Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-02

detection. renew however. the
iinn. heretofore made by me, of the enactment
Of 4 law declaring it felony on the part IT public
officers to insert false entries in their books ct
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 a public nature in
their custody.
Derived as our public revenues in chief part.
from duties on imports. its magnitude affords
gratifying evidence of the prosperity. not only Of
our commerce., but OF the other great interests
upon which that depends.
The principle that all moneys not required for
the current expense Of the government remain
for active employment in the hands OF the peo-
pie. and the conspicuous fact that the annual
revenue from all sources exceeds, by many mil
lions of dollars. the amount needed for n prudent
and economical administration OF public affairs.
cannot fail to suggest the propriety ct an early
revision and reduction of the tariff of dates on
imports. 1t is now so generally conceded that
the purpose of revenue alone can justifyshe i'm
position of duties on imports, that, in re%-adJpst-
ing the in port tables and schedules. which un-
questionably require essential notifications to
departure from the principles of the presenttarif
is not anticipated.
ARMY.
The armv. during the past year. has been ac-
lively engaged in defending the Indian frontier.
the state of the service permitting but few and
small garrisons in our permanent foriilcatlons.
The additional regiments authorised at the last
session of Congress have been recruited and or
gained. and a large portion OF the troops have
already been sent to tho field. All the duties,
which devoive ON the military establishment,
have been satisfactorily performed, and the dan
gers and privations incident to the character OF
the service required of our troops have furnished
additional evidence of their courage, zeal. hnd
capacity to meet any requisition, which their
country may make of them. For the details of
the military operations, the distribution of the
troops, and additional provisions required for the
military service, | refer to the report of the Sec
Rotary of War and the accompanying documents.
Experience. gathered from events which have
transpired since my last annual message. has
bat served to confirm the opinion then expressed
of the p~ropriety of making provision by a retired
list, for disabled officers, and for increased COM
pensation TO the officers retained on the list for
active duty. All tho reasons which existed
when these measures were on for
mer occasions continue without modification,
except so far as circumstances have given to
some Of them additional force.
The recommendations, heretofore made. for u
partial reorganization Of the army, are also re
newed. The thorough elementary education
given to those officers, who commence their ser.
vice with the grade of cadet, qualities them, To a
+. considerable extent, to perform the duties OF
every arm of the service; but to give tho
highest efficiency to artillery requires the prac.
tiee and special study of many years; and 1t Is
not therefore believed to be advisable tn main
tain in time of peace, a larger force of that arm
than can be usually employed in the duties APP
pertaining to the service OF field and seige artil-
lery. The duties Of the staff in all its various
branches belong to the movements of troops, and
the efficiency OF an army in the field would ma.
terially depend upon the ability with which those
duties are disch ;rgpd. 1t is not, as in the case
of HE artillery, Il speciality. but requires also
an intimate knowledge of the duties of an officer
of the line. and it is 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 in both. With this view it
was recommended on a former occasion that the
duties OF the staff should be mainly performed by
details from the line; and with conviction OF the
advantages which should result from such Il
change. il is again presented for the consldera-
ton of Congress.
The r,port of the Secretary of the Navy, here.
with ubmitted exhibits in full the Naval opera
tions of the past year, together with the present
condition of the service, and il makes sugges-
tons of further legislation to which your attcn-
ton is invited.
The construction of the six steam frigates. for
which appropriations were made by the last
Congress-, has proceeded in the most satisfacto
ry manner, and with such expedition. as to war
rant the belief that they will be ready for SER
vice early in the coming spring. Important as
this addition to our naval force is, it still remains
inadequate TO the contingent exigencies ct the
protection of the extensive sea coast and vast
commercial interest of the United States. In
view of this fact. and of the acknowledged wis
dom of the policy Of a gradual systematic in
crease of the navy, an appropriation is recon-
mended for the construction of six steam sloops-
of war.
In regard to the steps taken in execution of
the act of Congress to promote the efficiency Of
the navy, it is unnecessary for me to say more
than to express entire concurrence in the obser-
yations on that subject presented by the Sec
etary in his report.
POST OFFICE.
1t will be perceived, by the report of the Post
master General. that the gross expenditure of
the department for the last fiscal year was nine
million nine hundred and sixty eight THOUSAND
three hundred and f~orty-two dollars, and the
gross receipts seven million three hundred and
t%arty-two thousand oGo hundred and thirty-six
dollars, making an excess of expenditure over
rrceits of two million six hundred and twenty-six
thousand two hundred and six dollars; and that
the cot of mail transportation during that year
was six hundred and seventy-fnur thousand nine
hundred and fifty two dollars greater than the
previous year. Much Of the heavy expenditures
to which the Treasury is thus subjected. i ito be
ascribed to the large quantity of printed matter
conveyed by the mails, either franked, or liable
Ia no postage by law, or to very low rates of
postage conparee with that charged on letters
and to the great cost Of mail service On railroads
and by ocean steamers. ! he suggestions of the
Postmaster General on the subject deserve the
consideration of Congress.
INTEAIOR.
The report Of the Secretary of the Interior will
engage your attention. as well for useful sugges-
tlnnS II contains, as for the interest and impor-