Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-08

For the details of the military operations o
the troops, and additional provisions required
for the military service, l refer to the report .
the Secretary OF War and the accompanying
documents Experience. gathered from event.
which have transpired since my last aLnua
message, has served TO confirm the opinion then
expressed, of the propriety of making provision
by retired list, for disabled officers and for in
creased compensation TO the officers retained on
the list of active duty. All the reasons which
existed when these measures Were commend
ed on former occasions, continue. except as
circumstances have given to them additional
force.
The recommendations heretofore made for a
reorganization Of the army, are also renewed
1he Elementary Education given those officers
who commence their service as cadets. qualities
them, to d considerable extent, 10 perform the
duties OF every arm Of the service but to give
The highest efficiency to artillery requires the
practice and especial study of MANY wears ard
IL Is not therefore believed to be advisable to
MAINTAIN In time of peace, larger force of that
army than can be employed in the duties apper-
tanning 10 the service of field and seige artillery
The duties of staff in all its various branches
belong to the movements of troops and the eff
ticlency OF an army in the field would materi-
ally depend on the ability which those duties
are discharged. Il is now, as IN the case Of the
artillery, special service that requires an init
mate knowledge of the duties of an officer OF
the line; and its not doubted that to complete
the education OF officer, for either the line or
staff, it is desirable that lie shall have served in
both.
With this view, it was recommended. on form
er occasions, that the duties OF the staff should
be mainly performed by details from the line ;
and in the conviction OF the advantages which
would result from such change. it is again pre-
sented for the consideration of Congress.
The Report OF the Secretary of the Navy
I, J., f,l
operations of the past year, together with the
present condition OF the service, and it makes
of further legislation to which your
attention is directed.
The construction six Of the steam frigates for
which appropriations were made by the last
Congress, has proceeded in the most satisfactory
manner, with such expedition as TO warrant the
belief that they will be ready for service the
coming Spring. Important as Is this addition
to naval force, 1t still remains inadequate to
the contingencies of the protection of the ex-
tensive coast and vast commercial interests
Of the United States. In view of this fact and
the acknowledged wisdom of the rolcy OF a
gradual and systematic increase of the navy, an
appropriation Is recommended for the construc-
tion of SIX steam sloops Of war. In regard to
the steps taken In tie execution of the act of
Congress, to promote the efficiency Of the navy
II Is unnecessary for me TO say more than to eX-
press my entire concurrence in the observations
his report.
Pest Cffce
1t viii be perceived by the Report Of the Post
Master General, that the gross expenditures of
the last fiscal year 80 966, ,42 and the gross
receipts S7,342l36, making an excess of expen-
dltures over receipts Of S2,626620, and that the
cost of mail transportation, during that wear, WAS
S674,952 greater than the previous year Much
of the heavy expenditure TO which the Treasury
is thus objected is TO be ascribed to the large
quantities Of printed matter conveyed by the
mails, either frankcd or liable 10 no postage by
law, or very low rates Of postage compared with
that charged on letters. and the great cost oI mail
service on railroads and on ocean steamers. The
of the Pest Master General on the
subject deserve the consideration of Congress.
The Interior
The report of the Secretary of the Interior will
engage your attention, well for the useful sug-
gestions ii contains, as for the interest and i'm
poTtance of the subjects TO which they refer
The aggregate amount of public lands sold dU-
ring the last fiscal year, located with military
scrip, or land warrants, taken up under grants
for roads, and selected Is swamp lands by States
Is 24551 ,5U9 acres, of which the proportion sold
Is l5 l29, ,24 acres, yielding in receipts the sylm
Of 81 io5.3o0. IN the same ieriod, / : rs. .e54
acres have been sur eyed. but IN consideration
of the quantity already subject 10 entry, no ad-
dltlonal tracts nave been brought into market.
L lie peculiar relation OF the General Govern
ment TO the District of Columbia renders ii prop
er to commend it to your care, as also its moral
including education, more especially in
those parts Of the District. outside the cities OF
Washington and Georgetown. The Commission
ers appointed to revise and modify the laws o.
the District have made such progress in he per-
tormance Of their task, 10 ensure its compile
ton in the time prescribed 10y the act Of Con-
gress.
Information has been recently received
that the peace of the settlements in Oregon and
Washington Territories is disturbed by hostih-
ties on the part of the Indians. with indications
of q hostile character among the tribes IL that
quarter, the serious in their possible effect,
by reason Of the undetermined foreign interests
existing in those Territories, to which your at
tention has already been especially invited
Efficient measures have been taken, which, il Is
believed. VIII restore quiet, and afford protection
to cur citizens.
Kansas Territory.
In the Territory Of Kansas there have been
scenes preiudicial to good order, but as yet none
have occurred under circumstances TO Justify the
interference Of the Federal Executive That
could only be in the case OF obstruction to Fed
eral law, or of organized resistance TO Terrific
rial law, assuming the character of InsurToetIon,
which, II 1t should occur, II would be my duty
promptly to overcome and suppress. ! cherish
the LoPe, however, that the occurrence OF any
SEcn untOWard event VIII De prevented Df tiC
sound sense of the people Of the Territory, who
by its organic law, possessing the right to deter
mine their own domestic institutions, are entI-
tied while deporting themselves peaceably, to
the free exercise of that right, and 10 be protect
ed in its enjoyment without interference on the
part of the citizens of any of the States. The
southern boundary line of this Territory has
never been surveyed and established. The rap
idly-extending settlements in that region, with
the fact that the mail route between lndepend-
ence and the State OF Missouri and New Mexi-
CO. Is contiguous to this line, suggest the proba-
bility that embarrassing questions of jurisdiction
viii consequently arise. For these and othe-
considerations. l commend the subject to you
early attention.
Constitutional Theory of Government
/ have thus passed in review the general STATE
of the Union, including such particular concern;
of the Federal Government, whether OF domestic
or Foreign relations, as II appears TO me desIFa
bic and useful to bring to the especial notice o
Congress. Unlike the great States of Europ'
and Asia and many of those Of America, thes'
United States are wasting their strength nelthe
in foreign war nor domestic strife. Whether Of
discomfort and public dissatisfaction exists, i
attributable to the inperfections of huTnap na
ture incident to all government, however per
feet, which human wisdom can devise. -Snei