Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-09
Reports of Cabinet Officers.
We find in the Louisville papers the following
telegrsphic abstracts of reports accompanying the
Presidents message.
- nnsrn,srrR nrNERAI,s REPoRr.

THE POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
The fact is prominently set forth, that from and
after the LIST of July next the mails are TO be con-
yeyed between New Orleans and Washington in three
days and s hall. s .
The expenses Of the department over and above its
resources have regularly increased ever since the
reduction of hostages. 1t would, however, be OBJ
viousv erroneous 10 suppose that this charge upon
the Treasury is to progress in ratio proPoronate 10
what il has been the last few years
Our postal system is now extended over the whole
country from one ocean to the other. There can be
but little further expense resulting from overland
connections with California Except one other route
commonly called the Northern route, no other is now
thought of as likely to become necessary
The Postmaster General proposes IN lieu OF the
frankiug privilege now allowed by law TO members
of Congress- that the Secretary Of the Senate or
such other officers as may be designated LOT me Pur
nose furnish the members With postage stamps TO
be used on all letters, public documents, &C. trans
mitted BY them In the mails and keep an account Of
the stamps furnished each member, to be paid for
out of the contingent fund Of the House All letters
sent to members of Congress 10 be prepaid at mailing
Offices; uniform rate Of postage of five cents for all
distances proposed. On the Both Of June last there
were in operation 8 1895 mail routes, the length Of
which is estimated st two hundred thousand SIX
hundred and TIRES miles, and seven million seven
hundred and ninety-fve thousand dollars, being an
addition of eighteen thousand and two, to length Of
n
three thousand three hundred and seventy two dollars
to the cost in year. Total estimates for current
vesr are 6l5 947 Total expenditures of depart
ment in fiscal year ending June Both, So, ~ 40
The estimated receipts aud expenditures for 1859
exhibit deficiency Of So, 662 l27.
The Postmaster eneral says by the time the con-
tract for the California lines via Panama and Tehu-
ntepec expires on October 1st 1852 it is probable
Thai the route by Lake Nicaragua will have been
reOpened and in successful operation. This presents
the question whether one, two, or three Of these
routes shall hereafter be employed for mail purpo-
,es The Tebsuutepee route is the shortest and the
most readily protected, but it will be comparatively
too new and the line of staging too long. While It
Is destined no doubt, to- become TRANSIT OF the
first Importance and viii deserve the highest pat>
ropage and encouragement. Still 1t cannot supers
coed the necessity of one or more routes through
Central America 1t is Of the highest importance
that the route by Nicaragua should be reopened,
and its undjsturbed uses for the transportation Of
the mails passengers troops, and munitions OF war
be secured by the solemn guarantee OF public
treaty Without this in view OF the unstable condl-
tiou Of the local governments OF Central America
Ibs ssfev and security of transportation can hardly
be relied on as calculated to furnish the requisite
facilities of Communication between Europe and the
Southern and Southwestern States.
The projected lines between Norfolk and England
and between New Orleans and Bordeaux are among
the most important to be established
The Postmaster General regards il as highly in
portant that the line to Vera Cruz should be con-
tinued
THK sroRrrARY or THE INTERIORS REPORT.
The Secretary Of the Interior submits the ques-
lion whether il would not be wise policy to pass
general law reserving sill suriferous, silver and Gin
nabar mines from SALE for the use and occupancy Of
the United States under such regulations as Con-
Uress may prescribe, and leaving those tracts Of
land containing copper ron lead and coal, subject
to the ordinary laws Of settlement and sale Tor their
Development -,
he recommends legislation with regard the public
lands in Utah. to put the lands surveyed in Market
and enable the present occupants to obtain titles to
their homes by the establishment Of land office
and the extenuston of the presumption Law in that
Territory.
The Secretary Of War, in speaking Of the war
vitb tbs indians on the Pacific, says that Perma-
pept pesoe has been established BY treaties entered
into with them.
The war in Texas may be looked upon as just
begun, and probably twill be one oil nerceness ana
nay be Of considerable duratien
The operations Of the Utah army have been I'M
portant aud frauRht with mOmentous results. Inc
people Of that Territory, however, still evlnee a
spirit Of insubordinato6, and strong force needs
still to be kept there There have been disourse-
ments to the amount Of nearly ten millions IN the
ouartermaster's department.
The Secretary calls attention 10 the necessity OF
providing for the payment Of claims against the
government BY different States for the services Of
volunteers,