Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-11

Thr Constitution has, Therefore, '"it h"'hlh- 81, ~" -.
CONSTRUCTION. Int expressly requires that the l '!lt,i : q"
'hali project each nj them L'h" state a.l'n>t "t ;nIi.
Nu", Il Il military road over our own ltrr!t,Ei'H a.. Ia.
pcn>ahiy necessary TO enable US 10 NEE; AMI rr!''t !. 'n
Tai-r. ii follows a. = necessary consequence not '".t ,"",
We possess tie power. but it i oGr Ia 'rraiive du'! ~"
-;ruct such a road. II woul! he An absurdi! t" :" ".,
Government with the unlimited power Ia make ana '"',,"
war. ana at the same time DEM toll the oiis h,rHns
reaching and defeating the enemy nj the frontier. n!IiI'"'
suci a road il i, quite evident We cannot protect ,''''i
MIA and our Pacific possessions against invasion: "t''n
not by any other means transport IncI. anl munitions 81 "tr
froI! The Atlantic STATES in sufficient time successfully "
defend these remote and distant portions 81 the republic
Experience has proved that the routes acros, the l'ihin'''
rrliabl. mode OF communication. But even IL this were i"'
the ca>e. they would al once he closed against II, u" TIE
event o: wax with "a naval power so much stronger iha'i
our own as TO enable it 10 blockade III. ports at either end
of these routes. .il;er all, therefore, We can only rely upon
n military road through our own territories; and ever sine"
III. origin OF the government Congress has been in the prar-
tice of appropriatBg money from the public Treasury for
the construction Of such road.
,ary railroad To connect our iilactic aad Pacific states
have been greatly exaggerated. The distance on the Arizo-
ma route near the I'D parallel of North latitude. between
,M. Western boundary al Texas Oh the Rio Grandc and the
Eastern boundary Of California on The Colorado from the
hc., ,>rIorations now within our knowledge, does no; eX-
c.,i -FOUR hundred and seventy miles. aud the face Of the
country j.. in the main, favorable. For obvious reasons
The government ought not To undertake the work itself by
means of It's own agents Til, ought Ia be- committed !"
other agencies, which congress might a>>is; either by traiIt-
of land or Ia"ney. or Ly both, upon such terms l;ti coidi'
lion. ~ they may deem most beneficial for he country
Provision might thu, he made not only for the sale, ralid.
and economical transportation Of troops AMI munul"'.s oi
War, but al-p rf the public mails. lUc tDllliltF'li! ere
of the whole country, both East and West, would be treaty
promoted by such a road; and. above all, i; would hr Il
powerful %u,idiiionai bond Of union. And although a!y'n-
taccs OF Til Kind, whether postal. commercial. or political
cannot confer constitutional power, Yet they may furnish
auxiliary argument, in favor OF %cxpcdiiin; q wors which, IL
NY judgment, Is clearly embraced within the war-mahliS
power.
For these reasOns / commend to the friendly c~onsiicra-
ton Of Congress the subject Of the Pacific railroad, without
finally committing u.ysclfto ANY particular route.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury will furnish
a detailed statement of the condition of the public FINANCES
and oi the respective branches OF the public srrvic. de
VOWED upon tina; department OF the government. Ly
tbs report il appears that the amount Of revenue re
year ending the Both June. lSji, was siAty-eight million six
hundred and thirty-ci!c thousand five hundred and ,hir.
which amount, with ;ic balance Of nineteen million
hin: hundred and one thousand three hundred and
twenty-five dollars and t~oriy-hYc cents, Is l?.?Oi..
81 81 remaining IN ti- treasury II the commencement of
tie wear. rmaIs an aggregate for the service OF The year Of
ri.i'y.cisht million live hundred and thirty-two thousand
r.ii luairel ana thirty nine dollars and twelve cents,
e. ~, -i2ll2l
June. ISL, amounted to seventy million eight hundred
and twenty-five thousand seven hundred and twenty.four
doIltrs and righty.iivc cents, lf,r,>..,i2 ~ ~ vi which
Gv. million nine hundred AID for .l,ree thousand eight
hui, he'd and ninr;y--ix dollars .HI uinety-onr cents,
OPS sd 81 were applied 10 the redemption of the pub
liz dot, iuclGI!u. interest and premium, leaving the treas.
ury a. the commencement Of tlr prcscu; fiscal year on the
Isl July. l-5', seventeen million seven hundred and ten
seven cents. CsIs,7io.iIi ~
TN. receipt. Into the treasury for the frs; quarter Of H."
present fiscal year, commencing l.; july, l>j,, were twenty
million nine lunircdai tween; y-nirr thou-and "shthundrrd
and nineteen dollars and eighty one cents. C$.U!y4y. ~ ~
and tie estimated receipts "l the remaining three quarters
+, In, :yr!I June, i>J>. are ihirty SN million seven hundred
,,J nry thousand dollars. So. go uul maxim. with III.
balance before stated an aggregate of 7cvrnty-iyc million
three hundred and "~t.!iy.nlnc thousand nine hundred and
t~airrytour dollars and eight cents, ,f'5J$>'@kii o>,D tor the
service OF lie present fiscal year.
The actual Expenditures during the first quarter 0f the pre-.
sent hs.al year wcrr twratythrre million seven hUndrc!
and fourteen thousand i've hundred aui tweity-"ighi dol
las, and rhlrty.>"v"i c"ut,, t!23. 'li.j.- -. so! which ,hre"
III liuu r..ut huudrci And nine;E five thousand two hnndrc!
and thirty two dollars and thirty .i!!nc cents Iwcrc applied
10 the redemption OF the public debt, ircluHiug int-rc-, and
premium. The probable expenditure, of the rcunlinin.
three quarters, TO :sJih June, l-3,. arr ~tfty-oue million
two hurried and fUrty.eighi thousand five hundred and
thirty dollar, anu iour cents. t5l.2l>,j 3r ~ incluiiug
interest "a the pubic Gcn', making al aggregate Of scr"nty-
four million nine huulr,.! aui sixty.thrrc thousand hty-
ciyht dollars AMI ~:yrty-pl- cents. 81. 5000, H. lytyiu.
M estimated bala!.cc intlIs treasury II The close If The pre-
.ut fiscal year of fouI hundred and ~wrnty..iN thousand c.ght
hundred aud sr'eiir-hE" dollars AMI >lN! seven CENTS
The amount Of the public deb, al thu commencement of
the present fiscal year was iwcnty-ninc millions sixty thou
sand three hundred and eigltysi dollars and ninety = mt,
i"9,06o.%-i 80
lion eight hundred aud %ninety-ive thousand two hmrdrei
AMI t~hiriytwo dollars and tLirty.nine cents ~. -. %! 81
leaving = balance Inreleemed at this time Of twenty-five
million unr hundred and ~siXly.iiYc thousand one hundred
and MY four dollars and ~tf,y-one cents 50. Id, l3i 81
The amount Of estimated expenditures for tine remaining
three quarters Of THE present fiscal year will in all probability,
be Increased fT"Gl the CAUSES set forth in the report ii the
Secretary. Ills suggestion. therefore, that authority should
be given to supply any temporary deficiency 10y the i.-u" "f
| q lilatfl amount W 'lFdlIi 4"tNS. ~ lli'''f i"' : a.
cordinsly ecommeud The passage Of such n law.
Is stated in the report OF the secretary the tirin OF
March 3, l.jI, has been in operation for so short L
period Of tine, and under circumstances 50 unfty"ri'nie TO
u just development, Of IL results rs a reren''e measure
that | should regard II - imeNpedient. a. least for Ia" pre-
sent, To undertake IL revision.
/ ,r.i.,mit herewith. the reports made TO me by the S.crc.
iarits Of Wax and Of III" Navy, Of ihs Inferior and %; n
Posimast-r General They all contain valuable ana i'm
por,.nt information AMI Suggestions which / comment t.
the favorable consideration =: Congress.
have ,ir"ais GcDa!g!.E!r,l tie Iai-a%: of four addition
al r. s!ments, All ;ha report OF the Secretary Of War pre-
sen'' strong reasons PROVING TN increase 81 ihe army 'h'
der sx,:ins firGgrasta",fs. =, ~" ini.:i'Sn,nmiS. H.. =.
c7nm.aia;.pu Of III. Secretary Il the Navy IN !avO- of the
c0as;:G- ,!on 81 ten mall rar steamers Of l:at draU.h'.-
ror some years the government has been obliged NJ. Grt1y
occasions 10 hire such steamers from individuals to -Hpply
il. pressing wants. Atthe present moment We have No arm
ed vessel. IN 'c ha'y "hich can penetrate ihe rNe!' .!
China. We haze but few which can enter any OF the hitrbgr7
south Of NorIuiH, although many millions Of foreign and do
mes;!c commerce annually pass in and ont of these harhor>
Some Of our most valuable Interests and most vulnerable
points are thus let exposed. This class of vessels Of light
draughi, grta; speed. ~andheary guns w"ull be foriai,iahle. IN
coas; defence. Til. cost II their construction will nor b.
gre.;. dad they vii! require but a comparatively small ~
pcnlitur- TO keep them in commission. In tim" OF peace
they will prove rs effective a. much larger vessels. aud
often more useful. One Of them should he nj every station
where We maintain Il squadron. aud three or four SHOULD bu
constantly employed on our Atlantic and Pacific rod,:s
Economy, utility, and efficiency coinb!nc 10 recommend
them q, aimos; indispensable. Ten OF these small vessels
would be OF incalcultblc advantage 10 the naval service.
and the whole cost Of their construction would not exceed
two million three hundred thousand dollars, Of f@"',o"'
each.
The report Of tn. Secretary OF the Interior = worthy OF
grave consideration. II treats OF the numerous. important.
and diversified branches OF domestic administration trtrGst-
ed TO him by law. Among these The most Prominent are the
subtle lands and our relations with the Indians.
Our system for tn dispose! Of The publ; !anl,, o:i:iaa.
ting with the fathers II the republic, has been improved a.
experience pointed thr way, aud gradually adapted I" he
growth aud settlement Of Cur western States and Terrific
rie.. Il has worked well in practice. Already thirteen
S:s,es AID seven Territories have been carved ~, OF these
main un-olI. What 4 boundlcss prospect tti, present. to
our country Of f''ure prosperity and IonGr;
W. Isivc heretofore disposed OF 'I5 So. iJl acres .! ~
psblic land
rrc,, importance. their Importance j. far greater a. fur
n.,!iA; hone, 10. u hardy and independent; race 81 h"nr''
and Industrious citizens, who desire Ia -nhln" lni cliiiyatt
the soil. They ought to lee administered mainly with a
y;eU %! promoting tbs wise aud benevolent policy In n
proi,-ia'in. ihra for any nihcr purpose. We ought IT, as
even greater ccpnlmy Than if they hal been into
money and The proceeds we're already nth" public treasury
To .ouaiicr away this richest and nohIes' inheritance which
any people have ever enjoyed upon OBJECT, o.! doubtful! con
"I ,naU,y ~ .xp..iIencv. would be 10 violate ole Of The
mos; important trusts ever committed 10 any people
Whi!.. ! 10 not deny TO Congress the power. when acting
bona Ii, a. 4 proprietor. 10 give away portions OF iheim Tor
considering he grea; temptation TO abuse the power, We
canuo. be too cautious in it, exercise.
Actual settlers under existing laws are protected againi'
other purchasers a; the public sales, in their right of pre-
caption, to tie extent ola quarter-secuon. or 100 acres Of
land The remainder may then be disposed Of al pubhc %
entered at private sale in unlimited quantities.
Speculation has OF late years prevailed 10 a great extent
in the public lands Tie consequence has been That iar;c
portion, o!:.rrn have become the property ~ iiirirHiiaE
and companies, and thus III. price IL greatly enhanced I"
those shn drs!:"t To purchase FOR actual settlement In or
der 10 limit the area II speculation as much a. po''lbl'. 'c
extinction IL ;r Indian title and the extension of the public
surveys cugh; only 70 keep pace with the tide OF einirra
'III' Congress, should hereafter gran, alternate sections to
States or companies. Is they have done heretofore. re-
commend that the intermediate sections retained ny HE
government should b" subject {" presumption by actual set
/, ousl, ever TO be our cardinal policy !" rc.ervcths pub
lie LANDS ~ mach ~ may Toe for actual settlers, ana rhi- a
moderate prices. We shall thu- no Only best promote The
prosperity OF 'lr Rev States and Territories. ana The r"w"r
.. 80 T.s.,. '' -H.fI I.aFPI fls.l fr tIr t-'sr Tor