The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-01-12

is, it still remains inadequate to the contin-
gent exigencies of the protection of the ex-
tensive sea coast and vast commercial inter-
ests of the United States. In view of this
fact, and of the acknowledged wisdom Of the
policy of gradual and systematic increase
of the navy, an appropriation is recommen
ded for the construction Of six steam sloopS
Of war.
In regard to the steps taken in execution
Of the act of congress to promote the effi-
cheney Of the navy, it is unnecessary for me to
say more than to express entire concurrence
in the observations on that subject presen
ted by the secretary in his report.
PosT-oFFIcE.
1t will be perceived by the report Of the
Postmaster General, that the gross expendi
ture uf the department for the last fiscal
year was $9,968,342 and the gross receipts,
81, ,342, ,l36-making an excess of expendi-
ture over receipts of $2,626, ,206; and that
the cost of mail transportation during that
year, was 1914 ,952 greater than the previous
year. Much of the heavy expenditures to
which the treasury is thus sub jected is to be
ascribed to the large quantity Of printed
matter conveyed by the mails, either frank
ed or liable to no postage by law, or to very
low rates of postage compared with that
charged on letters and to the great cost of
mail service on railroads and by ocean
steamers. The suggestions Of the Postmas-
ter-General or the subject deserve the con-
sideration of congress.
INTERIOR.
The report of the secretary of the interior
will engage your attention, as we'll for use
full sugges tions it contains, as for the inter
est and importance Of the subjects to which
they refer
The aggregate amount Of public land sold
during the last fiscal year, located with mil
itary scrip or land warrants, taken up under
grants for roads, and selected as swamp lands
by states, is "a, ,557 400 acres, of which the
portion sold was l5729,524 acres yielding
in receipts the sum Of sSll ,485, $3.50. In the
same period of time, 8,723,85 acres have
been surveyed but, in consideration Of the
quantity already subject to entry, no addi-
tional tracts have been brought into market.
The peculiar relation the general govern
ment to the District of Columbia renders it
proper to commend to your care not only its
material, but also its moral interests. inclu-
ding education, more especially in those
parts of the District outside of the cities
of Washington and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revise
and codify the laws of the District have
made such progress in the performance of
their task as to insure its completion in the
time prescribed by the act of congress.
Information has recently been received
that the peace of the settlements in the ter
ritories of Oregon and Washington is dis
turbed by hoStiltieS on the part of the Indi-
ans, with indications of extensive combina-
tions of hostile chara cter among the tribes
in that quarter, the more serious in their pos
sible effect by reason of the undetermined
foreign interests existing in those territories
TO which your attention has already been
especially invited. Efficient measures have
been taken which, it is believed, will restore
quiet and afford protection to our citizens,
In the territory Of Kansas there have been
acts predjudiciaI to good order, but as yet
none have occurred under circumstances to
justify the interposition of the federal exec