The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-13

OF the peIlOQ Ol tI!tlT cUllstiieuC anu per-
hitting them to re-enlst after leave of alb
sence Of few months without cessation of
pay. is highly beneficial in its influence. The
apprentice system recently adopted is evil
IDENTIFY destined to incorporate into the SER
vice large number of our countrymen hi
therto so difficult to procure. Several hun
dred American boys are now on three
years. cruise il, our rational vessels, and will
return we'll trained seamen.
In the Ordinance Department there is
decided and gratifying indication Of progress
creditable to it and the country. The sug-
gestions of the Secretary of the Navy in re-
gard to further improvement in that bra, Oh
of the service, commend to your favorable
action. The Frigates ordered by Congress
are now afoat and two of them in active SER
vice.
They are superior models of naval archi
lecture, and with their formidable battery,
add largely to the public strength and secu-
rity. | concur in the views expressed by the
Secretary of the Department in favor of still
further increase Ct our naval force. The re-
port of the Secretary of the Interior presents
facts and views in relation to inter nal affairs.
over which supervision OF his departments
extends, of much interest and importance.
The aggregate sale of public lands during the
last fiscal year amount to 9, 2777 ,878 acres, for
which has been received t.. sum of IS, 49,
IA. During the same period there have
have been located with military script and
land warrants and for otler purposes 80 l00-
23O acres, thus making a total aggregrceate
of 80 1923, lOS acres. On the Both of Sep
TENDER last, surveys had been made OF IL.
873,6S9 acres, and large proportion of
which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to
the complication and progressive expansion
Of the business Of the different bureaus Of the
department of the pension system to the col
on,zation of Indian tribes and recommended
tons in relation t, various improvements in
the District of Columbia, arc especially re-
commended to your consideration. The re-
port Of the Postmaster General presents full
| " the condition Of that department of the
government. The expenditures for the last
| fiscal year were ten million four hundred and
seven thousand eight hundred and sixty
eight dollars, an its gross receipts seven
| million six hundred and twenty thousand
eight hundred and one dollars, making an
excess of expenditure over receipts of two
million seven hundred and eighty thou
sand and forty-six dollars. The deficiency
of this department is thus seven hundred
md forty four thousand dollars greater than
for the year ending June 80, 1855. OF this
deficiency three hundred and thirty thousand
dollars is to be attributed to the additional
compensation allowed Postmasters by the
act of Congress, June %, 1854.
The mail facilities in every part of the coun-
try have been very much increased in that pc
Rod and the large addition of railroad service
amounting to 1905 miles hes added largely to
| he nf ION no L.
augmentation of the income of the Post Office
Department under the reduced rates of postage
and its increasing expenditures must for the
present. make 1t dependent TO some extent up
on the Treasury for support. The recOmmcn-
datiOn of the Postmaster General. in relation
to the abolition Of The franking privilege, and
his views on the establishment of mail steam
! ship lines deserve the consideration of Con-
gress. | call the especial attention of Congress
to the statment OF the Postmaster General "a
SDccting the sums now paid for the transport.
ton of mails to Panama Railroad COMPANY,
and commend to their early and favorable CON
siderat;On the suggestions of that officer in re-
latiOn to new contracts for mail transportation
upon that route, and also upon the Tehauntc-
pee and Nicaragua route
The United States continues in the enjoyment
of amicable relations with all foreign powers
When my last annual message was transmitted
to Congress, two subjects of contrOversy-one
relating to the enlistment of soldiers in this
country for foreign service, and the other to
Central America threaten TO disturb good I'M
Outstanding between the United States and
Great Britain. OF the progress and termina-
ton of the former question you were informed
at the time and the other is now in the way Of
satisfactory adjustment. The object of the con-
vent;on between he United States aud Great
Britain of the 18th of April. 1850 was to Sc
cure for the benefit of all nations, the neural-
ty and the communication across the Isthmus
of Panama. which might be opened within the
limits of Contra America. The pretenson
subsequent y asserted by Great Britain to DO
minion or control over territories in or near
two of the routes those of Nicaragua and Hon.
duras, were deemed by The United States not
merely incompatible with the main object of
the treaty, but opposed to its express stipula-
tons.
Occasion of controversy on this point has
been removed by an additional treaty which
our minister at Londo has concluded, and
which will be submitted to the Senate for It's
consideration should the proposed supplement-
al arrangement be concurred it, by all the par
ties to be effected by it, the object contemplate
ed ly The orlgina! convention will have been
fully attained. The treaty between the United
States and Great Britain Of the fifth Of June,
1854. put al end to causes of irritation he
tween the two countries. bs securing to the
Cnted States The right OF fishing on the coast
of tee British American Provinces, WEIGH ad.
manages a.e ebua to those enjoyed by British
subjects. Besides the siShal benefits Of this
treaty t" lalfc class Of Cur citizens engaged
in pursuit connected to no inconsideaable
degree with our national prosperity and
strength. 1t has had favorable effect on
otqer interests il the provision it made for re-
ciprocal freedom Of trade between the United
States and tee British Provinces of America
The exports Of domestic articles to those Prov
inces during the last year amounted to S22.-
600, 900. exceeding those Of the previous year
by nearly 5000 800; and the imports there
from dur ng the same period amounted to
more than S2l 100000 an increase of $4,000
600 on those of the previous year. The i'm
proved condition of this branch of our com
mcrce is mainly attributable to the Above
mentioned treaty. Provisio was made in the
first article of that treaty for a Commission to
designate the mouths of rivers TO which the
common right of fishing on the coast of the
United States and the British Provinces was
to extend
This Commission has been employed
part of two seasons, but without much
progress in accomplishing the object for
which it was instituted, in consequsceor
serious difference of opinion between
the Commissioners not only as to the
precise point where the rivers terminate,
but in many instances as to what consti-
tutes river. These difficulties, howev-
or ,,,,,- bo oxoroO,no h.