Newspapers / The Asheville News and … / Dec. 14, 1854, edition 1 / Page 2
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- , ... , i . v . - ; - ii ; . M . ' - " . ' r i ' -J . - " - ' ' : A ' ' Y'V: ''', ?Vy !-:.- -:. ; ' -" : : ' ' -.-.S. ; i J " x , it i tannic JJjestv,:-r the purpose oJ running and e Certain tabVtshmg the hoe in controversy. stipulations of the tLirJ and fourth article of tie treaty concluded bv the United Sutei and Great HriUm in 1846, regarding posses iorr right of the Hudson's IJay Company, and property of the Puget's Sound Agricul tural CompabT. lure given rtl to serious dis rute-s And it m important to all concerned. that sutaimsry ru.os of settling them arnica 14y should be detisrd. I hare reason to be lieve that an atrangvment can be made on j ml 'terms,, for the extinguishment of the tighti m question, embracing, alia, the nght of the Hudson s iay l-omrany touie naviga tion of the river Columbia; and J therefore cggct to jour consideration, the expedien cy of ranking a contingent appropriation for that purpose France was the early and efficient ally of the United States in their struggle for inde pendence. From that time to the present. with' occasional slight interruption, cordial relations of friendship hare existed between the governments and the people of the two countries, me Kinuiy tenumeau, cueruuru alike by both nations hare led to extensire iocial and commercial intercourse, which I trust, will not be interrupted or checked by anr casual event of an apparently unsatis factory character. The French consul at San Francisco was, not long since, brought into the - U. & District Court at that place, by (umDaW rroce. as a witness in far or of another oreigr, consul, in violation, as the French government conceives, of bis privile cn under our consular convention with France There beiag nothing in the transaction which . could imply any disrespect to Fiance or its consul, such explanation has been made as I hope will be satis fictory. Subsequently, mis understanding arose on the subject of the Trench government baring, as it appeared, abruptly excluded the American Minuter to Fpain from parsing through France, , on his way from London to Madrid. Hut that go vernment has uuequirocally diarowed any design to deny the right of transit to the Minuter of the United States; and, after ex planations to this effect, he has resumed his journev, and actually returned through France to Spain. I herewith hy Jjeforo Congress the correspondence on this subject between our enroy at Pari, and the Minister of For eign Illations of the French Oorernrnent. The' position of our affairs with Spain re mains as at the clue of your last session. In ternal agitation, assuming " rcry nearly the character of political revolution, has recently comvulsed that country. The late ministers were violently expelled from power, and men, of very d:uercnt views in relation to its inter rial affairs, have succeeded. Since this change, j there has been no propitious opportunity to I wume, and prc on, neouauons ror tne au-1 iuttruenl of serious questions of difficulty be- I twetn the Sjvan:h Government and the U. j States. There is reason to believe that' our minuter will find the nresent r-overnment tnare fsTorab rabiv iuciined than the preceding I to com pi v with our just deraand. and to make suitable arrangements for restoring harmony and preserving peace between the two countries. Negotiaticns are pending with Denmark to discontinue the practice of levying tolls on our vessel and their cargoes paicg through the Sound. Ida not doubt that we can claim exemption therefrom as a matter of tight. It is admitted on all hand thai this ex-wtion- is sanctioned, not by the general principles of the law of nations, but by spe- cial conventions, which most of the coraraer- cisl nations have entered nlo with Denmark, The fifth article of our treaty of 1820 with D;nmsrr provides, thatthere shall not be . ... i vsid. on the vessels of the U. States and their I .t . i...t-T j.t?l cargoes wnen passing tnrongn me oound, I . r higher duties than those of the most favored cations. This may be recorded as an implied I agreement to submit to the tolls during the I . continuance of the treaty, and, consequently. may embarrass the assertion of our right to I ha released therefrom. There are also oilier I rrovitions in the treatv which ourrht to be rnodi5jd. It was to remain in force for ten - years, and until one year after either party should rive notice to the other of intention to I terxnmste it. I deem it expedient that the I contemplated notice should be given to the I government of Denmark. I The naval expedition, despatched about two eart since for the purpose of establish inir re-1 jsiiom wiiu uio eujiuro oi rfauo. uu oeeu i i..r i. . . r t i i i ably and skilfully conducted to a successful termination by the officer to whom it was en- trusted. A treaty, opening certain of the ports of that populous country, has been ne- gotiated; and in order to give full effect I thereto, it only remains to exchange ratifica tions, and adopt requisite commercial regula tions. The treaiT laielr concluded between the U. States and Mexico settled some of our most embarrassing difficulties with that coun try, but numerous claims upon it for wrongs and iniuries to our ctizens remained unad- justed, and many new cases have been re- j CCQUT auucu wj mo luiuici ut ricisuces. Our legation has been earnest in its endea- Tors to obtain, from tho Mexican government, a favorable consideration of these claims, but I hitherto without success. This failure is, pro- I bablr. in some measure, to be ascribed to the disturbed condition of that country. It has been tay anxious dwre to maintain friendly relations with the Mexican republic,' and to I -1 1. . . J . T. : - V. I coo ii uzuks uu ixrnwrir uj ua rvpeci-1 !, not on ly oy our citizens, out oy loreign-1 . t . ? . i I ers, wno cave resorted to tne u. states xor . .. IT . p I the purpose of Ofganixing hostile expeditions gsmst someot the plates ot inai ltepuwic Tba defeacJess condition in which its fron- tiers have been left, has stimulated Iiwiess . . . a. . . ... I adventurers to embart o these enterprises, mno. ittuuv increjkMxi luo uuucukt oi tnioro i .t i i .i vt? it. -t - - r i ing our obligations of neutrality. Regarding it as my duty to fulfil efficiently, these obli- gsuons, nox oaiy lowarus Mexico, out otner i loreliTi nations. I have exerted all the powers I - 1 . tf.-!.. ..1 I with which I arm invested to defeat such enm-1 imi proceedings, ana bring to punishment our lawi. Tbesaergy and activity of our a-1 vii ana miuixry aatnonties nave irustrated the I "IT. 1 . 1 a ..... I Apm"T rf ffiniM Whfl mll tH am rvaawl tf Am a I or la's cnaracter; except in two instances. firat countenanced and aided bv the Miicin I . ....I. w "" r w " ta mmm K wmtromt Ittelt it lutbxr Uin deWMr to their ml object. . The other., gull ik nam- -V jv'fivd If one m the part of her r- - . . o - - r . - w.- -s uv .uouvuvw, .wwmuuokeujuicui. w tary iorce employed in the territory inhahi ted at San Francisco, and sncceeded in reaching and, persons of mixed bloodhad previously present repeated instances in the , .history of by the Indians. She Ju!eon 7hl the Mexican territories; but the effecUve mea- giren other indications of mischievous and states, sUnding in the verr front1 of modern hive suffered Uc .?resuen by -government compelled the dangerous propensi ties. Early in the same dvilizaUon. wSere communiUes, far less offend- prVI aosn jonmeni oi ioe unaerxaxing. in The commission to establish the - new line from the depot of the Transit Company and between the U. States and Mexico, according taken to Grey town. The plunderers obtain to the provisions of -the treaty of the 30th ed shelter there, and their pursuers were dn of December last, has been organized, and Ten back by ; the people, who,not only pr the work is already commenced. ! tected the wrongdoers and shared', the plun- Our treaties with the Argentine Confede der, but treated with .rudeness and violence ration, and with the Republics of Uruguay those who sought to recover their property, and Paraguay, secure: to us the free naviga- . Such, in substance, are the facts submitted lion of the river La Plata, and some of its to roy consideration, and proved by. trust larger tributaries; but the same success has worthy evidence. I could not doubt toat the not attended our endeavors to open the Am- case demanded the interposition of this Gov-. axou. The reasons in favor of the free use of ernment.. Justice, required that reparation that river, I bad occasion to present fully, in a should be made for so many and such gross former message; and, considering the cordial wrongs, and that a course of insolence and relations which have lonff existed between this government and Brazil; it may be expect- cd that pending negotiations will, eventually, reach a favorable result. nnnrn;nt mAn f transit, between the several parts of a country, are not only desi rable for the object of commercial and per sonal communication, but essential to its ex istence under one government. Separated as are the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U. States by the whole breadth of the continent, J- - - . - . . , . .1 still the inhabitants of each are Closely bound reacn. 11 aia not proiess 10 ue.ong 10 auy together by community of origin and institu- rejular government, and had, in fact, no re tions, and by strong attachment to the Union, cognised dependence on or connexion with any ileuce the constant and increasing iuter- one to which the United States or their injur course, and vast interchange of commercial ed citizens might apply for redress, or which productions, between these remote divisions could be held responsible in any way for the of the Republic At the present time, the outrages committed. Not standing before most practical and only commodious routes the. world in the attitude of an organized poli for communication between them are by the deal society, being neither competent to ex wtkj of thm Isthmus f Central America. It ercise the rights nor to discharge the .obliga is the duty of the government to secure these tions of a government, it was in fact a mar avenues against all danger of interruption. auding establishment too dangerous to be dis In relation to Central America, perplexing regarded, and too guilty to pass unpunished, questions existed between the U. States and and yet incapable of being treated in any Great Britain at the time of the cession ot other way than as a piratical resort of out- California. These, as well as questions which . 10 1850- but. unfortunately, they have been re-opened by serious misunderstanding as to the import of some of its provisions, a read- iostraent of which is now under considera- tion. Uur minister at Ixindon has made strenuous efforts to accomplish tliis desirable object, but has not .yet found 'it possible to Dring tne negotiations lO a termination. I As incidental to tbese questions, I deem it proper to notice an occurrence which happen- ed in Central America, near the close of the last session of Congress. So soon as the ne- cessity was perceived of establishing inter- oceanic communications across the Isthmus, purpose of opening such a transit way, by the river ban Juan and Lake rsicarazua. which soon became an eligible and much used route in the transportation of our citizens and their r rope ny oeiweeu tne Atlantic ana racinc Meanwhile, and in anticipation of the com- pletion and importance of this transit way, a number of adventurers had taken possession of the old Spanish Port at the mouth of the nver San Juan, in open defiance of the State 1 or States of Central America, which, upon their becoming independent, had rightfully succeeded to the local sovereignty and juris- diction of Spain. These adventurers under- took to change the "name of the place from San Juan del Norte to Grey town, and,though st first pretending to act as the subjects of the fictitious sovereign of.the Mosquito Indians, they subseouently repudiated the control of any power whatever, assumed to adoptadis- tinct political organization, and declared themselves an independent sovereign State. If. at some time, a faint hope was entertained that they mighLbecorae a stable and respect- able communitv. that hope soon vanished. . -. .... I ihey proceeded to assert unfounded claims to ?'f i jr..; t i I civil jurisdiction over Punt Arenas, a posi- I..L .t. P . t m I uon on mo opposite siao 01 me river oan ju- tn, which was in possession, under a title wholly independent of them, of citizens of v ww . w the U. Mates, interested in the .Nicaragua 1 Transit Company, and which was indUpensa- bly necesssry to the prosperous" operation of that route across the Isthmus. The company resisted their trroundless claims: whereunon i i they proceeded to destroy some of its build- ing, and attempted violently to dispossess it. I w mm m w , At a later period they organized a stroncr force for the purpose of demolishing the es- tablishment at Punta Arenas, but this mis-j chievous design was defeated by the interpo- j sition of one of our ships of war. at that time in the harbor of San Juan. Subsequent-1 i l:. ir i... i i . r e i it w uits, in u ojv, oour oi meu irouj I Greytown crossed over to Punta Arenas, ar- rogating authority to arrest, on the charge of murder, a captain of one of the steamboats of the Transit Company. Being well awaro that the claim to exercise jurisdiction there I would be resisted then, as it had been on I previous occasions, they went prepared to as- sen n Dy xorce or arms, uur ? minister to I Central America happened to be present on lubsequently arose concerning inter-oceanic emigrant trams or caravans and the frontier the amount of expenditures by at least fifteen communication across the Isthmus, were, as it settlement of civilized States. millions of dollars. I shall, therefore, continue ... tnnniJI AtitA hv tl. iratir rvf Ann! RAAonablo notice was mven to the people to direct thatUhe surplus revenue be applied. a company wa? organized, under authority of for their conduct, he warned them, by a pub- are also the State of Nicaragua, but composed, for the lie proclamation, that if they did not give most of most part, of citizens of the U. States, for the satisfaction within a time specified, he would the i that occasion. Believing that the captain oflsiderate precautions taken by our naval the steamboat was innocent, for he witnessed the transaction on which the charge was foun- I ded, and believing, also, that the intrudincr I party, hiving no jurisdiction over the place utio iuuku iu iuoac mcMrcsi, nwuiu encounter desperate resistance if they persist- ed in their purpose," he interposed, effectually, to prevent violence and bloodshed. The A- I racnean minister afterwards visited Grey- town, and whilst he was there, a mob. include ing certain of the so called public fuoctioo- ries of the place, surrounded the house in which he was, avowing that they had come mmmm V!m k s.mAm Af I w nw vj viun wt ovuio pcrsvu ezer- i comg uio caia auuiuiuj. tt nue parleying " .1 i. r .i 'n-i ! I wun mera no was wounaea oy a missne irom 1 . 1 . I l.It. P I the crowd. A boat, dispatched from the A- raencan steamer -onncrn L,ignt to release him from the perilous position in which he was understood to be, was tired into by tho . - a. ... .1 town guard, ana compelled to return, ihese iuuucuu. Mjircixitir wilu luh iuuwu cuaracLer i a. i. i i i i of the population of Greytown, and their ex- cited state, induced just apprehensions that mo ht ou proriy oi our cuizena at run- ta Arenas would be in imminent danger after V t! J r - .? . T I A the departure of the steamer, with her pas- J angers, lor iew ior unless guard was and m order to ensure the safety of pass en gers ana property passing over tne route, a !.... .1 (mrAHrr frrt W nMnrtlTAai KAmMam. I we expense to tne u. folates, for which pro- rarest. ' a . w wm m-m -vwtyM v. WU I I TbU pretended coonanitr- heterorren- on, WobW cathered from rrio.. eoW 30Qt0y property was cJtadcstmtly abstracted 1 ... plunder, tending directly to the insecurity ox the lives of numerous travellers, .and of the rich treasure belonging to our citizens, passing over this transit wayr should be peremptorily 1 arrested. w hatever it might be in other respects, the community in question, in power to do mischief, was not despicable... It was well provided with ordnance, small Arms and ammunition, and might easily seize on the unarmed boats, freighted with millions of pro- perty, whtcb passed almost daily within its 1 T. . i a. - VI a . laws, or a camp of savages, depredating on I ? a. A . ... of Grevtown that this Government required them to repair their injuries they had done to our citizens, and to make suitaMe apology for their insult or our annisier, ana inai a snip-or- war would De aespatcned uiuner to eniorce compliance with these demands. Hut toe notice passed unheeded. Thereupon a com- manuer 01 iue uavy, in cuargtj ui iu sjwjj- of-war 4tCyane," was ordered to repeat the demands, and to insist upon the compliance therewith. Finding that neither a populace, nor those assuming to have authority over them, manifested any disposition to make the required reparation, or even to oner excuse bombcrd the town. By this procedure he nftnrded them onnortunitr to nroride for their personal saffty. To those also who des- ired to avoid loss of property in the punish- ment about to be inflicted on the offending town, he furnished the means of removing their effects by the. boats, of his own ship, and of a steamer, which he procured and ten- dered to them for that purpose. At lennrth: perceiving no disposition on the part of the town to comply with his requisitions, appeal- ed to the commander of her Britanic Majesty's schooner "Bermuda," who was seen to have intercourse, and apparently much influence, with the leaders among them, to interpose and persuade them to take some course cal- culated to save the necessity of resorting to the extreme measure indicated in his procla mation; but that othcer, instead of acceding to the request, did nothing more than to pro- test against the contemplated bombardment, No steps of any sort were taken by the peo- pie to cfive the satisfaction required. No in-. dividuals, if any there were, who regarded themselves as not responsible for the mis- .... . . . i conduct otthecommunitv, adopted any means . . i t it. . 1 to separate themselves from the fate of the M. rrl. 1 .1 . 1 .1 1 gumy. ine several cnarges on wnicn tueoe mands for redress were founded had been publicly known to all for some time, and were . . rwa again announced to them, l hey did not deny anv of these charges; they offered no ex- planation nothing in extenuation of their conduct; but contumaciously refused to hold any intercourse with the commander of the i MCvane.M Bv their obstinate silence thev m m seemed rather desirous to provoke chastise- rnent than to escape it. Ihere is ample rea- on to believe that this conduct of wanton de- 6ance on their part is imputable chieflyrto the, delusive idea that the American Govern- ment would be deterred from punishing them through fear of displeasing a formidable for- t i i ii eiiru xuner, huilu luey urtuiueu w iuiDK looked with complacency upon their aggres sive and insulting deportment towards the United States. The "Cyane" at length fired upon the town. Before much injury had been done, the fire was twice suspended, in order to afford opportunity for an arrangement, but this . was declined. Most of the buildings of tne place, oi nine value generally, were, in the sequel, destroyed, but, owing to the con-1 commander, there was no destruction of life, When the 'Cyane" was ordered to Central America, it was confidently heDed and ex- Ipectedthat no occasion would arise for "ares- ui . aj tiuwulo auu umhuuiuh ui properly and loss of life." Instructions to that effect were given to her commander; and no -ex- treme act would have been requisite had,, not the people themselves, by their extraordinary conduct in the affair, frustrated all- pos- stble mild measures for obtaining satisfaction: A withdrawal from the place, the object of his visit entirely defeated, would, under the cir- . .. . ! Ul.t. . 1 I - P 1 cuiuuuct iu huicu uio coujujaauer oi.iae i vyane iouna nimseii, nave oeen aosoiute p i. i . , . . i aoanoonment oi an ciaim oi our citizens tor .1 . 1 a . .11 1 a . m I indemnification, and submissive acquiescence in national indignity, u would have encour- aged in these lawless men a spirit of insolence and rapine most dangerous to the lives and . . .. - . . .. I property ot our citizens at runta Arenas,. and crouau r eraooiueneu uiem lo izrasn ai uie i vt.i i..tj...j ii t .1 i treasures and valuable merchandise continual- ly passing over the Nicaragua route. It cer- winiy wouiu uare oeen mosi sausiactory to me if the obiects of the "CvaneV mission I .J 1 I. A f . a t could have been consummated without any I act or public lorce; but the arrogant fcontu ma- ar!th f Via. lAam that llini. vntavii impunity in a career of insolence Imnliintnn tAr,r .nmA f:' Mu-a- .1 , . . I UIO I C.U OLVI J U. UO-9 UCCU IUO BUU HCL 111 I . : J - I er,.id h WSS mtTrZJZr.L'?.?.. Pam" - banbm than of iustic If comn. mg and more defenceless than Grevtown U , f r : , -- uf..w..-. Ur tb wild tribes the power 01 ana laeir ruins, but human ine nns oeeu iwwwwjr. v& " t,-TT: c?tU -'PrKm crificed. and the blood of the: innocent made responsibility to, the United States, k fom proiusey wining.- PassiDcr irom loreignio uoiutvu niiiio, Vouf attention is riatnrally directed to the finonnlnl nnnditlon of the country:, always a anhiect of general interest. For, complete and exact information, regarding the finances, and Ihe various branches ot tne. pu one service connected therewithal refer Tpu to the -report; of the Secretary of the ireasury; ironrwnien it will appear, that the amount of revenue dur ing the last fiscal year, from all sources, was eventy-three millions five hundred and forty- sev nine mousanu seven uuuureu uu uc uwuar, - v.. j.. - and that the public expenditures for the same shocked by savage attrocities comiiitted upon period, exclusive of pavments on account of defenceless emigrants and border settlements, the public debt, amou'nted to fifty-one- mil- and hardly less by the necessary destruction lions eighteen thousand two hundred and of valuable lives, Where; -iiiadVqute detach-forty-nine dollars. During the same period, ments of troops haye undertaken, to furnish the needed aid. Without increase "tor the mill- fl debt, includinfl- interest , and premium, ..j i i m;lt;A'nB' l.-r j .:-k.j ? i rni Hiii i ii mil v si a. Liiuuanii liiicc u 'i mi i ru and eicrhtv dollars. To the sum f al ( t,0 receipts of that year is to be added a balance remaining in the Treasury ,at the commence- vt vs vu ment thereof, amounting to twenty -one mil- lions nine hundred and forty-two thousand eight hundred and ninety-two dollars; and at the close of the same year, a corresponding balance amounting to twenty millions one hun dred and thirty-seven, thousand nine hundred and sixty -seven dollars of receipts above ex penditures, also remained in the Treasury. Although in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury, the receipts of the current fiscal vear are not likely to equal in amount those of the last, yet they will undoubtedly exceed so far as can be judiciously and economically done, to the reduction of the public debt, the amount of which, at the commencement of me iasi nscai year, ws sixiy-scven rnnnons mree nunared ana rorty mousana six.nunarea and twenty-eight dollars; of which there had been paid on the twentieth day of November, i iooi, iuu 8-uiu ui ineui-iwu 11JHUUII9 iiiit,- hundred and sixty-five thousand one hundred and seventy-two dollars; leaving a balance of outstanding public debt of forty-four millions nine hundred and seventy-five thousand four hundred and fifty-six dollars, redeemable at ditierent periods within fourteen years, ihere remnants of other government stocks, which are already due, and ori which nterest has ceased, but which have not yet been presented for payment, amounting to two hundred and tin rtv-three thousand onp hundred and seventy-nine dollars. This state- ment exhibits the fact, that the annual income of the Government greatly exceeds the amount of its public debt, which latter remains unpaid, only because the time of payment has not yet matured, and it cannot be discharged at once, except at the option of public credi- tors, who prefer to retain the securities of the United States; and the other fact, not less striking, that the annual revenue from all sources exceeds, by many millions of dollars, the amount needed for a prudent and econ- omicnl administration of the Government, The estimates presented to Congress from the different Executive Departments, at the last session, amounted to thirty-eight millions four hundred and six thousand five hunareo and eicrhtv-one dollars: and the appropriations made, to the sum of fifty-eight millions one hundred sixteen thousand nine huudred and fiftr-PiVht dollars. Of this pxcess of annro- priations over estimates however, more .than twenty millions was applicable to extrabrdin- . . . . . i ary objects, having no reference to the usual i-. .i ' l? ... expenditures. Among these objects was em braced ten millions to meet the third article of the treaty between the United States and Mexico; so that in fact, for objects of ordinary . expenditure, the appropriations were limited 1 to considerably less than forty millions of dol- lars. I therefore renew my recommendation for a reduction of the duties on imports. The renort of the Secretary of the Treasury nres- i i i ents a series of tables, showing the oneration I i of the revenue system for several successive vears. and as the general nnncinle of reduc- tion of duties with a view to revenue and not j protection may now be regarded as the settled policy of the country, I trust that little diffi- cultv will be encountered in settling the de- tails of a measure to that effect. it .i . . t . i In connexion with this subiect I recommend a chancre in the laws, rvhich recent exierience has shown to be essential to the protection of tne government, mere is no express pro vision of law, requiring the records and pa pers of a public character, of the several officers of the Government, to be left in their offices for the use of their successors, nor any provision declaring it felonv on their part to make false entries on the books, or return false accounts. In the absence of such ex- press provision bv law. the outo-oin? officers in many instances have claimed and exercised the rirrht to talr into their own nnecpssinh important books and papers, on the ground mat tneSO Were meir private property, and have placed them beyond the reach of the government. Conduct of this character brought in several instances to the notice of the present Secretary of the Treasury, nattir- I ally awakened his suspicion, and resulted in t the disclosure that at ' four ports, namelv. Oswego, Toledo, Sandusky, and Milwaukie, the treasury had ' bv false entries, been de- P 1 1 . 1 . 1 . .1 irauoed, witnin me lour years next preceed-1 . - - - . . i ing March, 1853, of the sum of one hundred and ninety -eight thousand dollars. The rret . . . . .... I difficulty with which the detection of these frauds has been attended, in conseauenca of the abstraction of books andDaners hv the retiring officers, and the facility with which X MT J " I similar frauds in the public service mav Ke rwrrurmtiai ranr or thd muuxcifv i i i ... . . y i enactments, in the respects above referred to, nuite obvious. For other material mnd;! tions ot the revenue laws, which seem to me desirable. T a. .. . . . . . retary of the Treasury. That report, and th( tables which accompany it, furnish ample Plfl STIIBnAIIAIi Al f h A ..aa.a. AT... " 1 I a.v aa JK,m iVUls3 J I LIIG llAla . CAr I limnnM I Z.ZZ7SZJ 7! t':S "ILr. v wwj tvi-iw: fveaeaaioiu' oave peen Uhl t detach t,oom irf small bodies: and f- - , ; . ? .-ji though these hmn-M a 1 oasonl,d,spJwd a irallantry and astern devotion to fluty," which &r , J l i .....11 T- J. : JI fn a larerer nem wouiu nave uvinmaxiutu universal admiration, they have usually suff ered severely in these conflicts with - superior numbers, and have sometimes be in i entirely sacrificed. All the disposable fc rce of the army is already. .emplo.d : on.;thisi 9.1104 is known to be wholly inadequate ;o" the pro- tection which should be afforded, j The pub- of th mnntrvhas been ' recently tary 4orcei these scenes will be repeated, it is 1 tn he feared. -on a larger scale. ancE with more Ivliaastrniis ? conseoiiences. Consmess; I lam s "I t ' sure, will toerceive that the plainest dunes ana i . f j a i responsibilities ot government are jnvoivea in this questjon, and I doubt not tljat prompt I ; - - 1 t : i action may oe connaenuy anucipu delay must - qq -attended by auch feartul hazards. I T : i The bill of the last sessionprovidingfor an increase of the pav of the rank an file of the army has jiiaa Denenciai-resuus, n; oniy in facilitating enlistments, butir.bbviojns irhprm-e- ment in the class of men who enter the' ser- vice. I regret that corresponding considera- tionvas not bestowed on the officers, who, in view of their character and services, and the expenses to hrch they are necessarily -sub ject, receive at preseni wnat is, mj my juag ment, inadequate compensation. The valuable services constantly! rendered by the army, and its inestimable jpiportance, as the nucleus around which thej volunteer forces of the nation can promptly gather in the hour of danger, sufficiently attest the wis dom of maintaining a military peace estab lishment; but the theory of our system and the wise practice under it, require? that any proposed augmentwn,. in time 01 peaco, be only commensurate with our extertded limits and frontier relations. "While scrupulously adhering to this principle, I find,- m existing circumstances, a necessity for increase of our military force, and it is believed that four new regiments, two of infantry and twh of moun ted men,' will be sufficient to meet the present I exigency. 11 it were necessary ciireTuny to weigh the cost in a case of such Urgency, it would be shown that the additional expense would be comparativeiy Jiffht. With the.increase of the numerical force of the army should, I think, be combined certain measures of reform in its organic arrange- ment and administration. The present or- ganizatiou is the result of partial legislation often dirsetad to special objects and interests, and the laws regulating rank and command, having been adopted many years j ago from the British cooe, arc not always applicable to our service. It is hot surprising! therefore, that the system should be deficient in the symmetry and simplicity essential I o the har mouious working of its several parts, and require a careful revision. The present organization, by maintaining large stati corps or departments,) separates many-officers from that close connexion with troops, and those .active duties iri the held, I which are deemed requisite- to qiiality them tor the varied responsibilities ot aign com- mand. Were the duties of the army staff mainly discharged by omcers detached from their regiments, it is believed that the special service wouia pe equany wen penormeo, anu . i i tf ii pi i i the discipline and instruction of the army be improved. vhile due regard to the security ot tne rints ot omcers, and to tne mice sense of honor which should be culliva ted among i a i t i - . mem, wpuio seem to exact compliance witn the established rule of promotion in ordinary cases, still it can hardly be doubted that the range of promotion by selection, which is now! practically confined to the grade of , . . - i w general omcers, might be somewhat extended ' ' i with benefit to the public- servic Obser vance ot the rule ot seniority sometimes leads, especially in time of peace, rjp the pro- motion of officers who, after meritorious and even distinguished service, may have' been rendered by age or.infirmity incapable of performing active duty, and whose advance ment, therefore, would tend to lthpair the a cj j efficiency of the army. . Suitable provision for this class of officers, by the creation of a retired list, would ,, remedy the evill without wounding the just pride of men who, by past services, have established a claim - to hisrh consideration. In again cmmerjdingHtliis measure to the favorable consideration of Congress, i would suggest that the power f placing officers on the retired list be limit- ed to one j'ear. The practical operation of the measure would thus be tested, and if, after the lapse of years, there shoulil be occa- si on to renew the provision, it can be -re- produced with any improvements which ex- pericuc may luuicaie. xiie presevb jjrgaui- zation of the artillery into regiraenls is liable obvious objections. The .service of ar- tillery is that of batteries, and an organization f batteries into a corps of artillery, wduld be more consistent with the nature of thei duties. A large part of the troops how called artillery are, and have been, on duty as infantry; the distinction between 1 the two I 1 i I - rm 1 1 i'1"8 ueiuj mereiy uoininai. nis nominal . . .-j.. aruwery in our service is entirely aispropor . . . - tionate to the whole force, and fftfeater than the wants of the country demand. I there- fore commend the discontinuance of a di- tinction, which has no foundation! in either " arms used or the character of the serviee , . 1 expected to be performed . .. in Mnnarmn h w. :.;l it increase of the armv, I have Vesejnted these suggestions with regard 1;-;T. ot raorm, as the compleraent of a system OC . O UiWUr t attra the'early attention andlbedeemS IUI bUD if Ifin DnI aWVaa-f ""I.-". ? -. thA M AautMi.ll " - 1 - ' !7:: 1 ?' ?'nUy worthy of 'KST ;,1 to the permanent military force. Kv. spm land are sound, consistent with thettheorv rf. niir sriiteni. nnrl Tmilr1 Kv r. ' ... J- Li Vi - - -,.,- . J ueus?-oe--:ai3- reirarded. Rut. limiting. .U - SJTIJnT 7.v" oroP.o tne Vfy arvicuiariy Bet fOrtQ'-ia thejpreccdiD tension oi our commercial marine, tori fail give due'welght to the fact that'besides iwo luousauu iu ues oi Aiianuc seaboard. hve now aacific coast stretching frfjjj Mexico to the British pdsseSsiotis ih the north teeming with" wealth and enterprise, and de-' raanding the constant presence of shipsf ' war. The augmentation of the havy 'U. kept pace with the duties properly and profit, ably assigned tp it inlifne. of pcac$; und it inadequate for th6 large field of iU operalioap Hh-81'11 wore in the progressiyely increased exigencies 0f the wealth and Commerce of the United States.- I cordially approve1 of the proposed annTM, I tice system j; for; otir national Vessels, -rficofti. mended by theSecretary of tlie Navy , The occurrence, during the last fetr months, of marine disasters of the most! trade nature, involving great loss-of human KlVa U. produced ifihseemotloMpfsympatliy atjJ sorrow uiruugiiuai , mo country. It may well le doubted whether all these calamitous K events are wholly attributable to tHe necessary and inevitable dangers of the sea. Tha merchants, 'mariners, and ship-builders of the United States arejj it is true, unsurpassed in ' far-reaching enterprise, skill, intelligence and V cournge, by any others in the world. I BrJt ! with the increasing amount of our commer cial tonnage in thei aggregate, and, the larger size and improved equipment of the j shifts now constructed; ad'eciency iri the supply of -reliable seamen i'- begins to be velry equsjy !l felt. The inconvenience may, perhaps,' fa : met, in part, by due regulation for the intro duction," into our merchant ships, of indented 1 apprentices; which, while - it ! would afford useful and-elligible occupation to nuraeroas -i young men, would have a tendency to. raise the character of seamen as a class. And it is deserving of seribus refleetion, whether it may not be desirably to revise the existfrig laws for the maintenance of: disciplinevat sea, upon which the security of life land property on the ocean must to so great an' extent depend, ; Although much attention has been given by Congress to the jp roper construction arid arrangeraeut of steau ves-. sels and all passenger ships, still it is believed thai the achievements ?of science and rheclfahi call skill in this direction litre not been "ex hausted. No good reason exists for the marked-distinction, which appears upon our statutes between the laws for ; protecting life and property at f sea, arid Jthoso for protecting them on land. In most -of tho ( States severe penalties are provided- to punish'' conductors of trains, engineers, and, others' employed ra transportation of persons by railway; or by steamboats on-rivers. Why should not the same principle be ripplied to acts of insubor dination, cowardice, or other . misconduct on the part of masters and mariners, producing fnjury or death to passeng6rs on the high seas, beyond, the jurisdiction of any States, and where such delinquencies of ths can te reached onlv bv the power of Congress?.; The whole subject is earnestly commended to your consideration. V j i ; The report of the Postmaster General, to j which you are referred for many interesting. details in relation to. this important and rapid ly extending branch of the public1 1 service, shows that tlie expenditure of the year ending June 30, 1854, including oho hundred' anr thirty-three thousand four "'hundred and eighty-three dollars of blance doertq ftroga offices, amounted to eight million, seven, hun dred and ten thousand nine Tuiijd red, arid seven dollars. -The gross receipts during tlie same period amounted to six million!;, nine hundred and fifty-five thousand five hundred and eighty-six dollars; 'exhibiting ah expendi ture over income of one million seven hundred and fifty-five thousarwl three hundred and twenty-one dollhrsj. and a diminution of ' defi ciency, as compared with the last year,, of three hundred and sixty-one thousand seven hundred and fifty -six dollars." ' The increase of the revenue of the department, for the year ending June 30, 3 854, pvc-r the preced ing year, was nine hutidred and seventy thousand three hundred and ninety-nine dollars. No proportionate increase, however,, cad be anticipated for the current year, in consequence.of the act ofCongress of June1 23', 1 854, providing for increased compenia-:' tion to all postmasters. From , these state- menb it is apparent that the Post Office Department; instead of defraying its expenses, j according to4 the design at the time of its . creation, is how, rind under existing laws must continue to be, to no small extent, a charge upon the general treasury. Tlie cost of mail transportationduring the year ending June 30, 1854, exceeds the cost of the pre ; ceding year by four hundred' and ninety-fire thousand and seventy-four dollars. ... I ugaifl ,. call your - attention to the subject of rna transportation by ocean steamers, and com- j mend the isusrerestions of the Postmaster ' General to your early attention. V ' I During the last fiscal year eleven million, ij seventy thousand nine hundred rod thirty-; ; nve acres oi tne puoiic lands nave oecw -veyed. and eiorht million one hundred i and ninety thousand! and seventeen acres brought into market. Tlie number nf acres sold : l seven million .thirty-five thousand ' seven, L: hundred and thirtytfit'e, and the ' amonnt received therefoniria-mUliok two hundred and eighty-five thousand five "hundred and thirty-three dollars. '-Theaggregate amount of lands sold, locatd under military -scrip and land warrants, selected as svfamp lands byjStates, arid by locating iinder gran-s lor Toads Is upwards of twenty-three ; millions of acres. The increase of lands sold, .over thft previous year, is about six millions of acres; and the sales during the two first quarters of the current 'year jpresent the ' extraordinary . result of five and a half millions sold, exceed ing by nearly 'four millions of acr?s the safes of the corresponding, quarters of the M j. year, thus increasing to an extent unparal leled during any ' like period Jn our past a tory the amcrtint of revenue Tprovided froc j this source for the Federal Treasury.. M M j The commendable policy of the goTerc ment, in relation to setting apart public main for those who have served theif coantrf , in time of war, is illustrated by fthe fact, since 1790 no less than thirty millions ;of acres haye been applied -to this object. ; I : The ririggestions- which, I submitted .ntf: annual TnessageTof last yearrn reference H grants of .landviri aid of the constrcotioo "' railways were less! full and explicit than tM-' magnitude of the ! subject and subsequd.. r deveJoprriehts woufd seem ' fo render prfJfr. and desirable. H Of the soundness of the prur ; ciple then asserted with' regard to the hip11. tion'of the power of Congress, I entertaui . doublfbtitiu application 'it: :
The Asheville News and Mountain Farmer (Asheville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 14, 1854, edition 1
2
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