Washington telegraph., 1856-01-23
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

former occasion that the duties of ~ On
should be mainly performed by details fs s'an
/ the line; and with conviction of tbo from from
tages which should result from snat uutan-
change, it is again presented for the n GO q
Grafton of Congress. n'ia-
The report of the Secretary of tho N.
herewith submitted. exhibits in fnu w.
Naval operations of the past year. toao,t me
with the present condition of the seSS.f Snef
and it makes suggestions of further la,;DI'
ton, to which your attention is Invita- "-
The construction of the six steam fr;a....
I for which appropriations were made Sr u.
last Congress, has proceeded in RI. 'ne
satisfactory manner, and with such exnaJ;
tion as to warrant the belief that thew n,;n
be ready for service early in the c,,n; WIN
spring. Important as this addition ing 70
naval force is, it still remains inadeoua,oous ous
the contingent exigencies of the protse,;'
Of the extensive sea coast and vast cor,.s
cial interests of the United States IN r;e
of this fact, and of the ackno,rlosNS,
wisdom of the policy of a gradual So
matte increase of the Navy, an annross:
ton is recommended for the consfrna.:
of six steam sloops-of-war
In regard to the steps taken in exeen,;.
OF the act OF Congress to promote the nEo;
/ ency OF the Navy, 1T is unnecessary 20, ~.
to say more than to express entire conon.
renee in the observations on that uboct r
sented by the Secretary in his report. f's'
PosT-oFFIcE
1t will be perceived, by the renort or Al.
/ Postmaster General, that the, pross .ue
penditure of the Depar tment for tho Ia.
fiscal year was nine million nine bnnd"S,
and sixty-eight thousand three hundred aeg
/ forty-two dollars, and the gross reca;n.a
seven million three hundred and fortv.trro
thousand one hundred and thirty-six doIIars
making an excess of expenditure ovor
eelPts OF two millions six hundred and
twenty-six thousand two hundred and a;
dollars; and that the cost of mail transno- o.A
tation during that year. was six bpndra5
and seventy-four thousand nine hundred anS
/ hfty-two dollars greater than the previous
year. Much of the heavy expenditures 70
1 which a Treasury is thus subjected. is 10 w
ascribed to the large quantity of printed
matter conveyed by the mails, either franz
ed, or liable to no postage by law. or to rarv
low rates of postage compared with tho,
/ charged on letters and to the great cost of
/ mail service on railroads and by ocean
/ steamers The suggestions of the Postmas.
ter-General on the subject deserve the con.
sideration of Congress.
INTERIOR
/ The Report OF the Secretary OF the Into,.-
/ VIII engage your attention, well ior the usnsi
suggestions 1t contains. as ior the Interest aa
importance OF the subjects to W hich they refer
The aggregate amount of public land sod dr
/ ring the last hscal year, located with military
scrip or land warrants, taken up under grants to
roads and selected as swamp lands by States !.
24-331-4 400 acres of which the portion sold ,rra
f@9 O24 acres, Welding receipts the sun, of
I SlI4S9,3oO In the same period OF time 8 722
/ o9i acres nave been surveyed but in cousid.ra
/ ton OF the quantity already subject to entrr
no additional tracts have been brought inio
market '0
The peculiar relation of the general goveruueD.
/ TO the District OF Columbia renders it proper 10
commend to your care. not only its material but
also IT'S moral interests. including education mare
especially IN those parts of the district outside of
the cities of Washington and Georgetown.
Inc commissioners appointed 10 revise and
/ codIfy the laws OF the District have made sucb
progress IN the performance OF their task as 10
insure itS completion in the time nrescrihsd bv
: the act Of Congress y
! Information has recently been received. that
tne peace OF the settlements in the Territories OF
oregon ana Washington is disturbed by hostili-
ties on the part of the Indians with indicat;one
oil extensive com6Inatlons of a hostile character
among the tribes In that quarter the more sarious
IN their possible effect by reason of the n,doter
mined foreign interests existing in those Terri
'oiie>- 20 Whicn your attehtIOn has already been
especially Int lied Efficient measures haze hon
taken. which, it IS believed will restore opist
and afford protection to our citizens
In the Territory of Kansas there have been acts
preIndiciai to good order, bat as vet none have
occurred under circumstances 10 Justify the inter
position OF the federal Executive That cou5
only be ID case OF obstruction of federal law or
oi organized resistance to territorial law assim
ing the character Of insurrection which Il !,
shoaid occur 1t would be my duty promptly 10
overcome and suppress | cherish the hone
however, that the occurrence OF any such uDtow
ard event Will be prevented by the sound sense
oi the people OF the Territory who by its organic
law possessing the right 20 determine their own
domestic institutions, entitled while depart-
ing themselves peacefully. to the free exercise of
that right, and must be protected In the eDioy
ment OF H. without interference on the part of the
citizens OF any o: the States
The southern boundary line of this Territoyy
mas never been surveyed and established The
rapidly ly-eXtenfIng settlements in that region and
tue iact that the main route between Indepen-
dence, In the State OF Missouri. and New Mexico.
Is contiguous 10 this line suggest the probability
tna' embarrassing questions of jurisdiction may
consequently arise. For these and other consii-
eratlons, | commend the subject to your earv
attention.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF THE
GOVERNMENT.
have thus passed in review the general state
OF the Union, including such particular concerns,
OF the ledeTaI So' ernmeut, whether of domestic
or foreign atlon as 1t appeared to be desirable
and useful to bring to the special notice of Con-
gress- Unlike the great States of Europe and
ASA, ard many OF those OF America these United
States are wasting their strength neither in for
eign war nor domestic strife. Whatever of dis
content or public dissatisfaction exists Is attribu-
table to the lmperfections OF human nature. or Is
incident to all governments, however perfect,
which human wisdom can devise Such subjects
of political agitation as occupy the public mind.
consist, TO great extent OF exaggeration Of in-
evltaole evils, or over zeal in social improve
ments, or mere imagination of grievance, having
but remote connexion with any OF the constitu-
uonal functions or duties of the federal govern
ment 10 whatever extent these questions ex-
hioit tendency menacing to the stability of the
constitution, the integrity of the Union, and no
farther, they demand the consideration OF the
Executive, and require to be presented by him to
Congress
Before the Thirteen Colonies became conled-
Grafton of independent States they were assOcI-