American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-01-03

for a partial Reorganization uf the army,
are also rene wed. The thorough ele-
mentary education given to those officers,
who commence their service with the
etede Of cadet, qualities them. 10 a con
siderable tx'eni. 10 perform the duties oI
every arm OF the service; but to give the
highest tficirncy 10 artillery. requires The
poactIcc and special study Of many years;
and il is not, therefore, believed to be ad
visable to maintain. in time Of peSce. 9
larger iorce oflhat arm than can be psu-
ally employ cd in The duies Appertaning
10 the service OF The field and siege sr>
tilery. The duties Of the staff in al its
various bruuches. belong 10 the move,
ments Of the troops, and the efficiency Of
an ermy in the field would materially de
pend upon The ability with which those
duties are discharged, 1t is not, as in
he case OF the RrIilery.a speciality, but
requires. also. an intimate knowledge Of
an officer Of the line. and itAis not doubt,
ed that, to complete tho education 81 an
%oficrr Tor either the Ene or The general
staff, IL is desirable that he shall have ser.
we'd IN bo,h. With this view. il was rec>
commended on a former ecca.ion that the
duties Of the staff should be mainly per,
forn.ed By details from the line; and. with
convictions Of the advantages which would
result ftom such a change. iti' again pre-,
sented for The consideration Of Congress.
NAVY.
The report Of The Secretary of the nas
W. herewith submitted. exhibits in full
the naval operate. ms of the past year. TO.
gelhtr with the present condition Of the
service. and it makes Suggestions Of fur>
iker legislation, 10 which your attention
is invited. ,a-f sIt
The construction 81 the six steam frig,
stes. for which appropriations were made
By he last Congress. has proceeded in
the most satisfactory manner and with
>uch expedition as 10 warrant The belief
that they will b. ready for service early
the coming spiiug. Important as this
addition to our naval force is. it still re
mains mad, quate to the coniingen. ext
geucies Of the protection Of The extensive
sea cOas; and vast commercial interests Of
the United States. In view Of this fact,
and of the acknowledged wisdom Of The
policy of a gradual and systematic in
crease Of lhe nnvy. an appropriation is
recommended for The construction OF six
steam sloops of-wLr. @.@
In regard to the steps taken in exeeu
ton Of the act Of Congress TO promote the
| q. ~ -. ~ nj I'M MAUI "A q q -
for me to say more than To express n
tire concurrence in tie observations on
that subjNct presented by the Secretary
IN his report.
POST OFFICE.
/: will be perceived, ny the report of
the Postmaster General, that the gross
expenditure Of the department for the
hsl fiscal year was nine million nine hun
bred and sixt, .eight thousand three hun
dred and forty W. dollars, and the gross
receipts seven million ;hree hundred aud
forty Two thousand one hundred and
thirty six dollars. making an excess ofex
penditure over receipts oftwo million six
hundred and twenty six thousand two
hundred aud six dollars; that the cost Of
mail transportation during that year was
six hundred and seventy four thousand
nine hundred and Gfiy>two dollars great.
er Il an the previous year. Much ofthe
heavy Expenditures, to " hich the Treas
Dry is thus subjectcd. is TO be ascrihed 10
the large quantity Of printed matter con-
veyed by the mails. either ranked. or il
able 10 postage by law, or TO very low
rates Of postage compared with that char
ged on letters: and 10 The great cost Of
mail service on railroads and by ocean
STEAMERS. The suggestions Of the Post
master G'nrrai on tho subject deserve
the consideration of Congrt IS.
INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary Of tho 10.
letior will engage your attention. as well
for useful suggestions it contains, as Tor
the interest and Importance Of the subjects
to winch they refer.
The aggregate amount, Of pubic land
sold during The last fiscal year. located
with military scrip or land warrants. ta-
ken up under grants for roads, and selec
ted MS swamp lands by States, is twenty.
four million five hundred and ffty,sevtn
thousand four hundred and Line acres; OF
which the portion sold was fifteen mill
ion seven hundred ard twenty nine ,hou>
sand FIVE hundred and twenty four acres,
yielding in receipts the sum Of eleven mil
lion four hundred and eighty five thou
sand three hundred and eighty dollars
In the same period OF lime. eight million
seven bundled and twenty three thou,
sand eight hundred and fifty four acres
have been surveyed: but. in consideration
Of the quantity already subject to entry,
no addiiIenal tracts have. been brought
into market.
The p, culiar relation Of The general
government 10 the District Of Columbia.
renders It proper 10 commend TO your care
lot only its material but elso its moral in.
%terests, including education, more espe,
chilly ia those parts Of he district on side
Of tho cities Of Washington and George
town.
The commissioners appointed TO revise
and codifv the laws Of The District have
made such progress in the performance
Of their task. as 10 insure its completion
in the time prescribed by The act Of Con.
gress.
Information has recently been received,
that the peace OF the settlements in the
Territories Of Oregon ard Washington is
disturbed by hosliiues en- the part oflhe
Indians. with indications Of e~Stenslve com
bins,ions Of a hostile character among the