American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-13
lrhs report of the Postmaster GenI.


presents fully the condition Of that de-
.rrtJacnt o. the government. Its ex-
;mndiearcs forIthe last fscSl year were
GIV,4OT ,&Gs; and it, gross receipt 81,
80, 00i--nlaking ar excess Of expen-
d,twes over receipts Of S2,7S7, 046.--
The deficiency OF TINS department is
THIS S74t 600 greater than for the
ear ending Joue 80, 1853. Of this
a.G2.onoy, $3.50, 600 is to be attributed
20 the additional compensation allowed
uostmaaters by the act Of Congress Of
June p, 1864. The mail facilities in
every part of the country have been
very much increased in that period, Il
the ,arge addition Of railroad service,
amounting to 1905 miles, has added
lorrely to the cost of transportation.
The inconsiderablc augmentation of
the income of the Post Office Depart
Ineut uuder the reduced rates of pos
tago, and its increasing expenditures,
must, for tho present, make it depend
cnt to some extent. upon the treasury
ior supnort. The Recommendation of
tho Postmaster General, in relation to
the abolition of the franking privilege,
and his views on the establishment of
m&.l steam lines, deserve the consider
alton Of Congress. also call the
special attention Of Congress to the
statement of the Postmaster General
respecting the sums now paid for the
transportation of mails to the Panama
Railroad Company, and commend to
heir early and favorable consideration
tho suggestions of that officer in rela-
tion TO new contracts for mail transport
tet!on upon that route, and also upon
the Tehuantcpoc and Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue in the
Enjoyment Of amicable relations with
all foreign powers.
When my last annual message was
transmitted to Congress, two subjects
Of controversy, one relating to the en-
Hatmcnt Of soldiers in this country for
foreign service, and the other to Cen
trail America, threatened to disturb
good understanding between the Uni
.o0 States and Great Britain. Of the
progress and termination of the former
QueSt,On you were informed at the time;
nd The other is now in the way Of sat
l5tactory adjustment.
The object ofthe convention between
the United Sta,ca and Great Britain of
the 10Th Ap'il, 1850, was 10 secure for
the benefit Of all nations. the neutrality
and tho common use Of any transit way
" iLLgroceanic communicating, across
the isthmus Of Panama, which might be
,opouod within the limits of Genital A.
norica. The pretension subsequently
asserted b. Great Britain, to dominion
or control over territories. in OF near
twO of tho routes, those Of Nicaragua
and Honduras, were deemed by the u.
States not merely incompatible with
tho nGin object of the treaty, but OPP
poSo! even TO lis express stipulations.
Occasion Of controversy on this point
has been removed by an additional trea-
~, which our minister at London has
concluded and which will be immed-
4tc'y s"h-1itled ~ the Senate lor its
consideration. Should the proposed
supplemental arrangement be concur
red III by all the parties to be affected
by il, the objects contemplated by the
original convention will have been full
" attained.
The treaty between the u. States and
Great Britain, OF tho 9Th June, 1854,
which went into effective operation in
1855, put ah end to causes of irritation
be ween the two countries, by securing
TO the United States the right of fishery
on the coast Of tho British North Amer
icap rroYince, with advantages equal
20 those enjoyed by British subjects
Besides the signal benefits Of this treaty
10 large class Of our citizens engaged
Ill pursuit connected to no incnn5ider.
able degree with our national prospect
ty and strength, ii has had favorable
Gt!lat upon other Interests in the provis-
ion it made for reciprocal freedom of
trade between the United States and
the British provinces in America.
The exports of domestic articles TO
those provinces during the last year a.
mounted TO more 'hau twenty-five mil.
lions OF dollars, exceeding those of the
prece ding year 10y nearly seven million
of dollars and tho imports therefrom,
during tho same period, amounted TO
more than twenty-One millious--an in.
crease Of six millions upon those of tho
previous year.
The improved condition oftls branch
ofour commerce is mainly attributable
10 tho above mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first arl.
Gle Of that treaty, for a com mission to
designate the mouths Of rivets 10 which
tho common rights of fishery, on the
coBst of the United States aud British
Provinces, was not to extend. This
commission has boen employed a part
Of Two seasons, but without much pro-
gress 10 accomplishing the object for
which it was Instituted, in consequence
of serious difference of opinion be.