Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-05

the Secretary Of this Department In "a.
vor OF q still further increase o. our ma
val force.
The report Of the Secretary oftho In
terror presents facts and views In rela-
ton 10 Internal affairs over which the
supervision Of his department extends,
OF much interest and importance.
The aggregate sales Of the public
lands, during the last fiscal year.
amount to niue million two hundred
and tventy-seyen thousand eight hun
dred and seventy eight acres; for
which has been received the sum Of
eight millions eight hundred and
tw,nty-ono thousand four hundred
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 hundred
and thirty acres. thus making q total
aggregate Of thirty-nine million three
hundred aud tweniy.eight.. thou
sand one hundred and eight acres -
On tho 3oth Of September last, sur.
veys had been made OF sixteen mil
lion eight hundred and seventy three
thousand six hundred and ninety nine
acres. = large proportion Of which is
ready for market.
Tho suggestions Ia this report Ia
regard TO the complication and pro-
gressivo expansion Of the business Of
tho different bureaux OF the depart.
ment; to tho pensiea system; TO the
colonization OF Indian tribes. and the
recommendations in relation 10 various
improvements in the District Of Col
umbis. ara especially commended 10
your consideration.
Tho report Of the Postmaster Gen.
eral presents fully the condition OF
that department Of the government
It's expenditures for the last fiscal
year. were ten million four hundred
and seven thousand eight hundred
and slxty-eight dollars: and ils grous
receipts seven million six hundred and
twenty thousand eight hundred and
one dollars--making m excess OF ex.
pendituro over receipts Of two million
seven hundred and eighty-seyen thou.
sand and forty.sfx dollars. The de-
6ciency Of this department ia thus sew
en- hundred aud forty-four thousand
dollars greater than for the year end
ING June 80, 2e53.
OF this deficiency, three hundred
and City thousand dollars IL 10 be at
tributed TO tho ADDITIONAL compensation
allowed postmasters by tho act Of
Congress OF June 90, 1854. Tho mail
facilities have been very much increas
cd In that period. and tho large add.
ton OF railroad service. amounting 10
seven thousand nine hundred and
eight miles. has added largely to the
cost OF transportation.
The uncomfortable augmentation OF
tho income OF the Post OfIico Depart
ment under the reduced rates OF post.
age. and It's increasing expenditures.
must. for tho present. make !, depend.
ont 10 some extent upon the treasury
for support. Tho recommendation
Of the Post Master General, In relation
to the abolition Of the ranking priv.
loge. and his views on the establish.
men. OF mail steamship lines, deserve
tl.e consideration Of Congress-. / nj.
90 call the special attention Of Congress
70 the statement Of tho post Master
General respecting tho sums now paid
for the transportation OF mills 10 the
Panama Railroad Company. and com.
mesdto their early and favorable con.
alteration tho suggestions Of that OH.
csr.in relation to new contracts for
mall transportation upon that route.
and also upon tho Tehuantepec and
Nicaragua routes.
The United States rcontinue In tina
enjoyment Of nmicablc relations with
oil foreign powers.
When my last annual message was
transmitted 10 Congress. two subjects
OF controversy, one relating ~ the
enlistment ofsoldiess In this country
for foreign service. and the other TO
Central America, threatened to dis.
turb the good understanding between
the United States aud Great Britain.
OF the progress and termination OF tho
former question you were informed at
the time; and the other Is now Ia the
way Of satisfactory adjustment.
The object Of the convention be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain Of the 18th Of April. 1850.
was to secure. for the benefit Of all
nations, tho neutrality and the CON-
mon use OF any transit way, or inter-
oceanic communication. across the
Isthmus Of Panama, which might be
opened within the limits OF Central
America. The protension subsequent
ly asserted by Great Britain. 10 domin.
ion over territories. In or near two Of
the routes. those Of Nicaragua and
Hsndurss were deemed by tho United
States, not merely incompatible with
the main object Of the treaty. but op.
posed even TO It's express stipulatlons.
Occasion OF controversy on this point
has been removed by an additional
treaty. which our minister at London
has concluded. and which will be i'm
mediately submitted TO the Senate
for its consideration. Should the pro
posed supplemental arrangement b.
concurred In by oil the parties to b,
affected by II, the objects contemplated
by tho original convention will hav,
been fully attained.
Tho treaty between the United
States and Great Britain. OF the 9th o
June. 1884. which went In effective op
Grafton In 1855. put an end to causes
Of irritation between the two countries
by securing to the United States III,
right Of fishery on the coast OF thu
British North American provinces
with advantages equal to thos'
enjoyed by British subjects. Besides
the signal benefits Of this treaty to
large class OF our citizens engaged il
apursuit Of no inconsiderable degree
with our national property and
strength. it had a favorable effect upo,