The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
VOL. X.

dred and seventy-six thousand three hupd,s
and ninety dollars.
On the 4th of March, 1853, the amopp, =,
the public debt was sixty-nine million One h.
dred and twenty-nine thousand nine hind
and thirty.seven dollars. There was a snb''
quent increase of two million seven hind
and fifty thousand dollars for the debt of IT,
as-making total of seventy-o million al
hundred and seventy-nine thousand nine Lsu
dred and thirty-seven dollars. Oftbis. the
of forty-Gve million FIVE hundred and tro..
i've thousand three hundred and ninetean ~
lars, including premium, has been discba,,..
reducing the debt to thirty million nine !.
dred and sixty-three thousand nine hind,
and nine dollars all which might be maid 49,.
In year, without embarrassing the public =.
vice, but being not yet due, and only redeam.T
at the option of the holder, cannot be nraa.";
to payment by the Government. P'''''
On examining the expenditures of ,bol
five years, it will be seen that the AVERAGE :,
Quoting payments on account of the nDlT
debt, and ten million dollars paid by treat :,
Mexico, has been but about forty-e;Gbt Mill.
dollars. 1t is believed that, under an acoror,:
cal administration of the Government Il.
average expenditure for the ensuing five yes.
will not exceed that sum, unless extraord;r,,.
occasion for its increase should occur m.
acts granting bounty lands will soon have b,a.
executed, while the extension of our fror,;-.
settlements will cause a continued demand e.
lands, and augmented receipts. probably. f,o~
that source. These considerations will inca
a reduction of the revenue from customs 80 :.
not to exceed forty,eight or fifty million doIIsr,
L THINK the exigency for such reduction ia in
nQratlVQ - IL
ton of Congress.
The amount of reduction, as well az III.
manner OF efecting it, are questions Of gre.
ana general interest; it being essential 10 in.
dustrlal enterprise and the public prosperii-
as well as the dictate of obvious Justice. IL !,
the burden OF taxation be made to rest 4,
equally as possible upon all classes, and an
sections and interests of the country
have heretofore recommended to your con.
sioeration the revision of the revenue Law,
prepared under the direction of the Secretsry
OF the treasury, and also legislation upon sors
special questions affecting the business of that
department, more especially the enactment of
law to punish the abstraction of official hoax.
or papers from the files of the Government
and requiring all such books and papers arj
all other public property, to be turned over BY
the outgoing officer to his successor: Of /,
law requiring disbursiug officers to deposite al
pubic money in the vaults of the Treasury q,
IN other legal repositories, where the same AZ.
conveniently accessible; and law 10 eyterj
existing penal provisions to all persons who
may become possessed of public money bv d.
poslte or otherwise, and who shall refuse or
neglect, on due demand, to pay the same ipro
the treasury. invite your attention anew IA
each of these objects.
The army during the past year has been s,
constantly employed against hostile Indians il
various quarters that it can scarcely be said
with propriety Of language, to have been ,
peace establishment. Its duties have beer
satisfactorily performed, and we have reasor
to expect, as result of the years operations
greater security to the frontier inhabitants thar
has been hitherto enjoyed Extensive comb
nations among the hostile Indians of the Te-
ritories of Washington and Oregon at one tim,
threatened the devastation of the newly.forme.
settlements of that remote portion of the coua
try. From recent information, we are permit
ted TO hope that the energetic and successu
operations conducted there will prevent sucE
combinations in future, and secure to thosi
Territories an opportunity TO make stead,
progress in the development of their agricaltur
al and mineral resources.
Legislation has been recommended BIZ me OF
previous occasions to cure defects in the exist
ing organization and to increase the efficiency
of the army, and further observation has bal
served to confirm me in the views then ex
pressed, and to enforce on my mind the convic
ton that such measures are not only proper
but necessary.
have, in addition, to invite the attention @
| Congress to change of policy in the distriba
| ton of troops, and to the necessity of PROV
| ding more rapid increase Of the military arms
ment. For details of these and other subject.
relating to the army, | refer to the report o.
the Secretary of War.
The condition Of the navy is not merely salts
factory, but exhibits the most gratifying eyi
dences of increased viSor. As it is compare
lively small, it is more important that it should
be as complete as possible in all the element
of strength; that it should be efficient in th
character of its officers, in the zeal and disc
pine ofits men, in the reliability of its ordnance
and in the capacity of its ships. In all ties
various qualities the navy has made great prog
ress within the last few years. The executes
OF the law OF Congress, of February %, 1855
:" to promote the efficiency of the navy" ha
been attended by the most advantageous results
The law for promoting discipline among III
men is found convenient and salutary. Tn
system of granting An honorable discharge t
faithful seamen on the expiration OF the pero
of their enlistment, and permitting them to r.
enlist after leave of absence of few month,
without cessation of pay, is highly beneficial i
Its influence. The apprentice system recent
adopted is evidently destined to incorporai
into the service large number of our countr,
men hitherto so difficult to procure. Sewers
hundred American boys are now on a thr5
years cruise in our national vessels, and vi
return well-trained seamen. In the ordnanC
department there is decided and gratifyin
| indication of progress, creditable to it and |
the country. The suggestions of the Secret1r
of the Navy, in regard to further improvemer
in that branch of the service, l commend
your favorable action.
The new frigates ordered by Congress ar
now ahoat, and two of them in active service
They are superior models of naval architecture
and with their formidable battery add LARGE
to public strength and security.
| concur in the views expressed by the Sc,
rotary of the Department in favor of a still fal
Their increase Of our naval force.
The report of the Secretary Of the InteriC
presents facts and views in relation to interns
affairs over which the supervision of bis d.
partment extends, Of much interest and il
portance.
The aggregate sales Of the public lands, dl
ring the last fiscal year, amount to nine miho
two hundred and twenty seven thousand elgt
hundred and seventy-eight acres; for whlc
has been received the sum of eight miilio
eight hundred and twenty-one thousand tol
hundred and fourteen dollars. During tn
| same period there have been located, with mi
itary scrip and land warrants, and for o'he
purposes, thirty million one hundred thousan
two hundred and thirty acres, thus making
total aggregate of thirty-nine million three huE
dred and twenty-eight thousand one hundTe
and eight acres. On the 30th of Septeml,o!e
last, surveys had been made OF sixteen miIllo
eight hundred and seventy-three thousand S.
hundred and ninety nine acres, large prOPo
tion of which 10 ready for market