New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-01


pubic debt of The Federal Government remaining a.
this time is ICES than &c, coo, Geo.
TIE remnant Of certain other Government siorks,
amounting 10 s243, eco, reeend 10 IN my last Message
a. outstanding, has since been pad -
am fully persuaded that Il would De dfncmt 70 oe,
yise a system superior TO that by which toe hscsi
business of the Government - now conducted. No,-
whsan6ing the great number OF pubic ag' MS OF co-
lection and disbursement il : believed that the checks
and guards provided, including the requirement OF
monthly -eturns render il scarcely pOsslble Tor any
considerable aud on the pat OF iho-e agents OF ne
ect involving hazard of serious pubic loss 10 escape
detection. | renew, however, the reconme ndauop,
heretofore made by me- OF the enactment Of law de-
clarng felony the part OF public officer 10 insert
false entries in their books OF record or account or 10
make fal-e returns ana si-o requiring them on the
termination of their service TO deliver TO then suces-
sors all books records aud other objects of public
nature in their custody
duties on imports it, magnitude affords gratifying
evidence of prosperity not only OF our commerce
but OF the other great interests upon when that ce-
pends. ,
The nripcipe that all MONEYS no, required for the
current expepses OF the Government should remairor
active employment in the hands OF the people, and the
cOnspjcucus fact that the annual revenue from al
sources exceeds, nv many millions Of dollar, the
amount needed Tor n prudent and economical admins
traon OF public affair." cannot TAI 10 suggest the pro-
priety OF early revision and reduction OF the iarh
OF duties on imports. II u now 80 generally conceded
that the purpose of alone can justify the i'm
position OF duties imports, that in readlustlng the
mpost tables and schedules which unquestionaby
ouire essential notifications, departure from the
principles of the present Tariff i not anticipated
ARMY.
The army, during the past year, has been actively
engaged in defending the Indian frontier. the state of
the service permitting but few and email garisOns IN
our permanent fortlfcatOns. The additional req
mepts authorized at the ast session Of Congress have
been recruited and organized. and large portion OF
tie troops have already been sent 10 the field. All the
duties which devOlve the military establishment
have been satisfactorily performed, and the dangers
and priyations incident to the character OF the service
required of our troops have furnished additional EVIL
dence of their courage, zeal and capacity TO meet any
reQusitiOn which their country may make upon thtn
or the details of the military operations the dstnbu-
ton of the troops, and additional PROVISIONS required
for the military service refer to the report OF the See
rotary Of War and the accompanying documents.
Experience gathered from events which have trans
pired since my last Annual Message, has but served to
confirm the opinion then expressed OF The propety oi
making provision by a retired list for disabled officers
and for increased compensation TO the officers re-
tanned on the list for active duty. AL the reasons
which existed when these measures were recommended
on former occasions continue without notification
except fer circumstances have given to some OF
them additional force.
The recommendations, heretofore made COR partial
reorganization of the army are also renewed. The
thorough elementary education given 70 those officers
who commence their service with the grade OF cadet
qualities them TO considerable extent 10 perform the
duties of every of the service; but 10 give the
highest efficiency to artillery requires the practice anu
special study of many years and II Is not, therefore
believed to be advisable to maintain, in time of peace
larger force of that amt than can be- usually employed
in the duties appeaining to the service OF held and
siege artillery The duties OF the stan in all Us VARIOUS
branches belong to the movements OF troops ana the
efficiency of an army in the field would materially
depend upon the ability with which those duties ere
discharged. 1t not in the case OF the artillery
q specially, but requires also an intimate knowledge
of The duties of an officer of the line and it is not
doubted that TO complete the education OF an officer
for either the line or the general stall IL Is desirable
that he shall have served on both. WIN inns view II
was recommended on former occasion that the duties
of the staff should be mainly performed by deaa' rom
tbe line. and with conviction OF the advantages when
would result from such change, Is again presented
for the consideration of Congress.
The Report of the Secretary OF the Navy herewith
submitted exhibits in full the naval operations of the
past year. together with the present condition OF the
service and IT makes suggestions OF further legislation,
TO which your attention is invited.
The construction of the six steamfrgates for which
appropratiOns were made by the lat Congress, has
proceeded in the most satisfactory manner, ana win
such expedition as to warrant the belief that they will
be ready for service early in the coming SPRING I'M
poant this addition 10 our naval force ~ II stu re-
mains inadequate to the contingent e1gencies OF the
protection OF the extensive sea-coast and vast com
ncrcal interests 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 APP
preparation is recommended 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 efficiency of the navy Is
unnecessary for me to say more than to express entire
concurrence in the observations Oh that subject pre-
scented by the Secretary in his Report.
POsT-OFFICR.
Ii will be perceived by the Report of the PO-tmas-
tcrGenera that the gross expenditure of the Depart
ment for the last fiscal year was s9,96e3i2, aud the
gross receipts, s., 342 l36-making an excess of
penditure receipts of s2626,2O6 and that the
cost of mail transportation during that year
SOFA $50 greater than the previous year. Much the
heavy expenditures TO which the Treasury is thus sub
eced is be atbed to the large quantity OF printed
matter conveyed by the mails either FRANKIE liable
to no postage by law. 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 Postmaster
General on the subject deserve the consideration OF
Congress.
INTERIOR.
The Report OF the Secretary of the Interior viii
gage your attention, wen for useful suggestions It
contains for the interest and Importance Of the sub
ects to which they refer.
The aggregate amount of public land sold during the
last fiscal year. located with military scrip OF land
rants taken up under grants tor roads and selected
swamp lands BY States IL "a 557, 400 acres of which
the portion sold 15,729,j2i acres, yielding in
cepts the sum of Sill $3.50 In the period Of
time s,723 s54 have been surveyed; but III con-
sideraton of the quantity already subject to entry, no
additional tracts have been brought into market.
The peculiar relation of the General Government to
the District of Columbia renders il proper to commend
TO your care not only IFS material, but also IT. moral in
erests including education more especially in those
parts of the District outside OF the Cities of Washington
and Georgetown.
The commissioners appointed to revive and cOdily
the laws of the District have made such progress the
performance of their task 10 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 Territories OF Oregon