Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-12-06

zAfssa1-. -
rapid increase oil the military armament For de.
tsiis ct these ard other subjects relating to the
10y, refer to the report OF the Secretary OF War.
), lie condition Of the navy is rot merely satisiac-
tory, tat exhibits the nos gratifying evidences oil
increased vigor As it is comparatively small it il
more impor Ant that it should be complete as pos
sba ~ all the elsuents OF strength that it should
be Efficient IL the character of its officers the zeal
aEd discipline OF its men, In the rel ability OF its or
diaa1.ce, and in the capacity 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 %, l555, etc
promote lie efficiency OF the navy" has been at
tended ry the most advantag Gus results. The law
for promoting discipline among the mensfs found
convenient and salutary. The system of granting
an honorable discharge to faithful seauen the ex
piraton OF the period Of their enlistment, and per
mittrg them to re-enst after leave OF absence fol-
few ,10nths, without cessation of pay, is highly
benefiriel il its influence. The apprentice system
recently adopted is evidently destined to incorpa-
rate lite the service large nuiaber Of countrymen
hitherto 50 difficult to procure. Several hundred
AmeflceE boys 81 now On a three years cruise IN
cdr national vessels, and will return well trained
eetInan. IL the ordnance department there is de-
eded and gratifying indication OF progress credita-
Bile 10 il and to the country. The suggestion of the
Secretary Of the Navy, in regard to further i'm
proyenent in that branch of the service, | commend
10 your favorable action
lhe new frigstes ordered by Congress- are now
aoat, AMI two oil them in active service. They arc
superior models Of naval architecture, and With
their Formidable battery add largely to public
strength and security.
l concur in the views expressed ty the Secretary
of the Department. in favor OF still further iacr. ase
OF our naval force.
The report OF the Secretary of the Interior pre-
scns facts aud views in relation to internal ahairs
over which the supervision OF his department e1-
tends of much Interest and Importance.
a The aggregate sales of the public lands, during
The last fiscal year, amount to nine million two hun
dred and twenty seven thousand eight undred aud
seventy eight acres; for which has been received
the sum OF eight millions eight hundred ard twenty
one thousand four hundred and fourteen dollars
Daring the same period there have been located.
with military sci ip end land warrants aud Tor 9th
er purposes t,iirty million one hundred thousand
two hundred sa,i thirty acres, thus making total
aggregate Of thirty nine million three hundred and
twenty eight thousand one hundred and eight acres
On the 30th OF September last. surveys had been
made OF sixteen million eight hundred and seventy
three thousand six hundred and ninty nine ACRES,
large proportion Of which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to CEN
plieation ard progressive expansion of the business
of the different bureaux OF the department; to the
pension system to the colonization of Indian tribes
and the recommendations in relation to ysrious inn
nrovements in the District OF Columbia are especi-
ally commended to yonr consideration
The report of your Postmaster General presents
fully the copdition Of that department OF the gov
ernmcnt It's expenditures for the last fiscal year,
were ten million four hundred and thousand
eight hundred and sixty eight dollars and its gross
receipts seven million SIX hundred and twenty thou
sand eight hunGTed and one dOlarS-makln9 an ey-
cess Of expenditure receipts oftwo million
en- hundred and eighty seven thousand and forty
six dolers, Ire deficiency Of this department Is
thus seven hundred and forty tour thousand dollars
greater than tor the year ending June 80, le53'-
OF this deficiency, three hundred and thirty thous
and dollars s to be attributed to the addition al
pensGiion allowed postlnasters by the act Of Cor
greas Of Jaae %, lc5A.. The mail facilities in every
part NJ The country hare heen very much increased
in tat period; and the large addition OF railroad
service amounting 70 seven thousand nine hundred
and eight miles, has added largely to the cost of
transportation.
Theiuconsidersble augmentation of the income Of
the Post Ohice Department under the reduced rates
Of postage and lis increasing expenditures, must,
for the present, make 1t dependant TO some extent
upon the treasury tor support. The recomnenda-
tious Of the Postmaster General, in relation 70 the
abolition oil the ranking privilege and his vi VS.
on The establishment of NAL steamship lines deserve
the consideration OF Congress. also cali special
ater tion Of Congress to the statement OF the Post
master General respecting the paid for
the tianspo ,siion OF mails 10 the eanama Rail Road
Company, and commend To their favorable conslde-
ration the suggestions OF thct officer in relation to
new contracts for mail transportati upon that
route, and slso upon the Tehanntepec and Nicera-
qua routes
The United States continue in the enjoyment Of
smieabie relations with ali 0teign powers.
When m9 last annual message was transmitted to
Congress, sub eets OF controversy one relating
to the enistmen OF soldiers III this country for for
eign service, and. the either to Central America
threafoae4 ds tub good under, landing between
the Uutea suites and tiraat Brita,n. of the pro-
gres. aud termination Of the former question you
informed at the time, snd the other il now in
the way of satisfactory adjustment.
The object Of the convention between the United
States and Grea, Brita OF the 18th oi April, 1850,
was to secure, fer the benefit OF all nations t.ie
neutrality and the common use OF any transit way,
or interGceanlc communication, across the lsthma3
Of Pau ana, which might be opened within the lin
its Of Cenrai America. The pretcnsinn subsequent
ly asserted bs Great Britain, to doniuon or
IN, Dyp in ha
those OF Nicaragua and Honduras, deemed
by the United States net Incompatible with The
insin object Of the treaty. but opposed even to its
express .atIp gatOus. Occasion OF controversy ~
this pa' ii bas been removed by additional trea-
ty which minister ut London has Concluded,
a.N which viii be Immediately submitted to the Sc
nate tor its consideration, should the proposei
supplemental arrans be eoncurred in by all
the parties TO be affected by it, the objects contein
plated bf the origincl convention VIII have been
fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and Great
Britain ofthe 9th OF June, 1851, which went iuto
effective operation in ISIS, put end to causes of
irritation between the two countries, by securing
to the .. States the right of fishery tie eoas. o
the British North American provinces eqnal to
those enjoyed by British subjects. Besides the sig
nal benefits OF this treaty To large class of our cit
zens engaged in pursuit connected to no inco sid
cradle degree with our national prosperity and
strength, i. has had a favorte effect upon other
interest in the provision it made for reciprocal
freedom OF trade 5etweeen the United States and
the bfl.l-n provinces IN America.
The exports OF domestic Articles To those proyin-
during the last year amounted to more Il an
twenty- two million dollars, exceeding those Of the
preceding year by nearly seven million dollars
ana the imports thefer IN during the same period
amounted TO more thar twenty million an in
of six 1ill,aa upon those OF the previous year
The 'iurrn7ei condition Of this branch OF our
commerce Is mainly attributable to the abose-men
! toned treaty.
Provision Is made in the first article Of that trea--
ty for commission to designate the mouths ct 1iv-
ers to Which the common right OF fishery, on tbs
coast OF The United States and the British progin-
ces, not to extend. This commission has been
employed part Of two seasons, but without much
progress in accomplishing the object for which it
was Instituted, III consequence oi serious ditel-
enee OF opinion between the commissioners, not on
" 40 the precise point where the rivers termi-
nate, but in many instances as 70 what constitutes
y river. These difficulties, however, may be over
come by tso.t TO the unlpir2Se provided for by the
treaty -.7f'
The efforts persevering'y prosecuted since the
commencement OF my administration to relieve our
trade to the Baltic from the eXaction OF Sound dues
by Denmark have not yet been attended with sue
Other goyerfYn ents have also sought to obtain
Il like relies 10 their commerce, and Denmark was
thus induced to propose arrangement to all the
European powers interested in the subject and the
manner III which her proposition received, war;
1anting her TO believe that satisfactory arrange
ment with them could econ be concluded, she made
a stron! appeal to this government for temporary
suspension Of definite action its part in conside-
ration OF the embarrassment which might result to
hsr European negotiations by an immediate ADJUST
nent Of the question with the U States This re-
quest has been acceSed to, upon the condition that
F ted aftp the 18th of June