The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-01-07


Of the year, to the sum Of sixty millior
four hundred and seveuty-six thonsan,
dolsara ea
The amount Of the public debt. at III,
commencement of the present fiscal year
was forty million five hundred anc
eigbty:three Thousand, six hundred and
thirty-one dollars, and deduction beins
n aie of subsequeut payments the whole
public debt of the federal government
remaining at tais time is less than forty
millienadollars. 85 .as /
The remnant of certain other govern
ment stocks, amounting to two hundred
red to in my last message as outsta.d
ipg. has Stree been paid "a.
+ / am fully persuaded that it would be
difficult to devise a system superior to
that, by which, the fscal business of the
COVER -ments now c~ouducted. Notwith-
s atidihg the great number of public
agents of collection ard disbursement. II
is believed that the checks aud guards
provided including the requirement of
monthly returns, render it scarcely pos
sible for any considerable fraud on the
part of thos. agents, nr neglect involy-
ing hazard Of serious public loss. to es.
cape detection. I renew, however. the
Recommendation heretofore made by me,
of the enacfment of a law declaring it
felony on the part of public officers to
irsert false entries in th-;r books of re-
cord or account. or to make false retur 3.
ard also requiringthem on the termina-
tioni0f their service to deliver to their
successors all books, records, and other
ohjecfso q public nature in their GUS
todv. -
Derived as our public revenue is, in
chief part. from duties on imports, is
magnitude affords gratifying evidence of
the prosperity not only of our commerce.,
but of the other great interests upon
whish that depends Z
The principle that all moneys not re-
quired for the current expenses of the
government should remain for active
employm Mt in the hands of the people.
and the conspicuous fact that the annu-
al revenue from al sources exceeds, by
many millions of dollars the amount.
needed for a prudent and economical
administration of public affairs, cannot
fail TO suggest the propriety of an early
revision and reduction of the tariff. of
duties on imports, and it is now so gen.
orally conceded that the purpose of rev.
enue alone can justify the imposition Of
duties on imports, that, in re adjusting
the impost tables and schedules, which
ung~uestioDably require essential modii-
cations. a departure from the principles
of the present tariff is not anticipated.
zfF ARMY. s 7taS
The army, during the past year, has.
been actively engaged in defending the
Indian frontier, the state of the service
permitting but few aud small garrisons
IN our permanent fnrtiicaticas. The adj
ditional regiments authorized at the last
of Congress have been recruited
aud organized; aud q large portion of
the troops have already been sent to the
field. AL the duties which devolye on
the military establishments have been
satisfactorily performed. aud the dan.
gers aud privations incident to the char
acter of the service required of our
trs.pps have furnis ed additional evil
dehee of their courage, zeal, and capaei.
~ to meet auy .requlsitIon which their
eouu ~ may make upol them. For tue
detail 3 of the military operatio. s, the
distribution Of the troops, and adIItion-
al Provisions required for the military
service, L refer losthe report of the Sees
: tafs ct war aud the accompanying doc.
uucu.s. !
Experience, gathered from events
which have trauspifed siuee my last an
i ual message, has but served to confirm
tile opinion then expressed of the pro-
of making provision, by a retired
1t, for disabled officers, aud for increas
ed compensation to the officers retained
the list for active duty. All the rca,
sous which existed, henthese measures
we're recommended OF former occasio 8,
without modification, except so
ar as circumstances have given to some
,f them additional force.
The Recommendations heretofore made
a partial reorganizatioD of the army.
ire also renewed. The thorough ele-
education given to those off
.ers, who oEitnenc their service with
he grade of cadet, qualities them to u
considerable extent, u perform the du
les of every arm of the service; but to
rive the highest efficacy to artillery, re-
Iuires the practice aud special study for
many years, aud it is not, therefore, be.
to be advisable to maintain, in
line of peace, a larger force of that arm
han can be usually employed in the du-
les appertaining to the service Of field
nd seige artillery. The duties of the
taft in all its various branches belong
o the movements of troops, and the eff
of an army in the field would de.
end upon the ability with which those
.uties are discharged. It is not, as in
he case of artillery. a speciality, but re-
uires, also, an intimate knowledge of
he duties of an officer of the line. and |,
is not doubted that TO complete tbs 4
ducatiou of an officer for either the line ,
r the general stsff, it is desirable that
e shall have. served in both. With
ais view, it was recommended on a for
Ter occasions, that the duties of the staff
lould be mainly performed by details :,
ON the line and with conviction of |
le advantages which would result from i
lch a change, it is again presented for G
le consideration of Congress. IA
NAVY. q
The report of the Secretary of the Ma :
herewith submitted, exhibits in full
lie naval operations Of the pas: year to- :
with the present condition of the !.
and it makes suggestions offur- !;
Ter legislation, to which your attention =
invited :
The construction of the six steam fri :
ties. for which appropriations were :