The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-12-18

draught, for the purpose of increasing the
efficiency OF the navy. Congress respond
ed to the recommendation by authorizing
the construction of eight of them. Tho
progress which has been made in exccu-
ting 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 in mere Of
hcIent manner the persons and property
Of American citizens on the high seas. and
IN foreign countries, as well asin guarding
more eiiectually our own coasts. / accord
lngly recommend the passage Of an act for
this purpose
The suggestions contained In the re-
port Of the Secretary Of the Interior. es-
pecially those in regard 10 the disposition
Of the public domain. the pension and
bounty land system, the policy towards the
Indians. and the amendment osour pateft
laws, are worthy the serious consideration
OF Congress.
The Post Office Department occppies q
position very different from that Of the
other Departments. For many wears il
was the policy Of the coyeruAent to rem
ger tins e Selt-5u-taiuing department: and
ID TINS cannot u0w be ACCOMPLISHED. in the
present condition of the country. we
ought % make as near an approach to it
as may be practicable
The Postmaster General Is placed in a
most embarrassing position hy the existing
laws. lie Il obliged 20 carry these into et-
i'et. lie has no other alternative. lie
hnas. however, that this cannot be done
without heavy demands upon the treasuI,
over and above what IS received for most
age, and these have been progressively in
orea~ing from year 10 wear until thoy
amounted for the last fiscal wear eudin,
ON the Both June 1858. to more than f9f5r
millions and half of dollars: whilst it rs
estimated that for the present fiscal year
they viii amount to S6.2JuO00. These
sums are exclusive Of the annual apnro
priatiOn of 100000 for compensation for
the mail service performed for the two
houses Of Congress and the other depart
mcnts and officers of the government in
the transportation of free matter"
The cause Of these deficits is mainly at
tHbutable to the increased expense of
Transporting the mails. In 1852. the sum
paid Tor thi. service was but a fraction
above four millions and a quarter. Since
that year it has annually increased until
in 1898 ii has reached more than eight
millions and a quarter: and for the SER
vice of 1919, IL is csJimated that it will
amount to more than ton millions of dol
lars.
The receipts Of the Post Office Depart
meut can he wade toapproach or to equal
Us expenditure, only by means of the leg
i-lation Of congress. In applying any rem
edy, care sAonld be taken that the people
shall rot be deprived of the advantages,
which they are fairly entitled to enjoy
from the Post Office Department. The
| principle remedies recommended to the con-
-IderaJion OF Congress by the Postmaster
/ General, are to restore the rate of postage
| upon single letters to five cents: to substi-
| 'ute Tor the trauking privilege the delivery
tothose nowentItled TO enjoy it, Of post
| Office stamps for their correspondence.
| and 70 direct the department in making
/ cDCtracts for the transportation of the
/ mail. to c0ntinc itself 70 the payment Of
/ the sum necessary for this single purpose.
| without requiring it to be transported in
| post coaches or carriages Of aey particular
| description. Under the present system
laec-peuSe TO the government ii greatly
I increased, by requiring that the mail shall
! De carried ia such vehicles as viii accom-
| m1date Passengers This viii be done
without pay from the department. overall
road where tie travel viii renumerate the
contractors.
These recommendations deserve the
/ grave considerations Of Congress.
would again call your attention to
I the construction OF q Pacific railroad.
Time and reflection have but served to
! confirm me in the truth and justice of the
! observations which ! made. on this sub
! ieet, in my last annual message, to which
| beg leave respectfully to refer.
| II is freely admitted, that it would be
! lueXVedient for this government to ex-
| ,rcl,e the power of constructing the Pa
! citic railroad by its own immediate agents.
! such aTolicy would increase the patro-
! mage Of the executive to a dangerous ex-
| tent. and introduce a system Of iobbinr
| and corruption, which no vigilance on
! the part of the Federal officials could
| either prevent or detect. This can only
| he done by the keen eve, and active and
| careful supervision. oiiudiyidual and pri-
| waite interest. The construction OF this
| road ought. therefore, TO be committed
! TO companies incorporated by the States
| nr other agencies whose pccuniary inter
| c-t- would be directly involved. Con
/ ,res- might then asaist them in the work
| .y grants of land or Of money. or both.
| gUder such conditions and restrictions as
| would secure the transportation of troops
/ and munitions Of war free from any
! charge, and that of the United .States
| mail at a fair and reasonable price.
! The progress ,of events since the COM
! ueucymeut ofyour last session. has shown
/ how soon difficulties disappear before a
| firm and determined resolution. At that
| slime. such a road was deemed by wise
| and patriotic men. to he q visionary pro-
| 5ert. The great distance to be overcome.
! and the Intervening mountains and de
| -.l's in the way, We're obstacles which, in
| the opinion of many. could not be sur
! mounted. Now, after the lapse OF but
| single year, these obstacles. ii has been
/ discovered are far less formidable than
! ,hcy were supposed TO be; and mail stages.
| with passengers. now pass and repass re-
! -Uar.y. twice in each week, by a common
wlgou-road between san Francisco and
! 10 Louis and Memphis, in less than twenty
| five days. The service has been as reg
Ilarly performed. as il was in former years
| between New Y orl and this city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to APP
| W0Wiate money. Tor the construction Of
| This road. except that derived from the
vdr-makiug power OF the constitution
there are important collateral con,idera-
ti0ns urging u- To undertake the work as
| speedily as possible.
The first and most momentOus Of these
il, that such a road would be q powerful