Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1856-12-23
Presidents Message.
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: N-Nrhlthlh- tFS fSApSIlAILuESo I'll
the lastfivt Years it will be seen that
the/averase, deductiig payments on
account OF the public debt ana ten
million dollars paid by treaty to Mex
leo, has been but about forty-eight
fm;llion do!iars. Ii is: beloved that,
under the economical administration
of the Government, the average ex-
pehditere for the ensuing five years
will not exceed that sum, unless ex-
>traordiuary occasion for its Increase
should occur. The acts granting
Fbounty lands .willzsoon have been ex-
Eecuted, while extension Of our
frontier settlements will cause con
tinued demand for lands and aug
ment receipts prob ably from that
source. These considerations will
justify reduction Of revenue from
customs, SO as not to exceed forty eight
or fifty million dollars. I think the
exigency for such a reduction is inn
perative, and again urge it upon the
consideratien@of Congress. Z
The amouut'of reduction, as well
as the manner Of effecting it, are
questions of great and general inter
est; being essential to industrial en-
terprise and the7public prosperity, as
well as the dictate Of obvious justice,
that~the burden Of taxation be made
to rest as equally as possiblefupon all
CLASSES and all. Sections AMI interests
Of the Country; ... l..
/ have therefore recommended to
your consideration the revision of
the revenue laws, prepared under the
direction of the Secretary of the
Treasury, and also Legislation upon
some special questions affecting the
business of that department, more
especially the enactment of law
to punish tile abstraction of official
books Or papers from the files Of the
government, aud requiring all such
books and papers, and all other pub
lie property, to be turned over by the
out going officer to his successor; of
a law requiring discussing officers to
deposite III public money in the vaults
of the Treasury or in other legal re
positories, where the. same are incon-
venicntly >acccssible5 and j l@~ to
extend existing penal provisions to
all persons who may become possess
cd OF public money by deposit or 9TH
erw;se, aud who shall refuse or neg
| ltcf, on duo demand, to pay the same
I inte the Treasury. l iliyltc yonr at
teutio4i anew to each OF these oh}.tts.
The amy during the past year has
been SO Constantly employed against
hostile Indians i'll various quarters
that it can scarcely be said, with pro
:prietv Of LAM nage, to have Ee"n a
peace establishment. Its duties have
been satisfactorily performed, an We
have reason to expect a.. :arcsutt Of
the years Operations, greater security
to the frontier inhabitants than has
been hitherto enjoyed. EXtensiv"
combinations among the hostile liili
ans, Of the Territories of Washington
and Oregon at one tine threatened
the devastation of the newly formed
settlements Of that remote portion Of
the country. From recent intorlna-
ton, I'VE are permitted TO hope that
the energetic and successful opera
tions conducted there will prevent
such combinations in future, and Sc
cure to. these Territories aR opportu-
nity to make steady progress in the
development Of their agricultural and
mineral resources. -, go. ~
Lcgislationy has been recommend
ed by me on previous occasions
to cure the defect in the existing
organization, and increase the eff
cheney Of the army, andl further OBJ
servation has. but served to confirm
me in the. views then expressed, and
to enforce ON my. mind the convic-,
ton that such measures are not only
proper but necessary.
l have, in addition, to invite the
attention Of Congress to n change OF
policy in the distribution of troops,
and to the necessity Of providing a
moro rapid increase Of the military
armament. For details of these and
other subjects relating to, the army !.
refer to the report of the SECRETARY o.
War. IN ~
|, The condition Of the navy is not
merely. satisfactory, but EXHIBITS the
most gratifying evidences Ct inereas-
ed vigor. As it is comparatively
small it lis more. important that 1t
should be as complete as possible IN
all the elements Of strength; that 1t
should be efficient in the character: OF
its officers, in the zeal and discipline
Of it's men, in the reliability OF its
ordinance, and in capacity OF Its
ships. In all these various qualities
the navy has made great pro
Dress within the last few years
The executionIof the,law OF Congress
of February oS, 1855, .'to promote
the efficiency of the navy" has been
attended by the most advantageous
results. The law for promoting as
cipline among the men IS founo con