The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-12-04

HltHheI Vi SueCtiHS 1t, are queStioHo vi S40dI
and general interest; it being essential to in
dustral enterprises and the public prosperity,
as we'll as the dictate of obvious justice, that
the burden of taxation be made to rest as
equally as possible upon all classes, and all
sections and interests of the country.
| ha We heretofore recommended to your
consideration the revision of the revenue laws,
prepared under the direction Of the Secretary
of the Treasury, and also legislation upon
some special questians affecting the business
Of that department, NOSE especially the enact
menJ of IL law to punish the abstraction of
official books or papers from the files of the
government, and requiring all such books and
papers and all other public property to be
turned over by the outgoing officer to his
successor; of a law requiring officers to de-
poste all public money in the vaults of the
treasury or in her legal repositories where
the same arc conveniently accessible; and a
law to extend existing penal provisions to
all persons who may become possessed of
public money by dep3ste OF otherwise, and
who shall refuse or neglect on due command,
to pay the same into the treasury. | invite
your attention anew to each of these sub
jects.
The army during the past year has been
so constantly employed against hostile In
dams in various quarters, that it can scarcely
be sald with proprieiy of language, to have
been peace establishment Its duties have;
been satisfactorily performed, and we have
reason to expect, as result Of the years OPP
erationS, greater security to the frontier in
habitants than has been hitherto enjoyed
Extensive combinations among the hostile In
dams of the Territories of Washington and,
Oregon at one time threatened the devasta-
ton of the newly formed settlements of that
remote portion of the country. From recent
information, we are permitted to hope that the
energetic and successful operations conducted
there will prevent such com binations in fu-
ture and secure to those Territories an op-
portunlty to make steady progress in the de-
velopment of their agricultural and mineral
resources.
Legislation has been recommended by me
on previous occasions to cure defects in the
existing organization, and to increase the eff
cheney Of the army, and further observation
has but served to confirm me in the views
/ then expressed. and la enforce on my mind
the conviction that such measures are not on
ly proper but necessary.
| have, in addition, to invite the attention
of Congress to a change of policy IN the dis
trbution Of troops, and to the necessity of
providing more rapid increase of the militia
~ armament For details of these and 9TH
er subjects relating to the army, l refer to the
report OF the Secretary OF War.
The condition of the navy is not merely
satisfactory, but exhibits the most gratifying
evidence of increased vigor. As 1t is COM
paratively small it is more important that it
should be as complete as possible in all the
clements of strength; that it should be eff
cient in the character Of its officers, in the
zeal and discipline of its men, in the relia-
bility of its ordinance, and in the capacity of
its ships In all these various qualities the
navy has made great progress within the last
few years. The execution of the law of Con-
gress, of February 20, 1858, so promote the
efficiency of the navy" has been attended by
the most advantageous results. The law for
promoting discipline among the men is found
convenient and salutary. The system of
granting an honorable discharge to faithful
seamen on the expiration OF the period of their
enlistment, and permitting them to re- enlist
after leave of absence Of a few months,
without cessation of pay, is highly beneficial
in its influence. The apprentice system re-
Gently adopted is evidently destined to incor-
porate into the service large number of our
countrymen hitherto so difficult to procure.
Several hundred American boys now on a
three years cruise in our national vessels
and will return well trained seamen. In the
ordnance department there is decided and
gratifying indication of progress creditable to
it and the country. The suggestions of the
Secretary of the navy, in regard to further i'm
provement in that branch of the service, 1
commend to your favorable action.
The new frigates ordered by Congress are
now afoat, and two OF them in active SER
vice They are superior models of naval arc
itecture, and with their formidable battery
add largely to public strength and security.
| concur in the views expressed by the
Secretary of the Department in favor of still
further increase of our naval force
The report of the Secretary Of the Interior
presents facts and views in relation to inter-
nal affrirs over which the supervision of his
department extends, of much interest and
Importance.
The aggregate sales of the public lands,
during the last fiscal year, amount to nine
million two hundred twenty seven thousand
eight hundred and seventy eight acres; for
which has been received the sum of eight
millions eight hundred and twenty-One thou
sand four hundred and fourteen dollars. Du-
ring 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
making total aggregate OF thirty-nine mil
lion three hundred and twenty-eght thous-
and one hundred and eight acres. On the
Both Of September last surveys had been
made Of sixteen million eight hundred and
seventy-three thousand six hundred and nine
ty nine acres, large proportion Of which is
ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to
the complication and progressive expansion Of
the business of the different bureaus of the
department, to the pension system; TO the col