The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-12-05
change of observations contemplated with the
West India Islands.
LINES OF TRANSPORTATION.

change of observations contemplate with the
West India Islands.
LINES OF TRANSPORTATION.
The attention of Congress will be called dur
ing its present session to various enterprises
for the more certain and cheaper transportation
OF the constantly increasing surplus of the west
ern and southern products to the Atlantic sea-
board. The subject is one that will force itself
upon the Legis lative branch on the Government
sooner or later, and suggest therefore that i'm
mediate steps be taken to gain all available in
formation to insure equitable and Just legisla-
tlon. The route to connect the Mississippi
Valley with the Atlantic at Charleston S. c.,
and Savannah Ga, by water by way of the
Ohio and Tennessee rivers and canals, and the
Blackwater navigation to the Savannah and
Ocmulgee rivers has been surveyed, and re-
port made by an accomplished engineer of the
army, and the second and third new routes will
be proposed tor the consideration of Congress,
namely: by the extension of the Kanawha and
James River canal to the Ohio, and by the eX-
tension of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal I
am not prepared to recommend government
aid to these other enterprises until it is clear
ly shown that they are not only of national in
terest, but that when completed they will be of
value commensurate with their cost. That
production increases more rapidly than the
means of transportation in our country has
been demonstrated by past experiences.
Ihat the unprecedented growth in population
and products of the whole country will require
additional facilities and cheaper ones for the
more bulky articles OF commerce to reach tide
water and market in the near future is equally
demonstrate. | would therefore suggestether
a committee or commission be authorized to
consider this whole question and report to Con-
gress at some future day for its better guidance
IN legislation on this important subject The
railroads of the country have been rapidly eX-
tended during the last few years to meet the
growing demands of produce and reflect much
credit upon the capitalists engaged in their con-
structlon. In addition to these, the project to
facilitate commerce by the building of "A ship
canal around Niagara Falls on the United States
s9e' winch has been agitated for many years.
Will no doubt be called to your attention at this
session.
Looking to the great future growth of the
country, and increasing demands of Commerce.
1t might be we'll, while on this subject, not only
to have examined and reported upon the var-
| GUS practicable routes for connecting the Mis-
slsslppl with tide water on the Atlantic, but the
Ieasiblllty oil an almost continuous land-oGked
navigation from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico
Such route along our coast would be of great
value at all times, and of inestimable value in
case OF foreign war. Nature has provided
the greater part of this route, and the obstacles
to overcome are easily within the skill of the
Engineer. I have not alluded to this subject
with the view of having any further expendi-
ture OF public money at this time than may be
necessary to procure and place all the necessary
information before Congress in an authentic
Ai'to IL IL ueeIIlcu
and worthy, to legislate on the subject without
delay.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the NAVY here.
with accompanying, explains fully the condition
OF that branch of the public service, its wants
and deficiencies, eNpences incurred during the
past Year and appropriations for the same. If
also gives a complete history of the service of
the Navy for the past year in addition to its reg
ular service. 1t is evident that unless steps are
taken to preserve our Navy that in a few years
the United States will be the weakest nation
upon the ocean of all great powers. With an
energetic, progressive, business people like ours
penetrating and forming business relations with
every part of the known world, Navy strong
enough to command the respect of our flag
abroad is necessary for the full protection of
tneir rights. | recommend careful considera-
ton by Congress of the recommendations made
by the Secretary of the Navy.
PosT-OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The ordinary revenue for the Department for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872, amounted
to vi ,9l5 ,426,37 and the expenditures 1856 65s-
l92.3l Compared with the previous fiscal wear
the increase of revenue was SS1 ,S7S. $50 "a or
800 per cent. and the increase of expenditures
S2,2oS ,0SS.23, or 500 per cent. Adding to the
ordinary revenues the annual appropriation of
100000 for free matter and the amount paid to
the subsidized mail steamship lines from special
appropriations, the deficiency paid out of the
general Treasury was $3,3l7 .7e5 "a; an excess
OF 1883, 707.2S over the deficiency for the wear
1871.
other interesting statistical information re-
lallhg TO our rapidly extending postal service is
| furnished in this report. The total length of
railroad mail routes on the Both of June 1872
was h7,9ll miles; S,077 additional miles having
been put into operation during the year. Eight
new lines of Railway post-offices have been es-
taDlished with an aggregate length of 2,909
miles The number of letters exchanged in the
mails with foreign countries "a 1862 500, an
increase of 4,O66,502, or % per cent over the
number in 1871, and the postage thereon
amounts to S1S7, 1875 725 The total weight of
the mails exchanged with European countries
exceeded 800 tons. The cost of the United
States trans Atlantic mail steamship service
was S220,30l.7O. The total cost of the United
States Ocean Steamship service, including the
amount paid to the subsidized lines of mail
steamers was SI02, 702 ,O93.
FRAMING PRivlLEGEAND POSTAL TELEGRAPH
have heretofore recommended the abolition
OF the franking privilege and see no reason now
for changing my views on that subject 1t not
having been fayorably regarded by Congress
however, l now suggest a modification of that
privilege to correct its glarng and costly
abuses
| would recommend also the appointment of
committee or commission to take into consid-
Grafton the best method equitable to private
corporations who have invested their time and
capital in the establishment of telegraph lines
OF acquiring the title to all telegraph lines in
operation, and of connecting this service with
the postal service of the nation. 1t is not prob
able that this subject could receive the proper
consideration during the limits of short session
of Congress, but it may be initiated so that
further action may be fair to the government
and private parties concerned.
REVIVAL OF THE OCEAN CARRYING TRADE.
he report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will show an alarming falling off in the carry
ing trade for the last ten or twelve years and
even for the past year. | do not believe that
the public treasure can be better expended in
the interest of the whole people than in trying
to recover thiseaSade. An expenditure of So
100000 per annum for the next five years, if it
would restore to us our proportion of the carry
ing trade OF the world, would be proftaby eX-
pended. The price of labor in Europe has so
much EXCHANGED within the last few years that
the cost of building and operating ocean steam
ers IN the United States is not so much greater
than in Europe. | believe the time has arrived
for Congress to take the subject into serious
consideration.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
-, Detailed statements of the disbursements
through the Department of Justice will be
furnished by the report of the Attorney Cen
era and though these have been somewhat in
creased by the recent acts of Congress to en-.
force the rights of the citizens of the United
States to vote in the several States of the Union,
ment of the Constitution of the United States
and amendments thereto, cannot question the
necessity of the salutary effect Of these enact
mentS.
Reckless and lawless men, | regret to state,
have associated themselves together in some
localities to deprive other citizens of the rights
guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the
United States, and to that end haye committed
deeds of blood and violence, and the prosecu-
ton and punishment: of many of these persons
have tended greatly to the repression of such
disorders. do not doubt that great majority
of the people in all parts of the country favor
the full enjoyment by all classes of persons, of
those rights to which they are entitled under
the Constitution and Laws, and invoked the aid
and influence of all good citizens to prevent or
CARNATIONS, whose objects are by unlawful
means to interfere with those rights, and look
with confidence to the time, not far distant,
when the various advantages of good order and
peace will induce an abandonment of all com
binatons prohibited by the Acts referred to,
and when it will be unnecessary to carry on
prosecutions or inflict puniShments to protect
citizens from the lawless doings of such combi-
nations.
Applications have been made to me to pardon
persons convicted OF a violation of said acts,