Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-04

The Postmaster Genefal is placed in most embarras
sing position by the existing laws He obliged to carr
these into effect He has no other alternative He finds
however, that this cannot be done without heavy de
mans upon the treasury and above what Is
for postage and these have been progressively increasing
from year to year until they amounted for the last
year ending on the 30h June, 1883 to than fou
millions and half of dollars whilst is estimated that
for the present fiscal year they will amount to Sc $50
600 These exclusive of the annual appropr;
ton of 500 900 for compensation for the nail service
performed for the two houses of Congress and the other
departments and officers of the government in the trans
| portation of free matter.
The of these large deficits is mainly attributable
to the increased expense of transporting the mails In
1852 the sum paid for this service but fraction
above four millions and quarter Since that ye1r ba,
annually increased until in 1858 it has reached more than
eight millions and quarter aud for the service of 1859
IL is estimated that it will to more than ten mill
lions of dollars
The receipts of the Post Office Department can he made
to approach to equal its expenditure only bv means
the legislation OF Congress. In applying any remedy
should be taken that the people shall not no IA
pived Of the advantages, which they fairly entitled to
enjoy from the Post Office Department The pripciraI
remedies recommended to the consideration of roncrs
by the Postmaster General restore the former rate
of postage upon single letters to five cents TO substitute
for the Thanking privilege the delivery to those now
tied to enjoy it, of post office stamps for their CORES
pondence and to direct the department in making con-
tracts for the transportation Of the mail to conne itself
to the payment of the necessary for this single mr.
pose without requiring it to be transported in rot
coaches carriages of particular DESCRIPTION Indr
the present system, the expense the government is
greatly increased by requiring that the mail shall be car
rled in such vehicles will accommodate PASSENGERS
This will be done without pay from the department over
all roads where Che travel will remunerato the contract
These recommendations deserve the grave considera
ton OF Congress
would again call your attention to the construction
OF Pacific railroad Time and reflection bav. INIT
IN i'm truth
servatlons which made. this subject i'm INV last an
nual message to which beg leave respectfully to re-
fer
1t is freely admitted that it would be inexpedent for
tS government to exercise the power of constructing
the Pacific railroad by its immediate agents Sucb
oy would increase the patronage of the executive to
dangerous extent and introduce a system of o!,inp
and corruption, which vigilance on the part of federal
ohclas could either prevent detect This can only be
done by the keen and active and careful su,ervso
OF individual and private interest The construction of this
ROAD therefore, to he committed companies ncor
porated by the States other agencies whose pcuna,
interests wouc lie directly involved. Congress might
the assist them III the work by grants of land or of
money both under such conditions and restrictions ms
would secure the transportation of troops and munitions
vi war tree from charge and that of the limited States
mail at a fair and reasonable price
Inc progress OF events since the commencement of
your last session. has shown how difficulties dis ipper
before iilm and determined resolution At that time
such road deemed by wise and ,atriotic mon
to be a visionary project The great j;St.r,., - H.
overcome, and the intervening mountains and deserts in
the way were Obstacles which, in the opinion of many
could not be surmountcd. Now after the lapse of but
single Year, these obstacles it has been discovered arc
far less formidable than they were suppose tn 10 aud
na stages with passengers pass and repaSs regular
~, twice in each week, 10y wagon road bewecn
Dan Francisco and St. Louis and Memphis in less than
twenty-five days The service has been as regularly per
ioiheu as IL WAS, In former years, between New York
and this city.
Whilst dIsclamins all authority appropriate money
Tor the construction of this road except that derived from
the making power of the constitution there are inn
portaht collateral considerations urging to undertake
the work as speedily possible
The first and most monentous of these is that such
road would be powerful bond of union between the
States east and west Of the Rocky mountains This is 90
seli-eVllcnt as to require no illustration
But again, in commercial point of Wow oon,iIr,
this the great question of the day With the eastern
front OF our republic stretching along the Atlantic and it,
%ssse 'front.' along the Pei a, if al the ssId rs
must necessarily command very large proportion OF the
trade both of Europe and Asia Our recent treaties with
China and Japan will open these rich and popuous en-
prcs to our commerce and the history of the world
proves that the nation which has gained possession of the
trade with Eastern ASIA has always become wealthy and
powerful The peculiar geographical position of Cifr
mia and our Pacific possessions invites American cpital
and enterprise into this fruitful field To rap the rich
harvest however, it Indispensable prerequisite that
We shall first have railroad TO convey and circulate its
products throughout every portion of the Union Be-
sides, such railroad through temperate latitude
which would not be impced by the osts and SHOWS of
winter nor by the tropical heats of summer would at
tract to itself much of the travel and the trade of all na
tons passing between Europe and Asia.
On the 2lst OF August last, Lieut. j. N Maft of the
United States brig Dolphin captured the SLAYER echo
formerly the Putnam of New Orleans near Kay Verde
the coast of Cuba, with than three hundred Ari
can negroes board The prize. under the command of
Lieut. Bradford of the United States navy arrived at
Charleston on the 9th August when the negroes
three hundred and six in number, delivered into
the custody of the United States marshal for the dis
trict of South Carolina. They first placed i'm Castle.
Plnckney, ana afterwards in Fort Sumter tiekeep-
ing, and were detained there until the 18th September
when the survivors, two hundred and seventy one in
number delivered 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 Ia
the provisions of the act of the 81 March, 1919 lin al
dton to the acts prohibiting the slave trade" Under
the I'd section OF this act the President is authorized to
make such regulations and arrangements he deem
expedent for the safe keeping support and removal be-
yond the limits of the United States Of al such negroes
muattoes persons of color captured by vessels If the
United States he delivered to the marshal of the
district into which they brought land to appoint
proper person persons residing upon the coast o
Africa as agent or agents for receiving the negroes mu
lattos, or persons of color delivered from board yes
Sells seized IN the prosecution of the slave trade Ly CON-
manders OF the United States armed vessels
doubt Immediately to the true construction
OF this act 1t is quite clear from its that the
President authorized provide sf,r tine keen.