Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-01-03
with conviction of the advantages which
would result from such a change, tits again pre-
scented for consideration of Congress

NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy, here
with submitted; exhibits in full the naval opera
lions Of the past year, together with the present
condihonof the service, and makes suggestions
of further ation to which your attention is
invited
/ The construction 6esthe six steamffigates, for
which appropriat ons were made thc last Com
gress, has proceeded in the most satisfactory
manner, and vat xpedition as Is warrant
the belief that they lgil be ready for service
early IN the coming ring. Important as this
addition to our naval force is it still remains in-1
adequate to the contng eMgencies of thepro-
lection of the extensive Sea coast and vast COM
nercial interests of the United States, In view
of this fact and of the aclSnoB lodged wisdom Of
q gradual and systametic increase of the navy,
ian appropriation is recommended for the cons
struction 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 formefto say more
tvations on that subject presented by the Secre-
tary in his report
POST oFF1cE
| 1t will be perceived by the report of the Post
master General, that the gross expenditures the
department for the last fiscal year was nine mil
lion nine hundred and sixty eight thousand three
hundred and forty two dollars, and the gross re-
ICGlplS SCfcIl anu lOTIy~IWO
thousand one hundred and thirty-siX dollars,
making an excess of expenditure over receipts
of two million six hundred and twenty-six thou
sand two hundred and six dollars; and that the
cd sof mail transportation during that year was
six hundred and seventy -four thousand nine
hundred and fifty-two dollars greater than the
i previous year.
Much Of, the heavy expenditures, to which the
Treasury is thus subjected, is to be ascribed to
u nFtl
the mails either ranked, or liable to no postage
by law, or to very low rates of postage compared
with that charged on letters; and to the great
cost of mail service on railroads and by ocean
steamers. The suggestions of the Postmaster
General on the subject deserve the consideration
of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior
will engage your attention, as well for useful
suggestions it contains, as for the interest and
importance of the subjects to which they refer.
The aggregateamount of the public land sold
during the last fiscal year, located with military
scrip or land warrants, taken up under grants
for roads, and selecetdas swamp lands by States,
is twenty-four million five hundred and fifty
seven thousand four hundred and nine acres, of
which the portion sold was fifteen million seven
hundredand twenty-nine thousand five hundred
and twenty-four acres yielding in receipts the
sum of eleven million four hundred and eighty
five thousand three hundred and eighty dollars
In the same period of time eight million seven
/ hundred and tEenty-three thousand eight hun
/ dred and fifty -four acres have been surveyed,
but in consideration of the quantity already sub
i ject to entry, no additional tracts have been
! brought into market.
The peculiar relation Of the general govern
ment to the District of Columbia renders itprop-
er to commend to your care not only its materi-
Eal, but also its moral interests including edu-
cation, more especially in those parts of the dis
trict outside of the city of Washington and
| Greytown.
The commissioners appointed to revise and
modify helaws of the District have made such
progress in the performance of their task, as to
insure its completion in the time prescribed by
the act of Congress.
Information has recently been received, that
the peace of the settlements in the Territories of
Oregon and Washingtonis disturbed by HOSTILE
ties on the part of the Indians, with indications
of extensive combinations of hostile character
among the tribes in that quarter, the more seri-
Gus in their possible effect by reason of the un-
determined foreign interests existing in those
Territories, to which your attention has already
been especially invited. Efficient measures have
been taken, which, it is believed, will restore
quiet and afford protection to our citizens-----Z
1 3 Iu the territory of Kansas there have been
l acts preindicial to good order, but as vet none
| have occurred under circumstances to Justify the
interposition of the federal exective. That
could only be in case of obstruction to federal
law or of organised resistance to territorial law,
assuming the character of instruction, which,
| if it should occur, it would be my duty promptly
to overcome and suppress. / cherish the hope
however that the occurrence of any such unto
ward event will be prevented by the sound
sense of the people of the territory, who, BY its
organic law, possessing the right to determine
their own domestic institutions are entitled,
| while deporting themselves peacefully, to the
free exercise of that right, and must be protect
ed in the enjoyment of it without interference
on the part of the citizens ofany of the States.
The southern boundary line Of this territory
has never been surveyed and established. The
\ rapidly extending settlementsin thatregion, and
| the fact that the main route between Indepen-
dence, in the State of Missouri, and New Next
co. is contiguous to this line, suggest the proba-
bility that embarrassing questions, may conse-
quently arise. For these and other considera-
tons, commend the subject to your atten-
| ton.
CONSTITUTIONAL. THEORY OF THE GOVERNMENT
L have thus passed in review the general
state of the Union, including such particular
lconcerDs of the federal government, whether of
domestic or foreign relation as it appeared to me
desirable and useful to bring to the special no.
ticc of Congress Unlike the great states of
Europe and Asia, and many of those of America,
these United States are wasting their strength
neither in foreign war nor domestic strife.
Whatever of discomfort or public dissatsfac-
ton exists, is attributable to the impcrfections
of human nature, or is incident to all govern
ments, however perfect, which human wisdom
can devise. Suchsubjects of political agitation,
as occupy the public mind, consists, to great
extent, of exaggeratiOn of inevitable evils or
over zeal lin social Improvement, or mere imagi- y
nation of grievance, having but remote connex-
ion with any of the constitutional functions or
duties ofthe federal government For whatever
extent these questions exhibit tendency mcna- I
integrity of the Union, and no farther, they de
mand the consideration of the Executive, and
require to be presented by him to Congress.
Before the thirteen colonies became confede-
ration of independent States, they were associa-
ted only by community of Transatlantic origin.