The true Democrat., 1856-12-16

Cnaraclef or US O1nCerS, In the zeal ana OlSclp- line of it's men, n the reliability of its ordnance, and in the capacity of it's ships. In all these various qualities the navy had made great pro- gress within the last few years. The execution of the law of Congress, of February 28, 1855, .to promote the efficiency of ths navy" has been attended by the most advantageous re- suits. The law for promoting discipline among the men is found convenient and salutary
 The system of granting an honorable dis charge to faithful seamen on the expiration of the period of their enlistment, and permitting them to re enlist after leave of absence of a few months without cessation of pay, Is highly beneficial in its influence. The apprentice sys- tenn recently adopted is evidently destined to incorporate into the service large number of our countrymen hitherto so difficult to procure. Several hundred American boys are now on a three years cruise in our national vessels, and will return we'll trained seamcn. In the ord- nance department there is decided and grat- flying indication of progress creditable to it and to the country. The suggestions of the Secre- tary of the Navy, in regard to further improve ment in that branch of the service, commend to your favorable action.
 The new frigates ordered by Congress are now afloat and two of them in active service. They are superior models of naval architecture, and with their formidable battery and largely to public strength and security.
 concur in the views expressed by the Sec retary of the Department in favor of a st!l fur ther increase of our naval force.
 The report of the Secretary of the Interior presents facts and views in relation to internal affairs over which the supervision of his de. partment extends, of much interest and impor. tance.
 The aggregate sales of the public lands, dur. ing the last fiscal year, amount to nine million two hundred and twenty thousand, eight hundred and seventy ght acres; for which ha, been received the sum of eight millions eight hundred and twenty-one thousand, four hun. dred and fourteen dollars. During the same period there have been located, with military scrip and land warrants, and for other purposes thirty million, one hundred thousand, two hun dred and thirty acres; thus making total az gregate of thirty nine million, three hundred and twenty-eght thousand, one hundred and eight acres. On the Both of September last surveys had been made of sixteen million, eight hundred and seventy ythree thousand, six hun dred and ninety-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 business of the different bureaux of the de- partment; to the pension system, to the coleni- zation of Indian tribes, and the commendatous in relation to various improvements in the Dis trict of Columbia, are especially commended to your consideration.
 The report of the Postmaster General pre- sents fully the condition of that department of the government. Its expenditures for the last fiscal year, were ten million, four hundred and seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty-eight dollars; aud its gross receipts seven million, six hundred and twenty thousand, eight hundred and one dollars-making an excess of expeodi- tnre over receipts of two million, seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand and forty-six dol lars. The deficiency of this department is thus seven hundred and forty four thousand dollars greater than for the year ending June 30, 1855 Of this deficiency three hundred and thirty dollars is to be attributed to the addi- tlonal compensation allowed postmasters by the act ol Congress of June P, 1854 The mail facilities in every part of the corntry have been very much increased in that period, and the large addition of railroad service amounting to seven thousand, nine hundred and eighty miles, has added largel to the cost of transportation.
 The lnconsderable augmentation of the in- come of the Postolfice Department under the reduced rates of postage, and its increasing ex- pehditures, must for the present, make 1t de- pendent to some extent upon the treasury for support. The recommendations of the Post master General, in relation to the abolition of the trankng privilege and his views on the es- t&6llshment of mail steamship lines, deserve the consideration of Congress. I also call the special attention of Congress to the statement of the Postmaster General respecting the sums now pad for the transportation of mails to the Pa mama Railroad Company and commend to their early md favorable consideration the sugges- tons ot that officer Tn relation to new contracts for mall transportation upon that route, and also the Tehuantepec and Nicaragua routes.
 The United States continue in the enjoyment Of amicable relations with all foreign powers
 W hen my last annual message was transmit ted 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, threatened to disturb the good derstanding between the United States and Great Britain. Of the progress and termna- ton ot the former question you were informed at the time, and the other is now in the way of satisfactory adjustment
 The object of the convention between the United States and Great Britain, of the 18th of April, 1850, was to secure, for the benefit of all nations, the neutrality and the common use of any transit way, or interoceanic communication across the Isthmus of Panama, which might be opened within the limits of Central Ameri- ca. The pretenson subsequently, asserted by Great Britain, to dominion or control over ter rltorles, Tn or near two of the routes, those of Nicaragua and Honduras, were deemed by the United States not merely incompatible with the main object of the treaty, but opposed even to It's express stpulations. Occasion of contro- veISy on this point has been removed by an ad- titlonal treaty, which our minister at London has concluded, and which will be immediately to the Senate for it's consideration. Should the proposed supplemental arrangement be concurred ill by all the parties to be affected by it, the objects contemplated by the original convention will have been fully attained.
 The treaty between the United States and Great Britain of the 5th of June, 1854, which went into effective operation in 1855, put an end to causes of irritation between the two countries, by securing to the United States the right of fishery on the coast of the British North American provinces, with advantages equal to those enjoyed by British subjects Be- sides the signal benefits of this treaty to large class of our citizens engaged in a pursuit con nected by no inconslderabe degree with our national prosperity and strength, it has had a favorable effect upon other interests in the pro- vision 1t made for reciprocal freedom of trade between the United States and the British pro- vinces in America
 The exports of domestic articles to those pro vlnces during the last year amounted to more than twentytwo millions of dollars, exceeding those ot the preceding year by nearly seven millions of dollars, and the imports therefrom during the same period, amounted to more than twenty-one mlIlions-an increase ofsix millions upon those of the previous year.
 The improved condition of this branch of our commerce is mainly attributable to the above mentioned treaty.
 Provision was made in the first article of that treaty, for a commission to designate the mouths of rivers to which the common right of the fish cry, on the coast of the United States and the Brti h provinces, was not to extend. This commission has bee employed part of two sea- sons, but without much progress in accomplish. nT the object for which if was inst;tntad ii,