Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1854-12-08


others employed in the transportation of persons
by railway, by steamboats, On rivers. Why
should not the same principle be applied to acts Of
INSTRUMENTATION, cowardice, or other misconduct
on the part Of masters and mariners, producing
injury or death to passengers on the high seas.
beyond the jurisdiction OF any Of the States, and
where such delinquencies can be reached only by
the power Of Congress? The whole subject is
earnestly commended to your consideration.
The report Of the Postmaster General, to
which your are referred for many interesting de-
tails in relation 10 this importan. and rapidly ex-
tending branch Of the public service. shows that
the expenditure of the year ending June 80, 1854,
including one hundred and thirty thousand
four hundred and eighty three dollars of balance
due to foreign offices, amounted to eight million
seven hundred and ten thousand nine hundred
and seven dollars. The gross receipts during the
same period amounted to six million nine hun
dred and fifty five thousand five hundred and
eighty dollars: exhibiting expenditure over
income VI one million seven hundred and fifty
five thousand three hundred and twenty-one dol
lars, and diminution Of deficiency, compared
with the last year Of three hundred and sixty
one thousand seven hundred and fifty six dollars.
The increase Of revenue Of the department, for
the year ending June 80, 1854, over the prcced-
ing year. was nine hundred and seventy thousand
three hundred and ninety nine dollars. No pro-
portionate increase, however, can be anticipated
for the current year. in consequence Of the act Of
Congress Of June %, 1854, providing for in
creased compensation to all posimasters. From
these statements 1t IS apparent that the Post Office
Department, instead Of defaying its expenses,
according 10 the design a, tie time of its creation,
is now, and under cxis ing laws must continue to
be, to no small extent, charge upon the general
treasury The cost Of mail transpor,ations du-
ring the year ending June 81, 1854. exceeds the
cost Of the preceding year by four hundred and
ninety ti.e thousand and seventy four dollars.
again call your attention TO the subject of mail
transportation by ocean steamers, and commend
the suggestions Of The Postmaster General TO
your early attention.
During the lost fiscal year, eleven millions
seventy thousa, d nine hundred and thirty FIVE
acres Of the public lands have been surveyed,
and eight mil lions hund red and ninety thcu-
sand and seventeen acres brought into market
The number of acres sold is seven million lhir-
" five thousand seven hundred and thirty five,
and the amount received therefor nine million
two hundred and eighty five thousand five hun
dred and thirty three dollars. The aggregate
amount Of lands sold, located under military
scrip and land warran ts, selected as swamp lands
by States, and by locating under grants for roads,
is upward Of twenty three millions Of acres. The
increase of lands sold over the previous year, is
about six millions of acres; ard the sales during
the two frs. quarters ot,he current year. present
the extraordinary esult Of FIVE end half mil
lions sold, exceeding, by nearly four millions Of
acres the sales Of Tie corresponding quarters Of
the lest year, thus in crossing, o an extent Tn
PARALLEL, during any like period in our pas, his
tory. he amount of revenue provided from this
source for the Federal Treasury.
The comm enda bic policy Of the Government.
in relation 10 setting 8PaIt public domain for
those who have served their county in time Of
war, is illustrated by the iac,. that since 1890
no less than thirty millions OF acres have been
applied to this object.
The suggestions which I submitted in my an
9aal e Last ysss II occurrence to g1snts
would seen, to render proper and desirable. or
the sopndpe.s Of tho principles then asserted.
:,L ,o.-.d 10 the liMita,ion OF the power Of
CONGRESS, entertain no doubt; bu: in its arpli
cation, it is not enough that the value OF lands
in a partic ular locality may &c enhanced; that.
in fact, a lars er amount OF money may probably
be received, IN q given time. for alternate sec
tons, than could have been realized for all the
sections, without the impulse and influence Of
the proposed Improvements. A prudent pro-
pric,or looks hey ond limited sections Of his do
main, beyond present results, 10 the ultimate Ell
feet viii, particular line of policy is likely
TO produce upon all his possessions and inter
es,s The Government. which is trustee IN this
matter for the people of the States. is bound TO
take The same wise fnd comprehensive View.
upw ri of thirty millions of acres of land were
withdrawn from public sale with view 10 OPP
plicaticns for rIenis of this character pending
before Congress- \ careful review of the whole
subiec. led me to direct that ali such orders be
abroeated and The lands restored to market: and
instructions were Immediately given to that Ell
fect The applications at The last session CON
ten plated The construction Of more than tive
thousand miles OF road. ana grants 10 the amount
Of near', twenty millions OF acres OF the public
domain. Even admitting the rie Oh; on the part
OF Congrt IS TO be uuques,onahle. il is quite
clear that TIE proposed grants should be pro-
,luc,ive OF good, and not evil? The different
projects are confined, for the present. to eleven
States Of this Union, and one Territory. The
reasons assign'd for the grants show tina, il is pro
posed TO put the works speedily in oeess OF
construction. When reflect. that since the
commencement Of the construction OF railways
in the United States. stimulated as they hav c
been BY the large dividends realized from the
earlier works over the great thoroughfares. and
between the most important points OF commerce
and population, encouraged by State legsla
ton and pressed forwar by the amazing ener
sv of private enterprise, only seventeen thou
sand miles have been completed in all the State:
: in a quarter Of a Century--when we see the Grip
prosecuted upon what deem TO be sound
principles. and safe oalculations-u hen We con
template the enormous absorption Of capital
withdrawn from the ordinar, ch@eis OF busi
, ness the ex,ravaCant rates Of interest al ;hI:
moment paid to continue operations. the bank
ruptces not merely in money, but IN character