The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-01-05

quarter. and the estimated receipts for the
remaining three quartefss amount. together.
TO S69.9ls,7s4; thus afIording, in all. as the
available resources OF the eurre5t fsal year,
the sum Of Ss6.s56,7lO.
/ II to the actual expenditure Of the frat
quarter Of the current fiscal year be added
the probable expenditures for the remaining
three quarters, as estimated by the Secretary
Of the Treasury, the sum total will be S7l,-
R26,S46. thereby leaving an estimated bal
ehce in the Treasury on July I, 1856, q
i Sl5.62s.S73 Al.
In the above estimated expenditures ofthe
present fiscal year are included $4,000, 900
to meet the last ihstallment Of the SlO,0O0,-
900 provided for in the late treaty with Mex.
leo, and 81, ,75o. 600 appropriated on account
Of the debt due to Texas, which two sums
make an aggregate amount OF SI0,750, 900,
aud reduce the expenditures, actual or esti-
mated, for ordinary objects of the year, to
the sum of S6e, ,476,00o.
The amount OF the public debt at the COM
mencement of the present fiscal wear was
! $40 ,589,63l and, deduction being made of
subsequent payments. the whole public debt
OF the Federal Government remaining at
this time is lessthan $4,000, 900.
The remnant Of certain other Government Il
stocks, amounting to $283, 900, referrend to
in my last Message as outstanding, has since
been paid
am fully pursuaded that II would be diff
ficut to devise a system superior to that by
which the fiscal business OF the Government
is now conducted. Notwithstanding the
great number OF public agents of collection
and disbursement, il is believed that the
{ checks and guards provided, including the
requirement of monthly returns, render il
scarcely possible for any considerable fraud
on the part of those agents, or neglect in
Volving hazard Of serious public loss, to es-
cape detection. renew, however. the rec
ommeadation, heretofore made by me, of the
enactment OF a law declaring it felony on
the part of public officers to insert false en-.
tries in their books Of record or account, or
|. to make false returns, and also requiring
them on the termination of their service to
deliver TO their successors all books, records
and other objects of public nature in their
, custody.
, Derived as our public revenue is, in chic
: part. from duties on imports, its magnitude
affords gratifying evidence Of the prosperity
not only of our commerce, but OF the 0thel
great interests upon which that depends.
The principle that all moneys not re
qulred Tor the current expenses of the Gov
ernment should remain for active employ
, ment in the hands Of the people ,and the con
) spicuousfact that the annual revenue from al
{ sources exceeds, by many millions of dollars
4 the amount needed for prudent and ecomi
e cal administration OF public affairs, canno
fail to suggest the propriely Of an early re
/, vision and eduction Of the tariff of duties OF
:. imports. 1t is now SO generally concede
d that the purpose Of revenue alone can justif
the imposition of duties on imports that, il
readjusting the impost tables and schedules
:, which unquestionably require essential mod
y ifcations, departure from the principles O
u the present Tariff is not anticipated.
= ARMY.
e The army, during the past year, has beeI
d actively engaged in defending the Tndial
n frontier, the state of the service permittin,
ID but few and small garrisons in our perma
II nent fort tfcations. The additional reyi
ments authorized at the last session of Con
- gress have been recruited and organized
~ and large portion of the troops have al
ready been sent to the field. All the dutle
' which devolve on the military establishment
II have been satisfactory performed, and tn
- dangers and privations incident to the chat
,o acter Of the service required of our troop
. have furnished additional evidence of thci
~ courage. zeal, and capacity to meet any re
4 qusition which their country may make up
II ON them. For the detaild of the militer
=, operations, the distribution of the troops, an
20 20 additional provisions required for the mil
tary service, refer to the r,port Of the SEE
retary OF War and the accompanying docr
~ menis.
u Experience, gathered from events whic
~ ~ have transpired since my last Annual Me.
|" sage, has but served to confirm the opinio
!" then expressed Of the propriety of maxim
VI provision by retired list for disabled off
~ GERS, and for increased compensation to tn
~ officers retained on the list for active dut,
~ All the reasuns which existed when thes
~ measures were recommended ON former o,
:" casions continue without modification Q,
cept SO far as circumstances have given
some Of them additional force.
as The recommendations, heretofore made (,
c. q partial reorganization of the army, are al.
nd rene wed. The thorough elementary educ
at their service with the grade o cadet, quail
ed 6es Them to considerable extent to pc
to form the duties of every arm of the servic,
r. but to give the highest efficiency to artilel
ce requires the practice and special study
n. many years; and it is not, therefore, belize
ts, ed to be advisable to maintain, in time
ic, peace, larger force Of that arm than Gu
n be usually employed in the duties appe
en- tdhing to the service of field and siege a
81, tillery. The duties OF the staff in all its VI
IL rious branches belong to the movements
troops, and the efficiency of an army IN Il
field would materially depend upon the abb
h. ity with which those duties are discharge
"a. 1t is not, as in the case of the artillery
N. speciality, but requires also an intima
i'm know ledge Of the duties Of an officer OF Il
20. line, midi il not doubted that, to compile
h. the education Of an officer for either the lii
N. or the general staff, it Is desirable that
ck shall have served on both. With this vie
wa it was recommended on former occasi,
ms that the duties of the staff should be main
of performed by details from the line; and, wi
m. conviction ofthe advantages which would I
,ur suit from such u change, it is again presel
N. ed for the consideration of Congress.
i've NAVY.
nj The Report Of the Secretary of the Ma,
ur. herewith submitted, exhibits in full the n
TO- val operations OF the past year, together W
the present coHdition Of the service, and
makes suggestions offurther legislation,
,tv which your attention is invited
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