Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-12-22
VOL. 6---NO. 5.


eign tries, as we'll as in guarding more
effectually our own coasts l accordingly
recommend the passage of an act for this
purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report of
the Secretary of the Interior, especially
those in regard to the disposition of the
public domain, the pension and bounty-land
system, the policy towards the Indians, and
the amendment of onr patent laws, are wor-
thy of the serious consideration of Con-
gress.
The Post Office Department occupies
position very differ ent from that of the other
departments. For many years it was the
policy of the government to render this a
self-snstalning department; and if this can
not now be accomplished, in the present con-
dition of the country we ought to make as
near approach to 1t as may be practica-
Bile,
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 upon the treasury over and
above what is received for postage; and these
/ have been progressively increasing from year
] to year until they amounted for the last fiscal
year ending on the 30th of June, 1858, TO
! more than four millions and halfof dollats;
whilst it is estimated that for the present fs-
cal year they will amount to 5000. .OO0.-
I These sums are exclusive of the annual ap-
preparation of 500, ,020 for compensation
for the mail service performed for the two
houses of Congress and the other departments
and officers of the government in the trans
portation Of free matter"
The cause of these large deficits is mainly
attributable to the increased expense of trans
porting the mails In 1852 the sum paid
for this service was but fraction above four
millions and quarter Since that year it
has annually increased until in 1853 it has
reached more than eight millions and quar-
ter; and for the ervice of 1859 it is estima-
ted that it will amount TO more than ten mil
lions of dollars.
The receipts of the Post Office Department.
can be made to approach or equal its expen-
dituce, only 0y means of the legislation of
Congress. In applying any remedy, care
should be taken that the people shall not be
deprived of the advantages, which they are
fairly entitled to enjoy from the Post Office
Department. The principal remedies re-
commended to the. consideration of Congress
f by the Post Master General, are to restore
the former rate of postage upon single letters
to five cents; to substitute for the franking
privilege the delivery to those now entitled to
+ enjoy it, of postage stamps for their corre-
spondence and to direct the department, in
making contracts for the transportation of
E the mai to confne itself to the payment of
the sum necessary for this single purpose.
without requiring 1t to be transported in post
coaches or carriages of any particular descrip
ton Under the present system, the expense
to the government is greatly increased BY
, ! requiring that the mail shall be carried in
, | such vehicles as will accommodate passen-
gers This Will be done without pay from
the department, over oil roads where the
, travel will remunerate the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
: considerations Of Congress.
| would again call your attention to the
: construction of Pacific railroad. Time aud
reflection have but served 10 confirm Inc in
a.. the truth and Justice of the observations which
;. I made, on this subject, in my last annual
: message, to which beg leave respectfully to
refer.
1t is freely admitted that it would be in
. expedient for this government to exercise the
q power of constructing the Pacific ra iiroad by
4 It's own immediate agents. Such a policy
e would increase the patronage of the execu-
, tive to a dangerous extent, and introduce q
e system of iobbing and corruption, which nc
= vigilance on the part of federal officials could
either prevent or detect. This eau only be
= done by the keen eye, and the active ana
! careful supervision of individual and private
IS interest.
h The construction of the road, ought, there
= fore, to be committed to companies incorpo
J. rated by the States, or other agencies who's
Il pecuniary interests would be directly invoi
Il we'd. Congress might then assist them Il
is the work by grants of land or of money, o
IF both, under such circumstances and restric
tions as would secure the transportation c
" troops and munitions of war free from an
in charge, and that of the United States at
N fair and reasonable price.
is The progress of events since the com
st mencement of your last session has show
r. how soon difficulties disappear before frr
and determined resolution. At that tim
e. such a road was deemed by wise aud patri
II. otic men to be visionary project Th
u great distance to be overcome, and the lnte'
al vening mountains and deserts iu the way
e. were obstacles which, in the opinion of man
nv could not be surmoIuted. Now after Il
lapse of but atsingle year, these obstacles,
70 has been discovered, are far less formidab
v than they were supposed to be; and mail st
n, ges. with passengers, now pass and repa
"a regularly twice in each week, by eommC
% wagon road between San Francisco and s
Louis and Memphis, in less than twenty-h
u, davs. The service has been as regular
Of performed as it was in former years betwe
The New York and this city.
he Whilst disclaiming all authority to appr
M pirate money for the construction of this 70
of except that derived from the war maxi
zen mower of the Constitution, there are imp
in tant collateral considerations urging US to u
I dertake the work as speedily as possible.
ter The first and most nomentous OF these
ar7 that such a road would be powerful be
afE. Of uuion between The Ststcs east and xesi