Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-01-11

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| administration Of public affairs, cannot fail
10 suggest the propricty Of an early revision
AM reduction Of the tariff Of duties ON i'm
! ports. 1t il now 50 generally conceded that
| the purpose Of revenue alone can justify the
! imposition Of duties on imports that, in re-
/ adjusting the import tables and schedules,
/ which Internationally require essential mod
/ ifcuiuns, a departure from tho principlco OF
the present tariff is not anticipated
ARMY.
The army, during the past year has been
actively engaged in defending the Indian
frontier, the rte.n Cf the serrice permitting
but few aud small garrisons in our perma-
nent fortifications. The additional regiments
authorized at the last session OF Congress
have been recruited and organized, and
large portion of the troops have been sent to
the field. All the duties, which devolve on
the military establishment, have been salts
factory performed, and the dangers and pri-
vations incident to the character Uf the ser
Vice required Of our troops have furnished
additional evidence Of their courage, zoal and
capacity to meet any rcqulsition, which their
country may make upon them. For the de-
tuls Of the military operations, the distribu.
ton of the troops, and the additional provis-
ions required for the military service, | refer
to the report of the Secretary Of War and
accompanying documents
Experience, gathered from events which
which have transpired since my last Annual
Message has but served to confirm the opinion
then expressed of the propriety of making
provision, by a retired list. for disabled Off
GERS and for increased compensation to the
officers retained on the list for active duty.
All the reasons which existed, when these
measures were recommended on former occa-
siOns, continue without modification, except
go far as circumstances have given to some of
them additional force.
The recommended tions, heretofore made for
partial reorganization of the army, are
also renewed. The thorough elementary ed
ucatiOu given to those officers who commence
their service with the grade of cadet, quail
iies them, to a considerable extent, to per-
form the duties of every arm of the service;
but to give the highest efficiency to artillery
requires the practice and special study Of
many years and it is not, therefore, believed
to be advisable to maintain, in time of peace
a larger force of that arm than can be usually
employed in the duties appertaining to the
service of the field and siege artillery. The
duties Of the staff, in all its various branches,
belong to the movements Of troops, and the
efficiency Of an army in the field would mate
rally depend upon the ability with which
those duties are discharged. 1t is not, as in
the case Of the artillery a speciality, but re-
quires, also, an intimate knowledge Of the
duties OF all officer of the line, and it is not
doubted that, to complete the education Of an
officer for either the line or the general staff,
it is desirable that he shall have served in
both. With this view, it was recommended
on former occasion that the duties of the
staG should be mainly performed by details
from the line; and, with conviction of the
advantages which would result from such Il
change. it is again presented for the consider
alton of Congress.
HA>r.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy,
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the naval
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.
+ The construction Of the six steam frigates,
for which appropriations were made by the
last Congress, has proceeded in the most sal
istuctOry manner, and with such expedition
as to warrant the belief that they will be
ready for service early in the coming spring
Important as this addition to our naval force
Is, 1t still remains inadequate 10 the cOntin-
gent exigcncics of the protection of the exten-
syc sea coast and vast commercial interests o
the United States In view Of this fact. and
of the acknowledged wisdom Of the policy o
gradual and systematic increase Of the navy
an appropriation is recommended for the con
struction of six steam sloops-of war.
In regard to the steps taken in execution o
the act of Congress to promote the efficiency
Of the navy, it is unnecessary for me to sa,
more than to express entire concurrence il
the observations on that subject presented b,
the Secretary in his report.
TosT OFFICE.
e 1t will be perceived, BY the report of th
t Postmaster General, that the gross expendi
q dturG of the department for the last tsca
c year was nine million nine hundred and sixty
. eight thousand three hundred and fortv-tw,
= dollars, and the gross receipts seven million
: three hundred and forty-two thousand on
II hundred and thirty-six dollars, making al
G excess of expenditure over receipts of tw
million six hundred and twenty-six thousan,
20 two hundred and six dollars, and that tn
, cost of mail transportation during that yea
d WAS six hundred and seventyfour thousan
l. nine hundred and fftytwo dollars create
: than the previous year. Much of the heav
: expenditures to which the Treasury is thu
;, subjected is to be ascribed to the large quan
d tty of printed matter conveyed by the mails
= either iranked or liable to no postage by la,
e or to very low rates of postage compare
:. with that charged on letters; and to the grea
d cost of mail service on railroads and by ocea
n steamers. The suggestions of the Postmaste
General on the subject, deserve the consider
1t alton OF Congress.
d INTERIOR.
6 The report of the Secretary of the lnterio
/ will engage your attention. as we'll for I'll
'e useful suggestions it contains, as for tn
= interest and Importance of the subjects I
x which they refer.
l. The aggregate amount Of public land sol
l. during the last fiscal year, located with mil
70 tary scrip or land warrants, taken up undC
ee grants for roads, and selected MS swamp lanC
by States, is twenty-iour millions five hun
le drei and hityseven thousand four hundrc
m and nine acres Of which the portion sol
IN was fifteen millions seven hundred and twel
tn ty-nine thousand five hundred and twenty-io -ior
Id acres welding in receipts the sum of elevC
e. million four hundred and Ell ei5hty-iiye thousar
20 three hundred and eighty dollars In Il
IL sane period OF time, eight million seven hul
H. dred and twcnty-thrcc thousand eight hui
or drcd and Glty-iuur acres have been suryeye
to but in consideration of the quantity alreaC
al subject to entry, no additional tracts ha'
been brought into market
hc The peculiar relation oi the general 20
as crument To- the district OF Columbia, rende
ce it proper to commend to your care not on
s. its material, but also its moral interests, i
y GLIDING education, more especially in tho
al parts of the district outside of the cities
SIS Washngtonand Georgetown,
The commissioners appointed to revise Al
et eolily the laws OF the District, have mn
~ such progress in the performance Of the
NY task, Il. to insure its completion in the til
On prescribed by the act Of Congress.
Information has recently been receive
IL that the peace of the settlements in the I,
10y rtories OF Oregon and Washington is d
mt turbed by hosti!itics on the part of the India
he with indications of extensive combiuatio
ON Of a hostile character among the tribes in ii
he quarter, the more serious in their possible
he feet 10y reason of the undetermined foreign
it terests existing in those Territories, to viii
I'D your attention has already been especially