Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-01

law declaring felony the part of public officers in
sert fake entries in their books Of record account
make false returns, and also requiring them the termi-
nation of their service TO deliver their all
books records, and other objects of public nature in
their custody.
Derived public is in chief part from de-
ties on Imports its magnitude affords gratifying evidence
of the prosperity not only of commerce. but of the
other great interests upon which that depends
The principle that all moneys not required for the
expenses OF the government should remain for active
employment the hands of the people, and the conspcu
fact that the annual from all exceeds
by many millions of dollars, the needed for pru
dent and economical administration of public affairs
not fail to suggest the propety of early revision and
reduction of the tariff of duties imports. 1t
generally conceded that the purpose OF alone
Justify the imposition Of duties imports, that, in
adjusting the mpos tables and schedules, which unques
tonaby require essential notifications, departure from
the principles of the present tariff is not anticipated
The army, during the past year. has been actively
gagged in defending the Indian frontier, the state of the
service permitting but few and small garrsons per-
manent Notifications. The additional regiments author
lied at the last session of Congress have been recruited
and organized and large portion Of the troops have
already been sent to the field All the duties, which de-
vove the military establishment have been satisfac-
tory performed and the dangers and pryaons incident
the character of the service required Of troops have
furnished additional evidence of their courage ZEAL and
capacity TO meet any equision which their country
make upon them. For the details of the military opera
tons, the distribution Of the troops and additional pro-
visions required for the military service, refer to the
report of the Secretary of War and the accompanying
documents
Experience gathered from which have transpired
my message has but served to confirm the
opinion then expressed of the proprey of making prov
son by retired list for disabled officers and for increased
compensation to the officers retained the list for active
duty All the which existed when these
were recommended former occasions continue without
modification except SO far circumstances have given to
some of them additional force.
The recommendations, heretofore made for partial
reorganization of the army also renewed The thor
ough elementary education given those officers, who
commence their service with the grade of cadet quail
Hpo fn hla drfau
of every of the service; but to give the highest
efficiency to artillery requires the practice and special
study of many and is not therefore, believed to
be advisable to maintain, time Of peace, larger force
that than be usually employed in the duties
appertaning to the service of field and siege artillery
The duties of the staff in all its various branches belong
to the movements of troops and the efficiency of army
in the field would materially depend upon the ability with
which those duties discharged 1t not in the
of the artillery, speciality, but requires also, intimate
knowledge OF the duties Of officer of the line and it is
not doubted that to complete the education Of officer
for either tine line the general staff is desirable that
he shall have served in both. With this view it
recommended former that the duties of the
staff should be mainly performed by details from the ne
and with conviction of the advantages which would
suit from such change, is again presented for the
sideraton of Congress.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy herewith sub
mtted, 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, which
y attention is invited.
The construction of the steam frigates for which
appropriations made by the last Congress- has pro-
ceeded in the most satisfactory and with such
pedton to warrant the belief that they will be ready for
service early in the coming spring Important as this ad
dton naval force Isl it still remains inadequate to
the contingent exgences of the protection OF the extern
sve and commercial 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 appropriation is recommended for the con-
siruction of six steam sloopsoi-war.
In regard the steps taken in execution of the act of
Congress promote the efficiency Of the navy it
cesy for to say than TO express entire
in the observations that subject presented by the
Secretary in his report
will be perceived by the report of the Postmaster Gen
ea that the expenditure of the department for the
last fiscal year nine million nine hundred and sixty
eight Thousand three hundred and forytwo dollars, and
the gross receipts million three hundred and forty
two thousand hundred and hirysx dollars making
excess Of expenditure receipts Of two million six
hundred and tweny-sx thousand two hundred and six
doars and that the Of mail transportation during that
year hundred and seventy -four thousand nine hun
dred and ywo dollars greater than the previous year
Much of the heavy expenditures TO which the Treasury is
thus subjected be ascrbed to the large quantity of
printed matter conveyed by the mails either ranked,
liable To postage by law, to very low rates of post
age compared with that charged letters and to the
great cost Of mail service railroads and by ocean steam
ers The suggestions Of the Postmaster General the
subject deserve the consideration Of Congress.
INTERIOR.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior will engage
your attention. well for useful suggestions contains
for the interest and importance of the subjects to which
they refer.
The aggregate Of public land sold during the
last fiscal year. located with military scrip land
rants taken under grants for roads, and selected
swamp lands by States, is twenty million FIVE hun
dred and thousand four hundred and nine
Of which the portion sold fifteen million hun
dred and twenty mine thousand five hundred and twenty
four acres yielding in receipts the Of eleven million
four hundred and eighty thousand three hundred and
eighty dollars In the period Of time, eight million
hundred and twenty three thousand eight hundred
and -four have been surveyed; but in consdea-
ton Of the quantity already subject to entry, additional
tracts have been brought into market.
The peculiar relation Of the general government 10 the
District Of Columbia renders il proper 70 commend TO your
not only its MATERIAL but also its moral interests in
GLIDING education especially in those parts Of the
district outside Of the cities Of Washington and George
town.
The commissioners appointed 10 revise and codify the
laws Of the District have made such progress in the per-
Torrance Of their task, 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 and Wash
ngton is disturbed by hosties the part Of the In
dians, with indications Of extensive combinations Of
hostile character among the tribes in that quarter the
serious in their possible effect by Of the
determined foreign interests existing in those Territories,
to which your attention has already been especially in
vitcd. Efficient have been TAKEN which, II is
believed, will restore quiet and afford protection TO our
citizens
In the Territory Of Kansas, there have been acts pein
dcia good ORDER but yet have occurred under
circumstances 10 justify the interposon Of the federal
Executive That could only be in Of obstruction TO
federal law Of organized resistance TO territorial law
assuming the character Of nsurrecton which, if should