favor of the manufacturing interest; and
Ar this no oiher interest win compw-
1 rprnmment? lo Congress the
aboli-
in nf the minimum principle; or
as-
..,.,,! nrliitrarv. and false value,
and
r specific duties, and the substitution in
their place of ad valorem dune, as the
fairest and most equitable indirect tax
which can be imposed. Hy the ad val
orcwprinciplc, all articles are taxed ac
cording la their cost or value, and those
which are of inferior quality, or of email
cost, Lear only the just proportion of the
tax with ,',ose wn,cn are of superior
quality" of greater cost. The articles
consumed by all are taxed at tne same
rate. A system of ad volortm revenue
duties, with proper discriminations and
proptr guards against frauds in collecting
i!i em, it is not doubled, will atlord am
ple incidental advantages to the manu
facturers, and enable them to derive as
great profits as can be derived from any
other regulsrjbusiness. It is believed that
such a system, strictly within the reve
nue standard, will place the manufactu
ring interests on a stable footing, and
inure to their permanent advantage;
while it will as nearly as may be prac
ticable, extend to all the great interests
cfthe country the incidental protection
which can be afforded by our revnue
laws. Such a system, when once firm
ly established, would be permanent, and
not be subject to the constant complaints
agitations, and changes which must ever
occur, when duties are not laid for reve
nue, but for ihe "protection merely" of
a favored interest.
In the deliberations of Congress on
this subject, it is hoped that a spirit of
mutual concession and compromise be
tween conflicting interests may prevail,
snd that the result of (heir Ijbors may
be crowned with the happiest consequen
ces. By the constitution of the United
States it is provided, that "no money
shall be drawn from the treasury but in
consequence of appropriations made by
law." A public treasury was undoubt
edly contemplated and intended to be
created, in which the publi; money
should be kept from the period of recol
lection until needed for public uses, la
the collection and disbursement of the
public money no agencies have ever been
employed by law, except such as were
appointed by the government, directly re
nnilj! io it. and under its control.
The safe keeping of the public money
should be confided to a puilic treasury
created by law, and under like responsi
bility and control. It is not to be im
agined that the fromers of the constitu
tion could have intended that a treasury
should be created as a place of deposile
and safekeepieg of the public money
whichjwas irresponsible to the goverment.
The first Congress under the constitu
tion, by the act of the second September
17S0, "to establish the Treasury De
partment" provided for the appointment
of atreasurer, and make it his duty "to
receive and keep the moneys of the li
nked Slates," and "at all tidies to sub
mit to the Secretary of the Treasury
and the Comptroler, or either of them,
Ihe inspection f the moneys in his
hands."
That banks, national or state, could not
hare been intended to We used as a sub
stitute for the treasury spoken of in the
contitution, as keepers of the public
money, is manifest from the fact, that at
that time there was no national bank, and
but three or four State banks of limited
capital existed in the country. Their
employment as depositories was at
first resorted lo.lo a limited extent, but
with no avowed intention of continuing
them permanently, in place of the treas
ury of the constitution. When they
were afterwards from time to time em
ployed, it was from motives of supposed
convenience.
Our experience has shown, that when
banking corporations have been the
keepers of the public money, and been
thereby made in effect the treasury, the
government can have no guaranty that it
can command the use of its own money
for public purposes. The late Dank of
the United States proved to be faithless.
The State banks which were afterwards
employed, were faithless. But a few
years ago, with millions of public money
in their keeping, the government was
brought almost lo bankruptcy, and the
public credit seriously impaired, because
of theirTnability or indisposition to pay,
on demand, to the public creditors, in
the only currency recognised by the con
stitution. Their failure occurred in a
period of peace, and great inconvenience
snd loss were suffered by the public
from it. Had the country been involved
in a foreign war, that inconvenience and
loss would have been much greater, &nd
might have resulted in extreme public
calamity. The public money should
not be mingled with the private funds of
banks of idiviJuals, or be used for private
purposes. When it is placed in banks
for safe keeping, it is in effectjoaned to
them wiihout interest, and is loaned by
them upon interest to the borrowers
from them. The public money is con
torted into banking capital, and is used
and loaned out for private prwfit of bank
stockholders; snd when called for, (as
was the case in 1837,) it may be in the
pockets of the borrowers from the banks,
instead of being in the public treasury
contemplated by the constitution, The
frarr.ers on the constitution could never
have iutended that the money paid into
the treasury should be thus converted to
private use, and placed beyond the con
trol of ihe government.
Banks which hold the public money
are often tempted, by a desire of gain, to
extend their loans, increase their circula
tion, and thus stimulate, if not produce
a spirit of speculation and extravagance,
which sooner or later must result in ru
in to thousands. If the public money be
not permitted to be thus used, but be
kept in the treasury and paid out to the
public creditor? in gold and silver the
temptation afforded by its deposile with
banks to an undue expansion of their
business would be checked, while the a
mount of the constitutional currency left
in circulation would be enlarged, by its
employment in the public collections and
disbursments, and the banks themselves
would, in consequence, be found in a sa
fer and sounder condition.
At present. Slate banks are employed
as depositories, but wiihout adequate
regulation of law, whereby the public
money can be secured against ihe casu
alties and excesses, revulsions, suspen
sions, and defalcations, to which, from
overissues, overtrading, an inordinate de
sire forgain, or other causes, ihey are
constantly exposed. The Secretary of
the Treasury has in all cases, when it
was practicable, taken collateral security
for the amount which they hold, by
the pledge of stocks of the United Slates,
or such of the States as were in good
credit. Some of the deposile banks
have given this description of security,
and others have declined to do so.
Entprtaininer the opinion that "the
seperation of the moneys of the govern
ment from banking institutions is indis-j
pensible for the safety of the funds of,
the government and ihe rights of the
people," I recommend to Congress that
provision be made by law for such sep- j
eration, and that a constitutional treasury
be created for the safe-keeping of ihe
public money. The constitutional treas- j
ury recommended is designed as a secure
depository for the public money, with
out any power to make loans or dis
counts, or to issue any paper whatever
as a currency or circulation. I cannoi
doubt that such a treasury as was con
templated by the constitution, should be
kept in the treasury of the people created
by law, and be in the custody of agents
of the people chosen by themselves, ac
cording to the forms of ihe constitution;
agents who are directly responsible to
the government, who are under adequate
bonds and oaths, and who are subject to
severe pnnishments for any embezzle
ment, private use. or misapplication of
the public funds, and for any failure in
other respects to perform iheir duties.
To say that the people or their govern
ment are incompetent, or not to be trust
ed with the custody of their own money,
in their own treasury, provided by them
selves, but must rely on the presidents,
cashiers, and sleckholders of banking
corporations, not appointed by them, nor
responsible lo them, would be lo con
cede that they are incompetent for self
governmont. In recommending the establishment of
a constitutional treasury, in which the
public meney shall be kept, I desire that
adequate provision be made bylaw for
its safety, and lhat all executive discre
tion or control over it shall be removed,
except such as may be necessary in di
recting its disbursement in pursuance of
appropriations made by law.
Under our present land system, lim
iting the minimum price at which the
public lands can be entered lo one dollar
and Iweniyjfive cents per acre, large
quantities of lanrts of inferior quality re
main unsold, because they will not com
mand lhal price. From the records of
the General Land Office it appears, that
of the public lands remaining unsold ir
the several States and Terriiories in
whieh they are situated, thirty-nine mil
lions one hundred and five thousand five
hundred ane seventy-seven acres have
been in the market, subject to entry
more ihan Iwenty years; forty-nine mil
lions six hundred and thirty-eight thou
sand six hundred and forty-four acres
for more than fifteen years; seventy-three
millions seventy-four thousand and six
hundred acres more for than 10 years:k
one hundred and six millions one hundred
and seventy-six thousand nine hundred
and sixty-one acres for more than five
years. Much the largest portion of these
lands will continue to be unsaleable at
the minimum price at which they are
permitted lobold, so long as large terri
tories of lands from which the more val
uable portions have not been selected are
anneally brought into market by the gov
ernment. With the view to the sale and
settlement of these inferior lands, I rec
ommend lhat the price be graduated and
reduced below the present minimum
rate, confining the sales at the reduced
prices lo settlers and cultivutors, in lim
ited quantities' If graduated and redu
ced in piice for s limited term to one
dollar per acre, and after the expiration
of that period for a second snd third
term to lower rates, a large portion of
these lands would be purchased, and
many worthy citizens, who are unable
to pay high rates, could purchase homes
for themselves and their .families. By
adopting the policy of graduation and re
duction of price, these inferior lands
will be sold for their real value, while
the States in which. they lie will be freed
from the inconvenience, if not injustice,
to which they are suVjected, in conse
quce of the United States continuing to
own large quantities of public lands
within their borders, not liable to taxa
tion for the snpport ef their govern
ments. I recommend the continuance of the
policy of granting pre-emptions, in its
most liberal extent, to all ihose who
have seliled, or may hereafter settle, on
the public lands, whether surveyed or
unsurveyed, to which the Indian tide
may have been extinguished at the lime
of settlement. It has been found by ex
perience, lhal in consequence of combi
nations of purchases and other causes, a
very small quantity of the public lands,
when sold at public auction, commands
a higher price than the minimum rate
established by law. The settlers on
ihe public lands are however, but rarely
able lo secure their homes and improve
ments at the the public sales at that rate;
because these combinations, by means of
the capital they command, and their su
perior ability to purchase, render it iui
powible for the settler la compete with:
them in the market. By putting down
all competition, these combinations of
capitalists and speculators are usually
enabled to purchase the lands, including
ihe improvements of ihe seillers, at the
minimum price of the government, and
either turn them out of their homes, or
extort from them according to their abili
ty to pay, double or quadruple the a
mount paid for them lo ihe government.
It is to the enterprise and perseveronce
of the hardy pioneers of ihe West, who
penetrate the wilderness wiik their fami
lies, suffer the dangers, the privations,
and hardships attending the settlement ef
a new country, and prepare the way for
ihe body of emigrants who, in the course
of a few years, usually follow them,
that we are in a great degree, indebted
for the rapid extension and aggrandize
ment of our country.
Experience his proved that no portion
of our population are more patriotic titan
the hardy and brave men of the frontier,
or more ready to obey the call of their
country, and to defend her rights and her
honor, whenever and by whatever enemy
assailed. They should be protected from
ihe grasping speculator, and secured, at
the minimum price of the public lands,
in the humble homes which they have
improved by their labor. With this end
in view, all vexatious or unnecessary re
strictions imposed upon tham by ihe ex
isting pre emption laws should be repeal
ed or modified. It is the true policy of
the government lo afford facilities to its
citizens to become the owners of small
portions of our vast public domains ai
low and moderate rates.
The present system of managing the
mineral lands of the United States is be
lieved to be radically defective. More
than a million of acres of the, public
lands, supposed to contain lead and other
minerals, have been reserved from sale,
and numerous leases upon them have
been granted to individuals upon a stip
ulated rent. The system of granting
leases has proved to be not only unprofi
inble to the government, but unsatisfac
tory to the citizens who have gone upon
the lands, and must, if continued, lay
the foundation of much future difficulty
between the government and the lessees.
According to the official records, the a-
mount of rents received -by the govern
ment for the years 1841, 1342, 1843,
and 1844, was $6,544 74, while the ex
penses of the system during the same pe
riod, including salaries of superinten
dents, agents, clerks, and incidental ex
penses, were twenty-six thousand one
hundred and eleven dollars and eleven
cents the income being less than one
fourth of the expenses. To this pecu
niary loss may be added the injnry sus
tained by the public in consequence of
the destruction of timber, and the care
less and wasteful manner of working ihe
mines. The system has given rise to
much litigation between the United Slates
and individual citizens, producing irrita
tion and excitement in the mineral re
gion, and involving the government in
heavy additional expenditures. It is be
lieved that similar losses and embarrass
ment will continue to occur, while ihe
present system of leasing these lands re
mains unchanged. These lands are now
under ihe sunerintendance and care of
the War Department, with ihe ordinary
duties oi which they have no proper or
natural connexion. I recommend there
peal of ihe present system, and that these
lands be placed under the superinten
dence and management of the General
Land Office, as other public lands, and
be brought into market and sold upon
such terms as Congress in their wisdom
may prescribe, reserving to the govern
ment an equitable per centage of the
cross amount of mineral product, and
C3
lhat the pre-emption principle be exlen
ded lo resident miners and settlers upon
them, at the minimum price which may
be established by Congress.
I refer you to the accompanying re
port of the Secretary of War, for infor
mation respecting the present situation
of the army, and its operations during
the past year; the slats of onr defences;
the condition of the public works; and
our relations with the various Indian
tribes within our limits or upon our bor
ders, I invite your attention to the sug
gestions contained in that report, in rela
lion lo these prominent objects of naiio
nal interest.
When orders were given during the
past summer for concentrating a military
force on the western frontier of Texas,
our troops were widely dispersed, and in
small detachments, occupying posts re
mote from each other. The prompt and
expeditious manner in which an army
embracing more than half our peace es
tablishment. was drawn together on an
emergency so sudden, reflects great ere
dil cn ihe officers who were entrusted
with ihe exee"ution of these orders, as
well as upon the discipline of the army
itself. To be in strength to protect and
defeud the people and territory of I exas.
in ihe event Mexico should commence
hisiiliiies or invade her territories. with
large army which 6he threatened. I au
thorized ihe General assigned to the com
mand of the army of occupation to make
reauisitions for additional forces from
several of the Stales nearest the Texan
territory, and which could most expedi
tiously furnish them, if, in his opinion
a larger force thin that under his com
mand, and the auxiliary aid which, un
der like circumstances, he was aulhori
zed to receive from Texas, should be re
ouired. The contingency upon which
the exereise of this authority depended
has not occurred. The circumstances
under which two companies of State ar
tillery from the city of New Orleans
were sent into Texas, and musiered into
the service of the United States, are ful
ly stated in the report of the Secretary
of War. I recommend to Congress that
provision be made for the payment of
these traops, as well as a small number
of Texan volunteers, whom the commen
ding Gtneral thought it necessary .to re
ceive or muster into our service.
During the last summer the first regi
ment of dragoons mrde extensive excur
sions through the Indian conutry on our
borders,' a part of them advancing near
ly to the possessions of ihe Hudson's
Bay Company in the north, and a part as
far" as the Souih Pass of the Rocky
Mountains, and the head waters of tri
butary streems of the Colorado of ihe
West. The exhibition of this military
force among the Indian tribes in those
distant, regions, and the councils held
with ihem by the commanders of the ex
peditions, it is believed, will hare a salu
tary influence in restraining them from
hostilities among themselves, and main
taining friendly relations between them
and the United Slates. An interesting
account of one of these excursions ac
companies ihe report of the Secretary of
War. Under the directions of the War
Department- Brevet Captain Fremont, of
the corps of topographical engineers, has
been employed since 1842 in exploring
ihe country west of ihe Mississippi, and
beyond the Rocky Mountains. Two ex
peditious have already been brought to a
close, and Ihe reports of lhal scientiic
and enterprising officer have furnished
much interesting and valuable informa
tion. He is now engaged in a third ex
pedition; but it is not expected that this
arduous service will be completed in sea
son to enable me to communicate the re
sult to Congress it the present session.
Our relations with the Indian tribes
?re of a favorable character. The poli
cy of removing them to a country de
signed for their permanent residence,
9 . ..
west of Ihe. Mississippi and wiihout the
limits of the organized States and Terri
tories, is better appreciated by them than
it was a few years ago; while education
is how attended to, ad the habits of ci
vilized life are gaining ground among
them.
Serious difficulties of long standing
continue to distract the several parties
into which the Cherokees are unhappily
divided. 1 he etlorts ol the government
to adjust the difficulties between them
have heretofore proved unsuccessful; and
there remains no probibihty that this de
sirable object can be accomplished with
oul'lhe aid of further legislation by Con
gress 1 will, at an early period of your
session, present ihe subject for your con
sideration, accompanied with an expo
sition of the complaints and claims of
the several parties into which the nation
is divided, with a view to the adoption
of such measures by Congress as may
enable the bxecutive to do justice to
ihem respectively, and to put an end, if
possible, lo the dissensions which have
long prevailed, and still prevail, among
ihem.
I refer you to the report ef the Secre
tary of the Navy for ihe present conU
tion of that branch of the national de
fence; and for grave suggestions, having
for their object the increase of its effi
ciency, and a greater economy in its
management. During the past year the
officers and men have performed their
duty in a satisfactory manner. The or
ders whirh have been given, have been
executed with promptness and fidelity.
A larger force than has often formed one
squadron underour flag was readily con
centrated in the Gulf of Mexico, and,
apparently withont unusal effort. It is
especially to be observed, lhat, notwith
standing the Union of so considerable a
force, no act was committed that even
the jealousy of an irritated power could
construe as an act ef aggression; and
that ihe commander of the squadron,
and his officers, in strict conformity
with their instructions, holding them
selves ever ready for the most active du
ty, have achieved the still purer glory
of contributing to the preservation of
peace. It is bc'icved lhat at all foreign
stations the honor of our flag has been
maintained, and that generally our ships
of war have been distinguished for their
good discipline and order, I am happy
to add thai the display of maritime
force which was required by ihe events
of the summer, has been made wholly
within the usual approprilions for the
service of the year, so thai no addition
al appropriations are required.
The commerce of ihe United States,
and, with it, the navigating interest, have
steadily and rapidly increased since the
organization of our government, until il
is believed we are now second to but one
Power in the world, and at no distant day
we shall probably be inferior to none.
Exposed as they must be, it has been a
wise policy to afford to these important
interests protection with our ships of
war, distributed in the great highways
of trade throughout the world. For
more than thirty years appropriations
have been made and annually expended
for the gradual increase of our naval for
ces, In peace our navy performs the
important duty of protecting our com
me rce, and, in the event of war, will be,
as it has been, a most efficient means of
defence.
The successful use of steam navigation
on ihe ocean has been followod by the
introduction of war-steamers in great
and incresing numbers into the navies of
the principal maritime Powers ef the
world. A due regard to our own safe
ty, and to an efficient protiction to our
large and increasing commerce demands
a corresponding increase on our part.
No country has greater facilities for the
construction of vessels of this descrip
tion than ours, or can promise itself
greater advantages from iheir employ
ment. They are admiraby adapted to
the protection of our commerce, to the
rapid transmission of intelligence, and to
the coast defence. In persuance ef the
wise policy of a gradual increase of our
navy, large supplies of live oak timber,
and other materials for ship building,
have been collected are now under shel
ter and in a state of good preservation,
while iron steamers can be built with
great facility in various parts of the U
iiiea. . The use of iron as l ineterial, es
pecially in the construction of steamers,
which caa enter wiih safely many of the
harbors along our coast now inacces
sible to vesseles o! greater draught, and
the practicability of constructing them in
ihe interior, strongly recommends that
liberal appropriations should be made for
this important object. Whatever may have
been our policy in the earlier st3ge of the
government, when the nation was in its
infancy, our shipping interests and com
merce comparatively small, our resources
limited, our population sparse and scarce
ly extending beyond ihe limits of the
original ihirieen'States, lhat policy must
be essentially different now that we have
grown from three lo more than twenty
millions of people, that our commerce,
carried in our own ships, is found in
eve-v sea. and thai our territorial bounda
ries and settlements have been so greatly
expanded Neither our commerce, nor
nnr Inn, line of coast on the ocean and
on the lakes, can be successfully defen
ded against forrign Aggression by means
of fortifications aione. These are essen
tial at important commercial and military
.... e . I
points, but our chier reliance lor wus
object rousl be on well-organzied. effi
cient navy. I he benehts resulting irom
such a nury are not confined lo ihe At
lantic States. The productions of the
interior which seek a market abroad, are
directly dependent on the safety and
freedom of our emmeree. The occu
pation of the Balize below New Orleans
by a hostile force wonld embarrass, if
not stagnate, ihe whole export trade of
the Mississippi, and affect the value of
the agricultural products of the entire
valley of lhal mighty river and its tribu
taries. Il has never been our pelicy to main
tain large standing armies in lime of
peace- They are contrary to the genius
of our free institutions, would impose
heavy burdens on the people, and be
dangerous to public liberty. Our reli
ance for protection and defence on the
land must be mainly on our citizen sol
diers, who will be ever ready, as they
ever have been ready in times past, lo
rush with alacrity, at the call of their
country, lo her defence. This descrip
tion of force, however, cannot defend
our coast, harbors, and inland sea3, nor
protect our commerce on ihe ocean or
. . . .
the lakes.
J hese must be protected by
our navy.
Considering an insreased naval
force
and especially ofsteam vessels, corres
ponding with our growth and importance
as a nation, and proportioned to .the in
creased and increasing naval power of
other nations, of vast importance as re
gards our safety, and ihe great growing
interests to be protected by it, 1 recom-
mend the subject to the lavorablc consid
eration of Congress.
The report of the Postmaster General
herewith communicated, contains a de
tailed statement of the operations of his
department during the past year. It
will be seen thai the income Irom post
ages will fall short of the expenditures
for the year between one and two mil
lions of pollars. This deficiency has
been caused by the reduction ol the rates
of post.ige, which was made by the acl
of the third of March last. No princi
ple has been more generally acquiesced
in by ihe people than that this depart
lil sustain itself bv limilinnr its
expenditures to its income. Congress
v w - ,
has never sought to make it a source ol
revenue for general purposes, except for
a short period curing the last war with
Great Britain, nor should il ever become
a charge on the general treasury. If
Congress shall adhere to this principle,
as I think they ought, it will be necessa
ry either to curtail ihe present mail ser
vice, so as to reduce ihe expenditures, or
so to modify the act of the third of March
last as lo improve its revenues. The ex
tension of ihe mail service, and the addi
tional facilities which will be demanded
by the rapid extension and increase of
population on our western frontier, will
noladmi of such curtailment as will ma
terially reduce the present expediuires.
In the adjustment of ihe tariff of posta
ges ihe interests of the people demand,
lhal ihe lowest rates be adopted which
will produce the necessary revenue to
meet the expenditures of the department.
I invite the attention of Congress to the
suggestions of the Postmaster General
on this subject, under the belief lhal
such a modification ol ihe late law may
be made as will yield sufficient revenue
wiihout further calls on the treasury, and
with very little change m present rates of
postage.
Proper measures have 'been taken, in
pursuance cf the act of the establishment
of lines of mail steamers between this
and foreign countries. The importance
of this service commands itself strongly
to favorable consideration.
With the growth of our country, the
public business which devolves on the
heads of ihe several Executive Depart
ments has greatly increased. In some
respects, the distribution of duties among
them seems to be incongruoes, and many
of these might be transferred from one to
another with advantage to the public in-
irrst. A mnrfl ansnieious time for the
consideration of this subjtel by Con
ffress. with a view to svstem in the or
ganization of the several department, and
a more appropriate division of the public
business, will not probably occur.
The most important duties of the State
Department relate lo our foreign affairs.
By the great enlargement of the family
ofjnations, the increase of our commerce,
and the corresponding extension of our
consular system, the business of this de
partment has been greatly increased. In
its present organization, many duties of
a domestic nature, and consisting of de
tails, are develved on the Secretary of
State, which do not appropriately belong
to the foreign department of the govern
ment, and may properly be Iransferrad to
some pother department. One of these
grows" out of the present state of the law
conctraing tha Patent Office, which, a
few years since, was a subordinate clerk
ship, but has become a distinct bureau of
great importance. With an excellent in
lernal organization, it is still connected
with the State department. I' tk transaction
of its business, questions of much importance lo
inventors, and to ihe community, frequently trw
which, by exislin; law, are referred fur decision
to a board, of which tho Secretary of tate U a
member. Thene questions are legal, and the con
nexion which now exist between the Mate De
partmeut and the Patent QfTice, may with great
propriety and advantago bo transferred to the At
torney General.
In hU last annual message to Congress Mr.
Madison invited attention to a proper provision
for the Attorney General as an "imporUr.t im
provement in the Executive establishment. -This
recommendation was repeated by some of
his successors. The official duties f lie Attor
ney General have ben mm h incrcasrj within a
few years, and hi office has become on of great
importance. Hi duties may be still farther in
crcxeJ with advantage to the public interests.
As an executive officer, his resiJer.ce and
constant attention at the sent of Government
are required. Legal questions involving
important principles andrge amounts of pub
lic money are constantly referred tobim, by the
President and Executive Departments fr his ex
amination and decision. The public business
under his official management before the Judicia
ry has been so augmented by the extension ef
our territory and the nets of Congress, auihorix
ing suits affainst the United States for Urge bo
dies of valuable public land.-, e greatly to in
crease his labors anJ rcsponhibilities. I, there
fore, recommend that the Atterner Genersl be
placed on the same footing with the heads of the
other Exacutive Departments, with such subordi
nate officers, provided by Jaw for his department,
as may be reqiiiri-d to discharge the additional
duties which have been or may be devolved upon
him.
Ccngress powess the power of exclusive legis
lation over the Distjict of Columbia, and I com
mend the interests of its inhabitants jour fa
vorable consideration. The people of thin Dis
trict have no legislative body of their own, and
must confide their local as well as their general
intcrcsU to Kepresentatives in whose election they
have no voice, and over whose eleetion they have
no control. Each memlicr of the National Le
gislature should consider himself a their imme
diate Representatives and should be the more rea
dy to give attention to their interests and want
because he is not responsible to them. I recom
mend lhat a liberal and generous spirit may char
acterize your measures in relation lo them. I
shall be ever disposed to show a proper regard for
their wishes, and, within constitutional limit?,
shall at all times cheerfully co-operate with you
for the advancement of their welfare.
I trust it may not be deemed inappropriate to
the occasion for me to dwell for a moment on the
memory of the most eminent citizen of our coun
try, who, during the summer that ha? gone by.
has descended to the tomb. The enjoyment of
contemplating, at the advanced ae of near
fourscore years, the happy condition of his coun
try, cheered the last hours of Andrew Jackson,
who departed this life in the tranquil hopo of a
blessed immortality. His death waa happy as
his life hud been eminently useful. He had an
unfrultering confidence in the virtue and rapaci
ty of the people, and in the permanence of that
free government which he had largely contributed
to establish and defend. His great deeds had se
cured to him the affections of his fellow-citizens,
and it'was his happiness to witness the growth
and glory of his country, which he loved o well.
He departed amidst the benedictions of millions
ef freemen. The nation paid its tribute to hi
memory at his tomb. Coming generations will
learn from his example the love of country and
the rights of man. In his language on a similar
occasion to the present, "I now commend you,
fellow-citizens, ti the guidanee of Almighty God,
with a full reliance on Hia merciful providenc
for the maintenance of our free institutions; and,
with an earnest supplication that whatever errors
it may be my lot to commit in discharging the ar
duous duties which have devolved on me, I will
find a remedy iu the harmony and wisdom of
your counsels. JAMES K. POLK.
Washington. Dec. 2, 18 15.
SOMERSET HERALD.
SOWCVtfCt, $jT..
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 0, 1845.
P3 JIOXEY TO BE SAVED !
Bcad! Head!! Bead!!!
Persons indebted to us longer than, six
months, are requested to make payment
before the 1st of January next. Thoso
interested will save money by attending to
this notice.
Congress.
Both Houses met on Monday.
In the Senate the Vice President was present
and look the chair.
In the House, Hon. John M. Davis waa chosca
speaker.
The President's Message rai delivered on
Tuesday.
fXThe President's Meseagc occopiea nearly
the whole of the space in our paper usually de
voted to reading matter. Consequently we are
unable to furnish our usual variety of misccllanr
oua news.
jCopies of the Herald, containing tha Presi
dent's Message, can be had at (he office, at 6 j cte
per copy.
Q3"The dwelling house, property of Mrs. Ibbi
kin and occupied by Mr, Henry Marteeny, situate
near town, was destroyed by fire on Sunifay mor
ning. Most of Mr. M's furniture ws saved; that
of Mrs. I. was destroyed. The fire originated from
a stove pipe, which passed through the roof.
Stray Sheep.
AME to the plantation of the subscriber in
Somerset township, about the 9th of o-
c
wyrw vember last, 9 head oi
S K j 23 1 ,
marl-pd u i'b a hole ia
Ka ! tf Aii attil rtfH hs a he!I on. i he owner
IUC It 1 1
is requested to come and prove property, pay
charges and take them away; or they will Us tlis
nosed of as the law directs.
F jc0 ABRAHAM PILE. Sr.
Jldm inistra tors' Yolice.
LETTERS of Administration having
been granted to the undersigncJ.
upon the estate cf John Wrick, late f
Somerset county, clec'd; he hereby gives
notice to all persons havinj claims r-ninst
iaiJ estate to present therii withont delay
legally authenticate J, suifj those who
know themselves inJebied In mali) im
mediate payment ISAAC IJUGL-'S,
detO'45 6t Adm'r.
SOL