Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-04

total expenditures of the Navy department 70
the fiscal year ending June 80 1867; were thirty
one millions. thirty-four thousand and eleve
dollars (S3l l,O34.Ol1l. No appropriations hav
been made or required since the close of th
war Tor construction or repair of vessels, 70
steam machinery, ordnance. provisions an,
clothing. fuel, hemp. etc.; balances render these
| several heads as having been more than suit
| clent for current expenditures. IL should ais,
be stated to the credit Of the department that
, besides asking no apprOp riatiOns for the aboy,
objects for the last two years. the Secretary OF
the Navy, on the 30th Of September last in ac-
coriance with act Of May /, is2n requested
the Secretary of the Treasury to convey 20 the
surplus fund the sum of S65. .000,O ,O0O being the
| amount he received from the sales Of vessels an
other war property, and remnants Of former ap-
! propriatiOns.
| The report of the Postmaster General shows
the business of the POstOffee Department ant
the condition Of the postal service in a very
favorable light. and the attention Of Congress IS
| called to its practical recommendations. Re
ceipts Department for the year ending jane 30
1867. including all special appropriations for sea
| aud land service, and free mail matter, were
| nineteen million nine hundred seventy-eigbt
thousand six hundred aud ninety three doiisrs.
expenditures for ali purposes were nineteen
i million two hundred thirty FIVE thousand four
| hundred and eighty-three dollars. leaving az
| unexpended balance in favor Of the Department
/ ofseyen hundred and forty-three thousand two
4 hundred and ten dollars which can BE- opnIiet
TO the expenses OF the Department for tue cur
rent year.
| The increase of postal revenue. Independent
of specific appropriations tor the year 1851 over
L that of 1860, was eight hundred aud tifty thou
/ sand aud forty dollars. Increase of revenue
/ from sale Of stamps and stamped envelopes va
| seven hundred and eighty-three thousand tour
| hundred and four dollars. Increase of expeudi-
lures of 1867 over those of the previous year was
| owing chiefly to the extension of the land and
ocean mail services. During the past year new
postal conventions have been ratified and ex-
1 changed with the united Kingdoms Of Great
| Britain and ireland. Belgium Netherlands
| Switzerland; North German Union. Italy. ant
| the colonial government at Hong Kong, redu-
1 cing very largely the rates Of ocean aud land
postage to and from and within those countries.
| THE REPORT OF THE CONNnSSIONTR OF AGRI-
CULTURE
4 eOncisely presents the condition, wants and in
terest eminently worthy Of the fostering care of
| Congress. and exhibits q large measure of USE
| ful results achieved during the year 20 which It
refers. The re-establishment of peace az home.
and the resumption of extended trade. travel
and commerce abroad. have served 90 increase
the number and variety of questions in the de-
Partment Of foreign affairs. None of these
questions. however, have seriously disturbed
our relations with other States.
The rep ublic Of Mexico has been relieved
from foreign intervention and is earnestly
gagged in efforts to re-estabish her constitutional
system Of government A good understanding
continues to exist between our government and
the republics of Hayti and San Domingo, and
our cordial relations with Central and South
American States remain unchanged The ten
der made in conformity with the resolution Of
Congress of the good offices Of the government
Win y view 10 an dNichnit adjustment OF peace
between Brazil and her allies on one side, and
Paraguay on the other, aud between Chill aud
her allies on one side. and Spain on the other
though kindly received, has. in neither case,
been fully accepted by the belligerents. The
war in the Valley of Paraguay is still vigorously
maintained. On the other hand, active hostili-
ties between the Pacific States and Spain have
been more than a year suspended.
] shall. on any proper occasion that may occur,
renew eonciliatory recommendations which have
been already made. Brazil. with enlightened
~ 90
opened the great channel of the Amazon and its
tributaries to universal commerce. One thing
more seems needn't TO assure RAPID and cheering
progress in South America. 1 refer to those
peaceful habits. without which States and ma
lions cannot, in this age. we'll expect material
prosperity or social advancement
TIE EXPOSITION OF UNIVERSAL INDUSTRY
at Paris has passed and seems to have fully re
allied the high expectations of the French gov
ernmeut. If due allowance ia made for the re
cent political derangement of industry here. tho
part which the Onited States has borne in this
exhibition of invention and art may be regarded
with very high satisfaction. During the expo
sition conference was held OF delegates from
several nations, the United States being one, in
which inconvenience in commercial and social
intercourse. resulting from divers standards of
money values, were very fully discussed and
plans were developed for establishing by univer-
sal consent a common principle for the coinage
of gold.
these conferences are expected % be renewed
with a large attendance Of many foreign States
not hitherto represented. report Of these in
teresting proceedings will be submitted 90 Con
sress which will no doubt Justly appreciate the
great objects and be ready to adopt any measure
which may tend 10 facilitate ITS ultimate accom-
plishment.
Gn the 25th OF February, 1862. Congress de-
elared bg law that Treasury notes without inter
est authorized by that act, should be legal ten
der in payment Of all debts, public and private,
Withjnthe United States. An annual remittsncs
of thirty thousand dollars. less stipulated ex-
i sensss, aecrues % claimants under the eonyen-
ton made with Spain in 1884. These remittan-
ces since the passage of this act have been paid
| in such notes, The claimants insist that the
/ government ought to make payment in coin.
/ The subject may be deemed worthy OfyOur con
/ sideratlon.
NJ arrangements have as yet been reached
i for the settlement OF our claims for BRUSH
depredatiOns upon the commerce OF the Uuitet
states L have felt it my duty 10 decline The
proposition for arbitration made by her
i malesty's gogeTnment, because u has hitherto
i been accompanied by reservations and hunilia-
Il tions incompatible with the rights interest
| and honor of our country. Ii is not 10 be aI-
j pretended that Great Britain will persist in
/ her refusal to satisfy these lust and reasonable
4 claims which involve the sacred principle OF
1 non intervention principle henceforth not
4 more important to the United States than 90 all
/ other commercial nations The West India
/ Islands were settled and cOIOnzed by European
| states simultaneously with the settlement ana
| coIOnizati OF the American continent Most
/ of the colonies planted here became independ-
| eut nations 10 the close of the last and begin
L Mag Of the present century, our own country
1 embraced communities which, at one period,
| XVere colonies of Great Britain, France Spain
| Holland, sweden and Rnssia. The people OF
| the West Indies, with the exception OF the
| island OF Hayti, have neither attained nor
| aspired TO Independence nor have they become
| nrenareh for lfdeiense although possessing
| considerable commercial value They have
| been held nv several European states, which
1 c9lOnized and at the same time eonqnefel thetn
| chiefly for the purposes OF military and naval
| strategy ia carrying out European policy and
/ designs in regard TO this continent. In ouT
| revolutionary war the ports anu hafDOrs IA the
| West India Islands were used by cur enemy O.
4 the great injury and embarrassment OF Us. We
had the same experience In our second wal
| with Great Britain.
l The same European policy Tor long timt
: 1 excluded us even from trade with the IVES
| Indies while we were at peace with ~ nations
, | In our recent civil war, the rebels and theil
l niraticaI and blockade breaking allies fOunC
| facilities in the same ports for the work Whict
! / they too successfully accomplished OF inJufIns
| and devastatin gthe commerce v hieh we are nov
E | en- ngaged In rebuilding. We labored especially
: 1 undeT this disadvantage That European steam
: / vessels employed by our enemies. fOuud
> friendly shelter, protection ana supplies ~
/ tons were necessarily carried on from our own
L distant shores. There was then universal
feeling OF want OF an advanced navaI outpost
| between the Atlantic coast and Europe The
duty Of obtaining such an outpost peacefully
and Ia WfuIly while neither doing nor menac in Z
| injury TO other States, earnestly engaged the
the close OF the war, and ~ has rot been lost
z | sight Of since that time. A not entirely dis
| similar uayal want revealed itself during the
same period ON the Pacific coast. A foOthOid
there Vas fortunately secured by our late treaty
| with the Emperor Of Russia and 10 now seems
imperatiye that the more obvious necessities Ol
ths Atlantic coast should not be less carefully
D | provided FOR. A good and convenient port auC
barbor capable of easy defense Will supply thai
a | want With possession OF such a station b. Us
| neither We nor any other American nation
1 i need longer apprehend injury or Ohense from
any trans Atlantic enemy. = agree with Ou
{ early statesmen that the West Indies NATURALLY
9 0rayftate to, and may be expected ultimatel 5
I 70 be absorbed by the Continental state, 10
Il cIuding our own. agree With them also, tina
IL Is wise to leave the question Of absorption 4
the process OF natural political ga aviation Th
j / Islands OF st. Thomas and st. johns, which con
stitute part Of the group cillee Virgin Islands
: seemed 10 offer Us advantages Immediately dr
sirable while their acquisition could be secure
= / in harmony with the principles to which has
i | alluded. A treaty has therefore been eOnciude'
| with the King Of Denmark for the eessiOn o
those Islands, and will be submitted b The sen
N l ate for Consideration .....
twill hardly be necessary % eaii the Attention
= OF Congress 10 the subject Of prOsldins iOr IN
: | payment to Russia Of the sum stipulate'i AZ th'
= 1 treaty fOr the cessiOn Of Alaska POSSESSION
% / having heen formally delivered " our commil
sioner the territory remains for the present a
! | care OF a military force awaiting such CiVi
! orgsnizaflon as snail be directed By COngress
y 1 fine annexation OF many Small tertnan State
, | % prassJa and the reorganization OF that cOun
e - lnder = new and liberal contribution, havl
lt ,nanced me 70 renew the effort 20 obtain . jus
% | s,d rr0u1pt settlement Of the long -yeNed qUe3
| fiou concerning the claims Of foreign states tO
military service from their subjects naturalize ze'