Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-12-11

have performed in a spirit of Just economy. Tn,
estimates of the treasury war navy and intero,
| departments, have each been in some degrees re
duccd; and unless sudden and unforeseen EN-
ergency should arise, 1t is not anticipated that 4
uencleney VIII exist In either within the present OF
| ine next hscal year. The post office department
Is placed IN peculiar position different from tbe
other departments, and to this shall hereafter
| refer
Invite Congress to institute rigid scrutiny to
ascertain whether the expenses in all the depart.
mcnts cannot be still further reduced; and prom
isc them all the aid in my power in pursuing the
| Investigation. WV
transmit herewith the reports made TO me Inv
the secretaries of war, of the navy of the nteri
| or, and of the postmaster general They each
| contain valuable information and important ~.
commentators, to which invite the attention of
| Congress. vi
In my last annual message / took occasion to
recommend the immediate construction of ten
small steamers, light draught, for the purpose of
increasing the efficiency Of the navy. Congress
responded to the recommendation by authorizing
me construction OF eight of them. The progress
which has been made in executing this autboritv
Is stated in the report of the secretary oftbe navy
concur with him in the opinion that A greater
number OF this class ofvesses is necessary for tho
purpose OF protecting in more efficient manner
the persons and property of American citizens IN
the high seas, and IN foreign countries. as we'll ne
IN guarding more ehcctually our own coast, | ac-
cordlngly recommend the passage of an act for
this purpose. ~ W
The suggestions contained in the report or tho
secretary of the interior, especially those in re-
gard to the disposition OF the public domain the
pension and bounty land system the policv to
wards the Indians, and the amendment of our
patent laws, are worthy of the serious considera-
ton of Congress.
The post Office department occupies a postion
very different from that OF the other departments
For many years 1t was the policy of the govern
mcnt TO render this seltsustaining department.
~ Rnn h..
present condition OF the country, we ought 10
make as near an approach to 1t as may be practi-
cable. The postmaster general is placed in a most
embarrassing position by the existing laws He
is Obliged to carry these into effect. He has no
other alternative. lie finds, however thar this
cannot be done without heavy demands upon the
treasury over and above what Is received for post-
age; and these have been progressively incr .as.
my from year to year until they amounted for the
last fiscal year ending on the Both June 1873 10
more than four millions and half of tolInrs.
whilst II Is estimated that for the present fiscal
year they will amoant to Sc 100000 These sums
are exclusive OF the annual appro priation of 500
600 for compensation for the mail seryic, ner
formed for the two houses of Congress aud the
other departments and officers of the govern
ment IN the transportation OF free matter"
The cause OF these large deficits is mainly AT.
uloutaoe 10 the Inc eaSed expense of tran port
M the mails. In 1872 the sum paid for this ser
wee was but fraction above four millions and a
quarter. Since that year IL has annually increased
untll in lsjS 1t has reached more than eight mil
lions and quarter; and for the service OF lSjJit
j. esulhate.l that II VIII amount to more than ten
millions of dollars.
The receipts of the post office department can
BE- made u approach or TO ecu Al its cxpeuditurr
only by means of the legislation Of Congress. In
applying ANY remedy, care should be taken thar
the people shall not be deprived of the adyantages
which they are fairly entitled to enjoy from fbc
post oihce department. The principal remedies
recommended TO the consideration of Congress
by ihe postmaster general to restore the form.
err rate OF postage upon single letter, To We cents
TO substitute for the ranking privilege the drly
cry to those now entitled TO enjoy IT, OF post Office
stamps for their spondence aud TO direct the
department, In making contracts for the trauspor-
tation OF the mail, to confne itself To the p,ymen,
OF the sum necessary tor this single purpose
without requiring II to be transported in most
coaches or carriages of any particular description.
Under the present system the expense TO the roy-
erhueh' Is greatly Increased, by requiring that the
mall shill be carried in such vehicles as Will ac-
commodafe passengers. THIS will be done with
oit pay from the department, over all roads where
fbesc ICON @ii men eEoen; deserve he
5 deration of Congress.
would again call your attention to the con.
struction OF Pacific railroad. Time and rcilec-
ton have but served TO confirm me in the truth
an1 justice of the observations which I IN al, on
this subject in INV last annual message. to which
| beg leave respe fully TO refer
IL Is freely admitted that II would be inexpedi-
nf
constru ting the Pacific railroad BY its own imme.
diatc agents. Such policy would increase the
patronage oil the executive 10 a dangerous extent
an Introduce system of jobbing and corruption
when no vigilance on the part of federal officials
could either prevent or detect. This can only be
done by tue keen eye, aud active and careful SUI
pervisioa, OF individual gnd private interest The
construction of the road ought therefore 10 be
committed TO companies incorporated by the
states, or other agencies whose secondary i,teress
would be directly involved. Congress mi .ht then
assist them in the work by grants of land or of
money, or BOTH under such conditions and p
strictons as would secure the transportation of
troops and munitions of war free FINN any
charge, aud that OF the United States mail M n
fair and reasonable price.
The progress of events since the commence.
ment of YOUR last session has shown how soon
difficulties disappear before firm and determined
resolution. Al that time such road was deemed
by wise and patriotic men TO be visionary pro-
Ject. The great distance 10 be overcome and the
intervening mountains and deserts in the way.
were obstacles which, in the opinion of many.
could not be surmounted. Now, after the lapse
of hut n single year. these obstacles, il has been
discovered, are iar less formidable than thew
were supposed to be; and mail stages, with pas
sensers, now pass and repass regularly twice in
each week, ny common wagon road between
San Francisco and st Louis and Memphis in less
than fwcnty- five DAYS. The service has been as
regularly performed as ii was in former years be.
tween New York aud this city Whilst lisclaim-
luz uIl authority 10 appropriate money for the
construction OF this road, except that derived
from tue war making power of the constitution.
there are important collateral considerations urp.
ing US to undertake the work as speedily as posi-
bic The first ard most momentous of these is,
that such Il road would be a powerful bond of
union between the states east and west of the
Rocky Mountains. This is SO self-evident as to
require no illustration.
But again, in commercial point of view,
consider his the great question of the day. With
efraf gh
the Atlantic, aud its western front along the Pa
cihc, II all The parts should be united by a safe
easy, and rapid communication, we must neces
sarly command very large proportion of the
trade both of Europe and Asia Our recent treat
les with China and Japan will open these rich and
popuous emp res TO our commerce; aud the his
tory of the world proves that the nation which
has gained possession Of the trade with Eastern
Asia has always become wealthy aud powerful
The peculiar geographical position of California
ann our Pacltc possessions invites American can-