Demoine courier., 1856-01-10

the Postmaster General, that the gross
expenditures Of the last focal year was
s0,96s. 342, and the gross receips ST.
343, l36-making an excess Of expendi-
lures over receipts of 90, 629. 2OS; and
that the cost Of mail transportation was
1914 952 greater than the previous
year. Much Of the heavy expenditures
TO which the Treasury is thus subjected
is TO be ascribed to the large 10, Of print
ed matter conveyed BY the mails, either
ranked or liable TO no postage by law,
or al very low rates Of postage compar
ed with those charged on letters, the
great cost of mail service on railroads
and by ocean steamers. The sugges-
ton Of the Postmaster Gene raj on the
subject deserves the highest considers
lion Of Congress.
Lhe report Of the Secretary Of the In terror
will engage your attention as well For the useful
suggestions it contains as for the interest and
importance Of the subjects to which they refer.
The aggregate amount of public lands sold du-
ring the last fiscal year, located with military
script or land waarnts, taken up under grants
for roads, and selected as swamp lands by States,
is 25,5N .hO9 acres, of which the proportion is
ID 729,424, yielding in receipts the sum of SILL
485,3SO. In the same period Is 233 ,855 acres
have been surveyed; but in consideration Of
the quantity already subject to entry, n, addi-
tional tracts have been brought into market.
The peculiar relation of the General Gov
eminent to the District Of Columbia renders il
proper to commend it to your care, and also its
moral interests, including education, more es-
nnctaliV nj fhnoa vnrto 80 The vN'.tr..t 1,,ta.lA
the cities Of Washington and Georgetown.
The commissioners app ,inted to revise and
cod.fy the laws Of the District have made such
progress in the performance ct their tasks as
u insure its completion in the time prescribed
by the act Of Congress.
Inf ,rmation has been recently received that
the peace of the settlements in Oregon and
Washington Territories is disturbed by hostili-
ties on the part Of the Indians, with indica-
tons CT ahostile character among the tribes in
that quarter, the ,re serious in their possible
effect by reason of the undermined foreign in
terest existing in th1se Territories, to which
Jour attention has already been especially in
vited. Efficient measures have been taken,
which, it is believed will restsge quiet, and af-
ford protection to our cit. zens.
In the Territory Ct Kansas there have been
some events prejudicial to good order, but as
yet none have occurred under circumstance to
Justify the interference of the federal Execu-
tive. That Could only be in the case of obstruc-
ticn to federal law, assuming the character If
insurrecticn, which, if it sh ,uld occur, it would
be my duty promptly to overcome and suppress.
! cherish the hope, however, that the occur
renee of any such untoward event will be pre-
vented by the sound sense of the pc ople Of the
Territ Dry who, by its organic law posses sing
the right to determine their own domesti: insti-
fnfl ono aro apfitlod nh Ia dannrftpr the, l.,o
peacefully, to the free exercise Of that right,
and to be protected in its enjoyment, with ,ut
interference en- the part Ct the citizens Of any
of the States.
The Southern boundary line Of this Terrific
ry has never been surveyed and established. -
The rapidly extending settlements in that re-
gion, with the fact that the mail route between
independence in the State If Missouri, and
New Mexico. is contiguous 10 this, suggests
the probability that embarrassing quest, is Of
jurisdiction Will Consequently arise. Fur these
and other considerations, L 'comnend the sub.
ject to your early attention.
/ have thus passed in review the general state
of the Union, including such particular c3n-
Germs Ct the Federal Government, whether cf
domestic or Federal relations, as it appeared to
me desirable and useful to bring 10 the special
notice of Congress. Unlike the great States IF
Europe and Asia, and many of those of Amer
lea, these United States are wasting their
strength neither in foreign wat or Domestic
strife. Whatever of disc intent or public dis
satisfaction exists, is attributed 10 the imper-
lection of human nature, or is incidentto all
governments, however perfect, which human
wisdom candevise. Such subjects of political
agitation as occupy the public mind consist to
a great extent Of exageration OF inevitable e.
vents, or over zeal in all social events, OF mere
~ ,rn,fton of nrs,apra h,y.nr hat ra,nofa
connection with any of the constitutional func-
tons Of the General Government. To whatev-
er extent these questions exhibit tendency me-
nacing the STABILITY of the Constitution or the
integrity Of the Union, they demand the con-
.ideration Of the Executive, and require t. be
presented by him to Congress. Before the thir-
teen colonies neglected to became a confedera-
ton, they were associated only by a Transact
lantic origin-by the unusual tie ct common
dependence OF Great Britain. When that tie
was severed, they severally assumed the form
Of self government The municipal and social
institutions Of each, with laws of property and
of personal relations-eyen the political organ
ization-were such only as each one chose to
any other. In the language If the Declaration
of independence, each State had s'power to
levy war, conclude peace, C ntract alliances,
establish commerce, and t. do all other acts
which independent States may do" The sew
eral colonies differed in climate and soil and
natural productions; in religion, in systems Of
education, in legislation, and in the forms OF
political dissatisfaction, and they continued to
differ in these respects, when they voluntarily
allowed themselves to carry on the war # the
revolution. The object of that war was to dis
enthrall the United Colonies from foreign rule,
which had proved to be oppressive, and to sep
arate permanently from the mother country
The pOhtical result was the foundation OF the
Federal Republic of the free white mel Of the
colonies, constituted as they were in distinct
and reciprocally independent State govern
ments. As for the subject races, whether In
dian or African, the wise and brave statesmen
Ct that day engaged in no extrayagant scheme
of social change; but left them as they were
and thus preserved themselveshn their poster.
ity from the anarchy and ever recurring civil
wars which have prevailed in the revolution.
zed colonies of America.
When the confederated States consen
TED 10 modify the condition Of their as.
socission, by giving 10 the General Gov
ernmeni direct access in some respects
10 .he people OF the States, instead Of
confning ito action in the States az such
they proceed 10 frame the existing con.
s.i,u.ion, adhering steadily 10 n guild
ing thought, whi;h was, TO delegate only
such power az was necessary and proper
10 The execution Of specified purposes