fve, and the
amount received therefor nine million two hun
dred and eghty-fiye thousand five hundred and
thirty-lhree dollars. The aggregate amount Of
lands sold, located under military scrip and land
warrants selected as swamp lands by States,
and by locating under grants for roads, is up
wards of twenty-three millions of acres The
increase of lands sold, over the previous year, is
about six millions of acres and the sales du-
ring the two first quarters of the current year
present the extraordinary result of five and .
half millions sold, exceeding by nearly four
millions of acres the sales of the corresponding
quarters of the last year, thus increasing to an
extent unparalleled during any like period in
our past history the amount of revenue provid-
ed from this source for the Federal Treasury.
The commendab1e policy of the government,
in relation to setting apart public domain for
those who have served their country in time OF
war, is illustrated by the fact, that since 1870
no lesss than thirty millions of acres have been
applied to this object.
The suggestions, which [ submitted in my