Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-11

guarding more effecrually our own coasts.
accordingly rec mmend the passage of an act
for this purpose
. me suggestions contained in the report of
the Secretary of the Interior especially those
In regard TO the disposition of the public do
main, the pension and bounty land system. the
policy towards the Indians, aud the amendment
OF our p1tent laws, worthy OF the serious
consideration Of Congress
The Post Office Department occupies posi-
uon very differ ent from that of the other De-
partments- For many years it the policy
OF the Government TO render this a self sus-
tanning Department; and il this Cannot now be
accomplished, in the present CONDITION of the
country, We ought to make an approach
70 II a. may be practicable.
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 he done without heavy de-
mands upon the Treasury and above what
is received for postage; and these have been
progressively increasing from year to year, un-
I'll Tn amounted for the lat fiscal year, end
ing 3nth June, 1858, 10 than four mil.
Hous and half of dollars; whilst IL ia estimat-
ed that for the present h-cal year they will
amount t. 81. 290 900. TEese sums are exclu-
sive Of the annual appropriation of S70u,nOO
f'r Compensation for the mail service per
formed for the two Hous,s ot Congress and
the oth"r Departments and officers of the &C.
ver"m"nt IN the Transportation of free matter.
The cause OF these large d,6cit- is mainly
attributable to the Increased expense Of trans
porting the mails. In 1852 the sum paid for
this service wa nut fraction above four mil
lions aud quarter. Since that wear it has
uuaiIy increased until IN lS5s it has reached
more than eight millions and quart"r; aud
for the SERVICE at 1889 il i estimated that it
viii amount TO more thsn {, II millions of dol
Lars.
The rec ipts of the Post Office Department
can b. ut de. Ia approach or To Equal IL e1p"u-
diture only by means Of the legislation of Con.
gres-. IL applying any remedy, should
be taken that the people shall not be deprived
Of the advantages which they are fairly euti-
tied TO enjoy from the Post Office Department
The principal remedies recommended to the
consideration ot Congress by the Postmaster
Gene al ARE reStO e the former rate of pos
thg- upon single letters TO Eve cents; Ia sub
sttufe for the frAtking privil, G. the delivery
10 thos' entitled % erj.y it Of post Office
stamps Tor their correspondence, aud to direct
the Department, in making contracts for the
transportaton of the mail. 10 coftre / sell {"
the payment Of the necessary tor tits sn-
gle pa pose, without r'qIiruG IL To bc trans
ported in post coaches or carriages at any par
ticul,r de-cripti "a. Under the present sy-tem
the expense To the Government j. greatly in
creased by requiring that the mail shall be
carried in such vehicles a. will accommodate
passengers Tn will be done without pay
from the d .partmeut over all rond- where the
travel will rruuuertte the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
consideration OF Congress
| would again call attention to the constrnc.
tinu OF a icIfic railroad. Time AID ref ctou
have but served 10 confirm me in the Il nth d
ia ticr OF the ob-ervaton- which mad" on thi-
snhj ct in my last aunal message, TO which
Big leave respectfully 20 refer.
IL IL freely admitted that il would be inex pc
dient foe this Government To exercise the pow
er .! constructing the Pacific IA irnad by IT,
Immediate agents. Such policy would
increase the p'troung" of the Tx, curive Ia A
dangerous extent, AID introduce system %
iobbing and corrupti"n which 10 vigilance OF
the p.rt uf Fede,al officials could eithrI
proven, or d-tect. This oniv be- done by
the keen Eye and active and careful ~uptrv
sion OF Individual aud private interest. The
construction oi this road oughf, therefore, to be
committed 10 cutnpauicsi Incorporated toy tht
Sts'es. or other agrnci WHOSE p"curitry inter
eSt-wculd Tee DIR, CITY Involv, Il. CrGgress NIGH
then assist thcIn ia the work by grants Of lanc
or ct money OF by both, uud-r such condition,
aud r.-tric'iirts as would secure the transpor
tation of troops ard munitions of free from
any charge aud that of the United States mai
at a fair aid r'.a-Ouahlr price.
Tue progress If events since the commence
ment Of your last session ha~ shown how sooI
diihculti"s disappear before hrm ani deter
min, resolution At that time such roaC
was deemed by wise aud putriuGic to he
\ visionary project. The graf distance to he
overcome aud the intervening mount tinS rnt
deserts ir the WAY, obstacles which, III
the opItinu at IA any, cOuit UOt be sIirnIpuntcd
Now after the apse oi tut a sirgl- year
these 0b~tacl,s IL has b-eu discover II, are is
less furU'dabie than they were supposed To- be
aud mail -tages with passengers, pa -
and r-paSs regularly, t~icr ia each week, hy
common wagon road between >an Franci>c,
aud II Louis and Memphis, in l,,ss than tween
ty-fve DAYS. The service has been a. rrgu
larry perfnrmrd A. IL in f,rner years be
tween New York AID thus city.
Whilst discIaiming all authority 10 appro
pirate money for the construction OF this road
except that derived (, ou, the war-uiakir g powc
at the Constitution, there are important col
lateral CONSIDERATIONS ugrg Us To undertake
the work speedily possible.
The first and most momeutous of these i
that such a read would br powerful buud q
union between the States east and west oi ia,
Il pcky Mountains This is so seif-evidcut a
To require no illustration.
But again, in commercial point of view
consider tni+ the great Question of the day
Win the eastern front Of our public stretch
ing along the Atlantic, and It's western tron
along the Pacific, II all the parts should b
united by a safe easy, and rapid inter cummu
nictIou, must necessarily command Yer.
large proportion OF the trade both ~ Europ
aud Asia Our recent tr,aIi,s with China ant
Japan will open these rich aud popunu~ em
pirts TO c"mmerce; aud the history OF Tn
world proves that the nation which has game,
possession OF the trade with Eastern Asa la
always become wealthy aud powerfuI. TIL,
peculiar geographical position ut California
and our Pacific possessions Invites Americ Il
capital ard enterp iSe into this ru ;iul field
To reap the rich harvest, however, IL l. an ia
di~peu~sbie prerequisite that We shall hrs
have a railroad To cnuycy ana circulate IL
products throughout every p r'ion oi tn
O. ion. Besides, Sucir railroad through GU
tc, D, rate hIiud,, which would not be in
peI,d by the trOStS and lows OF winter ~"
by tie tropical heats OF summer, would attrsc
to Itself much OF the uavrl and the uad' q
aIi nations passing between Europe and IA
Ga tie 2!,J OF August last Lieut. J. n. Mai
fit, at the > big DulptV,, captured the la
yer Echo, Formerly the Puuam ct New Or
leans, I,rat hay VERDI, the coast oi Cuba
with more tIBi 3Iu Al, IcHI ur goes Oh Ooatd
The prIz., ur der the command Of Lieut.. Brad
frd, of the L. :. y, arr vrd at Charleston OF
the - tn ut Angus; ven the neg oes, thFrt
huuur-d aud ~ix ia number, we're d,ly' red li't
the cuSi1dV ot the L. y, MARSHAL Tor the di-
tri.l "f South CarolIua. They were fist plA
c,d il Castle Pinc Enev, and afterwards II, For
Sunpf,r. Tor safe kreFine, and we detaiac'
Ih-Ie until the lgth II September, when th
II rVivurs, 27l in nutubrr, w-te Delivered ul
H. AID the [. :. Ni-gr,s, tu toe tISts
IHted 10 the coast al Atiic- as'der tie charg
Of thr agent OF the United STATE, pursuant q
the provisions oi ti.e act OF e sd March, Is
''in addition 20 the acts prohibiting the sisv
1 adr." Under the 2d section oi this act IA
I'r silent Is authorized To make such r, gula
mons and arrangements SO lie uay deem "a pt
dent Tor the safe keeping. support sud RENE
val, beyond the limits OF the u. -, of all sue