Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-12-22
~fcoSr1SuEp FROM FIRST pAcE1

Navy, Of The interior, and OF the Post-
master General. They each contain
valuable information and important rec
omendaiious. to which l invite The atten-
ton of Congress.
In NV last annual message, | took nc
casion to recommend the immediate con-
struction of ten small steamers, Of light
draught. for the purpose of Increasing
the efficiency of The navy. Congress
responded 10 ;he recommendation, by
authorizing the construction of eight OF
them. The progress which has been
made IN executing This authority, is sta
ted in The report of the Secretary Of the
Navy. ! concur with him in the opin-
ION, that a.greater number OF this class
OF vessels is necessary, for the purpose
ct protecting 10 a mole efficient manner
the persons and property OF American
citizens on the high seas. and In foreign
countries, as well as in guarding more
effectualiy cur own coass. ! accord
ingly recommend The passage Of an aci
for this purpose.
The Suggestions contained in Tie re
port Of the Secretary Of The Interior, es-
pecially those in regard 10 The disposition
oftbe public domain, the pension and
bounty land system, the policy towards
the Indians, ami the amendment of cur
patent Laws. are worthy Of the serious
consideration of Ccngress,
The Post o@ce Department, occupies
8 position very different from that OF the
other departments. Fer many years it
was the policy of the government TO rem
Ger this a self-sustaining department;
and 1t this cannot nov be accomplished,
IN the present condition Of the country,
we Ought 10 make as near an approach
TO it as may be practicable.
The Postmaster General is placed in a
most embarrassing position by he ex-
isiing laws. He is obliged 10 cary
these into effect. He has no other alter
native. He finds, however, that this
cannot be done without heavy dement's
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 June,
1858. 10 more than four millions and a
half Of dollars; whilst it is estimated that
for the present fiscal year hey will
amount to Sc, 200. 600. These sums are
exclusive of the annual appropriation
of 500. 600 for compensation for the
mail service performed for the two hous-
es of Congress and the other depart
neats and officers of the government in
the transportation of free matter"
The cause of these large deficits is
mainly attributable 10 the increased tx
pense Of Transporting the mails. In 1859
The sum paid for this service was but a
fraction above four millions and a quar-
ter. Since that year ithas annually in
creased mill in 1853 il has reached more
thaa eight millions and a quarter; and
for the service OF 1859, it is estimated !
that it will amount TO more than ten mil 7
lions OF dollars. 1
The receipts of the Post Office Depart {
Hlent can be made TO approach or 10 q
equal lis expenditure, only by means of q
the legislation OF Congress. La applying v
any remedy, care should be taken that y
the people shall not be deprived of the Il
which they are fairly onli- n
lied 10 enj ~ from the Post Office Depart n
ment. The principal remedies recon- n
mended 10 the consideration OF Congress Il
BY The Postmaster General, are 10 tt store a.
The former Ia:e OF postage upon single l!
TO Eve eeR;s; TO substitute for the 4
privilege the delivery to those
now entitled 10 ca JOY it, of posto flIce L
for their correspondence, and to 81
direct The department. in making con {
tracts for The transportation Of the mail, IT
confne itself 10 the payment Of The sum hi
Necessary for tbs single purpose, with n;
,ut requiring it 10 be transported in post f1
or carriages of any particular TO
Under the present system, c.
he expense to the government is greatly c.
increased, by requiring that the mad be
.hail be carried IL such vehicles as will m
accommodate passengers. This will be to
lone without pay from the department d,
,ver all roads where the travel will re III
the contractors. n
These recommendations deserve the III
grave. consideration Of Congress. it
would again call sour attention 10 lie
he construction of a Pacific railroad = Or
Time and reflection have but served 10 ca
me in the truth aud justice OF er
he observations which | made, on this ca
in my last annual message, 10 DO
shlch | beg leave respectfully 10 refer. III
Il is freely admitted, that II would be W;
neypedien; for this government 10 exer- lot
Use The power Demonstrating the Pacific III
by its own immeGiate agents. ze
Such a policy would increase The pat 10
Ionage of TIE executive 10 a dangerous vi
xieni, and introduce a system of iobbing lh,
nd corruption, which no vigilance on lin
be part of federal officials, could either i'm
revemt or detect. This can only be done ha
y the keen eye. and active anj careful We
supervision, OF individual and private in W
The construction OF this road p
ught, therefore, tobe committed 10 com Al
'anies incorporated by the States, OF wi
Their agencies whose pecuniary Interests Ii
'ould be directly involved. Congress an
light then assist them in the work by Co
Of land or of money, or both, I'M len
er such conditions aud %reslric .5as as ira
'ould secure The transportation vi troops en-.
nd munitions of war free from any fv.
au6 that OF the United States AT
Iail at a fair ald reasonable Price. the
The progress of events since the com. inn
of your last session, has coz
lown how so3n difficulties disaPpea. a +,
sfore a firm and determined resolution. eli
I thai time, such road was deemed by wh
Use and patriotic men, 10 be a visionary cd
The grea, distance 10 be over the
aud The intervening mountains ard fyt
sc rts in the way, were Obstacles which, ak
the opinion of many, cou'd not lie lar.
lrmounled. Nov, after the lapse cf bee
II a single year, these Obstacles, it has an
zen discovered, are far less Formidable ca,
an they were supposed to be; and mail t.b
ages, with passengers, now pass am FOL
pass regularly, twice in each week, by sta.
common wagon-foad betveen Sln FIJI