Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-06

Several hundred American boys are now on three |
years cruise 10 our national vessels and will re-
turn wei trained seamen. In the ordnance depart
ment there is decided and gratifying indication of
progress creditable to it and to the country The
suggestion Of the Secretary of the Navy in regard
to further improvement in that branch of the ser
vice, l commend to your favorable action.
The new frgates ordered by Congress are now
ahoat, and two of them in active service. They
are superior models of naval architecture, and with
their formidable battery add largely to public
strength and security.
/ concur in the views expressed by the secrets-
~ of the Department in favor of still further in-
crease of our naval force.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior pre-
sents facts and views in relation to internal affairs
over which the supervision of his department ex-
teuds, Of much interest and importance.
The aggregate sales of the public lands, during
the last fiscal year, amount 10 nine millions two
hundred aud twenty seven thousand eight hundred
and seventy~eisht acres; for which has been re-
ceved the sum of eight millions eight hundred
and tweuty-one thousand four hundred and four
teen dollars. During the same period there have
been located with military scrip and land warrants
and for other purposes, thirty million one hundred
thousand two hundred and thirty acres, thus maxi
ing total aggregate of tbirty-nne million three
hundred and twenty-ciSht thousand one hundred
and eight acres. On the Both OF September last,
surveys udu Dtcu Hldue Ol eiALetu lHtliOh ClEuL
hundred and seventy~three thousand six hundred
and ninety nine acres, large proportion of which
is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard 70 the
complication and progressive expansion of the
business Of the different bureaux of The depart
ment; TO the pension system; to the colonization
OF Indian tribes and the recommendations in rela-
tiOn TO various improvements in the District Of Co.
lum6ia, are especially commended to your consd-
Grafton.
Tle report of the Postmaster General presents
fully the condition Of that department of the gov.
ernment. Its expenditures for the last fiscal wear
were ten million four hundred and seven thousan
eight hundred and sixty eight dollars; and its gross
receipts seven million SIX hundred and twenty
| thousand eight hundred and one dollars-making
an excess Of expenditure over receipts of two mil.
| lion seven hundred and eghty"seven thousand and
| fOrty.six dollars. The deficiency of this depart.
ment is thus seven hundred and forty-four thou,
sand dollars greater than for the year ending June
| 30, 1858 Of this deficiency three hundred and
| thirty thousand dollars is TO be attributed TO to
add. 'onal compensation allowed to postmasters by
| the act of Congress OF June %, 1854 The mail
facilities in every part of the country have been
very much increased in that period, and the large
! addition OF railroad service, amounting to seven
| thousand nine hundred and eight miles has added
largely to the cost Of transport ton.
The incOnsiderable augmentation ofthe income
OF the Post Office Department under the reduced
rates of postage and its increasing expenditures,
must, for the present, make it dependent to some
| extent upon the treasury for support. The rec
! concentrations of the Postmaster General, in re-
| latiOn to the abolition of the ranking privilege
! and his views on the establishment of mail steam
| ship lines, deserve the consideration OfCOngress
| | also call the special attention of Congress to
! the statement of the Postmaster General res
| pectng the sums now paid for the transportation
of mails to the Panama railroad company. al i
| commend to their early and favorable cOnsidera.
ton the suggestions of that officer in relation tC
| new contracts far mail transportation upon that
route, and also upon the Tehuantepec and Mica.
! Tagu routes.
The United States continue in the enjoyment
| of amicable relations with all foreign powers.
! When my last annual message was transmi tied
| to Congress, two subjects of cOntrOversy-Oue
relating to the enlistment of soldiers in this
country for foreign service, aud the other to Cen
| trail America threatened to disturb good under
! standing between the United States and Great
! Britain. Of the progress and termination of the
| former question. you were informed at the time
and the other is now in the way of satisfactory
| q dstment.
The object Of the convention between the Uni
! ted States and Great Britain of the 10th of April
1850, war to secure for the benefit of all nations
! the neutrality and the common use of any tran
| SIT way. OF lulefOCeaUlC communication across
| the isthmus of Panama, which might be opened
within the limits of Cent al America The pre-
! tension subsequently asserted by Great Britais
to dominion or control over territories in or near
two of the routes, those of Nicaragua and HOu
duras, were deemed by the United States not
merely Incompatible with the main object of the
| treaty, but opposed even to its express stipula
| tons. Occasion of controversy on this point
| he been removed by an additional treaty which
mil -tnr an. Hon, 4
will be Immediately submitted to the Senate lol
its consideration. Should the proposed supple
mental arrangement be concurrcd in by all the
parties to be affected by it. the objects cOntcm
plated by the original convention will have been
fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and Great
Britain, of the 9th of June, 1854 which went into
| effective operation IN 1855, put an end to cause:
OF irritation between the two countries by securing
to he United States the right of fishery on the
b itish North American provinces with advanta,
ges equal to those enjoyed by British subjects
Besides the signal benefits of this treaty to large
! class OF our citizens engaged in pursuit cOunec
ted to no nconsierable degree with our natona
prosperity and strength, it has had a favorable
effect upon other interests in the provision il made
for reciprocal freedom Of trade between the United
States and the British provinces in American.
The exports OF domestic articles to those provin.
twenty two millions of dollars, exceeding those o
the preceding year by nearly seven millions o
dollars and the imports therefrom during the same
period, amounted to more than twenty one millions
an increase OF six millions upon those of the
previous year.
The improved condition of this branch Of com
merce is mainly attributable to the above men-
toned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first article of that
for q 70 Joe
of rivers to which the common right of fishery
on the coast of the United States and the Brit
| ish Provinces was not TO extend. This commits
sion has been employed part Of two seasons
but without much progress in accomplishing tn,
object for which it was instituted in consequence
of a serious difference Of opinion between the
Commissioners not only as to the precise point
where the rivers terminate, but in many instan
ces, TO what constitutes a river. These diff
| culties, however, may be overcome by resort tC
| the umpirage provided for by the treaty
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted since the
! commencement of my administration, to relieve
! our trade to the Baltic from the eXactOn of SOUND
dues by Denmark, have not yet been attended
with success Other governments have also
sought to obtain a like relief to their commerce
and Denmark was thus induced to propose an ar
rangement to all the European powers interested
! in the subject; and the manner in which her pro
position was received, warranting her TO believe
that satisfactory arrangement with them could
| soon be concluded; she made strong appeal e
| this government for temporary suspension Of
definite action on its part, in consideration o.
the embarrassment which might result 10 her
European negotiations by an immediate adjust
ment Of the question with the United States
This request has been acceeded to upon the con
ditiOn that the sums collected after the 10th o
June last; aud until the 18th of June next frou
vessels aud eargos belonging to our merchants,
are to be considered as paid under protest, and
subject 10 future adjustment. There is reason tC
| believe that an arrangement, between Denmark
and the maritime powers Of Europe on the sub
iect, Will DC soon concluded; and that the pend