The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03
NO. 40.

present fiscal year are included three million
dollars, to meet the last instalment of the ten
million provided for in the late treaty with
Mexico, and seven million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, appropriated on account
of the debt due to Texas; which two sums make
an aggregate amount of ten million seven hun
dren and fifty thousand dollars, and reduce the
expenditures, actual or estimated, for ordinary
objects of the year, to the sum of sixty million
four hundred and seventy-six thousand dollars.
The amount of the public debt at the com
mencement of the present fiscal year was forty
million FIVE hundred and eighty-three thousand
six hundred and thirty-one dollars, and, deduc-
ton being made of subsequent payments, the
whole public debt of the Federal Government
remaining at this time is less than forty million
dollars.
The remnant of certain other Government
stocks, amounting to two hundred and forty
three thousand dollars, referred TO in my last
message as outstanding, has since been paid.
| am fully persuaded that it would be diff
cult to devise a system superior to that by which
the fiscal business of the Government Is now
conducted. Notwithstanding the great number
ofpublic agents of collection and disbursement,
il IS believed that the checks and guards pro-
yided, including the requirement of monthly
returns. render it scarcely possible for any con-
siderable fraud on the part of those agents, or
neglect involving hazard of serious public loss,
70 escape detection. | renew, however, the rec
onmendation. heretofore made by me, OF the
enactment of a law declaring it felony, on the
part of public officers, to insert false entries In
their books of record or account, or to make false
returns, and also requiring them on the termi-
nation of their service to deliver TO their sue
eessors all books, records, and other objects of
a public nature, in their custody.
Derived as our public revenue is, in chief
part. from duties on imports, its magnitude af
iords gratifying evidence of the prosperity, not
only of our commerce, but of the other great
interests upon which that depends.
The principle that all moneys not required
for the current expenses of the Government
should remain for active employment in the
hands of the people, and the conspicuous fact
that the annual revenue from all sources ex-
ceels, by many millions of dollars, the amount
needed for prudent and economical admins
tratiOn of public affairs, cannot fail to suggest
the propriety of an early revision and reduction
of the tariff of duties on imports. 1t is now so
generally conceded that the purpose of revenue
alone can Justify the imposition of duties on
imports, that, in readjusting the impost tables
aud schedules, which unquestionably require
essential notifications, departure from the
principles of the present tariff is not anticipated.
ARMY.
The army, during the past year, has been
actively engaged in defending the Indian from
tier the state of The service permitting but few
and small garrlsons In our permanent fortifica-
tons. The additional regiments authorized at
the last session of Congress have been recruited
and organized, and large portion of the troops
have already been sent to the field. All the
l..t.o oh kak1 81
ment have been satisfactorily performed, and
the dangers and privations incident to the
character OF the service required of our troops
have furnished additional evidence of their
courage, zeal, and capacity to meet any requisi-
ton which their country may make upon them.
For the details of the military operations, the
distribution of the troops, and additional pro.
visions required for the military service, refer
to the report Of the Secretary of War and the
accompanying documents.
Experience, gathered from events which
have transpired since my last annual message,
has but served to confirm the opinion then ex-
pressed, Of the propriety of making provision,
by retired list, for disabled officers, and for
increased compensation to the officers retained
on the list for active duty. All the reasons
which existed, when these measures were rec
commended on former occasions, continue with
have given some of them additional force.
The recommendations heretofore made for a
partial reorganization of the army, are also re-
newed The thorough elementary education
given TO those officers who commence their
service with the grade of cadet, qualities them,
TO considerable extent, to perform the duties
OF every arm Of the service; but to give the
highest efficiency to artillery, requires the prac-
tee and special study of many years; and it is
not, therefore, believed to be advisable to main
tam, IN time of peace, larger force of that
arm than can be usually employed in the duties
appertaining to the service of field and siege
artillery The duties of the staff, in all its va
riOuS branches, belong to the movements OF
troops, and the efficiency of an army in the
field would materially depend upon the ability
with which those duties are discharged. 1t is
not, as in the of the artillery a speciality,
but requires, also, intimate knowledge of
The duties OF an officer of the line: and it is not
doubted that, to complete the education of an
oihcer, for either the line or the general staff
II is desirable that he shall have served in
both. With this view, it was recommended,
On former occasion, that the duties of the
staff should be mainly performed by details
from the line; and, with conviction of the
advantages which would result from such a
change, ii is again presented to the considera
ton of Congress
NAVY
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the nava
operations Of the past year, together with the
present condition of the service, and it makes
Suggestions of further legislation, to which your
attention Is invited.
lie construction of the six steam frigates
lor which appropriations were made by the las
congress, has proceeded in the most satisfac
Tory manner, and with such expedition as tc
warrant the belief that they will be ready fol
service early in the coming spring. Importan
as tins addition to our naval force is, it still
remains inadequate to the contingent exigen
@es OF the protection Of the extensive sea coas
and vast commercial interests of the United
States In view Of this fact, and of the ac
M0"iedged wisdom of the policy Of gradua
anu systematic increase of the navy, an appro
Prahon IS recommended for the construction
OF SIX steam sloops of war.
IN regard to the steps taken in execution O
,ne act ol Congress to promote the efficiency o
'He navy IL Is unnecessary for me to say more
""h 10 express entire concurrence in the OBJ
,er'auons on that subject presented by the
Secretary in his report.
POST OFFICE
IL will be perceived, by the report of tn,
'os,master General, that the gross expendtur,
the department. for the last fiscal year wa
Nne million nine hundred and sixty eight thou
saAd three hundred and forty-two dollars anC
'le groSs receipts seven million three hundred
aad iorty-two thousand one hundred and thirty
SA dollars-making an excess of expenditur
Over receipts, of two million six hundred an,
"ehty-six thousand two hundred and six do
ar and that the cost of mail transportation
Udfng that year was six hundred and seventy
i'ur thousand nine hundred and ifty-two do
200 IL. IL