Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-10
:. dopar,ments, and to hi, shall hereafter

. refer.
invite Congress to institute rigid scru-
. tiny % ascertain whether the expenses In
, all the departments cannot be still farther
reduced; and promise them all the aid In
, nv power, in pursuing the investigation.
| transmit herewith. the reports made Ia
me hy the Secretaries OF War. OF the Navy,
Of the Interior, and Of the Postmaster gene
raj They each contain valuable inlorma.
ton and important Recommendations, 20
which invite tic attention OF Congress.
In my last annual message | took occa-
Aou 10 recommend the immediate consirue-
ton at ten small steamers, light draugh,,
for the purpose of increasin: the efficiency
OF the Navy. Congress responded u the
Recommendation by authorizing the con-
slrlctian OF eight Of them. The progress
which has been made in executing this au-
thority Is stated in the Report OF the Sccrc-
tary oC the Navy. concur with him in the
/ opinion. that greater number Of this class
oi vessels u necessary Tor the purpose OF pro-
tccting in more efficient manner the per-
suns aud property OF Amsricin citizens on
tho high seas. and ia foreign countries rs
well a. in guarding our own coast. ac-
ciriingly recommend the passage OF an act
iOr this purpose.
The suggestion contained in the rcpnr. OF
the Secretary OF the Interior, especially tho'r
IN rc.lrl u the disposition of the public
domain, tho pension and bounty land sys'
tom. the policy towards the indians, aud
/ the amendment of our patent laws, arc
worthy OF the serious consideration OF Con-
srrss.
The 7. O. Department occupies position
very different lr0m that Of the other depart
nrnts For many years It was the policy Of
TIE government 70 render this a self sustain.
in- department and II tins cannot now b.
accomplished IN the present condition OF
he country, we ought 70 make as near an
approach 10 IL a. may be practicable.
The Postmaster General Is placed IN a We
~ embarrassing position by the existing
laws. H. j. obliged 10 carry these into ei-
feet. Hehasul other alternative. H. finds
however, this ciunot d, duuc without heavy
demands upon the treasury over and above
what Is received Tor postage, and these have
been progressively Increasing from wear 10
year, uat,l they amounted lpr the last g..
al year, ending On tho 3Oth ~ June. 1883,
o. more than four million anil hall dollars.
whilst IL u estimated thAJ for the present.
a.cll year tlcy will amount % SG,2lO.OOO.
rhr-e sums ar, exclusive OF the annual NJ.
preparation Of S7O0, 600. tor "comPrn',t,cn
tor The mail service performed Tor the two
huus5. % Congress, and the other d'plri-
meat, and ollicrrs " the government IN the
transportation OF free matter"
The caus, OF the, larc, deficits !. mainly
attrihut,hl, q the increlssi expense ct
transporting the mails. IN 1859 the sum
paid Tor ih,, s'rvics was a fraction above
four millions and quarter. Since ihat
wear il has annually incrcasel until 10 1855
it las reached mlrc than eight millions AMI
= quarter and Cor the ,crJic, OF 1882 1: i
estimated that IL will anjlui 10 more than
ton millions.
The re Ipt. or the Pc, OFee Depart.
meni can b. made q approach " q clual
e.. c1prnliturrs only by cans o. the lrsi'.
atiln OF Congress. In applying any rene.
~. care should Dc taken that the people
shall not b, deprived Of the adNInhs's
which they arr fairly entitled q enl'y IRON
N, Pct ODE Department. The principal
r,n.lic, recommended o the consideration
Of Congress. BY the Postmaster General, arr
o restore the former rats OF postage upon
single letter, % tVl cents, q substitute Tor
the franklin; privilege, lh1 delivery O. those
now 'ntitlei o cnpy it, o! pat o'h'' stamps
ior th'ir clrrspJni'n'', and . direct ihe
department., IN making contracts iIr tho
transportation 81 the mails, % c,ndne It's ~
10 the payment Of the sum necessary fir
this purpose. without rclu,r.ng II - h.
transported ia post coaches 90 carriages Ut
,ug g.rticulAr description. Under the
prr-'nt 81, stem, the expense O. tho govern.
m'ni o, greatly increased bY requiring that
the mail shall be carried IN snch vehicles As
wall acc,mm'iite passengers This will b'
done without; pay from the department,
over all roads whore the travel will Tsnun.
erat' the contractors.
Tur., r',lnmsnil;i,n' d''rry' the grave
consideration ul Cbnsrcss.
wllIi again call YOUR att'ntion O. the
construction ol Pacific railroad. Time
aud reelection have hut s,-vci % confirm me
in tls truih AMI justice ol the observations
which made on thi. .ibj,c, in nv last IA.
uuL message, q which | be-; leave respect
fully % refer.
Ii .. irrgiy admitted that d, would be IN.
expHiitnt lur TIA. government - exercise
thc power ut constructing the Pacific Rail-
rOai hy - OWL immediate agents. such a
policy would increase the pAtronAs, OF the
.cN'c ,t,ye @ = dangerous extent. and intro
. dacs system Of lhbins Anl corruption
, which M vigilance on the part % FEDERAL
officials could either prevent or Dot ct. fhi'
can only be- done by the keen eye, and ac'
tiy, and careful supervision ct individual
. aud pryi, interest. tn, construction ol
TIN, rad ought therefore 20 bs c1mmlttei
to companies incorporated by the State. OF
other agencies whose pccunllry Interests
would brdrcc,ly involved. Congress NIGH
, then assist them in the Woyk ~ grants o
land OF Of money, or both, under such con
, ditiJus and restrictions as would secure th,
I transportation Ut troops AMI munitions O
' war Tree from any ch rye, AID that OF th'
I United States mail at a far aul rcaslnAbl,
4 price.
The progress Of events sine, the com
} mcnccmot OF your last session has shown
how -,on diihcul,iCs disappear before dc
i tcrmincl resolution. At that tim, such o
! rad was deemed by wis, and patriotic mel
T to be visionary PROJECT Tho great dstano
to b. overcome, and the intervening noun
taius and deserts in the way where obstacle
, which in IA, opinion Of many, could not b
surmounted. Now, after the lapse Of bu
single year. these obstacles, it has beer
discovered, are far les formidable than the,
were supposed TO be; and mail stages, witt
passengers, now pass and rcpas, rcsularl,
twice a week, by common wagon road b.
san Francisco and 81. Louis and Memphis
: in les than - days. The service has beef
As regularly performed as it was in forme
years between New York and this city.
4, Whilst disclaiming all authority 10 appro
i. PIRATE money for the construction OF thi
4 road. except that derived from the war ma