Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-09

making .sions, by retired list, ior disabled
officers aud tor Increased coInpensation to the ui
dssrs retained On ths lht tur active duty. All
tbs rssssaps which existed, when these measures
were recon, snended torlaer occasioas. Continue
wi.hout ynuslihaation, except - Tar as cireuu-
staaces lave given to s1me Vi them additlonai
force.
Tae recommendations, heretofore made FOR q
px-tlal Reorganization OF re army, are ALSO re-
ne vel. Tae thorough elementary etac st t.pu Civ
en- tS thos: officers, VINO commence their service
with the grade OF ciiet, quilhes them, t. con
siderable extent, to perform tie dulles ui every
ARA OF the service bat To give the highest eu-
cheney to artillery, requires the practice snd spe
cii study OF many Years; aud II Is MT, tnefeofe,
believed To be advisable To nlaIataia, III time oi
zea,e 4 larger forec OF that than eau le usu-
:siy employed IN the daties appertalii.ng 10 the
sersicc oi fiei and seise artillery The duties oi
she staff all its various branches beiong To the
nnoyepents Of troops, and the efficiency of an ar
ray 10 the field would materially depend upon the
abii.y with which those duties discharged.-
(, is not SIS in the OF the artillery, special
,sy, but requires, also, an intimate knowledge OF
the duties of an officer Of the line, and it Is not
doubted that to complete the education of an Off
ecr for either the line the general staff it is de-
sirable that he shall have served in both. With
this view it was recommended on a former occa-
sion that the duties Of the staff should he mainly
performed by details from the line; and, with
conviction OF The advantages which would result
=
consideration Of Congress.
NAVY.
Tie report of the Secretary of the Navy. here
with submitted, exhibits III full the naval opera
ations Of the past year, together with the present
con iitcn of the service, and It makes Suggestions
of further egisatoa. to which your attention IL
inAited.
TIE construction of the six steam frigates, for
which appropriations were mace by the last Con-
has proceeded in the most satisfactory
=. tiftf,n ,ftr fht
belief that they will be ready fur service carly III
the coming spring. Important as this Il idIton To
our naval furce is, it still remains inadequate to
the contingent exigences of the protection OF the
extensive sea and vast commercial interests
of tie United States. In view of this TACT, and
OF the acknowledged wisdom OF the poicy OF a
rradual au.. systematic increase of the navy,
appropriation Is recommended for the construc-
ton Of six steam sloops-of- war.
In re GARD to the steps taken IN execution OF the
act of Congress to promote the efnciency OF the
navy it is unnecessary for me IL say more than
toexpress entire concurrence in the observations
on that subject presented by the Secretary in his
report.
Posr OFFICE.
It will be perceived, by the report Of tie Post
master General that the gross expenditure OF the
department for the last fiscal year nine mil
lion nine hunired aud sixty-eight Thousand three
land.ed and forty two dollars, and the gross re-
scepts seven million three hundred and forty-two
thousand one hun ired and thirty-slx dolars, ma
king an excess OF expenditure receipts IT two
million six hundred and tweity-si thousand Eve
hundred and six dollars and that the cost of mai
transportation during that year was six hundred
and seventy-four thousand nlne hundred and htty-
two dollars greater than the previous year. Much
Of the heavy expenditures, to which the treasury
ia thus subjected. is to be ascribed To the large
oaantity of printed matter conveyed by the mails
either franked or liable to no postage bJ law, ol
to very low rates OF postage compared with thai
charged on letters; and u the great cost Of mai
service on railroads and by ocean steamers. The
suggestions of the Postmaster General on the sub
;ect deserve the consideration of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior vii
engage Your attention, well tor useiui sugses
tions il Contains. as for the Interest and ilpOr
tsace Of the suf ;ects to which they reter.
lne aggregate amount of pubic land scli du
rics tho last fiscal year, located with miitar,
scrlD OF land warrants, taken up under grants TO
roads .gd selectei as swamp lands by States, Is
twe.sty-four miun five hundred and hfty-seyeI
thcasaa1 for hundred and nine acres ot whlci
the portion sold was fifteen mili IN hundred
aai twenty-nine thousand five hun lred ana twen
ty-tour acres, yielding in receipts tie sum of elev
e. million four hundred and egaty five Ihousint
three hunirei AMI eighty d1lirs. Ia the sam
period OF tune, sht mil Ion seven hundred an'
tsventy-three thOus mi eight hundred and fifty
four acres have been surveyed; but, IN cousidera
ton Of the quantity already subject to entry, n
additional tracts have been brought into market
The peculiar relation of the general government
to the District of Columbia, renders it proper
commend to your care not only It's material. bu
also its moral interests, including education, NOR
especially in those parts OF the district outside
the cities of Washington ana Georgetown
The commissioners appointed ~ revise and coz
fy the laws of tie District, have made such pros
ress in the performance Of their task. As 10 iIisu
is cotoletion in tie time prescribed by the act
C9ngress
Information has recently been received, til;
the peace Of the settlements m the territories
on the part of tne inilanS, with indications oi G.
tensive combinations Of hostile character aiIol
the tribes IN that Quarter, the more serious III the
possible effect oy reason OF the undetermined 4.
eign inte existing IN those territories, to wLie
your attention has already been especially invite
Efficient measures have beea taken, winch, it
believed, will restore quiet, and afford proteetic
10 our citizens.
In the territory Of Kansas, there have been ac
preludicial TO good ordrr, but yet hav
occurred nnier circumstances To justify the inte
position OF the federal Executive. That could ol
" be in of obstruction to federal law, OF
organized resistance to territorial law assuniiI
the character of nsur.ection, which, if it shou
occur. it would be my duty to promptly oyercon
and suppress. cherish the hope, however, th
the occurrence of any such untoward event vi
be prevented by the sound sense of the peope
the territory, who, by its organic law, pvssessig
the right TO determine their own domestic lust
tutions, are entitled while deporting tlemselv.
peacefully, To the free exercise of that right AL
must be protected in the enjoyment of it, witho,
interference en- the part of tile citizens of any
the States.
Ine southern boundary line OF this Terri.ol
has never bcen survey ed and established. III
rapidly exteas.ing settlements in that region a.,