American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-06

vigor. The new fcigatcs ordered
by Congress are now aHoat, two of
them in active service. concur in
the views expressed by the Secretary
OF the Department, in favor of still
further increase of our naval force.
The aggregate sales of the public
lands, during the last fiscal year, a
mount to nine million two hundred and
twenty seven thousand, eight hundred
and seventy eight acres; for which has
been received the sum OF eight millions
eight hundred and twenty one thousand
four hundred and fourteen dollars
During the same period there have been
located, with military scrip and land
warrants, and for other purposes, thirty
million one hundred thousand two hun
dred and thirty acres, thus making a
total aggregate of 39,328, 10S acres.
On the Both of September last, surveys
have been made of l6,ST3,6 SOL acres,
large portion of which is ready for
market.
The report of the Postmaster Gcn'l.
presents fully the condition of that de-
partmcnt Of the government. It's cx-
pcndltures for the last fiscal year were
$40, 4c7, 1858; and its gross receipt ST,
go, 601--making en- excess of expcn-
ditures over receipts Of $2,787, 046.--
The deficiency Of this department is
thus $144,000 greater than for the
year ending June so, 1858. OF this
deficiency, $3.50, 1000 is to be attributed
to the additional compensation allowed
postmastcrs by the act of Congress Of
June %, 1851. The mail facilities in
every part of the country have been
very much increased in that period, &
the large addition of railroad service,
amounting to 1908 miles, has added
largely to the cost transportation.
The inconsidcrablc augmentation Of
the income Of the Post Office Depart
ment under the reduced rates of pos
tage, and its increasing expenditures,
must, for the present, make it depend
cit to some extent, upon the treasury
for support. The recommendations Of
the Postmaster General, in relation to
the abolition Of the ranking privilege.
and his views on the establishment Of
mail steam lines, deserve the consider
alton of Congress. [ also call the
special attention Of Congress to tie
statement Of the Postmaster General
respecting the sums now paid for tho
transportation Of mails to The Panama
Railroad Company, and commend to
their early and favorable consideration
the suggestions Of that officer in rcla-
ton to ncw contracts for mail transport
teton upon that route, and also upon
the Iehuantcpec and Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue in the
enjoyment of anlicablc relations with
all foreign powers.
When my last annual message was
transmitted to Congress, two subjects
Of controversy, one relating to the en-
lj#tmcnt of soldiers in this country for
foreign service, and the other to Cen
trail America, threatened to disturb
good understanding between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain. OF the
progress and termination Of the former
question you were informed at the time;
and the other is now in the way Of sat
i2Eactory adjustment.
The efforts pcrscvcringly prosecuted
since the commencement Of my admin
istration to relieve our trade to the Bal
tic from tho cxaction Of Sound Dues
by Denmark, have not yet been atten-
dcd with success.
Negotiations entered into for the
purpose of relieving our commercial
intercourse with the island Of Cuba of
some Of its burdens, and providing for
the more speedy settlement of local
disputes growing out of that intercourse
have not yet been attended with any
results.
Soon after the commencement Of the
war in Europe, this government sub
mittcd to the consideration Of all mar
thine nations, two principles for the
security Of neutral commerce one,
that the neutral flag should cover enc
mics goods, except articles contraband
Of war, and the other, that neutral pro-
pcrty on board merchant vessels of bel
ligcrcnts should be exempt from CON
domination, with the exception of con-
| traband articles.
These were not presented rs new
rules of international law; having been
generally claimed by neutrals, though
not always admitted by bclligcronts.
One of the parties to the war, Russia,
as we'll as several powers, promptly ac-
coded to those propositions and the
two other principal belligorcnts, Great
Britain and France, having consented
to observe them for the present occa-
sion, a favorable opportunity seemed to