Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-09

(S15, 3S9,934 0S), for the service OF the pres
ent fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the first
quarter of the present fiscal year were TWEEN
ty-three million seven hundred and fourteen
thousand five hundred and twenty eight dol
lars and thirty seven cents, S23,71452S 37,)
of which three million eight hundred and
ninety five thousand two hundred and thirty
two dollars and thirty mine cents, $780,
232 39,) were applied to the redemption of the
public debt, including interest and premium.
The probable expenditure OF the remaining
three quarters, to 30th June, 1858, are SOL,
24S, $50 o. including interest on the public
debt, making an aggregate Of $74,963,0 5S Al.
leaving an estimated balance in the treasury
at the close of the present fiscal year of $780,
S75 81.
The amount Of the public debt at the COM
mencement of the present fiscal year was
S29, O6O 1856 90.
The amount redeemed since the lst of July
was 1885, 1928 39-leaving balance unre-
deemed at this time of S25, l65, 1854 81.
The amount of estimated expenditures for
the remaining three quarters of the present
fiscal year will, in all probability be increased
from the causes set forth in the report of the
Secretary. His suggestion, therefore, that
authority should be given to supply any tenn
porary deficiency by the issue of limited
amount of treasusy notes, is approved. and
accordingly recommend the passage Of such
law.
As stated in the report of the Secretary the
tariff of March 8, 1857, has been in operation
for so short period of time, and under cir
jcumstances so unfavorsble to just develop
ment of its results as revenue measure, that
should regard it as inexpediOnt at least for
the present, to undertake its revision.
I frnn ha~g RI, tI,r TIC do IN
by the Secretaries of War aud of the Navy,
of the Interior, and of the Postmaster Cen
eral. They all contain valuable and impor-
tant information and suggestions, which
commend to the favorable consideration of
Congress.
have already recommended the raising of
four additional regiments, and the report of
the Secretary Of War presents strong reasons
proving this increase OF the army, under ex-
listing circumstances, to be Indispensable.
would call the special attention of Congress
to the recommendation of the Secretary of the
Navy IN favor of the construction of ten small
war steamers of light draugL For some years
the government has been obliged on many occa-
slons to hire such steamers from individuals TO
supply its pressing wants. AT the present mo-
ment we have no armed vessel in the navy which
can penetrate the rivers of China. We have
but few which can enter any of The harbors
south Of Norfolk, although many millions Of for
egn and domestic commerce annually pass in
and out of these harbors. Some OF our most
valuable interests and most valuable points are
thus left exposed.
This class Of vessels of light draught, great
speed, and heavy guns, would be formidable in
coast defence The cost of their construction
will not be great, and they will require but
comparatively small expenditure to keep them In
commission. In time of peace they will prove
as effective much larger vessels, and often
more useful One of them should be at every
| station where we maintain squadron, and three
or four should be constantly employed on our
| Atlantic and Pacific coasts Economy, utility,
and efficiency combine to recommend them as
almost Indispensable. Ten of these small yes
sells would be of incalculabe advantage 10 the
| naval service, and the whole cost of their con-
struction would not exceed two million three
hundred thousand dollars, or $3.50, 900 each.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Interior is
worthy of grave consideration. 1t treats of the
numerous, important, and diversified branches
of domestic administration entrusted to him by
law. Among these, the most prominent are
the public lands, and our relations with the In
! dians
Our system for the disposal of the public lands,
originating with the fathers Of the republic, has
been improved as experience pointed the way,
| and gradually adapted 10 the growth and settle
nent Of our Western States and Territories. 1t
| has worked well in practice. Already thirteen
| States and seven Territories have been carved
out Of these lands, and still more than a thou
sand millions Of acres of land remain unsoId
What bonndless prospect this presents to our
country OF future prosperity and power
| We have heretofore disposed of 1868, 1862 AGA
acres of the public land.
Whilst the public lands, as a source of reve-
nue., are of great importance, then importance
is far greater as furnishing homes for hardy
and independent race of honest and industrious
citizens, who desire to subdue and cultivate the
soil. They ought to be administered mainly
with view of promoting this wise and benevO-
lent policy. In appropriating them for any other
| purpose, we ought to use even greater economy
than If they had been converted into money and
the proceeds were already in the public treasury
To squander away this richest and noblest in-
herltance which any people have ever enjoyed
upon objects Of doubtful conshtutionality or ex-
| pediency, would be to violate one of the most
important trusts ever committed to any people,
| Whilst do not deny to Congress the power,
| when acting bona tide proprietor, to give
away portions OF them for the purpose of in
creasng the value of the remainder, yet con-
sldering the great temptation to abuse this pow
er, we cannot be too cautious in It's exercise.
Actual settlers, under existing laws, are pro-
tected against other purchasers at the public
sales, in their right of pre- enption to the extent
OF quarter section, or 100 acres Of land. The
remainder may then be disposed of at public or
entered at private sale in unlimited quantities.
Speculation has, OF late years, prevailed to
| great extent IN the public lands. The conse-
quence has been that large portions of them have
| become the property of individuals and cOmpa-
MES, and thus the price is greatly enhanced to
| those who desire to purchase for actual settle
ment. In order to limit the area Of speculation
as much as possible, the extinction of the Indian
title, and the extension of the public surveys,
ought only to keep pace with the tide of emigra-
| ton.
If Congress should hereafter grant alternate
sections to States or companies, as they have
| done heretofore, | recommend that the interme-
diate sectioes retained by the government should
be subject to pre-emption by actual settlers.
1t ought ever to be our cardinal policy 10 re.
serve the public lands as much as may be for
actual settlers, and this at moderate prices. We
shall thus not only best promote the prosperity of
the new States and Territories, and the power Of
the Union, but shall secure homes for our poster
ity for many generations.
The extension Of our limits has brought within
our Jurisdiction many additional and popuIous
tribes of Indians, large proportion of which are
wild, untractable, and difficult to control Pred
atOry and warlike in their opposition and habits,
1t Is impossible altogether to restrain them from
committing aggressons on each other, as well as
upon our frontier citizens and those emgrating
TO our distant States and Terriforias Hpnca av-