The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-06
reduction in favor of the last fiscal year of


during its present session TO various enter
| prises for the more certain aud cheaper trans
| Dortation Of the constantly increasing surplus
of the Western aud Southern products to the
| Atlantic seaboard. The subject IL one that
will force itself upon the legislative branch
Of the Government sooner or later, aud sug-
gest. therefore, that immediate steps be taken
! to gain all available information to insure
equitable and Just legislation. The route TO
connect the Mississippi Valley with the Allan
| tic, at Charleston, =. C., and savannah, Ga,
by water, by the way of the Ohio and Tenncs-
see rivers and canals, and slack wafer naviga-
| ton to the Savannah and Ocmulgee rivers,
has been surveyed and report made by an ac-
compshed engineer of the army. Second
! and third new routes will be proposed Tor the
consideration Of Congress, namely, by an ex-
| tension Of the Kanawba and James river canal
to the Ohio, and by extension OF the Chesa-
poake and Ohio canal. / am not prepared to
recommend Government aid 10 these or other
enterprises. until il il clearly shown that they
| are not only OF national interest," but that
| when completed they will be of value COM
mensurate with their cost. That production
increases more rapidly than the means Of
transportation in our country, has been de-
monstrated by past experience. That the un-
precedented growth in population and pro-
| duets OF the whole country Will require adj
ditional facilities and cheaper means for the
more bulky articles of commerce to reach the
| tide water and market will be demanded IN
the near future il equally demonstrate. L
would therefore suggest either committee
or commissioner be authorized to consider this
whole question:, and to report to Congress at
some future day for It's better guidance In
leglslating on the important subject. The
railroads of the country have been rapidly ex-
tended during the last few years to meet the
growing demands of producers, and reflect
much credit upon the capitalists and mana
gers engaged in their construction In addition
to these, a project to facilitate commerce by
the building of ship canal around Niagara
Falls on the United States side, which
has been agtated for many years, will no
doubt be called to your attention this session.
Looking to the great future Of the country and
the increasing demands of commerce, 1t might
be well, while on this subject, not only to
have examined and reported upon, the various
practicable routes for connecting the Missls-
sippi with tide water, but the feasibility OF an
almost continuous land locked 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 be
overcome are easily within the skill Of the
engineer. 1 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 form to enable it hereafter, If deem
Cd practicable and worthy, to legislate on the
subject without delay.
1t is evident unless steps are taken to
preserve our navy, that in a very few years
the United States will be the weakest nation
upon the ocean of all the 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 re-
spect of our flag abroad is necessary for the
full protection of their rights. recommend
careful cOnsi 1eration by Congress of the
recommendations mace by the Secretary of
the Navy.
The accompanying report of the Post
master General furnishes full ard satisfac-
tory exhibit of the operations of the Post
Office Department during the year. Our
postal communication with all parts of the
civilized world have been placed upon most
advantageous footing by the improved postal
conventions and arrangements recently con-
cluded with the leading commercial countries
Of Europe and America and the gratifying
statement IL made that, with the conclusion
oil satisfactory convention with France, the
details of which have been definitely agreed
to by the head of the French Postal Depart
ment, subject to the approval of the Minister
of Finance little remains to be accomplished
by treaty for some time to come, in respect
TO reduction of rate, or improved facilities for
postal intercourse.
have heretofore commended the abolition
of the franking privilege. and zee no reason
now for changing my VIEWS on that subject.
Ii not having been favorablv regarded by
Congress- however, / now suggest n mOdi-
licaton Of that privilege TO correct its glazing
and costly abuses.
| would recommend also the appointment
of committee or commission TO take into
consideration 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 the telegraph lines now in operation,
and of connecting this service with the
postal service of the nation. 1t is not
probable that this subject could receive the
proper consideration during the limits of
short session of Congress, but 1t may be
initiated. so that further action may be fair
to the Government and to private parties
concerned.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will show an alarming falling off in our carry
ing trade for the last ten or twelve years.
and even for the past year. do not believe
that public treasure can be better expended
in the interest of the whole people than in
trying to lecsver this trade. An expenditure
of five million dollars per annum for the next
five years, if il would restore to us our pro-
portion of the CARRYING trade of the world.
would be proftably expended. The price OF
labor in Europe has much enhanced within
the last few years, that the cost of building
and operating ocean steamers in the
United States is not much greater than
in Europe that believe the time has arrived
for Congress to take this subject into serious
consideration.
Detailed statements of the disbursements
through the Department of Justice will be
furnished by the Attorney General, and
though these have been somewhat increased
by the recent acts of Congress to enforce the
rights of citizens OF the United States to vote
in the several States of the Union, and to
force the provisions Of the Fourteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States
and the amendment thereto, l cannot ques-
ton the necessity and salutary effect of these
enactments. Reckless and lawless men, l
regret TO say, have associated themselves
together in some localities to deprive Ct.er
citizens of the right guaranteed them by the
Constitution of the United States, and to that
end they have committed deeds of violence,
but the prevention and punishment of many
of these persons have tended greatly to the
repression OF such disorders. DO not doubt
that a great majority of the people of 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 the laws, and to in-
woke aid and influences of all good citizens
to prevent organizations whose objects are by
unlawful means to interfere with those lights.