Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-01-11

I
made Of subsequent payments, the whole
public debt of the Federal Govermenf re-
naming Mt this time is less than $4o,0oo,F
| oOo
The remnant of certain other Govern
ment stocks, amounting to S243, 900, refes-
red to in my last Message az outstanding,
has since been paid. 5 =
i am fully persuaded that II Eeuld bo
difGEscult to devise system superior to that
bv ghieh the fiscal business Of the GoTcTu-
uient Is now conducted Notwithstanding
the great number Of public agents Of eollec-,
I ton and disbursement, 1t is believed thar
the checks and guards provided, including
the requirements of monthly returns, render
Iitsearcely possible for any considerable fraud
on the part Of those agents, or neglect M
Yohing hazard Of serious public loss. to es-
cape detection Irenew, however, the rec-s
olnmendation, heretofore made by me, of
the enactment of law declaring It felony
on the part of public officers to insert falsOs
entries in their books of record or account
or 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. ~ 81 s e1 Eisa1
Derived, as our public revenue is, in chief
part, from duties on imports, its magnitude
affords gratifying evidence Of the prosperity
mot enly of our commerce, but Of the other
great interests upon which that depends
The prsnciple that all moneys not requirS
led Cor the current expenses of the Govern
Imens shouh remain for active employment.
lin the hands of the people, and
the conspicuous fact that the annual reve-s
nue. from all sources exceeds by many mill
lions of dollars, the amount needed for q
prudent and economical administration
lof public affairs, cannot fail TO suggest
the propriety Of an early revision
and reduction Of the tariff Of duties or i'm
ports. 1t IS nowsO generally conceded that
1.-The purpose of revenue alone can justify the,
Imposition of duties on imports, that in re-
adjusting the impost tables and schedules
which unquestionably require essential mod
Iifeations, a departure from the principles O,
the present Tariff IS not anticipated. -
ARAfY i a iesds
The army, during the past year, has been
actively engaged in defending the Indiaa
frontiers, the state Of the service permitting
but few and small garrisons in cur pcrma-
Inent Notifications. The additional regi-,
lments authorized at the last session Of Con-
gTess have been recruited and organized,
and large portion of the troops have al
ready been sent to the field. All the d1-
ties which devolve upon the military estab-
: llishment have been satisfactorily performed,
and the dangers and privations incident to
the character of the service required Of our
TROOPS have furnished additional evidence Of
their courage, zeal, and capacity to meet any
{ Ireouisition which their country may make
upon them. For the details of the military
operations, the distribution of the troops
and the additional provisions required for
the military service, refer to the report OF
the Secretary of War andth accompanying
documents. s7
: Experience, gathered from the events
I which have transpired since my last Annual
: Message, has but served to confirm the opin-
: ion then expressed of the propFiety Of max
ing provision by retired list for disabled
officers, and for increased compensation TO
] the officers retained on the list for active du-
lty. All the reasons which existed when
> these measures were recommended on form
e er occasions continue without modification,
1 except so far as circumstances have given to
some of them additional force. -,.sr
The recommendations heretofore made
for partial reorganization of the army, are
: also renewed. The thorough elementary
) education given to those officers who COM
t nence their service with the grade Of cadet
f Qualities them to a considerable extent to
: perform the duties of every arm Of the ser
E vice; but to give the highest efficiency to
r artillery requires the practice and SPECIAL
study of many years; and it IS not, there
fore. believed to be advisable, to maintain,
lin time of peace, a larger force of that
5 branch than can be employed in the duties,
e Iappertaining to the service of field and
a siege artillery. The duties of the staff
o in all its various branches belong to the
movements of troops, and the efficiency Of
t the army in the field would materially de,
! pend upon the ability with which those dE
ties were discharged. 1t is Eot, as in tbs
case of the artillery, a speciality, 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 officer
= for either the line or the general staff, it Is
! desirable that he shall have served on both
q d With this view it was recommended OF
u former occasion that the duties Of the stat
9 should be mainly performed by details from
d the line; and with conviction Of the adysnt.
Q ages which would result from such a chang
u it is again presented for the consideration Of
Congress.
> EGT.
! The report Of the Secretary Of the Nav,
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the sav-
al operations of the past year, together Sith
!, THE present condition OF the service; and Il
= makes suggestions of further legislation, q
= which your attention is invited.
u The construction Of the SIX steam trigstes,
for which appropriations were made by the
/ last Congress, has proceeded in the most st
g isfactory manner, and with such expedition
,, as to warrant the belief that that they vii
~ ibe ready for service carly in the coming
l. spring. Important as this addition to our
le naval force is, it still remains inadequate to
- A. oor+;nc,ant exioeneies Of the protection