The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-12-14

is deserving Of serious reAechon, whether il
may not be desirable TO revise slhe existing
laws for the maintainance1 OF discipine at
sea, upon which the security of life and
property on the ocean must 10 SO great an
extent depend. Although much attention
has already been given BY Congress 10 the
proper construction and arrangement of steam
vessels and all passenger ships, sill it is be-
lieved that the achievements Of science and
mechanical skill in this direction have not
been exhausted. No good reason exists for
| The marked distinction, which appears upon
our statutes between the laws for protecting
lfe and properly al sea. and those for prolec-
ting them on land. In most Of the States
severe penalties are provided to punish con-
duciors of trains, engineers aud others EN-
poyed in the transportation Of persons by
railway; or by steamboats, on rivers.
Why should not The, same principle be
applied TO acts Of insubordina,on, coward
ice, or other misconduct on the part of mas
ters and mariners, producing injury os death
TO passengers on high seas, beyond the jar
isdcion of any of the States, and where
such delinquencies can be reached only by
the power OF Congress- The whole subjec,
is earnestly recommended TO your consider
alton.
Tho report of The postmaster general, TO
which you are referred for many interesting
details in relation 10 this important and ra-
pidly extending branch Of the public ser.
! vios shove that The expenditure of the year
ending June 80, 1854, including Sl33 ,40s OF
balance due TO foreign offices, amounted 10
SS,7lo,9o7. The gross receipts during the
same period amounted 10 $6,955,5 $50, exh.
bling an expenditure over income of ST.
| 755 ,321, and diminuton of deficiency, as
compared with The last year, OF 1861 ,756.
The increase oil the revenue of the de-
partment, for the year ending June 80 1854,
over The prec edng year, was nine hundred
and seventy thousand three hundred and
ninety-nine dollars. No proporionaie in
crease, however, can be anticipated for The
current year, in consequence o! the act of
Congress of June %, 1854, pioviding for in
creased compensation 10 all postm asiers.-
From these statements it is apparent that the
post office department, instead of defraying
lis expenses, according 10 the design at the
time Of its creation, is now, and under ex-
isiing laws must continne to be, 10 no small
extent, a charge upon the general treasury.
The cost Of nail transportation, during the
year ending June 80, 1854, exceeds the cost
Of the proceeding year by four hundred and
nneiy-fve thousand and seventy -four dol
lars. again call your attention to the sub
ject of mail transportation by ocean steam.
ers, and commend The suggestion of the
postmaster general 10 your early attention.
During the last fiscal year eleven million
seventy thousand nine hundred and thirty
five acres Of The public lands have been
surveyed, and eight million one hundred
and ninety thousand and seventeen acres
brought into market. The number Of acres
sold is seven million thiny-fvs thousand
seven hundred and thirty-hve, and The a
mount received therefor rine million
two hundred and eighty-ive thousand Ave
hundred and thirty-three dollars The ag-
gregate amount of lands sold, located under
military scrip AMI land warrants, Sc ectsd as
swamp lands By States, aud by locating un.
der grants FOR roads, upwards of twenty. three
millions okacres
The increase of lands sold, over the pre-
vious year, is about six millions of acres !;
and The sales during the two. first qrarters of
of the current year present the extraordina.
| ry result of five and half millions sold, ex-
ceeding by nearly four millions of acres the
sales of the corresponding quarters of the
last year, thus Increasing to an extent un-
paralleled during any like period in our past
history The amount of revenue provided
from this source for federal treasury.
The commendable policy of the govern
rnent, in relation to setting apart public do
main for those who have served :heir coun.
try in time OF war, is illustrated by fact
that since 1870. no less than thirty millions
of acres have been appealed TO this object.
The suggestions, which submitted in my
annual message oil last year, in reference 10
grants of land in aid of the construction of
railways, were less full and explicit than tho
mgnituds OF the subject and subsequent de-
velopmenIs would seem 10 render proper
and desirable. OF the sountness of tne
principle then asserted with regard to the
Limitation of the power of Copgres, enter.
tain no doubt bul iG lis application 1t is not
enough ha, the value OF lands in a paricu-
lar locality may be enhansed; that, in fact,
larger amount of money may probably be
received, in given ;ime, for aIerale Sec
lions, than could have been realized for all
the sections, without the impulse and influ-
ence of The proposed improvements.
A prudent proprietor looks beyond limited
sections of his domain. beyond pressn, re-
suits, to the ultimate effect which particu.
lar line of policy is likely TO produce upon
all his possessions and interests. The gov.
eminent, which is trustee in this matter for
the people of the States, is bound to take
the same wise and comprehensive view
Prior 10 and during our last session of Con-
gress, upwards of thirty millions of acres of
land were Withdrawn from public sale with
a view 10 applications for grants of this cha.
racter pending before congress.