Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-12-25

cipleS, lhc nc2uS OF IilC ultfvrcnt executive de-
partments of tho government have been i'm
stfueted to r'educe their estimates for the next
fscal year To the lowest standard consistent with
the efficiency of the service, and this duty
they have performed in spirit of lust
economy. The estimates of the Treasury,
War, Navy and Interior departments have
each been III some degree reduced, and un-
less sudden and unforeseen emergency
s should arise, 1t is not anticipated that
deficiency will exist in either within the
present or the next fiscal year The Post
Oiilce department is placed in peculiar
position, different from the other depart
ments, and to this [ shall hereafter refer.
invite Congress to institute rigid
scrutiny to ascertain whether the expenses
m all the departments cannot be still fur
ther reduced; and promise them all the
aid IN my power in pursuing the inycsti-
cations.
L transmit herewith, the reports made
to me by the Secretaries of War, of the
Navy, OF the Interior and of the Post
master General. They each contain yuIu-
able information and important recommcn-
dations, to which J. invite the attention of
Congress,
In my last annual message took occa-
sion to recommend the immediate construc-
+ion OF ten small steamers of light drnught,
for the purpose of increasing the ctlicien-
cy of the Navy. Congress responded to
the recommendation by authorizing the
construction of eight of them The pro
greSs which has been made in executing
this authority, is stated in the report of the
Secretary OF the Navy. concur with
him in the opinion that greater number
of this class of vessels is necessary for the
purpose of protecting iu a moro efficient
manner the persops and property of
American citizens on the high seas, and in
foreign countries, as well as in guarding
more oilcctually our own coast. ] accord
ingy recommend the passage OF an net for
this purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report
of the Secretary of the Interior, especial
" those in regard to the disposition of the
public domain, the pension and bounty
land system, the policy towards the Ind-
ans, and the amendment of our patent
laws, are worthy of the serious considera-
tion of Congress-
The Post Office Department. occupies
position very different from that of the
other departments. For many years it was
the policy of the government to render
this sclf.sust0ining department.; and if
this cannot now be accomplished, in the
present condition Of the country, We ought
to make as near an approach to it as may
be practicable.
The Postmaster General is placed in a
most embarrassing position by the existing
laws He is Obliged to carry these into
effect. lie has no other alternative. He
finds, however, that this cannot be done
without heavy demands upon the treasury
over and above what is received for post
ag'!j and these have been progressively
( increasing from year to year until they
Iamountcd for the last fiscal year ending on
s the 3Oth June, 1858, to more than four
& ni.ali;.e6s and half of dollars; whilst it is
7 estimpted that for the present fiscal year
they Byill amount to 5000 600. These
ysllm{ arc exclusive of the annual appropri-
alton, of 100000 for " compensation for
/. the (Wal service performed for the two
.hou3 3 OF Congress and the other depart
mem r-and officers of the government in
tbP trnsPortaton of free matter"
Z GPhe cause of these large deficits is main
Y attributable to the increased expense of
transporting the mails. In 1852, the sum
paid for this service was but fraction over
fourSoil lions and n quarter. Since that
year it has, annually increased, until in
1858 it has reached more than eight mil
lions and quarter; and foY the service of
1850, it is estimated that it will amount to
more than ten millions of dollars.
TFiho receipts Of Tie Post G!6cc Depart
mcnt can be made to toapproach or to equal
its expenditures, only by means of the leg
islation of Congress In applying any
remedy, care should be taken that the peo-
pie shall not be deprived of the advantage
which they are fairly entitled to enjoy from
the Post Office Department The princ-
pal remedies recommended to the consider
alton of Congress by tn Postmaster Gene
( raj, are to restore the former rate of pos
tage upon single letters to five cents; the
substitute for the franking privilege the de-
livery to those now entitled to enjoy it, of
post Office stamps for their correspondence
so'. to direct the Department, in making
contracts for the transportation of the mail,
to eonfine itself to the payment of the sunl
necessary for this single purpose, without
requiring it to be transported inpost coach
esor carriages of any particular descrip-
ton. Under the present system, the cX-
pensc to the government is greatly increas-
ed BY requiring that the mail shall be car.
rieo in such vehicles as will accommodate
passengers. This will be done without
pay from the Department, over all roads
how, tho tr,tss,l III .l,o ,o,