Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-12-09


penal provisions to all persons who may become
possessed of public money by deposite or other
wise, and who shall refuse or neglect, on due de-
mand to pay the same into the Treasury. / invite
your attention anew TO each of these objects.
The army during the past year has been so con-
stanty employed against hostile Indians IN various
quarters that 1t can scarcely lie said with proprie
ty OF language TO nave been peace establishment.
Its duties have been satisfactorily performed, and
we have reason 10 EXPECT the result of the years
operations greater security TO the frontier inhab-
itGnts than has been hitherto enjoyed. Extensive
combinations ar,ong the hostile Indians CT the
Territories OF Washington and Oregon, at one
time threatened The devastation OF the newly form
ed settlements of that remote portion Of the coun-
try. From recent information we are permitted
tC hope that the energetic and successful opera
lions there viii prevent such combinations in fu-
turc ana secure TO those Territories an opportun-
ty to make steady progress in the deylopement of
their agricultural and mineral resources. Legis-
IatUn has been recommended ly me ON previous
occasions to cure defects in the existing organic
alton, and to increase the efficiency of the army,
and further observation has but scyed to confirm
me in the views then expressed, and to enforce on
my mind the conviction that such measures are
not only proper hut necessary.
/ have, IN addition to invite the attention of
Congress to change Of policy in the distribution
of troops and to tie necessity OF providing a more
rapid increase Of the military armament Fo- de
tails OF these and other subjects relating TO the
army, / refer to the repOrt of the Secretary of
War. The condition OF the Navy IS not merely
satisfactory but exhibits the most gratifying cvi-
dcncea of Increased viEor. As tits comparatively
small il is more important that il should lie a.
strength that it should he efficient in the char
acter of its officers, IN tile zeal and discipline OF
Its men, in the reliability OF It's ordnance, and in
the capacity OF It's ships In all these various
qualities the Navy has made great progress in the
last few years. The execution Of the law OF Con
of Feb 2s, 1850, to promote the efficiency Of the
Navy has been attended with the most advantage
Gus results. The law for promoting discipline
among the men is fouRd convcneut and saIutary
The system Of granting an honorable discharge
to faithful scamen the expiration OF the period
Of their enlistment and permitting them to re-cn-
list after leave Of absence OF few months, with
out cessation Of pay, Is highly beneficial in its in
fiuCnCe. The apprentice system, recently adopted,
is evidently destined to incorporate into the ser
vice large number Of our countTymen hitherto
So difficult to procure. Several hundred Ameri-
ear boys are now on three years. cruise in our
national vessels, and will retun well trained
men.
in the Ordinance department there is a decid-
ed and gratifying indication Of pro- reSs credita-
Die TO il anG the country The suggestions Of the
Secretary Of the Navy, in regard II further ina
pr0ycmeut in that branch Of the service | com
mend to your favorable action. The new Frgates
ordered by Congress are now aGoat and two OF
them in active service.
They are superior models of naval architecture.
and with their Formidable battery add larrly to
the public strength and security l concur in the
views expressed by the Secretary of the depart
ment. in favor of still further increase Of our ma
Val iOfce. Inc port OF tIe secretary OF the IN
terror presents facts and views in relation % inter
nal affairs over which the supervision of his de
partmeut extends, Of much interest and import
ancc. The aggregate sales of pUi.tic lands during
the last fiscal year. amount 10 @,2-IS7s acres, for
which has Iccn received the SIN %! S7,s2J,4lt.-
During the same period there have itcn located
with military script and land warrants, and for
other purposes %0,l00,230 acres, thus making a
total of "9,3ZS les acres. On the 3Gth OF SepJcm-
Der last SURVEYS had been made Of l6S70OOO
acres, large proportion Of which Is already for
market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to the
complication and progressive expansion of the
business OF the different bureaus Of the depart
ment to the pension system to the colonization
OF Indian tribes and recommendations in relation
to various imprOyen eutS, in the District of Col
umbia, are especially recommended to your con
siderati0n. the report OF the Postmaster Cen
cral pres ats fully the condition OF that department
of the government. Its expenditures for the last
fiscal year re ten millions four undred ANA
seven thousand ght hundred end siyty-Ci glt dol
lars ami its gross receipts seven million six hun
drcd and twenty thousand light hundred and one
dollars, making an excess Of expenditure over
CciptS Of two million seven hundred and eighty
seven thousand and forty six dollars. The def
cheney of this department Is thus seven hundred
and forty-four thousand dollars greater than for
the year ending June 50, 1854. OF this deficiency
three hundred ANA thirty thousand dollars i to
lie att ihUted to the additional compensation al
low ed postma7ters by the act of Congress June 22
1853.
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 1,@os miles, has added largely to the cost Of
transportation. The lncpuSlHcratlc augmentation
Of income of I'll" Post Office Department under
the reduced rates os postage, and lis increasing
expenditures must for the present make it deVen-
dent TO some extent upon the treasury for support
The recommendations of the Post Master General
in relation the abolition of the franhing privi-
lcgc. and his views Oh the establishment OF mail
steamship lines deserve the consideration Of Con
l.alLF 9-sl
grcSs to the statement of the Post Master General
respecting the sums now paid, for the tTarSportg-
toh Of mails. to the Panama Railroad Company
and commend to their early and favorable Consid-
GRAFTON the suggestions OF that officer in relation
to new contracts for mail transportation upon that
route, and also upon the TohauutepCc and Near
aqua routes
The United States continues in the enjoyment
of amicahlc relations with all foreign powers.
When my last annual message was transmitted
to Congress. two subjects OF controyersy-one
relating the enlistment of soldiers in this coun-
try for foG cign service and the other to Central
America, threatened to disturb the good under
standing between the United States and Great
britain. OF the progress and termination Of the
former ques ION you were informed at the time,
ana the other Is now in the way of a satisfactory
adjustment. The object of the Convention te-
tween the United States and Great Britain on the
10th of April, 1850, was to secure for the benefit
of all nations the neutrality and the common use
OF any transit way inter CeaHic communication
across the Isthmus uf Panama. which might be
opened within the limits Of CentrI America.
The pretensi0n subsequently asserted hy Great
Britain to dominion control over territories in
or near two Of the routes those of Nicaragua and
Honduras, were deemed 10y the United States not
merely incompatible with the main object of the
treaty but opposed to its express stipulatious.
Occasion of controversy on this point has been
removed by an additional treaty which our Minis
ter at London has concluded, and which viii lie
submitted to the Senate for its consideration.
should the proposed arrangement be cOncurred in
by all the parties to be effected by it the object
contemplated by the original convention will have
been fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and Great
Britain on the 5th Of June, 1854. which went into
effective operation in 1886, put an end to causes
OF irritation between the two countries, by secur
ing to the United States the right of fishery on
the coast Of the British American Provinces
which advantages are equal to those enjoyed hv
British subjects. Besides the signal benefits of
this treaty to large class Of our citizens engaged
IN pursuit connected to no incOnsderable degree
with our national prosperity and strength, it has
had favorable effect upon other interests i'm the
provision made for reciprocal freedom Of trade
between the United States ana the British PROV
inces in America. The exports of domestic arti-