The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-12-17

| lie Increased by M additional loan, ind would
| therefore strongly urge upon Congress the
| duty OF making, at their present session, the
necessary provision for meeting these liza
bilities.
The public debt on the LIST July, 1858, the
commencement of the present fiscal year,
was &25, 80 977 66.
| During the first quarter Of the present year,
the sum of 1000 900 has been negotiated
of the lo,n authorized by the act of l4ih of
June. lS5S-mnking the present outstanding
public debt, exclusive OF treasury notes. $780,
155.977 sc. There was on the lst of July,
1868, Of TREASURY notes issued BY authority
of the act Of December %, 1857, unrcdeemed,
the sum OF Notwithstanding the amount
of actual Indebtedness, ut that date, S54,9l0,.
TIT Sc. To this will be added $4,000, 900
during the present fiscal year-this being the
remaining half of the loan of S2O,000,000
not yet negotiated.
The rapid increase Of the public debt, and
the necessity which exists for n modification
of the tariff, TO meet even the ordinary ex-
penses OF the government, ought to admon-
ish us all, in our respective spheres of duty,
to the practice of rigid economy. The OBJ
jects Of expenditure should be limited in
number, rs fur ns this may be practicable,
and the appropriations necessary to carry
/ them into effect, ought to be disbursed under
the strictest accountability. Enlightened
economy does not consist in the refusal to
appropriate money for constitutional purpos
es, essential to the defence, progress, and
prosperity Of the republic, but in taxing care
that none of this money shall be wasted BY
mismnnagcment, in its application to the o5-
jects designated by law.
Comparisons between the annual expendi-
ture at the present time, and what it was ten
or twenty years ago, are altogether talacious.
The rapid increase of our country in extent
and population, renders corresponding in
crense of expenditure, to some extent, una
voidabe. This Is constantly creating new
objects of expenditure, and nugmenting the
amount required for the old. The true cues.
lions then, are, have these objects been un-
necessarily multiplied? or, has the amount ex.
pended upon any or all of them, been larger
than COMFORTS with due economy? In nc.
cordance with these principles, the heads of
4 the different executive departments of the
governments, have been instructed TO reduce
their estimates for the next fiscal year. to the
lowest standard consistent with the efficiency
of the service, and this duty they have per.
formed in a spirit of just economy. The es-
Inmates of The Treasury, War, Navy, and In
terror Departments, have each been in some
degree reduced; and unless sudden and IN.
foreseen emergency should arise, it is not
anticipated that deficiency will exist in
either within the present or the next fiscal
year. The Pos, Office Department is placed
in n peculiar position, different from the other
departments, and 10 this ] shall hereafter
refer. rs
| invite Congress to institute rigid scru-
tiny to ascertain whether the expenses in all
the departments cannot be still further re-
duced; and promise them all the aid ia my
power in pursuing the investigation.
| ] transmit herewith the reports made to
me BY the S cretnries OF War, of the Navy,
of the Interior and of the Postmaster Gener-
al. They each contnin valuable information
and important recommendations, to which
invite the attention of Congress.
| In my last annual message, ! took occasion
to recommend the immediate construction of
ten small steamers, of light draught, for the
purpose of increasing the efficiency of the
navy. Congress responded to the recon-
mendnti"n, by authorizing the construction az
eight of them. The progress 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 great
er number OF this class of vessels is necessary,
for the purpose of protecting in n more eff
cient manner the persons and property of
American citizens on the high sous, and in
foreign countries, MS well as in guarding more
eff ctualv our own coasts. | accordingly re.
commend the passage of an act for thia pur-
| pose.
The suggestions contained in the report of
the Secrrtary of the Interior, especially those
in regard to the disposition of the public do
main, the pension and bounty land system,
the policy towards the Indians, and the
amendment of our patent laws, are worthy
Of the serious consideration 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 self
sustaining department.; and il this cannot
now be accomplished, in the present condi-
ton of the country, we onght to make rs 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 eff
feet He has no other alternative. He finds,
however, that this cannot be done without
heavy demands upon the TREASURY over and
"""Ne """t ~ 'ec'Neu i"T pOSthge, anu ineSe
have been progressively increasing from year
10 yenr until they amounted for the last fs-
cal yenr ending on the 3Oth June, 1853, to
more than four millions and half of dollars;
whilst 1t is estimated that for the present
fiscal year they will amount to 5000, 0O0-
These sums are exclusive of the annual M
preparation of 100000 for compensation
for the mil service prrfnrmed for the two
houses Of Congress and the other depart
mel is and officers of the government in the
transportatior of free matter"
The cause Of these large deficits ia mainly
attributable to the increased expense of trans
porting the mails. In 1852 the sum paid for
this service WINS but n frnciion above four
millions and n quarter. Since that year II has
annually increased until il 1868 it has reach
ed more than eight millions and a quarter;
and fer the service of 1859, il il estimated
that it will amount TO more than ten millions
of dollars.
The receipts Of the Post Office Department
can be made to approach or to equal its ex-
ppndiiure, only by menns of the legislation
of Congress In applying any remedy, care
shonid be taken that the people shall not be-
deprived Of the advantages, which they are
fnrlv entitled to enjoy from the Post Office
Department. The principal re,"edi RECON-
m-nded TO tn" consideration Of Congress by
the Postmaster General, are to restore the
| former rate of postage upon single letters to
FIVE crnts;to substitute for the franking priv
bege the delivery to those now entitled to