The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-01-10
POST OFFICE.

Postmaster General, that the gross expendi.
t2;as of the department for the las, fiscal year
Wsr mae millions nine hundred and sixty
q, tsausand three hundred and forty-two
4rIlij, and the gross. receipts seven million
tllea handred and forty,two thousand one
hunifed and thir:y-six dolars, making n ex-
cess of expenditure over receipts of two mil.
lion six hundred and twenly.six thousand
Two hundred and six dollars and that the
cost of mail transportation during that year
was six hundred and seventy -four thousand
nine hundred and fifiy-two dollars greater
than the previous year. Much of The heavy
expenditures, 10 which the Treasury is thus
subjected. is 10 be ascribed TO the large guam
lity of printed matter conveyed by the mails,
either franked. or liable TO no postage by law,
or 10 very low retes of postage compared with
that charged Oh letters; and 10 the great cost
of mail service on railroads and by ocean
steamers. The suggestions of the Postmaster
General on the subject deserve the consider
alton Of Congress. ...
INTERIOR. ,.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
will engage our attention, as we'll for useful
suggestions il contains, as for the interest
and importance of the subjects to which they
refer. ......4 .....
The aggregate amount Of public land sold
during the last fiscal year, located with mill
larry scrip or land warrants, taken up under
grants tor roads, and selected as swamp lands
BY States, is twenty-four million FIVE hund-
red and fity-seven thousand four hundred
and nine acres; OF which the portion sold
was fifteen million seven hundred and twen-
ty.nine thousand five hundred and twenty
four acres, yielding in receipts The sum of
eleven million four hundred and eishty-five
thousand three hundred and eighty dollars.
In The same period of time, eight million
seven hundred and tweniy.three thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four acres have been
surveyed but, in consideration of the guam.
,ity already subject to entry, no additional
tracts have been brought inlo market. ...
The peculiar relation of the general gov
eminent 10 the District of Columbia renders
il proper 10 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 of
Washington and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revise
and codify The laws ofthe District have made
sch progress in the performance of their
tslk, as TO insure i!s completion in the time
prescribed by the act of Congress.
Information has recently been received,
that ae peace of the settlements in the Ter
ritories of Oregon and Washington is dis,ur.
bed byhoslililies on the part of the Indians,
with Indications of extensive combinations of
e. hostile character among tho tribes in that
quarter, the more serious in their passible eff.
feet by reason of the undetermined foreign
interests existing in those Territories, to
which your altsnlion has already been espe.
cicly invited AEficient measures have been
'e ', which, il is believed, will restore qui-
CT, I'D afford profession TO our citizens.
10 the Territory ofKansas, there have beer
acts preiudiclal to good order, but as yet none
have occurred under circumstances TO Justify
The inierposilion Of the federal Executive
That could only be in case of obstruction 10
federal law, or of organized resistance TO Ter
ritorial law, assuming the character of insur.
rection, which, if it should occur, it would be
my duty promptly to overcome aud suppress
| cherish the hope, however, that the occur.
renee OF any such untoward even, will be
prevented by the sound sense of The people
Of the Territory, who, by it's organic law.
possessing the right 10 determine their own
domestic institutions, are entitled, while de-
porting themselves peacefully, 10 the free ex.
ercise of that right, aHd 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 or established
The rapidly extending settlements in tha, re-
gion. and the fact that the main route be
tween Independence in the State of Nilsson
ri, and new Mexico, is contiguous TO this
line, suggest the probability that embarrass
ing questions of jurisdiction may consequent
y arise. For these and other considerations
commend the subjsct TO your early a,en
tion. -....-...
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF THE GovEREMENr
have thus passed in review the genera
state Of the Union, including such pariicula
concerns of the federal government, whelhs
of domestic or foreign relation, as it appear
ed 10 me desirable and useful 10 bring TO lht
special notice Of Congress. Unlike the grea
states of Europe and Asia, and many. oI
those of America, these United States ar,
wasting their strength neither in foreign wa
| nor domestic strife. Whatever Of disconten
OF public dissatisfaction exists, Is satlribuiabl |,
10 the imperfections of human nature, or i
incident TO all governments, however per
feet, which human wisdom can devise. Sucl
subjects of political agitation, as occupy III,
! public mind, consist, 10 a great extent, o