The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-16

thousand four hundred and one dollars; and,
including the latter, to seventy-two million
nine hundred and forty ight thousand seven
hundred and ninety-twO dollars, the pay
mcnt on this account having amounted to
twelve million seven hundred and seventy
six thousand three hundred and ninety dol
lars.
On the 4th of March, 1853 the amount of
the public debt was sixty-nine million one
hundred and twenty nine thousand nine
hundred and thirty-seven dollars. There
was subsequent increase of two million
seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars for
the debt of TexaS-making a total of seven
tv-one million eight hundred and seventy
nine thousand nine hundred and thirtyseven
dollars. OF this, the sum of forty-tlve mil
lion five hundred and twenty five thousand
three hundred and nineteen dollars, includ-
ing premium. has been discharged, reducing
the debt TO thirty million nine hundred and
sixtv-thrce thousand nine hundred and nine
dollars: all which might be paid within a
wear without embarrassing the public ser
vice, but, being not yet due. and only re-
deemable at the option of the holder. cannot
be pressed to payment by the government.
On examining the expenditures of the last
five wears, 1t will he seen that the average,
drductiug payments on account of the pub
lie debt and ten million dollars paid by
treaty to Mexico. has been but about forty
eight million dollars. 1t is believed that,
under an economical administration of the
government, the average expenditure for
the ensuing five years will not exceed that
sum. unless extraordinary occasion for its
Increase should occur. The acts granting
bounty lands will soon have been executed,
while the extension of our frontier settle
mcnts will cause a continued demand for
lands and augmented receipts. probably,
from that source. These considerations
will Justify reduction of the revenue from
customs. 50 "a not to exceed fnrty-clght
or fifty million dollars. ! think the cXigen-
cv for such reduction is imperative, and
again urge it upon the consideration of Con-
gsTcSS.
The amount of reduction. as well as the
manner of cffiectingit. are questions of great
and general interest; it being essential to
industrial enterprise and the public pros
pcritv. well as the dictate of obvious jus
ticr, that the burden of taxation be made
Ia rest as equally as possible upon all class
cS, and all sections and interests of the
country.
| have heretofore recommended to your
CoiSlifl dil'Ll lIIC I'' lSI'II VI bil' iN''i"N
laws. prepared under the direction of the
Secretary of the Treasury, and also lcgisla-
ton upon some special questions affecting
the business of that department, more cspe-
cialv the enactment of law to punish the
abstraction of official books or papers from
the files of the governments and requiring
all such books and papers, and all other
public property, to he turned over by the
outgoing officer To hiS successor: of a law
requiring diSburSing officers to dcpoSitc all
public money in the vaults of the treasury
or in other legal Repositories, where the
same are conveniently accessible: and Il
law to extend existing penal provisions to
all persons who may become possessed of
public money by dcpo>itc or otherwise, and
who shall refuse or neglect, on due demand,
to pay the same into the treasury. invite
your attention anew to each of these OBJ
jcctS.
The army during the past year has been
50 constantly employed against hostile In
dams in various quarters that it can scarce
ly be said, with propriety Of language, to
have been Il peace establishment. Its du-
ties have been satisfactorily performed, and
we have reason to expect, as result OF the
years operations, greater security to the
frontier inhabitants than has been hitherto
enjoyed. Extensive combinations among
the hostile Indians of the Territories of
Washington and Oregon at one time threat
Cncd the devastation of the ncwly-formed
settlements of that remote portion of the
country. From recent information, we are
permitted to hope that the energetic and
successful operations conducted there will
prevent such combinations in future, and
secure to those Territories an opportunity
To make steady progress in the develop
ment Of their agricultural and mineral re-
sources.
Legislation has been re commended by
me on previous occasions to cure defects i'll
the existing organization, and to increase
the efficiency "f the army, and further OBJ
scrvation has but served to confirm me in
the views then expressed. and To enforce on
my mind the conviction that such measures
are not only proper but necessary.
have, in addition. to invite the attention
of Congress to change of policy in the
distribution of troops, and to the necessity
of providing Il more rapid increase of the
military armament. For details of these
and other subjects relating to the army, |
refer to the report of the Secretary of War.
The condition of the navy is not merely
satisfactory, hut exhibits the most gratifv-
ing evidences of increased vi@or. As it is
comparatively small, it Is more important
that it should he as complete as possible in
all the clements of strength that it should
be efficient in the character of it, officers.
in the zeal and discipline of its men, in the
reality of its ordnance, and in the capacity
of its ships. I'm all these various qualities
the navy has made great progress within the
last few years. The execution of the law
of Congress of February %, 1855. ito pro-
mote the efficiency of the navy has been
attended by the most advantageous results.
The law for promoting discipline among the
men is found convenient and salutary. The
system of granting an honorable discharge
t" faithful Scamcn on the expiration of the
period of their enlistment, and permitting
them to re-cnlist after Il leave Of absence of
Il few months, without cessation of pay, i
highly beneficial i'll its influence. The APP
prcntic system recently adopted is evident
~ destined to incorporate into the service
large number of our countrymcn hitherto
80 difficult to procure. Several hundred
American boys are now on a threc-years
cruise in our national vessels. and will re-
turn well-trained seamen. In the ordnance