The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-11

, of Compress ylf-
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the m,
al operations Of the past year, together wit
the present condition Of the service, and
makes suggestions Of further legislation ;
which your attention is invited.
The construction of the six steam frigates
for which appropriations were made by tn
last Congress, has proceeded in the most sat
isiactory manner, and with such expedition
as to warrant the belief that they will b
ready for service early in the coming spring
Important as this addition to our naval fore
is, It still remains inadequate to the contin
gent cxigcncies Of the protection of the ex
tensivc sea coast and vast commercial inter
ests of the United States. In view Of thi
fact, and of the acknowledged wisdom o
the policy Of gradual and systematic in
crease of the navy, an appropriation u
recommended for the construction OF si,
steam sloops-ofwar.
In regard to the steps taken in execution
Of the act of Congress to promote the eficien
CIV of the navy, it is unnecessary for me tc
say more than to express entire concurrcnc,
in the observations on that subject presented
by the Secretary in his report.
Posi- 0rTicE.
II will be perceived by the report of the
Postmaster General, that the gross expendi-
ture ofthc department for the last fiscal year
was nine million nine hundred and sixty
eight thousand three hundred and iorty-two
dollars, and the gross receipts seven million
three hundred and forty-two thousand one
hundred and thirty-six dollars, making an
excess of expenditure over receipts of two
million six hundred and twenty-six thousand
two hundred and six dollars; and that the
cost of mail transportation during that year
was six hundred and.screnty-four thousand
nine hundred and iilty-two dollars greater
than the previous year. Much of the heavy
expenditures to which the Treasury is thus
subjected, is to be ascribcd to the large guam
tity ofprintcd matter conveyed by the mails,
either franked, or liable to no postage by
law, or u very. low rates. Of postage COM
pared with that charged on letters and to
the great cost of mail service on railroads
and by ocean steamers. The suggestions of
the Postmaster General on the subject de-
serve the consideration of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
will engage your attention, rs well for use
full suggestions il contains, rs for the inter-
eat and importance of the subjects to which
they refer,
The aggregate amount of public land sold
during the last fiscal year, located with mill
tary scrip or land warrants, taken up un-
der grants for roads, and selected rs swamp
lands by States, is twcnty-iour millions five
hundred and iifty-soyen thousand four hun
dred and nine acres of which tho portion
sold was fifteen millions seven hundred and
twenty-ninc thousand five hundred and twen-
ty-four acres, yielding in receipts the sum of
eleven million four hundred and eighty-iiyc
thousand three hundred and eighty dollars.
In the same period of time, eight million
seven hundred and twenty-thrce thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four acres have been
surveyed but in consideration of the guam
tity already subject to entry, no additional
tracts have been brought into market.
The peculiar relation of the general gov
crnmcnt to the District of Columbia, renders
il proper to commend to your care not only
its material, but also its moral interests, in
cluding education, more especially in those
parts of the district outside Of the cities 6i
Washington and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revise and
codify the laws Of tho District have made
such progress in the performance of their
task, as to insure its completion in the time
prescribed by the act of Congress.
Information has recently been received,
that the peace of the settlements in the Ter
ritories Of Oregon and Washington is dis
turbcd by hostilitics on the part of the In
dians, with indications of extensive combina-
tions of hostile character among the tribes
in that quarter, the more serious in their
possible effect by reason Of the undetermined
foreign interests existing in those Territories,
to which your attention has already been es.
pecialh invited. Efficient measures have
been taken, which, il is believed, will re-
store quiet, and afford protection to our citi-
zcns.
In the Territory of Kansas there have been
acts preudical 10 good order, but as yet
none have occurred under circumstances to
Justify the interposition of the Federal Exc
cutive. That could only be in case OF OBJ
struction to federal law, or of organized re-
sistancc to territorial law, assuming the
character of insurrectiCn, which, If it should
occur, ii would be my duty promptly to
overcome and suppress. cherish the hope,
however, that the occurrence OF any such
untoward event will he prevented by the
sound sense of the people of the Territory,
who, by its organic law, possessing the right
to determine their own domestic institutions
are entitled, while depOrting themselves
peacefully, to the free exercise of that right,
and must be protected in the enjoyment of
it, without interference on the part of the
citizens of any of the States.
The Southern boundary line Of this Terri
tory has never been surveyed and established.
The rapidly extending settlements in that
region, and the fact that the main route be-
tween independence, in the State of Alissou-
ri, and New Mexico, is contiguous to this
line, suggest the probability that embarnss-
ing questions of jurisdiction may consequent
lyarise. For thlisand other considerations,
/ commend the subject 10 your carlyntten-
ton.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY or TIE GOVERNMENT.
have thus passed in review the general
state of the Union, including such particu-
lar concerns of the federal government,
whether of domestic or foreign relation, as il
appeared to me dcsirable and useful to bring
to the special notice of Congress. Unlike
the great states Of Europe and Asia, and
many of those of America, these onited
States are wasting their strength neither in
foreign war nor domestic strife. Whatever
of discomfort Of public dissatisfaction exists,
is attributable to the imperfections of hu-
man nature, or is incident TO all govern
ments, however perfect, which human wis
dom can devise. Such subjects of political
agitation, as occupy the public mind, con-
sist, to great extent, ofcxggcntion of in
evitable evils, or over zeal in social improve
ment, or mere Imagination Of grievance, hay-
Ing hut remote connexion with any of the
constitutional functions or duties of the fed
cral government. To whatever extent thcse
questions exhibit tendency menaoing to
the stability of the Constitution, or the in-
tegrity of the Union, and no further, they
demand the consideration of the Executive,
and reduire to be prpsental by him To Con-