Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-08

public debt including interest and premium leaving IN
the treasury at the COMMENCEMENT of the present fiscal
year on the lst July, 1851 seventeen million seven
hundred ad ten thousand hundred and fourteen dol
lais and twenty-seven cents, (S17, no, ia 27)
The receipts into the treasury for the first quarter OF
the present fiscal year, commencing LIST July, 1857 were
twenty million nine hundred and twenty-nne thousand
eight hundred and nineteen dollars and eighty cents
$50 SO ST. and the estimated receipts OF the re-
manning three quarters to the 30th june 1885, are thirty
six million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
1886 75o 000) making with the balance before stated an
aggregate of seventy-fve million three bundled and
eghtynine thousand nine hundred aid thirtyfour dol
lars and eight cents SS9 934 0S for the service of
the present Hscai year.
Tie actual expenditures during the first quarter of the
present fiscal year were twenty three million seven
hundred and fourteen thousand Ave hundred and twenty
eight dollars and thirty cents 1928 52S 81
of which three million eight hundred and ninety-fvc
thousand two hundred and thrtytwe dollars and thirty
nine cents @ $685. 232 Se were applied to the redemp
ton of the public debt including interest and premium.
The probable expenditures of the remaining three quar-
ters to 30h June, 1853 fftvohe illiOn two hun
dred and eight thoand five hundred and thirty
dollars and o. cents ISL, PAS $50 04 including inter
est the public debt making aggregate of seventy
four million nine hundred and sixty-three thousand
fifty eight dollars and fortyone cents, ST4 05S 4l)
leaving estimated balance in the treasury at the close
of the present fiscal year Of four hundred and twenty
six thousand eight hund5 and seventyfvc dollars and
siXty-seven es:tttts, (S426,S CD
a;e amount of the public debt at the commencement
of the present fiscal year was tweny-nne millions sixty
thousand three hundred and eghtysix dollars and ninety
cents (S29, 1856 90.) =,
The amount redeemed since the LIST of July was three
million eight hundred and ninety thousand two hun
dred and thtytwo dollars and thirty nine cents S3 $685.,
232 39aeoE.hg balance unredeemed at this time OF
twenty five million hundred and sXty-fve thousand
hundred and -four dollars and hfty-one cents
(S25, 165, l54 5l)
The amount OF estimated expenditures for the remain
ing three quarters of the present fiscal year WILL in all
probability be increased from the set forth in the
report of the Secretary His suggestion therefore, that
authority should be given to supply any temporary def
cheney by the issue of limited amount Of treasury notes,
is approved and accordingly recommend the passage OF
such law.
As stated in the report of the Secretary, the tariff OF
March :, 1851 has been in operation for so short
period of tc aud under circumstances so untavoble to
just development of its results revenue measure,
that should regard it as nexpedeht at least for the
present to undertake its revision.
transmit herewith the reports made to ME by the Sec
reares OF War and of the Navy of the Interior and OF
the Postmaster General They all contain valuable and
important information and suggestions which commend
! to the favorable consideration o. Congress.
have already recommended the raising OF four add
tiono regiments and the report of the Secretary of War
presents strong reasons proving this increase OF the army,
under existing circumstances, to be Indispensable
would call the special attention of Congress to the
recommendation of thG Secretary of the Navy in favor of
the construction of ten small war steamers OF light
| draught For some years the government has been
obliged many occasions to hire such steamers from in
dviduals supply its pressing wants AT the present
moment we have no armed vessel in the navy which
penetrate the rivers Of China We have but few which
enter any of the harbors south of Norfolk although
many millions of foreign and domestic commerce annu-
ally pass and out of these habors Some of our most
valuable interests and most vulnerable points are thus
left exposed This class of vessels of light draught great
speed and heavy guns would be formidable in coast de-
fence The cost of their construction will not be great
and they will require but comparatively small expendl-
ture 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 OF four should
be constantly employed Atlantic and Pacific coasts
Economy, utility and efficiency combine to recommend
them as almost Indispensable. Ten of these small ves
sells would be of incacuabe advantage to the naval SER
vice and the whole cost of their construction would not
oAooo million three hundred thousand dollars, OF
$3.50, 900 each.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior is worthy of
grave consideration. 1t treats of the numerous import
ant and diversified branches of domestic administration
ntrused to him by law Among these the most promi-
nent are the public lands and relations with the In
dams
Our system for the disposal of the public lands org
mating with the fathers of the republic, has been inn
proved as experience pointed the way, and gradually
adapted to the growth and settlement of our western
States and Territories 1t has worked well IN practice
Already thirteen States and Territories have been
carved out of these lands and still more than thousand
millions of acres remain unsold What boundless pros
pect this presents to country of future prosperity and
power
We have heretofore disposed of 1868 1862 asa of
the public land
Whilst the public lands " of revenue of
great importance their Importance is far greater fur
nshng homes for hardy and independent race of honest
and industrious citizens who desire to subdue and cult
vae the soil They ought to be administered mainly with
view of promoting this wise and benevolent policy. In
approprating them for any other purpose ought to
greater economy than if they had been convert
ed into money and the proceeds already in the pub
lie treasury To squander away this richest and noblest
Inheritance which any people have ever enjoyed upon OBJ
ects of doubtful constitutionaty expediency, would
be to violate of the most important trusts ever COM
mitted 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 increasing the
value of the remainder yet considering the great tempta
ton to abuse this power we cannot be too cautious in its
exercise.
Actual settlers under existing laws protected against
other purchasers at the public Sales in their right of pre-
empton to the extent of quarter section 100
of land The remainder may then be disposed of at pub
lie entered at private sale in unlimited quantities.
Speculation has of late years prevailed to great
tent in the public lands The consequence has been that
large portions of them have become the property of nd
vduals and companies and thus the price is greatly
HANGED to those who desire to purchase for actual settle
ment In order to limit the of speculation much
possible the extinction of the Indian title and the
tension of the public surveys ought only to keep pace
with the tide of emigration.
Congress should hereafter grant alternate sections to
States companies, they have done heretofore,
omend that the intermediate sections retained by the
government should be subject to presumption by actual
settlers.
1t ought to be cardinal policy to the
public lands much may be for actual settlers and
this at moderate prices We shall thus not only best pro-
mote the prosperity of the States and Territories
and the power of the Union, but shall homes for
our posterity for many generations
The extension of limits has brought within our
jurisdiction many additional and populous tribes of In
dams, large proportion of which Wild untractabe