The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-12-15

passage OF an act for this purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report of
the Secretary of the Interior, especially those
m regard TO The disposition o. the public do
main, the pension and bounty land system,
the policy towards the Indians and the
amendmentof our patent laws, are worthy
OF the serious consideration of Congress.
The Post Office Department occupies a
position very different from that of the other
departments. For many years it was the
policy ol The Government 10 render this self
sustaining department and if this cannot
now be accomplished, in the present cond.
ton OF the country we ought 10 make as
near an approach 10 i. as may be practicable.
The Postmaster General is placed in a
most embarrassing position by the existing
laws. He,is obliged 10 carry these inio ef-
tect. He has no other alternative He finds,
however, that this cannot be done without
heavy demands on the Treasury, over and
above what is received for postage and
these have been progressively increasing
from yearto year until they amounted for the
last fiscal year, ending on the 10th June,
1858, 10 more than four millions and half
OF dollars; whilst il is estimated that. for the
present fiscal year, they will amount TO So,
100000. These sums are exclusive of the
annual appropriation of $4,000 for ''com-
pensation for the mail service performed for
the two houses Of Congress aud the other
departments and officers of the Government
in the transportation of free matter"
The cause of these large deficits is main.
ly attributable TO the increased expense of
transporting the mails. In 1852 the sum
paid for this service was but fraction above
four million and quarter. Since that year
ii has actually increased until in 1858 il has
reached more than eight million and a quar-
Ter, and for service of 1859 it is estimated
that II will amount 10 more than len million
of dollars.
The receipts of the Post Office Department
can De made TO approach or TO equal its ex.
pendlture, only by 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 10 enjoy from the Post Office
Department. The principal remedies re.
commended TO the consideration of Congress
by the Postmaster General, we are to restore
the former rate of postage upon single let
letters 10 five cents to substitute for the frank.
ing privilege the delivery 10 those now en-.
titled 10 enjoy it, of post office stamps for
their correspondence, and TO Gilect the de.
partment, in making contracts for the trans.
portation of the mail, 10 confine itself 10 the
Payment of the sum necessary for this sim
gle purposes, without Tequiringit TO be trans.
ported in post coaches or carriages of any
peculiar description. Under the present
system, the expense to the Government is
greatly Increased, by requiring that the
mails shall be carried in such vehicles as
will accommodate passengers. This will
be done without pay from the department,
| over all roads where the travel will remuner.
nj 10 4 a.
deserve the grave consideration Of Congress
would again call your attention 10 the
| construction of a Pacific railroad. Time and
reflection have but served TO confirm me in
the truth and justice of the observations
which made on this subject, in my last
annual message, 10 which beg leave re-
spectfully to refer
1t is freely admitted that it would be mex.
pedlent for this Government 10 exercise the
power of constructing the Pacific railroad
by lis own immediate agents. Such policy
would increase the patronage of the eXecu-
tive TO a dangerous extent and induce a
system of jobbing and corruption, which no
vigilance on the part OF Federal officials
could either prevent or detect This can
only be done by the keen eye, and the active
and careful supervision of individual and
| private interest
The construction OF this road ought, there
fore, TO be committed 10 companies incor.
poraled by the States, or other agencies
! whose pecuniary interests would be directly
involved. Congress might then assist them
in the work by grants OF land OF of money,
or both, under such conditions and restric-
| tions as would secure the transportation oi
/ troops and munitions of war free from any
charge, and that of the United States mail al
| a fair and reasonable price.
| The progress of events since the com
mencemen! of your last session has shown
how soon difficulties disappearbefore firm
and determined resolution. AT that time
such road was deemed by wise and patri
otic men 10 be visionary project The great
| distance TO be overcome, and the intervening
mountains and deserts in the way, were OBJ
siaces which, in the opinion of many, could
not be surmounted Now afer the lapse o
but single year, these obstacles, ii has been
discovered, are far less formidable than they
were supposed 10 be ; and mail stages, with
passengers, now pass and repass regularly
| twice in each week, by a common wagor
road between San Francisco and ST. Loui,
and Memphis, in less than twenty-five days
The service has been as regularly perform
ed as it was in former years between New
York and this city.
While disclaiming all authority TO appro
! pirate money for the construction Of thi.
road except that derived from the war max
ing power of The Constitution, there are i'm
porlant collateral considerations urging us tt
undertake The work as speedily as possible
The first and most momentous oil these is
/ that snch road would be powerful bont
of union between the States east and ives
of the Rocky Mountains. This is so self
evident as TO require no illustration.
But again, in a commercial point Of view
consider this the great question OF the day
With the easternfrontoi our Republic stretch
ing along the Atlantic, and its western fron
along the Pacific, il all the parts should b.
united by a safe, easy, and rapid intercom
munication, we must necessarily command
a very large proportion of trade both o
Europe and Asia.
Our recent treaties with China and Japal
will open these rich and populous empire
10 our commerce; and the history of tn
world proves that the nation which has gain
ed possession of the trade with Eastern As
has always become wealthy and powetfu
The peculiar geographical position of Cali
fornia aud our Pacific possession invite
American capital. aud enterprise into thi
fruitful field. To reap the rich harvest
however, il is an Indispensable prerequish
that we shall first have railroad TO conve,
and circulate it's products throughout ever
portion OF the Union, Besides, such rail
road through our temperate latitude, whicI
would not be impeded by the frosts ant
SHOWS of winter nor nv the tropical heat oil