Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-17


ed and twenty-five dollars and sixty-seven cents So
S7j 67.)
The of the public debt at the commencement OF
the present fiscal year twentynine million sixty
thousand three hundred and eighty dollars and ninety
cents. 1922, 060, $3.50 90)
The amount REDEEMED since the LIST of July was three
million eight hundred and ninetyfve thousand two hun
dred and thirty 49, 232 39eaving albal
ance unredeened the time of twenty hye million one
hundred and slxtyvc thousand one hundred and hfty
four dollars and fey-one cents-( S25 l65, l54 5l)
The amount of estimated expenditure for the remaining
of the present fiscal year will in all PROB
ability be increased from the cause set fourth In the re-
port OF the Secretary His suggestion, therefore, th au
hority should be given to supply temporary dehcen-
cy by the issue of limited amount of treasury notes.
approved and accordingly recommend the passage OF
such law.
As stated in the report of the Secretary, the tariff OF
March 3 1884, has been in operation for SO short period
CT time, under circumstances unavorabe to just
developement of its results revenue measure, that
should regard it neXpedent, at least for the present.
to undertake its revision.
transmit herewith the reports mede to me by the Sec
retaries 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 of Congress.
have already recommended the raising ofour addlt-
iona regiments, and the report of the Secretary Of ar
presents strong proving this increase OF the army
under existing circumstances, to be indispensable.
would call the special attention of Congress to the re-
cOmmendatiOn Of the Secretary Of the Navy IN yor OF
the construction of ten small war steamers ofillght
draugM. For years the government has been ob-
ged occasions to hire such steamers from individ
ehave armed vessel in the navy which can penetrate
the river of China. We have but few which can enter
any of the harbors south of Norfolk, although ny mill
ions OF foreign and domestic commerce annually pass IN
and out of these harbors Some of most valuable IN
terest aud most valuable points thus left exposed
Ths class of vessels of light draugh great Speed anu
heavy guns would be formidable in coast defense me
cost Of their construction will not be great and they VIII
require but comparatively small expenditure to keep
them in commission. In time of peace they will prove.
effective much larger vessels and often more useful
One of them should be at station where we main
min anI ahotlI hp
employed Atlantic and Pacific coasts Economy,
utility, and efficiency combine to recommend them as
almost indispensable. Ten of these small vessels would
be of ncalculabe, advantage to the naval Service ana
the whole cost Of their construction would not exceed two
million three hundred thousand dollars, $3.50 900 each
The report of the Secretary of the Interior is worthy OF
grave consideration. treats of the numerous, impor
tant and diversified branches of domestic administration
entrusted him by law Among these the most promin
ent are the public lands and relations with the lndi
| ans.
0ursystem for the disposal of the public lands orgna
ting with the fathers of the republic has been improved
experience pointed the way, and gradually adapted ia
the growth and settlement of Western States and Ter
rOrie 1t has worked well in practice. Already thr-
States and Territories have been carved out OF
these lands, and still more than thousand million OF
acres remain unsod. What boundless prospect this
presents country of future prosperity and power
We have heretofore disposed of o4 acres OF the
| public land.
Whilst the public lands as source of Of
great Importance their Importance is far greater as fur
nishng homes for hardy and independent race of hon
cultivate the soil They ought be aministrated mainly
with view of promoting this wise and benevolent policy
appropriating them for any other purpose we ought
use even greater economy than they had been convert
ed into money and the proceeds already in the public
| treasury.
To squander away this richest and noblest inheritance
which any people have enjoyed upon of doubt
| full constutonay or expedency, would be to violat
one of the most important trusts committed to any,
people. Whilst do not deny to Congress the power, whe
acting BONA FIDE as proprietor, to give away portion
Of them for the purpose of increasing the value Of the
mander yet considering the great temptation to abus
this power; we cannot be to cautious in its exercise.
Actual settlers under existing protected agains
other purchasers at the public saes in their right Of pre-
empon to the extent of quartersection, or 1850 acre
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 exten
in the public lands The consequence has been that arg
portions of them have become the property of individual
and companies and thus the price is greatly enhanced
those who desire to purchase for actual settlement
order to limit the area of speculation as much posi-
ble the extinction the Indian title and the extension
public surveys ought only to keep pace with the tide
emigration,
If Congress should hereafter grant alternate sections
States companies they have done heretofore, rec
ommend that the Intermediate sections retained by tn
government should be subject to presumption by actua
settlers
1t ought to be cardinal policy to tn
public lands much may be for actual Settlers an
this at moderate prices We shall thus not only bes
promote the prosperity of the States and Terror lie
and the power of the Union, but shall homes 70
our posterity for many generations.
Inc extension OF our limits mas DrouBDt Wltlln gu
jurisdiction many additional and populous tribes of in
dians large proportion of which Wild unractable
and difficult to CONTROL Predatory and warlike in thei
disposition and habits, it is impossible altogether to re
strain them from committing aggression each other,
veil upon frontier citizens and those emgratng
distant States and Territories Hence expensive mil
Larry expeditions frequently necessary to oyerawe an
chastise the more lawless and hostile.
The present system of making them valuable present
to influence them to remain at peace has proved ehectua
1t believed TO be the better policy to COLOMBO them
suitable localities, where they receive the rudment
of education, and he gradually induced to adopt habits
industry. So far the experiment has been tried it ha
worked we'll in practice anil it will doubtless to
less expensive than the present system.
The Postmaster Generals report state that his depart
men has depended upon the public treasury for
years past for an important portion of the means of su'
tanning and extending its operations Its rapid growt
and expansion are shown by decennia statement of til
number OF post Offices and the length of post roads,
mencng with the year 1927 In that year there wer
1000 posoces in 1887, LII in lSl7, ID, in 1S5
they numbered 265S6 In this year l725 postofces hay
been established and 704 discontinued, leaving net IL
lO2 The postmaster OF 1868 offices are appoiI
ted by the President.
The length of post roads in 1927 was 1906 1856 miles
1884, l4l 242 miles in 1S47 153,S4S miles in the yea
1851 there 242 Sol miles of post road including p
$50 miles of railroad, which the mails tran spol
ted.
The expenditures of the department for the fiscal yea
ending on the 30th June, 1857, adjusted by the Audi
o amounted to 81 5O7670 To defray the expenditure
there the credit of the department the LIST July
1885, the of $3.50 599 the gross revenue of the
including the annual allowance for the transportation
of free mail matter, produced $685. 95l and the
mainder was supplied by the appropriation from tn
treasury of $780, 00 granted by the of Congre
approved August Is, 1856, and by the appropriation
$685. made by the act of march 3, 1851 leavn
52 1853 to be carried to the credit of the department
the accounts of the current year. | commend to YOU
consideration the report of the department in reato
to the establishment of the overland mail route from ii
Mississippi river to San Francisco, California II
route was selected with my flu II concurrence the
in my judgment, best calculated to attain the mporal
objects contemplated by Congress.
uiSnS NOR m av havn mr.
good effect should it cause both the government and Il
people to return to the practice Of wise and judco,
economy both in public and private expenditures.
An overfOwing treasury has led to habits of prodga
and extravaganza in our Legislation. If has induce
Congress to make large appropriations to objects fl
which they would have provided had il been
sary to raise the amount of revenue required to me
them by increased taxation by loans We are no
compelled to pause in our career, and to scrutnize oil
expenditures with the utmost vigilance and in perform
ing this duty, pledge my cooperation to the extent
constitutional competency.
1t ought be observed at the time that true pu
c economy does not consist in Withholding the meal
necessary to accomplish important national objects
trusted to by the constitutions and especially such
may be necessary for the common defense In the pre-
ent crisis of the country it is duty conine
preparations to objects of this character un less in
where Justice to individuals may demand difere
In all ought to be taken that the
ey granted by Congress shall be faithfully and
ically applied.
Under the federal constitution " every bill which shG
have passed the House of Representatives and the Sena
shall, before it becomes aw,'' be approved and sign
by the President; and if not approved, shall return
with his objections to that house in which it originated
In order toperform this high and responsible duty,
fcient time must be allowed the President to read al
examine every bill presented to him for approval
less this be afforded, the constitution becomes dead lie
ter in this particular and even worse, 1t becomes
means of deception Our constituents, seeing the Pre-
ident's approval and signature attached to each act
Congress, induced to believe that he has actual
performed this duty when, in truth, nothing is, in MAJ
cases more unfounded.
From the practice of Congress, such an examnati