Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-01-04

pOstiOn OF duties on lulpVtlsi UNI w Tvs
adjusting the impost tables and schedules,
which PROFESSIONALLY require essential
notifications, departure from the prin-
ciples of the present tariff is not antici-
pated.
ARMr.
The army, during the past year, has
been actively engaged IN defending The
Iudian frontier, the state Of the service
permitting bat few and small garrlsons IN
our permanent Notifications. The addi-
tio.ol Regiments authorized at the last ses-
sion of Compress have been recruited and
arranged and a large portion Of the
troops have already been sent TO the field
An The duties, which devolve on the mlll-
torv establishment, have been satisiacto-
r,ly nerformed. and the dangers and priva.
inns incident to the character Of the ser
vice required Of our troops have furnished
additional evidence of the courage, zeal
aud capacity to meet any requlsition which
our country may make upon them For
the details of the military operations, the
distribution Of The troops, and the addl-
tional provisions required for the military
service | refer to the report OF the Sec
retary of War and the accompanying doc
uments
Eyperence, gathered from events which
have trunspired since my last Annual
Message. has but served 20 confirm the o.
piuion then expressed of the proprety Of
mixing provision. by retired list, for dis
abed officers, and for increased compen.
sation TO the officers retained on the list for
active duty All the reasons which exist
ed. when these measures were recommend
ed on former occ i-iuns, continue without
modification, except so far as clrcuinstan-
ces have given to some Of them addition
al firce.
The recommendations heretofore made,
for partial reorganization Of the army,
are also renewed The thorough elemen-
tarv education given 10 those officers, who
commence with the grade Of cadet, quali-
fees them, to considerable extent, 10
perform the duties Of every arm Of the
service; but to give the b CHEST efficiency
10 artillery requires the practice and spc-
cial study of many years and It Is not,
therefore. believed To be- advisable 10 main
tain in time Of peace, larger force Of
that arm than can be usually employed m
the duties appcrtaiuing To the service Of
the field and siege artillery. The duties
Of ihe staff. in all Us various branches.
belong 90 the movements OF troops, and
the efficiency Of an army IN the field,
would materially depend upon the ability
with which those duties are dlscharged.-
II Is not, as in the case Of the artillery,
speciality, but requires, also an intimate
knowledge Of the duties Of an officer Of
the line and 1t is not doubted ,hat, TO
complete the educatlen Of an officer for eli
thcr the line or the general staff, It Is de-
sirable that he shall hive served in both.
With this view, II was recommended on
former OCCASION that the duties Of the
staff should be mainly performed by de-
tails from the line; and, with conviction
Of the advantages that would result from
such a change 1t Is again presented for
the consideration Of Congress.
NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy,
herewith submitted, exhibits in full the ma
val operations Of the past year, together
with :hc present condition Of the service,
and 70 makes suggestions Of further legisla-
ton TO which your attention is invited
The construction Of the six steam frigltcs,
fo7 which appropriations were made by the
last Congress, has proceeded in The most
satisfactory manner, and with such expedi-
ton as 10 warrant the belief that they will
belief that they viii be ready for service
early in the coming spring. Important as
this addition 10 our naval force is, it still re-
mains inadequate to the continued exigen-
cies OF the protection Of the extensive sea-
coast and vast commercial interests OF the
United States. In view Of this fact and Of
the acknowledged wisdom Of the policy Of
a gradual and systematic increase ofthe Ma
W, an Appropriation is recommended for the
construction Of the six steam sloops-ofwar.
In regard TO the steps taken in execution
Of the act OF Congress TO promote the eff
cheney Of the Navy, il is unnecessary for me
q say more than IN express entire concur
renee in the observations on that subject
presented by the Secretary in his report.
POST OFFICE
Il will be perceived by the report Of the
Postmaster General that the gross expendi
ture Of the department for the last fsca
year was S9,06S.3i2, and the gross receipt,
1892, 1856, making an excess Of expendi'
lures over receipts S2,626,206. That the
cost Of mail transportation during that yeai
WAS S67i,9j2 greater than the previou,
wear. Much Of the heavy expenditures &c
which the Treasury is thus subjected is L
De ascribed to the large quantity Of printed
matter conveyed by the mails either frank
ed or lable TO no postage by law, or TO very
low rates OF postage compared with thai
chlrged on letters, and 20 the great cost OF
mail service on railroads and by ocear
steamers. The suggestion Of the Postmas
Ter General on the subject deserves the con
sideraton Of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Int
rior will engross your attention, as well fo
useful suggestions it contains as for the in
terest and importance of the subjects t,
which they refer. The aggregate amour
Of public land sold during the last fsca
year, located with military scrip or lanC
warrants, taken up under grants for roads
and selected as swamp lands by States, i
2l,557,4O9 acres, OF which the portion sole
was lj,729,675 acres, yielding in receipt
the sum of 81 1,4S5,3SO. In the same pc
Rod of time s,723,S54 acres have been sur
veycd, but in consideration of the quantit,
already subject to entry, no additional tract
have been brought into market
The peculiar relation of the general gov
eminent of the District of Columbia render
Il proper TO commend to your care not onl
is material but also its moral interests, in
GLIDING education, more especially in thos
parts Of the District outside Of the cities Of
Washington and Georgetown.
Tie commissioners appointed to revise AM
codify the laws Of the District have mad
such progress in the performance of thei
task as to insure its completion in the tim
prescribed by the act Of Congress.
Information has recently been receives
that the peace of the settlements in the Ten
ritores of Oregon and Washington is di,
turbed by hostilites on the part Of the In
dians, with indications of extensive combina
tons ola hostile character among the tribe
in that quarter, the more serious in thei
possible effects, by reason of the undete,
mined foreign interes,- existing IN tnese -
ritories, to which your attention has alread
been especially invited. Efficient measure
have been taken, which it is believed wi
restore quiet aud afford protection to OF
citizens.
In the territory of Kansas there hay
been some acts preiudical TO good ordel
but as yet none have occurred, under Ct
90, ,f .