Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1856-12-06

and pablic prosperity, as well The dictate of OBJ
si1us Justice that the burden OF taxation. be mads
10 resi- equally as pc sihle upon all classes, and
d all See ions aad interests of the.conntry.
z. have here ore recommended TO your conside-
ration the revision of the revenue laws, prepared
under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasn-
ry ana also gisaton upon some special question
affecting the business of that department, more es
peC!ally the enactment of law TO punish the alb
straction of official books papers from the files Of
the government, and requiring all such books and
papers and I'll other public property to be turned
over by the outgoing officer TO his successors of
law requiring discussing officers to deposite all pub
lie money in the vaults of the treasury in other
legll Repositories, where the conveniently
accessible; and law 10 extend existing penal pro-
visions to all persons xho may become possessed of
public money by deposite aud who shall refuse or
neglect, on due demand to pay the into the
treasury invite your attention anew to each of
these objects,
The army during the past year has been con-
sanity employed against hostile indians in various
quarters that it scarcely be said with propre,y
! of language to have been peace establishment
Its duties have been satisfactorily performed and
we have reasan to expect, as result of the years
opera ions, greater security to the frontier iuhabi-
lnulS ludu udS Ueeu hllueIIJ ENJOYED.
Extensive combination among the hos lie Indians
of the territories of Washington and Oregon at one
time threatened the devastation of the newly ormed
settlements of that portion of the country. From
recent information we are permitted to hope that
the energetic and successful operations conducted
there will prevent such combinations in future, and
secure 10 those territories opportunity to make
steady progress in the deyelopmsnt of their agricu
urai aud mineral res cure es.
Legislation has been recommended by me on pre-
yous occasions to defects in the existing organ
zatfon, and to increase the efficiency of the army
and further observation has but served to confirm
in the views then expressed, and to enforce on.
my Mid the conviction that such measures are no,
only proper but necessary.
have, in addition, to invite the attention of Con-
gress to change of policy in the distribution of.
troops, and to the necessity of providing
pid increase of the military armament. For de-
tails these and other subjects relating to the
my, refer 10 the report of the Secretary of War
The condition ofthe navy is MT merely satsfacto-
~, but exhibits the most gratf, ing evidences of
Increased yigor As it is comparatiz ely small, tits
more important that it should be as complete rs
possible in all the elements of strength that it
should be efficient in the character OF its officers, in
the zeal and discipline OF its men, in the reliability
of its ordinance, and in the capacity of its ships
In all these various qualities the navy has made
great progress within the last few years. The
ecution of the law of Congress of February 49, 1885,
Ito promote the efficiency of the navy" has been at
tended by the most advantageous results.
The law for promoting discipline among the men
is found convenient and salutary. The system of
granting honorable discharge to faithful seamen
tie expiration of the period of their enlistment
ana permitting them t0 re-enlist after leave ofab-
sence Of a few months, without cessation ofpay is
highly beneficial in its influence. The apprentice
system recently adopted is evidently destined to in
corporate into the service large number of our
countrymcn hitherto diff :nIt to procure Several
hundred American boys three years
cruise in the national vessels, and will return well
trained seamen.
In the ordinance department there is decided
and gratifying indication Of progress crediable to
1t and to the country The suggestion of the Secre
tary of the Navy, in regard to further improvement
in that branch OF the service, commend to your
favorable action
The new frigates ordered by Congress are now
aflont, and two ofthem in active service They
superior models of naval architecture and with their
formidable battery add largely to public strength
and security.
concur in the views expressed by the secretary
OF the department in favor of still further increas
of our naval force. ,ssS
The report of the Secretary ofthe Interior pres;
ents facts and views in relation to Internal affairs
over which hesupervison ofhs department. extends
of much interest and Importance.
The aggregate sales of the public lands, during |
the last fiscal year tonine million two hun
dred and twenty seven thousand eight hundred and |
seventy eight acres-for which has been received the
sum million eight hundred and twenty-one
thousatid four hundred and fourteen dollars
During thesame period there have been located
with military scrip an: landwarrants, and for ott-
er purposes thirty millionlone hundred thousand
twohundred and thirty thus makiuga tot;l |.
aggregate of thirty nine million three hundred and
twenty eight thousand one hundred aud .eigb'
acres.
On the Both OF September last, surveys had been
made OF sixteen million eight hundred and seventy
three thousand six hundred ninety mine acres,
large portion Of which is ready for market.
The suggestions in this report in regard to the
complication and progressive expansion ofthe bus
mess of the different bureaEx ofthe Department. to
the pension system TO the colonization ofdndian
tribes, and the Recommendation in relation to vari-
GUS improveme nts in the District of Columbia are
especially commended TO your consideration.
The report ofthe Postmaster General presents +
fully the condition of that department of the govern
ment Its expenditures for the last fscal,y were
ten million FOUR hundred and seSsn. thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight dollars and Is gross re-
ceipts seven million six hundred aud twenty thou.
sand eight hundred and one dollarS-makng an 4
excess of expenditures over receipts oftwo millions
seven hundred and eighty seven Thousand and FOR
ty-six dollars. The de6c ency fthis i
llIus hundred and forty-tour thousand dollars
greaterthan for the year ending june 20, 1853 o
this deeciencs. three hundred and thirty thousand
dollars is beatttibqted to the additional compen-
sation allowed post-mqs.ers by the act of Congress
of juno 81 1851 The mail facilities in every part of
the Country hese Seen very much increased in that
period, and Tie large addition of railroad service
a6i5anapg to seven thousand nine hundred and
sisl has added largely to the cost of trans
The6heonsideratle augmentation of the income
Of the Posi- Office Denariment nnder the rednced