Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-06


tails of these and other subjects relating to the
army, 1 refer to the report Of the Secretary Of
War.
The condition Of the navy il not merely salts
factory, but exhibits the most gratifying evidences
OF increased vigor. As it is comparatively small
it is more important that it should be as complete
as possible in all the elements of strength; that it
should be efficient in the character of its officers in
the zPai and discipline of its men, in the reliability
of its ordnance, and in the capacity Of its ships
In all these various qualities the navy has made
great progress within the last few years. The ex-
ecution of the law Of Congress, of February %,
1855, tto promote the efficiency of the navy has
been attended by the most advantageous results
The law for promoting discipline among the men
is found convenient and sanitary. The system Of
granting an honorable discharge to faithful seamen
the expiration Of the period of their enlistment
and permitting them to re-enst after leave of
absence of few months, without cessation of pay,
is highly beneficial In its influence. The apprsn-
tice system recently adopted is evidently destined
to incorporate into the service q large number of
our countrymen hit lerto so difficult to procure
Several hundred American boys are now on
three years cruise in our national vessels and will
return well trained seamen. In the ordnance de-
partment there is decided and gratifying iDdics-
ton Of progress creditable to it and to the coun
try. The suggestions of the Secretary of the Navy
in regard to further improvement in that branch
of the service, commend to your favorable ac
ton.
The new frigstes ordered by Congress are row
az lat, and two of them in active service. They
are superior NEEDLES OF naval architecture, amp,
with their formidabls battery, add largely to pub.
lie strength and security.
/ concur in the views expressed by the Secretary
of the department 10 favor of still further in.
crease of our naval force.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interior
presents facts and views in relation to internal Of
fairs over which the supervision Of his department
extends Of much interest and Importance.
The aggregate sales of the public lands, during
the last fiscal year, amount to nine million two
hundred and twenty seven thousand eight hundred
and seventy eight scre for which has been receiv-
ed the sum of eight million 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 and one humid ed
thousand two hundred and thirty acres thus
making total aggregate of thirty nine million
three hundred and twenty eight thousand one
hundred aud eight acres On the Both of Septem-
Der last surveys had been made of sixteen million
eight hundred and seventy three thousand six
hundred and ninety nine acres, large proportion
of whcih is ready for market
The suggestions in this report in regard to the
complication and progressive expansion of the
business OF the different buresux of the department
to the pension system; to the colonization of the
Indian tribes, and to the recommendations in re-
lation to various improvements in the District of
| Columbia, a.e especially commended to your con.
| sideration.
The report Of the Postmaster General presents
| fully the condition of that department of the gov.
eminent. Its expenditures Tor the last fiscal year
were ten million four hundred and seven thousand
eight hundred and sixty EIGHT dollars; and its gross
| receipts seven million six hundred and twenty
| thousand eight hundred aud one dollars, making
an excess OF expenditure over receipts of two mil.
| lion seven hundred ana eighty seven thousand
and forty six dollars. The deficiency of this de.
| psrtment is thus seven hundred and forty-four
thousand dollars greater than for the year ending
June 80, 1893. VI this deficiency, TIRES hundred
aud thirty thousand dollars is to be attributed to
the additional compensation allowed postmasters
| by the act of Congress of June %, 1854 The
mail facilities in every part Of the country have
been very much increased in that period, and the
| large addition of railroad service amounting to
saveu thousand nine hundred and eight miles, has
added largely to the cost of transportation.
! The ire considerable augmentation of the income
| OF the Post Office Department under the reduced
rates of postage and its increasing expenditures,
must, for the present. make it dependent to some
| extent upon the treasury for support The recon-.
mendations of the Postmaster General in relation
to the abolition of the Thanking privilege, and his
views on the establishment of mail steamship lines
| deserve the consideration Of Congress
also call the special attention of Congress to
the statement OF the Postmaster snersl respect.
| g the sums now paid tor the transportation of
mails to the Panama Railroad Company, and CON-
mend to their early aud favorable consideration
the Suggestions OF that officer In relation to new
)ntr acts for mail transportation upon that route
al unon the Tohua and N;o.-.o,
routes.
The United States continue in the enjoyment of
amicable relations with all foreign powers
When my last annual message was transmitted
to Congress, two subjects of controversy one res-
ii to the enlistment of soldiers 10 this country
for gn service and the other to Central Amer
lea, threatened to disturb good understanding be-
tween the United States and Great Britain. Of
the progress and termination of the former oues-
ton you were informed at the time; and the other
is now in the way OF satisfactory adjustment.
The object of the convention between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain of the 18th of April
1860, wss to secure, for the benefit of all nations
the neutrality and the common use Of any transit
wsy, or interocesnic communication, across the
isthmns OF Panama, which might be opened with
in the limits eff Central America. The pretension
subsequently asserted by Great Britain to domion
or control over territories in or near two of the
routes, those of Nicaragua and Honduras, were
deemed by the United States, not merely incom
pstbe with the main object of the treaty, but Cd.
posed even to its express stipulstious. Occasion
of controversy on this point has been removed BY
an additional treaty, which our Minister 1T London
has concluded. and which will be Immediately sub.
mitted to the Senate for its consideration. Should
the proposed supplemental arrangement be con-
Cured in by all parties to be affected by it, the OBJ
jects contemplated by the original convention will
nave been fully attained
The treaty between the United States and Great
Britain Of the 9th Of June 1854, which went into
effective operation in 1856, put ED to causes Of
irritation between the two countries, by securing
to the United States the right Of fishery on the
coast of the British North American provinces.
with advantage equal to those Ell yed by British
subjects. Besiles the signal benefits Of this treaty
TO largo class of our citizens engaged in pursuit
connected in 10 inconsderable degree with our
national prosperity and strength, it has had "a.
v0rable effect upon other interests, in the PROVISION
il made for reciprocal freedom of trade between |
the United States and the Br sh provinces in |
America
The exports of domestic articles to those provinces
during the last year amounted than twenty two
millions Of dollars, exceeding those Of the preceding
year BY nearly millions Of dollars and the imports
therefrom, during the period, amounted to more
than tewnty millons-an increase Of six millions
upon those Of the previous year.
Inc improved condition of this branch Of our com.
merce is mainly attributable to the above mentioned
treaty,
Provision was made il the first article OF that tree
ty for commission to designate the mouths of rivera 70
which the common right Of fishery on the coast of the
United States and the British Provinces, not to ex
tend This commission has been EMPLOYED part OF TWO
seasons but without much propress in acconnahino,