The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-01-09

Eand alsorequiring them ON The termination of
their service to deliver to their successors all
books, records, and other objects of q public
nature in their custody.
s. Derived as our public revenue is, in chief
part, from duties on imports, its magnitude af1
fords gratifying evidence. of the prosperityt
not~only of our commerce., but of the other
great interests upon WHICH that; depends.
The principle that all moneys not required
for the current expensesuefthe government
should remain for active employment in tho
hands of the people, and the conspicuous fact
that the annual revenue from all sources ex-
ceeds, by many millions of dollars, the amount
needed for a prudent andcconomicaf adrpinis-
~trstion of public affairs, cannot fail to sug-
gest the rfepriety of an arlyrerision-aad
reduction of the tariff duties on mports,th TINT,
in read justing the impost tables andfchednlcs
which professionally require essential modi-
~fcations, Il departure from the principles of
the present tariff is not anticipated.
ARMY.
The army, during the past year, has been &C.
lively engaged in defending the Indian 'front.'
icr, the state of the service permitting but
few and small garrisons in our permanent
Notifications. The additional regiments au-
fthorized at the last session of Congress have
already been sent to the field. All the duties
which devolve ON the military establishment.
have been satisfactorily performed, and sthe
dangers and priyations incident to the char
acter of the services required of our troops
have furnished additional evidence of their
courage, zeal, and capacity to meet any requi-
%sition, which their country may make upon
them. zs4ft 1865
The recommendations heretofore made for
a partial organization of the army, are salso
renewed. The thorough elementary education
given to those officers, who commence their
service with the grade of cadet, qualities
, them, to a considerable extent, to perform
the duties of every arm of the SERVICES but
f to give the highest efficiency to artillery re-
quires the practice and special study of many
years; and it is not, therefore believed ia. be
, advisable to maintain, in time of peace, q
larger force of that arm than can be usually
/, employed.in the duties appertaining to the
service of field and siege artillery. The du-
ties of the staff, in all its various branches,
0 belong to the movement of troops, and the
r efficiency of an army in the field would mate
rally depend upon the ability with which
( those duties are discharged. 1870
For the details of the militafyroperetiens.
I the distribution of the troops, and additional
: provisions required for the military service, I
n refer to the report of the Secretary of War,
4 and the accompanying documents.
Experience, gathered from events which
have TRANSFERRED since my last Annual message
n has but served to confirm the opinion then ex-
pressed of the propriety of making provision,
by a retired list, for disabled officers, and for
IF increased compensation to the officers retained
ON the list for active duty. All the reasons
lie which existed, when these measures were rec
Of commended on former occasions, continue
without modification, except SO far as circum-
E. stances have given to some of them additional
n force.
lie 1t is not, as in the case of artillery, a spe-
ciality, but requires, also an intimate knowl-
S, ledge of the duties of an officer of the line,
and it is not doubted that to- complete the
lie education of an officer for either the line or
a. the general staff, it is desirable that he shall
l. have served in both. With thisLview, it was
recommended on a former occasion that the
duties of the staff should be mainly perform
s. cd by details from the line; and with aconvic-
d ton of the advantages which would result
from such a change, it is again presented for
the consideration of Congress.
v NAVY.
e The report of the Secretary of the Navy.
Il herewith submitted, exhibits in full. the naval OPP
) ~erations of the past year, together with the pres
ent condition of the service, and makes sugges-
ic tions of further legislation, to which your atten-
e ton is invited.
The construction of the six steam-frigates,
i for which appropriations were made ct the last
Congress, has proceeded in the most satisfactory
manner, and with such expedition as to warrant
5, the belief that they will be ready for service early
st in the coming spring. Important as this ddi-
E. ton to our naval force is, it stin remains made
% quate to the contingent exigencies of tho pro-
&c lection of the extensive sea coast and vast COM
mercial interests of the United States. In view
of this fact, and of the acknowledged wisdomof .
st gradual and systematic increase of the nayy, an
appropriation is recommended for the ~construc-
g ton of six steam sloops-of-war.
Y In regard to the steps taken in execution Of
;, the act of Congress to promote the efficiency of
,e the navy, it is unnecessary for me to say more
than to express entire concurrence in the obser-
~vations on that subject presented b! the Secre.
he tary in his report. @ss
POST OFFICE. $3.50
1t will be perceived by the report of the Post
ID master General, that the gross expenditure of the
&c department for the last fiscal year was nine mil
lion nine hundred and sixty-eight thousand three
e. hundred and f~orty-two dollars, and the gross re.
or ceipts seven million three hundred and forty-two
of thousand one hundred and ~thirty-six dollars, max.
ing an excess of expenditure over receipts Of
~ two million six hundred and twenty-six Thousand
as two hundred and six dollars; and that the cos,
of of mail transportation during that year was 81,
BIT hundred and seventy-four thousand nine hundred
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