The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-12-11


ceipts from sales and fees exceeded BY one-ball
million dollars the, sum realized from those
| sources during the preceding year. The amount
| paid to pensioners, Including expenses Of dis
bursement, was SIS SO -, and thiny-six thous.
and four hundred and elghty-two names were
sioners on the 30th OF June list was one hundred
I, and fftv-fve Thousand four hundred and seventy.
four. Eleven thousand six hundred and fifty five
| patents and dcsigns were issued during the year
ending September 80, 1857, and at that date the
cnt fund was $3.50, 607. ST. 5.l
The report OF the Secretary ofthe Navy states
that we have seven squadrons actively and Judi
ciously employed. under efficient and able COM
manders, in protecting the persons and property
OF American citizens, maintaining the dignity
and power of the Government, aid promoting
the commerce and business interests OF our coun-
trymen in every part Of the world. OF the two
hundred and thirty-cght vessels composing the
present navy of the United States, ffty-six car
rying hye hundred and seven guns, are in the
squadron SERVED. During the year the number
OF vessels in commission has been reduced
twelve, and there arc thirteen, less on squadron
duty than there were at the date of the last re-
port. A large number of vessels were commen-
ced and in the course OF construction when the
war terminated, and although Congress had
made the necessary appropriations for their COM
pletlon, the Department has either suspended
work upon them or limited the slow completion
Of the steam vessels, so as to meet the contracts
for machinery made with private establishments.
The totol expenditures OF the Navy Department
TOR the fiscal year ending June 30, 1857, were
$31, os4ol1. No appropriations have been made
or required since the close of the war for the
construction and @repaii of vessels for steam ma
chinery, ordnance, provisions and clothing, fuel,
hemp, DC, the balances under these several
heads having been more than sufficient for cur
rent expenditures IL should also be stated to
the credit of the Department that, besides asking
no appropriations for the above objects for the
last two years, the Secretary of the Navy, on the
10th of September last, in accordance with the
act OF May l, 1920 requested the Secretary of the
Treasury to carry to the surplus fund the sum of
sixty-fve million. of dollars, being the amount
received from the sales Of vessels and other war
property, and the remnants of former appropri-
ations w 4i.@ " ~ H!taa9 iNNil-
The report of the Postmaster-G General shows the
business of the Post Office Department and the
condition OF the postal service in a very favor
able light, and the attention of Congress is cal
led to its practical Recommendations. The re-
ceipts of the Department for the year ending
June 30 1867, including all special appropriations
for the sea and land service and for free mail
all purposes were $40. 2S5, 4SS, leaving an unex-
pended balance in favor of the Department Of
S743,210, which can be applied towards the ex-
penses of the Department for the current year.
The increase of postal revenue, independent of
Specific dppfOpTldIlO0e, lOr Tile year lOOl, over
that Of 1866, was 1885,, DO The increase 81 rev
enue from the sale Of stamps and stamped envel.
Opes was $785, 404 The increase of expenditures
for 1857 over those of the previous year was ow--
ing chiefly to the extension OF the land and ocean
mail service. During the. past year new postal
conventions have been ratifed and exchanged
with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland,
the North German Union, Italy, and the Colonial
Government at Hong Kong, reducing very large.
" the rates of ocean and land hostages to and
from and within those countries sil5 iiN
, The report of the Acting Commissioner Of
Agriculture concisely presents the, condition,
wants and progress OF an interest eminently
worthy the fostering care of Congress, and ex-
hibits large measure of useful results achieved
during the year to which it refers. -
The establishment. of peace at home, and
the RESUMPTION of extended trade, travel and
commerce abroad, have served to increase the
number and variety OF questions In the depart
ment for foreign affairs. None OF these questions,
however, have seriously disturbed our relations
with other States 800 .s,,..r4 So
The Republic of Mexico, having been relieved
from foreign Intervention, is earnestly engaged
in efforts 10 re-establish her constitutional sys-
tenn of government AgoOd understanding con-
tinues to exist between our government and the
Republics of Hayti and San Domingo, and our
cordial relations with the Central and South
American States remain unchanged. The tender
made in conformity with resolution of Con-
gress of the good Offices of the Government,
with view to an amicable adjustment of peace
between Brazil and her allies, on one side and
Paraguay on the other, and between Chill and
her allies, on the one side, and Spain on the
other, though kindly received, has in neither
case been fully accepted by the belligerents. ia
The war in the Valley of the Parana is still yigor
o1sly maintained. On the other hand, actual
hostilities between the Pacific States and Spain
have been more than year suspended. 4 shall,
on any proper occasion that may occur, renew
the c0nciliatOry recommendations which have
been already made, Brazil, with enlightened
sagacity and comprehensive craftsmanship, has
opened the great channels of the Amazon, and
IS tributaries to universal commerce. One thing
more seems needful to assure rapid and cheer
ing progress in South America l refer to those
peaceful habits without which States and Nations
cannot in this age, well expect material prosper.
1ty or social advancement. Q. -li5t" tH Sfii ,.
! The Exposition of Universal Industry at Paris
has passed, and seems to have fully realized the
high expectations of the French Government
II due allowance be made for the recent political
arrangement of industry here, the part which
the United States has borne in this exhibition of
invention and art may be regarded with very high
satisfaction. During the Exposition conference
was held of delegates from several nations, the
United States icing one, in which the inconyeni-
ences of commerce. and social intercourse result
ing from the diverse standards OF money value
were very fully discussed, and plans Were devel-
oped for establishing, by universal consent,
common principle fofthe coinage of gold. These |
conferences are expected TO be renewed, with the
attendance OF many foreign States not hitherto
A report Of these interesting pro-
ceedings will be submitted to Congress, which
will no doubt justly appreciate the great object
and be ready to rdOpt any measure which may |
tend to facilitate its ultimate accomplishment.
On the 25th Of February, 1852 Congress de-
clared by law that Treasury notes without inter
est authorized by that act, should be legal tend
er in payment OF all debts, public and private, |
within the United States An annual remittance |
of $50, 900 less stipulated expenses, accrues to |
claimants under the Convention made withSpain |
in 1881. These remittanecs since the passage OF !
that act, have been paid in such notes. The
claimants insist that the Government ought to
require payment in coin. The subject may be |
deemed worthy of your attention. 7g
No arrangement has rs yet been reached for
the settlement Of our claims for British depreda-
tions upon the commerce Of the United States. 1 |
have felt it my duty to decline the proposition of |
arbitration made by Her Magesty's Government,
because 1t has hitherto been accompanied BY re- |
seryations and limitations incompatible with the |
rights, interest, and honor OF our country: 1t is
not to be unprecedented that Great Britain will |
persist in her refusal to satisfy these just and /
claims, which involve the sacred prin-
ciple OF Neutrality-suspicious. principle henceiorth |
not more important to the United States than to
all other commercial nations, ,i,, q 81 A..
The West India Islands were settled and colon
lied by European States simultaneously with the |
settlement and colonization of the American |
Most Of the colonies planted here |
became Independent nations IN the close Of the
last and the beginning OF the present century, |
Our own country embraces communities which, |
at one period, were colonies Of Great Britain,
France Spain, Holland, Sweden and Russia. --i1
The people in the West Indies, with the excep- |
tion OF those of the Island Of Hayt have neither
attained nor aspired to independence, nor have |
they become prepared for self defence Although |
possessing considerable commercial value they /