Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-12-06


govtFnment; aud uiring III such books and pa.
per4 and Al other public properly turned over
by the outgoing Officer 10 his snceesser Of law
reqaHng disbarsing officers To- deposite allpublic
money in the vaults Of the treasury in other lc
gal repositories, where the same are conveniently
accessible and law to extend existing penal pro-
visions to al persons who may become possessed of
public money by deposite otherwise or who shall
refuse or neglect on due demand, to pay the same
into the treasury I invite your attention anew to
The army during the past year has been SO con-
stantly employed against hostile Indians in various
quarters that it scarcely be said with propre-
ty of language, to have been peace establishment.
It's duties have been satisfactorily performed and we
have reason to expect as result OF the years oper
tons greater security to the frontier inhabitants,
than has been hitherto enjoyed. Extensive combi-
nations among the hostile Indians Of the Territories
of Washington and Oregon at one time threatened
the devastation of the newlyformed settlements of
that remote portion of the country. From recent
information, we are permitted to hope that the
getic and successful operations conducted there will
prevent such combinations in future and secure to
those Territories an opportunity to make steady
progress in the development of their agricultural
and mineral resources.
Legislation has been recommended by me on pre-
vious occasions to defects in the existing organ
izaton and to increase the efficiency of the ariny
and further observation has but served to confirm
me in the views then expressed, and to enforce on
my mind the conviction that such measures are not
only proper but necessary.
have, in addition to invite the attention of Con-
gress to change of policy in the distribution Of
troops, and to the necessity of providing a more
rapid increase of the military armament For de-
tails of these and other subject relating to the
my, refer you to the report of the Secretary of
War.
The condition of the navy is not merely satisfac-
tory, but exhibits the most grtfying evidences of
Srnao drva Az SO Sc
more Important that it should be as complete as
possible in all the elements of strength; that it
should be efficient in the character of its officers in
the zeal and discipline Of its men, in the reliability
Of its ordnance, and in the capacity of its ships
In all these various qualities the navy has made great
progress within the last few years. The execution
Of the law of Congress, of February %, 1855, "to
promote the efficiency of the navy" has been at
tended by the most advantageous results. The law
for promoting discipline among the men is found
convenient and saiutary. The system of granting
an honorable discharge to faithful seamen on the
expiration Of the period of their enlistment, and
permitting them to reenlist after leave of absence
Of few months, without cessation of pay, is high
ly- beneficial in its influence. The apprentice sys.
TEN recently adopted is evidently destined to incor
porate into the service large number of cur coun-
trymen hitherto so difficult to procure Several
hundred American boys are now on three years
cruise in national vessels, and will return we'll
trained seamen. In the ordnance department there
is decided and gratifying indication of progress
creditable to it and to the country. The sugges-
tons of the Secretary Of the Navy, in regard to
further improvement in that branch Of the service,
commend to your favorable action.
The new frigates ordered by Congress are now
af1oat and two of them in active service. They
superior models of naval architecture and with their
formidable battery add largely to public strength
| and security.
| concur in the views expressed by the Secretary
If he n FIRTH
of our naval force.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior pre-
sents facts and views in relation to internal affairs
over which the supervision of his department ex-
| tends, of much interest and importance.
The aggregate sales of the public lands, during
the lase fiscal year, amount to nine million two hun
dred and twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and
seventy.eight acres for which has been received the
sum Of eight million eight hundred and twenty one
thousand four hundred and fourteen dollars During
the same period there have been located, with mill
tary scrip and land warrants, and for other purpO-
ses thirty million one hundred thousand two hun
dred and thirty acres, thus making total aggregate
of thirty nine mliSn three hundred and twenty
eight thousand one hundred and eight acres. On
the 30th of September last, surveys had been made
of sixteen million eight hundred and seventy three
thousand six hundred and nnety-nine acres, large
proportion of which is ready for market
The suggestions in this report in regard to the
complication and progressive expansion of the bus-
ness of the different bureaux of the department; to
the pension system; to the colonization of Indian
tribes and the recommendations in relation to Var''
Gus improvements in the District of Columbia, are
especially commended to your consideration.
The report of the Postmaster General presents
fully the condition of that department of the govern
ment Its expenditures for the last fiscal year, were
| ten million four hundred and sever thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight dollars; and its gross re-
| ceipts seven million six hundred and twenty thou
sand eight hundred and one dollars-making an ex-
cess of expenditure receipts Of two million sew
en- hundred and eghty-seven thousand and forty-six
dollars The deficiency of this department is thus
seven hundred and forty -four thousand dollars great
er than for the year ending June 80, 1858. Of this
deficiency, three hundred and thirty thousand dol
lars is to be attributed the additional compensation
allowed postmasters by the act of Congress of June
%, 1864 The mail facilities in every part of the
country have been very much increased in that
period, and the large addition of railroad service,
| amounting to seven thousand nine hundred and
eight miles, has added largely to the cost of trans
portation.
| The inconsderable augmentation Of the income
of the Post Office Department under the reduced
rates of postage, and its increasing expenditures,
| must, for the present, make it dependent to some
extent upon the treasury for support. The recon-
mendations Of the Postmaster General in relation to
the abolition of the fanking privilege and his views
on the establishment of mail steamship lines, de-
serve the consideration of Congress also call the
special attention of Congress- to the statement OF the
Postmaster General respecting the sums now PAID
for the transp ortation of mails to the Panama Rail
road Company, and commend to their early and
favorable consideration the suggestions OF that OIL
Ger in relation to contracts for mail transporta-
ton upon that route and also upon the Iehuantepec
and Nicaragua routes
The United States continue 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