Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1858-12-10

4
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 n
| greater number of this class of vessels is ne
cessary, for the purpose of protecting in
more efficient manner the persons and property
| of American citizens on the high seas, and in
foreign countries, well as in guarding more
effectually own coasts. | accordingly re-
commend the passage Of an act for this pur
| pose.
The suggestions contained il the report Of the
Secretary of the Interior, especially those in
gaap to the disposition of the public domain, the
pension and bounty land system, the policy tow
ards the Indians and the amendment of our patent
laws, are worthy of the serious consideration of
Congress.
The Post Office Department occupies posi-
ton very different from that of the other de-
partments. For many years IL was the policy
of the government to render this self-sustain
ing department; ard if this cannot now be
| complished, in the present condition of the
country, we ought TO make near an approach
to it as may be practicable.
The Postmaster General is placed in most
embarrassing position by the existing laws.
He is obliged to carry these into effect. He
has no alternative. He finds, however, that
this cannot be done without heavy demands
ceived for postage; and these have been pro-
gressively increasing from year to year until
they amounted for the last fiscal year on the
Both June, 1853, to more than four millions and
a half of dollars; whilst it is estimated that for
the present fiscal year they will amount to Sc,
2g0. 900 These sums are exclusive of the an
nual appropriation of S1OO,OOO for s.compen-
sation for the mail service performed for the
two houses of Congress and the other depart
ments and officers of the government in the
transportation of free natter
The cause of these large deficits is mainly at
tributabe to the increased expense Of transporting
the mails. In 1892 the sum paid for this service
but a fraction above four millions and a quar-
ter Since that year it has annually increased un-
til in 1858 it has reached more than eight millions
and quarter; and for the service OF 1853 it is
timated that it viii amount to more than ten mil
lions Of dollars.
The receipts of the Post Office Department
can be made t. approach or to equal its expen-
ditures only by means Of the legislation of Con-
gress. In applying any remedy, care should be
taken that the people shall not be deprived of
the advantages, which they are fairly entitled
TO receive from the Post Office Department
The principal remedies recommended to the
consideration Of Congress by the Postmaster
General aud to restore the former rate of
postage upon single letters To five cents: to
substitute for the iranking privilege the de
livery TO those now entitled 10 enjoy it, of post
office stamps for their correspondence, and To
direct the department, in making contracts for
the transportation of the mail to confine itself
to the payment of the sum necessary for this
single pnrpOse, without requiring it to be
transported in post coaches or carriages oc any
particular description. Under the present sys-
ten, the expense Of the government Is greatly
increased, by requiring that the mail shall be
carried in such vehicles as will accommodate
passengers. This will be done without pay
from the department, over all roais where the
travel will remUnerate .Lc contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave consideration
OF Congress.
would again Gall the construction OF
Pacific railroad. Time AMI rejection have served
confirm that truth ami Ise. Of observation
wich made, On ts sutIect, llst annual message
to which beg leave respe .tfully to refer
II freely admitted that IL Woull b. inexpiient for
this To exercise the power OF constructing tie
P'ede railroad by is own nme. at lSsnis s4,h Doll
ruptOn, which v,gilnce tie part officials
could prevent detect This only be done ~
the eye, and active and careful supervision of iu!
yu ami private interest lie ustruton ot tuis roti
ought therefore To be conn" ttci 70 comp tnes lncorri
tel by the Stat- other agencies whose pe,unary in
would directly uvol'ci Congress might then
them in the work by grants Of land of money
of both unier such conditions ami restrictions wouH
the transportation OF troops ant mud tons Of
free from ch ami that OF the United states mail
at a fair and re IsonItle price.
The progress the commencement Of your
last has shown how difficulties disappear be
fore firm determined resolution. tthat tune, such
a road dcein- by AMI patriotic 10 De- Wis
ionary project great distance be overcom-. AMI
the intervening mountI ins AMI deserts the
obstacles which in the opinion of many could not be-
mounted Now. alter the lapse OF hut srg- year, these
Obstacles, it has been dscpyerci tty l-ss formidable
than they supposed 10 b. ami STAGES, with
Passengers, pass AMI repass gulrly twice each
week. by common wagon ruId between Fan Francisco
ami ST Louis and Memphis in than twenty five iays
The service has t-vn rtsua-l performed As 1t was,
former years, between New York aui this cily.
Whist dIsctmIng all authority 10 Appropriate money
Tor the construction OF this roa except that erIye from
the making OF the constitution there I'M
port mt coate raj nicritOgs urging TO unertIke
the work speedily possible
The first and most momentous OF these is that such
roai would be powerful boni Of union between the
States ami west OF the Rocky mountains This is
SELF evident as to require illustration.
But again a commercial point Of view consider this
the great question Of the day With the EASTERN front Of
republic stretching along the Atlantic and its western
front along the Pacific ii all the plts sLuB be uuei hy
a saie easy. cni rapid intarcommunicdton, must
cessirly command very Urge proportion Of the trade
both of Europe and Asia.
Our recent treaties with Chin. iran open these
rich and populous empires to and the his
tory the world proves that TIE which has gained
possess Of the trade with Eastern Asa. has plways be-
wealthy and powerful The peculiar geographical
position California and Pacific possessions Invites
American capital and enerpri,e into this fruitful hold To
the rich harvest however Is indispensable pre-
requisite that shall first have railroad TO convey AMI
circulate its produce throughout every portion of the union
Besides. such railroad through temperate latitude,
which would not be imperd by the trOsis and OF
by the tropical Of summer would attract
TO itself much of the travel and trade Of ali nations passing
between Europe and Aeii.
On the 2lst of August last Lieut. J. n Maft. of the
United brig Dolphin captured the SLAYER Echo
formerly the Putnam Of New Orleans Kay Verde,
Cuba with than three hundred Airi
negroes board. The prize under the command
Lieut. Bradford of the United States Navy arrived at
Charleston the 2. tn August when the three
hunilref ani number delivered into the clstO
dy of the United States Marshal for the district of South
Carolina They frst placed in Castle Pinckney and
aerward in Fort Sumper for safe keeping and de-
tanet there until the 18th September when the survivors,
two buEir-d AMI seventy number delivered
board United Niagara be portpd
to the of Africa uuder the charge of the tie
United States pursuant TO the provisions Of the act Of the
81 March, 1919 sin addition to the acts prohibiting the
slave trade
Under 81 OF this the President .autho-
NAV exped nt for the keeping support
moval beyond the limits of the United States of all such
negroes, mulaoes persons of coOr captured by
sells OF the United states may be delivered to the
shall of the district into which they brought and
appoint proper persons residing upon the coast
of Africa, agent agents for receiving the negroes
muatoes, persons Of color delivere board
sells seized in the prosecution Of the slave trade BY
manders of the united states armed vessels.''
doubt Immediately to the true construction of
this act 1t is quite clear from its that the Presi
dent authorized 10 provide 'for the keeping sup
port and removal OF these up the time OF
their delivery - the agent the of Africa but
express provision made for their protection and sup
port after they had reached the place their
still agent to be appointed 10 receive them in
Africa hay. been