The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-17

greet on due demand, to pay the same into the treas
ury. invite your attention anew to each of these
objects.
The army during the past year has been so con
stantlY employed against hostile Indians i'll various
quarters that it scarcely be said with proprety
OF language to have been peace establishment Its
duties have been satisfactorily performed and We
nave reason to expect as result OF the years opera
lions, greater security to the frontier inhabitants
than has been hitherto enjoyed. Extensive conbi-
nations among the hostile Indians of the Territories
OF Washington and Oregon, at time threatened
the devastation of the newly formed settlements of
that remote portion o. the country From recent in
formation we are permitted hope that the energetic
and successful operations conducted there will pre-
ventsuch combinations in future and secure those
territories an opportunity to make steady progress
in the development Of theragriculural and mineral
resources .-.1. I'd. ~ 5aag -- ~. '+s Tsgg gl;r
LeglSI ion has been recommended BY me pre-
vous occasions to defects in the existing organ
zaliou, and to increase the efcieiey of the army,
and further observation has but served to confirm
nle III the views then expressed and to enforce Oh
my mind the conviction that such measures not
only proper but necessary. .7.a ..g+s., .,-1-
have, i'll addition, to invite the attention of
gress to change of policy in the distribution of
troops, and to the necessity of providing rap
i'd increase of the military armament. For details of
these and other subjects relating to the army refer
tothe report Of the secretary Of war. r.
The condition OF the navy is no. merely satlstac-
tory, but exhibits the most gratifying evidences OF
increased vlgor. As it is comparatively small 1t Is
more important that it should be as complete is Pos
slble III all the elements of strength; that it should be
efficient i'll the character of its officers IN the zeal
and discipline Of its men, i'll the reliability OF Its
ordinance and in the capacity of its ships LII all
these various qualities the navy has made great
progress within the last few years. The execution
Of the law Of congress, of FEBRUARY 3D. 1885, to pro-
mote The efficiency Of the navy, has been attended by
uost advantageous results. The law for promoting
discipline among the men is found convenient aud
sautary. HE system of granting an honorable dis
charge TO faithful seamen on the expiration OF the
period of their enlistment, aud permitting them to
rc-entist after leave of absence Of few months,
without cessation of pay Is highly beneficial III Its
Influence. The apprentice system recently adopted
Is evidently destined to incorporate INTO the service
large number OF our countfymen hitherto so DIM
cult to procure Several hundred American boys
are OF three years cruise in national vessels,
and will return we'll trained .seamen. In the ordl-
nance department there is a decided and gratifying
indication of progress credtabe toit and the cuuu-
try. The Suggestions of the secreta of the navy,
in regard to further improvement in that bralich Of
the service commend to your favorable aetion,a ~
The steam frEates ordered by congress now
afloat and OF them i'll active service. They are
superior models of naval architecture, and, with
their formidable battery, add largely to public
security. Esq.,. I
concur in the views expressed by the secretary of
the department III favor OF still further increase Of
naval force. N#sr
The report of the secretary of the interior presents
facts and views in relation to internal affairs over
which the supervision of his department extends, is
of much interest and Importance. .....
The aggregate sales Of the public lands during
the last fiscal year, amount TO nine million two hun
tlred and twenty seven thousand eight hundred and
sevenyeRghf acres, for which has beei received the
sum Of eight millions e ght hundred and twenty one
1hou- and four hundred and fourteen dollars. Dur
ing The same period there have been located with
military scrip andsland warrants, and for other pnr
poses thirty million one hundred thousand two hun
drpd and thirty acres, thus making tai aggregate
OF thirty nine million three hundred and twenty
eight Thousand one hundred and eight acres. Onthe
3Uth of September last, surveys had been made OF
teen million eight hundred and seventy three thou
sand six hundred aud ninety nine acres, large pro-
portion of which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to the
complication and progressive expansion of the bust
ness of the different bureauX Of The d, partment
the pension ,yseI to The colonization of the Indian
tribes, and to The recommendation IL relation TO va
rious 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 government.
It's expenditures for the last fiscal year We're ten
million four hundred and seven thousand eight hun
dred and sixty eg lit dollars; and It's gross receipts
seven ilun six hundred and twenty thousand e CHIT
hundred and dollars making excess Of ex-
penditure over receipts OF two million seven hun
bred and cighty-seVen thousand and forty SIX dol
lars. The deficiency of this department. is thus
seven hundred and forty four thousand dollars great
er than for the yeafcnding June 80, 1855. OF this
deficiency three hundred and thirty thousand dollars
is to be attributed to the additional compensation al
lowed posmasers by the act of congress of June %
c54. The mail facilities in every part of the couIl-
try have been very much increased in that period,
and the large addition Of railroad service, amount
ing to seven thousand nine hundred and eight miles,
has added largely to the cost of trans poraton.
The lnconsideraOle augmentation of the income
OF the postuice department under the reduced
OF postage and It's Increasing expenditures, must, for
the present, make 1t dependent some extent upon
the treasury for support. The recommendations of
the postmaster gener u in relation to the abolition of
the trankng privilege, and his views the cstab-
lshment of mail steamship lines, deserve the con
sidera1On Of congress also cali the special atten-
ton of congress to the statement Of the postmaster
general respecting the sums now paid for the trans
por1ation OF mails to the Panama railroad company
and commend to their carly and favorable conoider-
ton the suggestions of that officer in relation to new
contracts for mail transportation upon that route and
also upon the lchuantepec and Nicaragua routes.
he United States Continue i'll the enjoyment of
ar.cable relations with all foreign powers.
When my last annual message WAS transmitted to
congress, Two subjects of controversy, relating
to the enlistment Of soldiers in this county for foreign
service, and the other to Central America, threatened
TO disturb the good unders andng between the U. S.
and Great Britain Of the progress and termination
OF the former Question: you We're Informed at the
al ustmcut. =
The object of the convention between the United
States and Great Britain Of the 10Th day of April,
1851 to secure, for the benefit Of all nat ons the
neutrality and common use vi any transit way, OF in
teroceaAlc communication, across the Isthinus Of
Panama, which mi ght be opened within the limits of
Central America. The pretcnSlou subsequently
serted by Great Britain, TO dominion or control
territories III or of the routes, those of Nj
caragua and Honduras, were deemed by the United
States, not merely incompatible with the main object
OF the treaty, but opposed even to Its express stpu
been removed by additional treaty, which our
minister at London has concluded, and which will
be immediately submitted to the senate for its con-
sderation. Should the proposed supplemental ar
ramgetnent beconcurred in by all the parties to be at
tecLrd by it, the objects contemplated by the orr gina
convention will have been fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and Great
Britain of the 9Th of June, 1854 which went into ef
fectlve operation 1905, put end to causes Of il
ritaton between the two countries, by securing to
the United States the hit Of fishery the of
British n orth American provinces, with advantages
equal to those Enjoyed by the British subjects. Be-
sides the signal benefits OF this treaty large class
of eur citizens engaged i'll pursuit. connected iii
Inconsderabie degree with our national prosperity
and strength it has had favorable effect upon other
interests the provision made for reciprocal free
dom of trade between the l. States and The British
mr., nAS in 4