The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-16

property Of American citizens on the high
,eas, and in foreign countries, as we'll as In
guarding more effectually our own coasts. =
accordingly recommend the passage Of an
act for this purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report
Of the Secretary OF the Interior, especially
hose in regard to the disposition Of the pub.
lie domain, the pension and bounty land sys-
TEN, the policy towards the Indians, and the
amendment of our patent laws, are worthy
of the serious consideration Of Congress.
The Post Office Department occupies
position very different from that OF the other
departments. For many years it was the
policy of the government TO render this
self-sustAining department.; and If this can.
not now be accomplished, in the present
condition OF the country, we ought to make
as near an approach to it 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. He
finds, however, that this cannot be done
WlLuOut HcuNy hiO IOuSuiJ N'S'
and above what he receives for postage; and
these have been progressively increasing
from year to year until they amounted for
the last fiscal year ending on the 30th June,
1858, to more than four millions and half
of dollars; whilst it is estimated that for the
present fiscal year they win amount to $6,-
100000. These sums are exclusive of the
annual appropriation of 100000 for "com.
pensation for the mail service performed 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
attributable to the increased expense Of
the mails. In 1859 the sum
paid for this service was but attraction above
the four millions and Quarter! Since that
year it has annually increased until in 1858
it has reached more than eight millions and
a quarter, and for the service of 1859, it is
estimated that il will amount to more than
ten millions of dollars.
The receipts Of the Post Office Depart.
ment can be made to approach or to eq qual
its expenditure, only by means ofthe legis.
lation of Congress. In applying any rem.
edy, 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 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 delivery to those
now entitled to enjoy it, of post Office stamps
for their correspondence, and to direct the
department, in making contracts for the
Of the mail, to con6ne itself
to the payment of the sum necessary for this
single purpose, without requiring it to be
in post coaches or carriages of
any particular description. Under the pres.
ent system, the expense to 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
roads where the travel will remunerate the
contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
of Congress.
would again call your attention to- the
of Pacific railroad. Time
and reflection have served to confIrm me in
the truth and justice of the observations
which | made on this subject, in my last
annual message, to- which beg most re.
spectfuly to refer.
1t is freely admitted chat It would be inex.
pedient for this government to exercise the
power Of constructing the Pacific railroad by
its own immediate agents. Such a policy
would increase the patronage OF the execu
tive to dangerous extent, and introduce
system of jobbng 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 &C.
tive and careful superpervision of individual
and private interest.
The construction Of the road ought, there,
fore, to be committed to companies incor-
porated by the States, or other agencies
whose pecunary interests would be directly
involved. Congress might then assist them
in the work, by grants of land or Of money,
or both, under such conditions and restrc.
tions as would secure the transportation of
troops and munitions Of war free from any
charge, and that of the United States mail
u
The progress of events since the com.
of your last session, has shown
how soon difficulties disappear before firm
and determined resolution. At that time,
such road was deemed by wise and patri.
otto men to be a visionary project. The
great distance to be overcome, and the inter
venng mountains and deserts in the wav,
were obstacles which, in the opinion of
many, could not be surmounted. Now, af.
ter the lapse OF but single year, these OBJ
stacles, it has been discovered, are far less
formidable than they were supposed to be;
and mail stages, with passengers, now pass
and repass regularly, twice in each week, by
a common wagon road between San Fran
cisco and ST. Louis and Memphis, in less
than twenty-five days. The service has
been as regularly performed, as it was, in
former years, between New York and this
city.
Whilst disclaiming all authority to appro
pirate money for the construction of this
road, except that derived from the war-mak-
ing power of the constitution, there are i'm
portant collateral considerations urging US
to undertake the work as speedily as pos
slble.
The first and most momentous OF these is,
that such rold would be 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,
| considered this the great question of the
day. With the eastern front Of our republic
stretching along the Atlantic, and its west
ern front along the Pacific, il all the parts
eh ho ,o;toJ H., . .ncz > 1