The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-01-06
REPORTS from the D.,.-,

y" 1oluRbia:... VI 'ne. UlSrlc
/ .*eporrs from the D.n,-,,.. =.
All the. .%rfetaries exhibit l,,o. -:
IN the expenses of their departments an;
presen' smaller estimates than usual for .,t., .
next years wants. o' ''t.f
lhe secretary cf tie nary, speaking of n.
successful ieruination of the Parapuav ..xn.
di,io', says tia, the cost of maints;n;na P. ~.
seven purtha.t.i ytssels'in. conlp,i sssien. Was
not much greater 'uEh tha. oi mainiui,is,y
single steam frigaie, +nu shat lbat, acou;,;-
tlon has enabled the department TO ad,,u,
more efficient measures for the supnr.sS;nn
"t the African slave trade. Since the COM
mencement OF the present administration.
twenty steam vessels have been added 10 the
"avv. tie rene~s the recommendation 10
sfiii further Increase the navy, and instead
"f perpeiuatng old vessels or expen.ing mil,
lions In constructing few large sbirs. il is
earnestly recommended TO prosecute with wig
or the hue OF policy which has been adopted
by C"nsress, and add much larger number
"f steamers. which can br maintained AT
comparatively small cost. He says ,ha, i: ia
{
that ~e. now. at times, are o'Iiged to sit by
pass'vely and see in some focsign countries
American citlzers Imprisoned, plundered and
ndrCered, because the executive has not the
means to protcc, them. He urges an in
crease In the marine, MT dical and pursers de-
paftments. lie narrates the operations IF
the various squadiOns during the last wear,
The department in May last made a cundi-
tional con,rac, with the Chiriqui improve
ment Company. and Ambrose W. Thompson.
for the purpose of securing very valuable
transit depot and naval station aid coal pri-
vileSes. in the province Of Chiriqui, with
ha,bor on the Atlantic, and another on the
Pacific side. 1t is fol Congress to carry out
The arrangement by making an appropriation
Of $300,0O0.
The secretary cft the Treasury, in his report
does not doub, that the receipts of the trea-
>nry for the present and next fiscal years,will
be fully equal to the estimates of the appro-
prlatinns made at the present session do rot
exceed the amount contained in the estimates.
1t IS believed that they can be met with the
ordinary ard extraordinary receipts already
provided by law. The estimated balance
that will be in the treasury on the Both dav
of June next is only S3.53O,O0O and leaves
no margin for additional appropriations.
1t therefore the appropriations should exceed
the estimates, or Congress should determine
Ia provide within this period for the payment
of any portion Of the public debt, it will be-
come necessary to make provision for such
contingencies. Ii additional demands are
created On the treasury by Legislation in the
present Congress. provision must be made 10
meet them hy such an increase Of tariff du-
ties as may be required for that purpose. In
such an event he respectfully refers Congress
10 his last report, as containing the views of
the department on that subject. AS no pro-
vision has been made for the permanet re-
demption of a:.y portion OF the twenty mil
lions OF treasury notes and as the authority
for issuing them expires on the 30ih of June
next, it will be necessary for Cong, ess to ex-
tend the law for that purpose for another pc
riod.
The Postmaster General gives an interest
ing accom-, of the affairs of the department.
Tie ad ,ucaies various reforms and trusts that
: Cci sress VII! either give vitality to the >pe-
ctc contract for carving the mails between
Portland and New Orleans by voting the nee
c>sars APP rnprlatiun, or else that il will indi-
C .te for The department such a Course of au
m!rislr alton as shall warrant il in closing
! some one Of the proposals which have been
received and which are nnw held under ad-
,erli>rmcnt. He urges action so as 10 secure
suitable post offices for New York and Ph, l.-
deiphia. He recommends the r.peal of the
: clause of the aci OF 1893, which d, Cares that
: in forwarding the mails 10 foreign countries
he preference shall be given to an American
, o>rr IA foreign steamship when departing
. Tor the same de>,ir alton within three days of
. each other Dispatch is the highest elemen,
: in the Ii. s>ion of til, department, and hence
hat legislation which provides for :ng
l. Instead OF accelt rating the mails, NAV he
= safely pronounced at least extraordinary in
, the r character. The post office department.
;:cco ring 10 the theory of its ursaulzatun
{! should be sel!-su>ialning; and because of the
ocular character of It's functions should no,
/ be a charge on the common treasury. The
"a postmaster general advocates the abolition
Y If the iranking privilege, and the suhs,ilu.
: ton of PREPAY ment 10y stamps, when It's =
). buses would tail where they belong. on the
!, government officials by whom they were per
u peiraied.
t ire Sccrcta,y Of wor says of tie army. of
r nea lv seventeen ,huu>a ID five hundred men
/ not more than eleven thousand are available
Il Tor active service in the field and tha, the,
+ are scattered over an area OF 4. .O00, 900 suuar,
e niles. lie homes 10 make such an alteration
Il in the disposition of the troops next season
= as will prevent any future repetition of tn,
e ouirageS on the southern and Mexican bor
Ii der>. He recommends the enlistment of
e men for a mounted corps for six months, lie
e .innii & in MAY. In actual battle With tn
II Int.la:.s, success is more owing to individua
;, prowess, skill IN arms. and horsemansbir
4, than to discipline. In point of econom,
T. great advantage would accrue 10 the coun,r
t from such corps. lie recommends a pro
ID vision for retiring, disabled and irfirm off
n ccIs. as a measure for increa 0as the eiiic-r
o. cy of the army. 1t is not deemed atlvisabs
). to proceed in the manutactory of ritied Can
III non beyond thuse required for experiments
T. purposes. The sec:.tary says it does not ar
a pear necessary To request any considerable
~ appropriation for additional masonry wor
~ Tor the Notifications; such as are not siron
ne enough to offer good defense agail st shir
u ping, may when the emergency arises, be re
4 irforced at small expense by earthern bal
ry ,eiies. properly con.bheI with them 70
r. mutual support. ard TO such extent as to Civ
Id an aggregate armament o: sufiic ent poue
v The army of Utah remains inactive, all
H. stands in the attitude of menacing fore
to towards conquered and sullen people II
is satisfied that the preservation of right an
IL Justice through the means of any jurispr,
o. dencc. known "r recognized by the people {
l,.. ,,if.,H in,nn..iI,l.,