Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-12-16

citizens on the high seas and in foreign countries,
as well as in guarding more efiectuaiiy our own
coasts. 1 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 bountyland system, the policy towards the
Indians. and the amendment of our patent laws,
are worthy of the serious consideration of Con-
gress.
The Post Office Department occupies position
very different from that of the other departments.
For many wears it was the policy of the government
to render this self-sustaining department; and if
this cannot now be accomplished in the present con-
dition of the country, we ought to make as 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
other 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 in
creasing from year to year until they amounted for
the last fiscal year ending on the 30th June, 1856,
to more than four millions and half of dollars;
whilst it is estimated that for the present fiscal
year they will amount to S6,290,000 The sums
are exclusive of the annual appropriation of $780,
900 for compensation for the mail service per-
formed for the two houses of Congress and the
other departments and officers of the government
in the transportation of free matter"
| The cause of these large deficits is mainly at
tributabe to the increased expenses of transporting
the mails. In 1852 the sum paid for this service
was but fraction above four millions and a
quarter Since that year it has annually increased
until in 1858 it has reached more than eight mil
lions and a quarter; and for the service of 1859,
st is 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 expenditures.
only by means of the legislation of Congress. In
applying anv remedy, care should be taken that the
people shall not be deprived of the advantages,
which they are fairly emitted to enjoy from the
Post Office Department. The principal remedies
recommended to the consideration of Congress by
the Postmaster General, are to restore the former
rate of postage upon single letters to five cents
to substitute for the franking privilege the de-
livery to those now entitled to enjoy it, of post
office stamps for their correspondence, and to di
rect the department in making contracts for the
transportation of the mail, to confne itself to the
payment ofthe sum necessary for this single pur-
pose without requiring it to be transported in post
coaches carriages OF any particular description.
Under the present system, the expense to the gov
eminent is greatly increased by requiring that the
mail shall be carried in such vehicles as will ac-
commodate passengers. This will be done with
out pay from the department, over all roads where
the travel will remunerate the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave con-
sideration of Congress.
would again call your attention to the con-
struction of Pacific railroad. Time and rehec-
ton have but served to confirm me in the truth
and justice of the observations which l made, on
this subject, in my last annual message, to which
beg leave respectfully to refer.
1t is freely admitted, that it would be inexpedient
for this government to exercise the power of con-
structiDg the Pacific railroad by its immediate
agents. Such policy would increase the patron
age of the executive to dangerous extent, and
introduce a system OF jobb!ng and corruption,
which no vigilance on the part of federal Oicais,
could either prevent or detect. This can only be
done by the keeneye and active and careful super
| vision of individual and private interest. The
construction Of this road ought, therefore, be COM
mitted to companies incorporated by the States,
other agencies whose pecuniary interests would be
directly involved. Congress might then assist them
in the work by grants or land or OF money! or both,
under such conditions and restrictions us would
secure the transportation of troops and munitions
of free from any charge, and that OF the United
States mail at far and reasonable price.
The progress of events since the commencement
of your last session, has shown how difficulties
disappear before firm and determined resolution.
At that time, such road was deemed by wise ami
patriotic men, to be visionary project The
great distance to be overcome and the intervening
mountains and deserts in the way, were obstacles
which, in the opinion of many, could not be sur
mounted. Now, after the lapse of but single
year, these obstacles, it has been discovered, are
far less formidable than they supposed to be;
and mail stages, with passengers, now pass and
repass regularly, twice in each week, by a COM
mon wagOn-road between San Francisco and St.
Louis and Memphis, in less than twenty-five days.
The service has been Us regularly performed, as
it was, in former years, between New York and
this city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to appropriate
money for the construction of this road, except
that derived from the war-making power OF the
constitution. there are important collateral con-
siderations urging us to undertake the work as
| speedily as possible.
The first and most momentous of these is, that
sucha road would be powerful bond of union
between the States east and west of the Rocky
mountains. This is so selferident as to require
no illustration.
But again, in a commercial point of view, | con-
slider this the great question Of the day. With the
eastern front of our republic stretching along the
Atlantic. and its western front along the Pacific,
if all the parts should be united by a safe, easy,
and rapid intercommunication, we must necessari-
| ly command very large proportion of the trade
both of Europe and Asia. Our recent treaties with
China and Japan will open these rich and populous
| empires to our commerce; and the history of the
world proves, that the nation which has gained
possession of the tade with Eastern Asia, has al
ways become wealthy and powerful. The peculiar
geographical position of California and our Pacific
possessions, Invites American capital and enter
prise into this fruitful field. To reap the rich
harvest however, it is indispensable prerequisite
that we shall first have a railroad to convey and
circulate its products throughout every portion of
| the Union. Besides, such railroad through our
temperate latitude, which would not be impeded
| by the frosts and SHOWS of winter, by the
tropical heats of summer, would attract to itself
much of the travel and tbe trade of all nations
passing between Europe and Asia.
On the 2lst of August last, Lieut. ). N. Maffit,
of the United States brig Dolphin, captured the
SLAYER "Echo,'' formerly the Putnam of New
| Oreans,) near Cay Verde, on the coast of Cuba,
with more than three hundred African negroes on
board. The prize, under the command of Lieut.
Bradford of the United Stated navy, arrived at
Charleston on the 9th August, wnen the negroes,
three hundred and six in number, were delivered
into the custody of the United States marshal for
the district of South Carolina. They were first
placed i'll Castle Pickney, and afterwards in Fort
Sumter, for safe keeping, and were detained there
until the 18TH September. when the survivors, two
hundred and seventy one in number, were delivered
on board the United States steamer Niagara, to
be transported to the coast of Africa, under the
charge of the agent of the United States pursuant
to the provisions of the act of the Cd March, l6l9
sin addition to the acts prohibiting the slave
trade" Under the ID section of this act, the
President is 'sauthorized to make such regulations
and arrangements as he may deem expedient, for
the safe-keeping, support, and removal beyond the
limits OF the United States, of all such negroes,
muattoes, or persons of color" captured by the
vessels of the United States, as may be delivered
to the marshal of the district into which they are