Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-12-18

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dred and thirty seven thousand one hun
dred and twenty nine dollars, all of which
might be paid within year without en-
barrassing the public service, but being
rot yet due, and only redeemabIe at the OPP
ton of the holders cannot be pressed TO
payment by the Government.
Theac's granting bounty lands will soon
have been executed, while the extension of
our frontier settlements will cause a COLI
iinued demand for lands and augmented
receipts probably from that source.
The considerations will Justify a reduc-
tion of the revenue upon customs so as not
to exceed forty-eight or fifty millions of
dollars. think the exingcncy for such
reduction imperative and again urge it up
on the consideration Of Congress. The
amount of reduction as well as the manner
of efecting it are questions of great and
general interest, it being essential to indus
trial enterprise and the public prosperity
as well rs the dictate Of obvious Justice that
the burden of taxation be made to rest as
equally as possible upon ali classes and all
sections and interests Of the country. |
have heretofore commanded to vour con
81 leration the revision Of the revenue laws
prepared under the direction of the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, and also legislation
upon some special questions affecting bust
ness Of that department; more especially
the abstraction of official books or papers
from the files Of the Government, and re-
quiring all such books and papers and 9TH
er public property to be turned over by The
outgoing officer to his Successor; Of a law
requiring disbursing officers to deposit all
public money in the vaults of the Treasury
or in other legal repositories where the
same are conveniently accessible, aud a
law to extend existing penal provision to all
persons who may become possessed ofpub-
lie money by deposite or otherwise, and
vino shall refuse or neglect upon due de-
mand or application. to pay the same into
the Treasury. invite anew your atten-
ton to each of these objects.
The army during the past year has been
so constantly employed against hostile In
; dians in various quarters that it can scarce
ly be said with propriety of language, to
/. have been peace establishment Its du-
ties have been satisfactorily performed, ard
we have reason to expect, as the years op-
era.ions, greater security TO the frontier in
habitants than has been hitherto enioyed.-
Extensive combinations of the hostile lndi-
, ans of the Territories of Washington and
Oregon at one threatened the devastation of
f the newly formed settlements Of that re-
mote portion of the country. From re-
cent Information We are permitted to hope
that the energetic and successful opera
tons conducted there will prevent such
+, combinations in future, and secure to these
Territories an opportunity to make steady
progress in the development of their agr-
cultural and mineral resources. Legisla-
ton has been recommended by me OH pre-
yious occasions to cure defects in the exist
ing organization, and to increase the eli
cheney of the army, and further observation
has but served to confirm me in the views
then expressed and to crforce on my mind
the conviction that such measures are not
only proper but necessary.
have in addition to invite the attention
Of the Congress to change Of the policy
OF tie distribution Of the troops, and to the
necessity of providing more rapid H.
crease OF the military armament. For de
tails of these other subjects relating to the
army. | refer to the report of the Secretary
of War. The condition of the Navy is not
merely satisfactory but exhibits the most
gratifying evidences Of increased yigor.-
rs it is comparatively small ii is impo. tant
that it should be as complete as possible in
all the elements ofstrength. That it should
be efficient in the character of its office, in
the zeal and discipline of its men, in the
reliability of It's ordinance, and in the ca
pacity 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 Congress of February 26th,
1856, to promote the efficiency of the Ma
Wy, has been attended with the most grati-
flying results The law for promoting dis
) ciplIne among the men is found convenient
: and salutary.
The system of granting an honorable
discharge to faithful seamen on the expira-
ton of the term of their enlistment and per-
hitting them to re-enlist after leave of
: absence of 4 few months, without cessation
of pay, is highly beneficial in its influence
The apprentice system recently adopted,
is evidently destined to incorporate into
the service large number ot our countrey-
men hitherto SO difficult to procure. Sew
eral hundred American boys are now on 4
three years cruise in our national yes
sells, and will return well trained sea-
men.
In the ordinance department there is a
decided and gratifying indication of prog
ress creditabe to it and to the country
The suggestions of the Secretary of the
Navy in regard to further improvement in
that branch of the service, | commend to
} your favorable action. The new frigates
) ordered by Congress are now atloat and
two of them in active service.
They are superior models of naval archi-
lecture aud with their formidable battery,
add largely to the public strength and Sc
curity. | concur in the views expressed
by the Secretary of the Department in fl-
, vor ola still further increase of our naval
force. The report of the Secretary of the
. Interior presents facts and views in relation
to internal affairs. over which the super
vision of his department extends, of much
interest and importance. The aggregate
sales of public lands during the last fiscal