American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-05

iheht remaining az tins time Is less than
forty million dollars.
The remnant of certain other govern.
ment stocks. amounting Ia two HUNDRED
aud forty three Thousand duilars, refer
rcd To III ny last message as outstand.
| ing has since boon paid.
am fully persuaded chat It would
be difficult To devise a system superior
to that by which the fiscal business Of
me government is now conducted.-
Notwithstanding tho g,eat number Of
| public agents of collection aud disburse.
ment, it is believed that the checks aud
guards providing including the require
rnen' OF monthly returns render il
scarcely possible for any considerable
fraud on the pa,i of those agents, or nc
glcct involving hazard ofserious public
loss, to escape detection. i#
renew. however the recommends.
ton, heretofore made by me, of tho en-
actment OF a law declaring it felony on
the part of public officers to insert false
entries in their books of record or &c.
count or To make false returns and also
requiring them on the termination of
their service to deliver their successors
all books, records, and other objects Of
|
public nature in their custody. g-
Derived as our public revenue is, in
chief part from duties on imports, its
magnitude affords gratifying evidence
OF the prosperity, not only of our COM
merce. but ofthe other great Interests
upon which that depends.
The principal, of all moneys not requi-
red Tor the current expenses fthe gov
eminent should remain for active en-.
ployment in the hands of the people,
aud the conspicuous fact that the annual
revenue from all sources exceeds, by
many millions of dollars, the amount
needed for prudent and economical
administration of public affairs, cannot
fail to suggest the proprie,y of an early
revision and reduction of the tariff of
duties on imports. 1t is now SO gener-
ally conceded that the purpose of reve-
nue. alone can justify the imposition Of
duties on imports, that, in re-adjos,ing
the impos,. tables and schedules, which
unquestionably require essential modif.
! cations, departure fran The principles
OF the present tariff is not an,icipa
ted.
| ARMY.
The army, during tho past year, has
been actively engaged in defending t he
Indian frontier, the state of tho service
permitting but fow and small garrsons
in our permanent Notifications. The
additional regiments authorized at tho
las, session of Congress have been re.
cruited and organized, and large por.
ton of the troops have already been
sent to the field. All the duties, which
devolve on the military establishment,
have been satisfactorily performed, aud |
the dangers and privations incident To
the character of the service required Of
our troops have furnished additional ey-
idence OF their courage. zeal. and capac.
ity TO meet any requisitipn, which their
country may make upon them.
The recommendations heretofore
made for partial reorganization ofthc
| army, are also renewed. The thorough
elementary education given To those Of.
ficers. who commence their service with
the grade Of cadet, qualities them to
considerable extent, To perform the du.
ties of every arm of the service; but to
give the highest efficient TO artillery re,
quires The practice and special study on
| many years, that it is not, heretofore
believed tn be advisable To- maintain in
time ofpeace larger force of that arm
than can be usually employed in the du.
I lies appertaining To the service Of field
and siege artillery. The duties of tho
stahin al! its various branches belonging
to the movements of troops, and the eff
fciency of an army in the field depend
materially upon the ability with which
those duties are discharged.
For The details Of the military ope.
rations, the di,tribpton Of the troops,
aud additional provisions required lof
the military service, refer TO the re-,
port of tho Secretary of War and the.
accompanying documents.
Experiences, gathered from eventSl
which have transpired since my last an.
nnal message has been served To confirm
the opinion then expressed Of thepro.
priety of making provision, by q re,i,
red list for disabled officers retained.
on the list for active duty. All tho
reasons which existed, when those
measures we're recommended on former
occasions, continue without modifca-
ton. except additional force.
il is not, as in the case of the artili
cry. speciality, but requires, also, AL
intimate knowledge Of the duties, of an
officer for neither the line, end il is not
doubted that TO complete the education
OF an officer for either the line, orr
tho general staff, il is desirable that he
shall have served IN both. With this
view, it was recommended on former
occasion that the duties oflbe staff should
be mainly performed by details from
the line; and with conviction Of the adj
vantsges which would result from such
a change, it is again presented for the
consideration of Congress.