The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-12-10

them to re-enllst after a leave OF absence
Of a fsw months, without cessation Of
pay, is higbly beneficial in its influence.
Tho apprentice system recently adopted
is evidently destined to incorporate into
the service a large number Of our coun-
trymeu hitherto so difficult to procure.
Several hundred American boys ore now
on a three years. cruise in our national
vessels, aud will return well trained sea.
men. In the ordnance department
there is a decided and gratifying indica-
ton of progress creditable to it and the
country. The suggestions Of the Secrc-
tary Of the Navy. in regard to further
improvement in that branch of the ser.
vice, l commend to your favorable ac-
ton.
The new frigates ordered by Congress
are now a1oat, and two Of them in active
service. They are spperor models of ma
val architecture, and with their formi.
dable battery, add largely to public
strength aud security.
I coDcnr in the -iews expires sed by
the Secretary of the Department in ia
vor of a still further increase of our ma
val force.
The report Of the Secretary of the In
terror presents facts and views in relation
to internal affairs over which the super
vision of his department extends Of much
interest and Importance.
The aggregate sales ofthc public lands,
during the last fiscal year, amount to
nine million two hundred and twenty
seven thousand eight hundred and ses.
enty eight acres for which has been re-
ceived the sum of eight millions eight
hundred and tasnty-one thousand four
hundred and fourteen 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 ,hir-
ty acres, thus making a total aggregate
of thirty. nine million three hundred
and twenty-eight thousand one hundred
and eight acres. On the 30th of Sep.
TENDER last. surveys had been made of
sixteen million eight hundred and seven
ty-threc thousand six hundred and nine
ty.nine acres. a large propotion which is
ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in re.
gard to the complication aud progressive
expansion Of tho business ofthe different
bureau of tho department to the PEN
sion system to the colonization OF In
dian tribes, and the recommendations in
relation to various improvements in the
District of Columbia. are especially com.
mended to your consideration.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents fully the condition Of that de-
partment of the government. It's ex-
p%enditurcs for the last fiscal year, were
ten millions four hundred and seven
thousand eight hundred and sixty. eight
dollars; and its gross receipts seven mil
lion six hundred and twenty thousand
eight hundred and ore dollars-making
an excess Of expenditure over receipts Of
two million seven hundred and eighty
seven thousand and forty.six dollars.
The deficiency of this department is thus
seven hundred and forty four thousand
dollars greater than for the year ending
June so, 1858. Of this.dcfcicncy three
hundred and thirty thousand dollars is
to be attributed to the additional com.
pensation allowed postmasters By the act
of Congress. of June p, 1854. The
mail facilities in every part Of the coun.
try have been very much increa,ed in
that period. and tho large addition of
railroad service, amounting to seven
thousand nine hundred and eight miles,
has adde' largely to the cos: of transpor-
tation.
The inconsiderable augmentation of
the income Of the Post Office Depart
ment under the reduced rates Of postage,
and its increasing expenditures. must.
for the present, make it dependent to
some extent upon the treasury for sup
mort. Tho recommendations of the
Postmaster general, in relation to the
abolition of the frsnking privilege. and
his views on the establishment of mail
steamship lines, deserve the considera-
tion Of Congresa l also call the special
attention Of Congress to the statement
Of tho Postmaster General respecting
tho sums now paid for the transportation
of mails to the Panama Railroad Com
pany and commend to their early and
favorable consideration the suggestions
of that officer in relation to new con.
tracts for mail transportation upon that
route. and also upon the Tehuantepec
and Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue in the en-
ioyment Of amicable relations with all
foreign powers,
When my last annual message was
transmitted to Congress, two subjects Of
controversy, one relating to the enlist
ment of soldiers in this country for for
eign service, and the other to Central
America. threatened to disturb good I'm
Outstanding between the United State.
and Great Britain. OF the progress
and termination of the former question
you were informed at the time aut
the other is now 10 the way of satisfacso
ry adjustment.
The object of the convention between
the United States and Great Britain o
the 10Th Of April, 1850, was to secure
for the benefit Of all nations. the neu
traiity and the common use of any tran
sit way or interoceanic communication
across the Isthmus of Panama, whic'
might be opened within the limits q