The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-01-08

en1clency OF the navy, IL is unnecessary Tor
me to say more than to express entire con-
currence IN the observations on that subject
presented by the Secretary in his report.
1t viii be perceived, by the report of the
Postmaster General, that the gross expcn-
diture of the department for the last fiscal
year was nine million nine hundred and
sixty-eight thousand three hundred and
forty-two dollars, and the gross receipts
seven million three hundred and forty-two
thousand one hundred and thirty-six dollars
making an excess of expenditure over re-
cepts of two million six hundred and twenty
six thousand two hundred and six dollars
and that the cost of mail transportation
during that year was six hundred and
seventy-four thousand nine hundred and
fifty-two dollars greater than the previous
year. Much of the heavy expenditures to
which the treasury is thus subjected, is to
be ascribed to the large quantity of printed
matter conveyed by the mails, either franked,
or liable to no postage by law, or to very
low rates Of postage compared with that
charged on letters, and to the great cost of
mail service on railroads and by ocean
steamers. The suggestions of the Postmas-
ter General on the subject deserve the con-
sideration of Congress.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror will engage your attention, AZ well
for useful suggestions it contains, as for the
interest and Importance of the subjects to
which they refer.
The aggregate amount of public land sold
during the last fiscal year, located with
military scrip or land warrants, taken up
under grants for roads, and selected as
swamp lands by States, is twenty-four mil
lion FIVE hundred and ffty-scven thousand
four hundred and nine acres; of which the
portion sold was fifteen million seven hun
SroH nj, +I,oT,so,H +1Nroh hmm, Cd
and twenty four acres, Welding in receipts
the sum of eleven million four hundred and
eghty-fyc thousand three hundred and
eighty dollars. In the same period of time,
eight million seven hundred and twenty
thousand eight hundred and fifty -four acres
have been surveyed; but, in consideration
of the quantity already subject to entry,
no additional tracts have been brought into
market.
The peculiar relation of the general gov
eminent to the District of Columbia rem
deTs 1t proper to commend tOyOur care not
only its material, but also its moral interests,
including education, more especially in
those parts of the District outside of the
cities of Washington and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revise
and codify the laws of the District have
made such progress in the performance of
their task, as to insure its completion III the
time prescribed by the act of Congress.
Information has recently been received,
that the peace of the settlements in the
Territories of Oregon and Washington is
disturbed by hostilities on the part of the
Indians, with indications of extensive com
binations of hostile character among the
tribes in that quarter, the more serious III
their possible effect by reason of the unde
termined foreign interests existing in those
Territories, to which your attention has al
ready been especially invited. Efficient
measures have been taken. which, it is be-
lieved, will restore quiet, and afford protec-
ton to our citizens.
In the Territory of Kansas, there have
been acts prejudical to good order, but as
yet none have occurred under circumstan-
ces to justly the interpositiOn of the federal
Executive. That could only be in case of
| obstruction to federal law, or of organized
resistance to territorial law, assuming the
| character of instruction, which, if it should
occur, it would be my duty promptly to
overcome and suppress. | cherish the
| hope, however. that the occurrence of any
| such untOward event will be prevented by
| the sound sense of the people Of the Ter
| ritory, who, by its organic law, possessing
the right to determine their own domestic
institutions, are entitled, while deporting
themselves peacefully, to the free exercise
of that right, and must be protected i'll
the enjoyment of it, without interference
on the part of the citizens of any of the
States.
The southern boundary line of this Ter
ritory has never been surveyed and cstab
lished. The rapidly extending settlements
in that region and the fact that the main route
between independence, in the State of Mis-
souri,, and New Mexico, is contiguous in
this line, suggest the probability that en-
| ln,.r
consequently arise. For these and other
considerations, l commend the subject to
your early attention.
have thus passed in review the general
state of the Union, including suchparticular
concerns of the federal government, wheth-
er of domestic or foreign relation, as it APP
peared to me desirable and useful to bring
to the special notice of Congress- Unlike
the great states of Europe and Asia, and
many ofthOsc ofAmerica, these Unites States
are wasting their strength neither in foreign
war nor domestic strife. Whatever of dis
content or public dissatisfaction exists, is
attributable to the imperfections of .hr-
man nature, or is incident to all govern
me nts, imperfect, which human wisdom
can devise. Such subjects of political
agitation as occupy the Public mind
consist, to great extent, of eXaggcratiOn
of inevitable evils, over zeal in social inn
provement, or mere imagination of grievance
having but remote connection with any of
the constitutional functions or duties of the
federal government. To whatever extent
these questions exhibit a tendency menac-
ing to the stability of the constitution, or
the integrity Of the Union, and no farther
they demand the consideration of the Exc
cutive, and require to be presented by him
to Congress.
Before the Thirteen Colonies became q
confederation of independent States, they
were associated only by community of trans
atlantic origin, by geographical position,
and by the mutual tie of common Deepen
dance on Great Britain. When that tie was
surrendered, they severalIy assumed the
powers and rights of absolute self-govern-
ment. The municipal and social institu-