riaof4ro ;';i!4)ovter. Towanda, Wednesday,' Dec. 15,, 15 17. ECIMMIES - Must be Settled.' The amounts, &r., due the late firm of E. r!, Gxidrich &,Son, mast now be seuled. A liher4 -1 tirde:Will. be given ,thotiz, who have already been wai e 0 upon so lcin,g, eller which, the last rfsouree, the' aw" will be pct ira requirition. to the mean time, paymen(rati he made in in-evince, tr-iorl, • 4T., if delivered immediately. The President's Message. We iii,ektlie President's Message, entire. this cek, thkexclusion of our 'usualwaiiety. Though somewhat leMphy it is - worthy, and should receive, a careful peosul. ft is a plain, strait-forward busi, nets document, treating upon-the risnal topics em braced in 'Messiiges, The Mexican war is enlarg ed upon ; the doc - rine of " INDEMNITY FOIL THE exsr,..AND SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE " fully and ably avowed. and :sustained by patriotic and forci- lie arguthents THE Nolen' A xtiour.x,k,,"—We have received two copies af a semi-weekly paper, bearing the above tide, pnblihed M .- the city of Mexico, by W. 4'. Toni:v. • Mr. T. was formerly a resident of this plpee, and followed the'{ art and mystery - ' in the odic(' of the " Bradford Deinocrat. - -Latterly his writing over •he signature of Jahn of York," have acquired for hint considerable cdebrity. We shall extract from it hereaftktor the gratification of our " Pretedings of :the TXXXIh Congress FITTSESSION. xVlvitNaro . s., Dec. Gth, 13.17. SesATE.—At 12 ollpek thaYiee Pre.ident called the Senate to circler. Ihen awe rvent prayer, appro 'priate to the opening of the sesion, was s delivered by the Rev. Mr. SVwer. - The ;lumber of fit•nitt'ors present who answered to their ' names was..tbrty:one. -Messrs. Webster, Chtlon, Pierre, Calhoun, Berrien, Colciuitt, Leis, 11.ighy, Bell, Benton and Yulee were absent. flee new Senators=present were 'introduced and .ivorn into office in the usual form. They were Messrs. 11.01,-l'ilderwood, Downs, Clark, Jefferson Davis. Doug•ass, Bradbury, Fetch, Foote, Hunter nrul Fpritan9e. On vnition of Mr. Breese, the Secretary si . .!= di r•cted to acquaint the House of - kepresentatices that r,uorum of the Senate had assembled. and had or ganized and Were read• to proceed to business. On motion. of Mt. Fairchild, the daily hour of meeting-was fixi-d at 12 o'clock. airotion of Mr. Cameron. it was resolved (bat each Senator he.ptovided with four daily papers. The tettate then adjotinied over till to-rhorrow. I lOU'iFi OF Rwitis'ENTArtvcs,—.At 12 o'clock the n.emben: is en. called tolVier, and the roll was walled by Mr. Frri/Ch the crb:k of the last House. The number of members ans.kyereil.to their names \ a' 219. moved that the House go into an election for Speaker, and thht the vote be taken ri I . 1 I'l which was unanimously agieeil to. AL. French requested lank( I'. King, James A. Black and Richard W. Thorrtpson, to act.-as tellers e The vote on thelirst ballot stood 11. C. IVirahlop, Linn Bilyd. GI ;- R. :McClelland, 23; J S.: Me riemaiiii. 23; James J. McKay, 5; scattering 12. Messrs. raddings.and Tuok'voled for Mr. Wilson ; John W. Jones , for Mr. Gaines: Mr: Palfrey for Mr. !lull-on; and Mr. Linn for ,Joseph R. Ingersoll.— There being nochoice a Focond ballot was . ordered'. Oa the second ballot the %OM ; R. -C. Win ; Linu Boyd R. McClelland, 3 : . . seat:ei tag . 13. thhil ballotW.l. , then ordered, when the ":100i1 ;.! It. C. IN injhfop, 110 : Linn Boyd, 64 ; It ; scattering. 11. Messrs. Tomp- Lcis and liolinei aid not vote. John AV...Jones and Le‘VIS C. Lt!Vin voted- for Mr. Winthrop.— Palfidy,liiddings, and Tuck voted for dif 'lc via persoas. Mi. Winthrop having ;ret Tired a majority of the va . .e, cast. was declared to be-duly elected.audbe ra coailueted to ;11e.vitair by Mesirs. Vinton andll - McKay, returned 111 auks in an able, eloquent anti!: patriotic add f The oath of office was=-1 - heti adoinistered to the Sp-iiker elect by Mr. Adams; The members were then sworn iti by States: Mr. C.J. Ingersqll presented a resolution fur the admitatileirt of committee to revise the rules of vac fllonse.whli was discussed.. but not passed. reoltitintilv:ts then adopted for the appoint ment of a iaint. Cornrnittee of both Houses to wait o t . .the Presidein of the United States, and inform linti that Congress had organized. ino:ion of Jtr. `files, the rules of the last I lou,e were adopted for 111,e prt?Selll.• . Mr. Levitt uttered a resolution niloptitrq 'Mr. Vretieh as the Clint of the House forth present Jagress, but pending this motion the House ad, I jolirneel. elcietion of M-. Winthrop on the third ballot aecoin- ' Aished,by Mr. Levin. who had previ iitP-Iv voted fetJo4eph It. Infrersoll, casting his vote for ihe Whitt cantiidate. and in consequence of Mr. I lulines, cal south :Carolina. tint voting, and another member absentink; himself-from the hall. The rules which governed th , , House during the hist session are.. by the rescdutton, to be in fame the-third Mon,hty of the pre.sc—in month, with the exception of the one hour rule. A committee was wanted to ;rem iso and simplify the rules. • L. WASqINGTON, Dee. S. S::NITC.-1-iobil N. Clayton, and John Davis of :NTJ., , ;avhosetts, aiieared and tool; their scats. Tip.. Virg President presented a letter from the fublic printVr, relative fo the refusal of the Presi lleat to furnish him with a copy of the Message previous to delivery, as heretofore. The Vice President presented a mernorial from the Lezislature of Oregon, a.4king . for the establish teem Ole territorial government' . The trice President laid before the Senate a re port of the Secretary of State, made agreeably to 1 tw, showing the contingent expenses of the depart ment during the year ending June .30th ; :the amounts for the same objects, remaining iu the hands of the disbursing agents at the same time; and the tii.iblr - sements. from the fund for the contingent ex. peasel of missions abroad for the year eliding the. 30th of June last. ''' Sundry petitions and memorials were presented by Mr. Dit. .' • Mr. Athiriou moved that the Senate proceed to the election ofAte.slandiiig committees on Monday next, which eras to. Mr. Midi:mai resented the proceedings of the Nevr Yorklidafure, askviiii . ,the repeal o f t h e pmt offizA law barging post* upon newspapers within 30 okileft of the place of_publitnation. Oa motion s 10,000 copies of the &cameras ac. cornpanyin. , the Presidents message were ordered to two printed. 'Mr. liannegan introduced a bill for She ' , Teller of the heirs of Paul Jones,• which wasread three times au.d passed by unanimout consetit.:. Adjourned. HOUSt Or R.EPREMNTATIVIO.--The resolution in relation "to thil rules of the iihuse was postponed, by general consent, to the third Monday of Dacem leer, Mr. Evans presented a resolution regulating the. manner in which the choice of seats shall be dis licked oforitiolt was Adorned; and the membefa, drew lota Toethe Sin* The speaker laid -bOl, ore the Hitisci-stitidsy' damp- Merits from 119, Execuire-drip' unbent, tiriticArwera ordeeed to tll-striftdit On motiostilthe linittst proceeded to the election of Sergeant - ht rine. i" : "The candidates-Out in norm: nation, were Nathan Sargent, by Mr. Pollock, and Mr. Lane ' by Mr, Boyd. The. vote was then ta ken, and eltioct for Mr. 'Sargent 119. for Mr Lane 911. and Charles A. Whitney 12. Mr. Sargent was thereupon - declared to be duly elected, and sworn into attire. On motion 4 thejlonse proceeded to the election of a doorkeeWr...f. The candidates .put iu nomina tion were44..cillitner and Comeliiii S. Whitney. Thornts_f-unl 441 Mr. Homer 117, for Mr. Whit ney-At-441.4e auccesaiul candidate NM inY'sty . tu. The liduse • then proceeded. to the election of Postmaster, when Mr. McCormick received 110 mes and Mr. Johnson 111. The latter gentleman was declared to be duly elected, and sworn into office. Adjourned. The Senate was called to order at 12 .o'clork• by the Vice President. Prayer by the Reverend Mr. The Vice President laid before the Senate a communication from the Treasury of the United States, transmittirlg, in pursnance of law, copies of the Treasurer's accounts with the Uni•ed States, for the fiscal yerir. ending 30th June hurt, as frdjusted by the accounting vficers of the Treasury.i The Vice President alicklnid before the Senate a communication from the second Anditor,:with the accounts of persons charged with the disbursement of moneys and goods for the benefit of the Indians. On motion of Mr. Pearce a resolution was adopt ed calling anon the Secretary of War fol. a copy of the noes taken diPing the military reconnoisance of the route from Fort Leavenworth to San 'Diego in California, with 'a map of the said route by Capt. Emory of the Topographical Engineer, and also a copy of Col. Cooke 's report. Niles announced the death .of his late col leagne, the Hon. Mr. Huntington. and after pro nOuncing upon hint a brief but eloquent and touch- JO eulogy, the Senate•passed the accustomed reso lutions of mounting and adjourned without further .business until Monday next. 1.101 - 8 F: OF RF.PRESCNTATIvES.—zA.resqIption, pro viding for the appointment of a joint cOmmittee to superintend the Library appropriation, was adapted. Mr. Brodhead gave notice that he intended to ask leave to introdUce a bill to repeal the :law of last session, respecting newspaper postage: A resolution was offered in relation to ,the tiun of..c,haplains. Mr. Petit made-finis customary opposition and offered an amendment. which was lost The resolution was then adopted.. Mr. Henly moved that the standing committees be appointed by the Speaker. Mr. Vinton offered an amendment adopting the rules. of the last /Ouse respecting the appointment of committees, evepting that of commerce, for which he wished to substitute two c3mminees. A debate sprung Up on this motion in relation to in ternal improvements, between Messrs. Rhett Vin 10n, Isaac V.. Holmes and :chenck, after which Mr. Vinton withdrew his amendment, and Mr. Henly's resolution was adopted. The note of the public printer, in relation to the refusal of the. Presideat to furnish him with a copy ut the Message previous to its delivery, wasirati. Mr. %Vlitte presented a resolulion providing for the appointment of a Committee ty examine the ac counts of the StuitlisoniOn Institute. I.lr. Hilliard spoke against the resolution, which was• filially. passed. . Jos: 11. Ingersoll presented a resolution, allowing the members to select their newspapers, which was passed. Mr. Fries offered a resolution for the appointment 01 - a Committee of three, to inquire lig-ad ought not to be excluded from the hall., as injurious to the health of the rrienlbers7: The House therauljounied over till Monday. - PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. [CONTINLTED FROM FOURTH PAGE.] dollars; being an increale -of revenue fortlie first year under' the tariff act of 18 16, of more than eight million fire hundred thousand dollars over that of the last year under the tariff of 18 !th - The expenditures during the fiscal year end ing on the thirtieth of June last ° , were fifty-nine - million four hundreiland fifty-one thousand oro hundred and seventy-seven &liars and j - sty-five :cents; of which three miliion five ndred and twenty-two thousand and eighty-t o dollars and thirty seven cents was on aceoun of payment of principal and interest of the public debt, lucid ding treasury notes redeemed and not funded. The expenditures, exclusive of payment of pub cvere fifty-five million nine hundred and twenty-nine thousand and ninety-five dollars & twenty-eight cents. It is -estimated that the receipts into the trea sury for the fiscal year, ending on the thirtieth of June, 18 !S, including the balance in the trea sury on die first of July last, will amount to for ty two million eight hundred and eighty six thousand five hundred and forty- five dollars and eighty cents, of which thirty-one million, it ii es timated, will he derived from customs; Otte mil lion five hundred thousand from the sale of the public lands; four hundred thousand from inci dental souices, including sales made, by the So licitor of the Treasury; and six million two hun dred and eighty-five thousand' two hundred and ninety-four dollars and fifty-five cents, from* loans already authorized by law, which, trimetb er with the balance in the treasury on the first of July last, make the sum estimated. The expenditur i es fur the same period, if peace with Mexico, shall Uot be concluded, and the army shall be increased as is proposed, will amount; including the necessary payments on account of principal and, interestof the public debt and treasury notes, to fifty eight million six hundred and, fifteen tbonsand six hundred and sixty dullard and seven cents. On the first of the present month, the amount of the_public debt actually incurred, including treasury notes, was ftrty-five million six him dred and fifty-nine thousand six hundredand fif ty-nine dollars and forty cents. The public' debt due on the fourth of March, 1816 , inclu ding treasury notes, was seventeen million seven hundred and eighty-eight thousand seven hun dred-and ninety-nine dollarsand sixty-two cents; and consequently the addition Made to the pub lic debt since thit time is twenty-seven million eight hundred and seventy 'thousand eight kin dred and fifty-nine dollars, and seventy-eight cents. , Of the loan of twenty-three millions, autho rised by the act of twenty-eighth of January. 18-17, the sum of tire millions was paid out to the public creditors, or exchenged'at par for ape cie; the remaining eighteen mdliona was offered forerie_•to the highest bidder not below par; by an advertisement *nod Vibe Secretary of the Treasury, and ppbl' i,, , from the ninth of February until the - tenth April, 1817, when it was awarded to the several highest bidders, at premiums varying Kin one-eighth of one . per cent to two per cent above par. The premium has been paid into the treasury, and the same awarded, deposited in apeiiie in the treasury as fast as it was-required by the wltnts of the go verment. • • To meet the expenditures for the remainder o WASHINGTON : Dec. 9 the present mid for the next fiscal year, ending on the thirtieth-of June, 1819, a further loan, relbetinea af)heSirOirlll7. Meat, r*l . o hier'-neceOlty. Regaining a anifigetlV . , gurphitkin theirearittni, the loan retitorettfoi,tlM-1 reinslinier of tVe itesent fiscal yeaterill **teat; eighteen mil liens 'doe hundred theasand*buis:. if din tea aid coffee be impotiekiMlibli; • graduation of the price of the p ublic lands shall be made at an early period of your session, as recommended, the loan - for the present fiscal year may be reduced to seventeen millions of dollars. The loan may be further reduced by whatever amount of expenditures can be saved by military contributions collected in Mexico. The most vigorous measures for the augmenta tion of these ieintribtitions - Vate been directed, and a very - considemblersam is expected from that source. Its amount Oannot,' however, be calculated with any certainty. his reconimen ded that the loan to be made be authorized upon the same terms, and for the same time, as that which was authorized under the'provisions of the act of the twenty-ei4hth of January, .18:7. Should the war with Mexico be continued un til the thirtieth of June, 1810. it is estimated that a further loan of twenty million five hundred thousand dollars will be required for the fiscal year eliding on that day, in - case no duty, be im posed on tea and coffee, and the public lands be not reduced and graduated in price, And no mil itary contributions shall be collected in, Mexico. If the duty on tea and coffee be imposed, and the lands be reduced and graduated in price, as pro posed, the -loan may be reduced to seventeen millions ofdollars, and will be subject to be still further reduced by the amount of the military contributio3s which may be collected in Mexico. It is not proposed, however, at present, to ask Congress for authority to negotiate this loan.for the next fiscal year as it is hoped that the loan asked for the remainder of the present fiscal year, aided by military contributions which may be collected in Mexico, may be sufficient. • If, con trary to my expectation, there should be a ne cessity fur it, the fact will be communicated to Congress in time for their action during the pre sent session. In no event will a sum exceeding six millions of dollars of this amount be needed before the meeting of the session of Congress in December; 18 8. The act of the 30th of July, 1816, "reducing the duties on imports," has bean in force since the first of December last; and I am gratified to state, that all the benficial effects which were an ticipated from its operation have been fully re alized. The public revenues derived from cus toms during the year ending on the first of De ceints.r, 18 :7, exceeds by more thin 8,000,000 of dollars the amount received in the preceding car under the operiition of the act of 18:2, which was superseded and repealed by it. Its effects are visible in the great and almost unex ampled prosperity which prevails in every braneh of business. ‘Y bile the repeal of Cho prohibitory arid re strictive duties of the act of 1812, aid the sub- stitution in their place of reasonable revenue rates levied on articles imported according to their actual value, bits increased the revenue and augmented our foreign trade, all the great inter ests of the eosntry have been advanced and pro moted. The great and important interests of agricul ture, which had been not enly too much neglec ted, but actually taxed under the pritective pol ey for the benefit of other interests, have been relieved of the burlens which that policy im pend on them; and our farmers and planters, under a more just and liberal commercial policy, are finding new and profitable markets abroad fur their augmented products. Our commerce is rapidly increasing, and is es tending more widely the circle of international exel sages. Great as has-been the increase of our imports during the past year. our exports of domestic products sold in foreign markets hare been still greater. Our navigating interest is eminently prosper ous. The number of vessels built in the United states has been greater than during any prece ding period of equal length. Large profits have been derived by those who have constructed as' well as by those who have navigated them.— Should the ratio of increase in the number of our merchant vessels be progressive, and be as great for the future as during the past year, the time is not distant when our tonnage and com mercial marine will be larger than that of any other nation iu the world. Whilst the interests of agriculture, of iCIIII.- merce, and of navigation have been enlargeittind invigorated it is highly gratifying to observe that our manufactures are also in a prosperous condition. None of the ruinous effects upon this l interest, which were apprehended by some, as I the result - of the operation of the revenue syx: tem established, by the act of 18 :6, have been experienced. On the, contrary, the 'number-of manufactories, and the amount of capital invested in them, is steadily and rapidly increasing, af., fording gratifying proofs that; Ainerivin enter prise and skill employed in this linurrif tie industry, with no other advanta.aes than those tairly and incidentally accruing info a just sys tem of revenue duties, are abundantly able to Meet successfully all competition from abroad,, and still derive - fair and remunerating profits, -. While capital invested in manufactures is yielding adequate and. &ir profits under the new system, the wages of labor, whether employed iA manufactures, agriculture, commerce, or navi gation, have been augmented.. The toiling mil lions, whose daily labor furnishes the ratipply of food and raiment, and all the necessary comforts of life, are receiving higher wages, and morel steady and permanent employment than in any other country, or it any 'previous pCriod of ear I I own history. • So successful have been all branches of our in dustry, that a foreign war, which generally di minishes the resources of a nation, has in no es sential degree retarded our onward progicis,' - 6i ,ehecked our general prosperity. With such gratifying evidences of prosperity, and of the successful operation of the revenue act of 1816, every consideration of public poli cy reeominemli that it shall remain unchanged. It is hoped that the system of impost duties which it established may be regarded as the per =anent policy of the country, and that the great interests affected by it, may, netsgaia be subject to be injuriously disturbed, as they have hereto fore -been, by frequent and sometimes stadia Yee the *pose of inereasing the revenue, and without ettattgiog or modifying therates im posed by the act of ,11316,_ea the datable articles embraced by its 'provisicMs. I vela recommend to your favorable cousideration: the expediency of levying a revenue duty on tea and coffee.— The policy which exempted these articles from duty-during peace, tod *hen the revenue to be derived from them was not needed, maim to ex ist when the country is engaged in war, and re quirt? the use of all its available. re.sourees:, It is a tax . which would be so generally diffused among the people, that it would be, elt oppres lively by none, and be complained of by none.— it is believs that there are or*, in,the list of paged sitcWeiMany i lebich i stririsibre ,preperly dutha tbrii te4ind eele oq. his alginate& thirt*Sii nailpons ofAtlinre 'Woad be, derived anntally piodera*Linty imOiled - Un these articles Should -Congress Weil itself ofAitt additional source of revenue, not only would the amount of .the public loan rendered necessary by the war with Mexico, be .diminished - tothat, =twit, , but the public credit, and the public confidence in the ability and determination of the government to meet all its engagements promptly, would be more firmly established, and the reduced amount of the loan which it maybe necessary to negoti ate could probably be obtained at cheaper rates. -Congress is, therefore, .called upon to deter mine whether it is wiser to impose the war du ties recommended, or by omittm; to do so, in crease the public debt annually-three millions of dollars so long as loans shall be required to pro secute the war, and afterwards provide, in some other form, to pay the semi-annual interest upon it,' and ultimately to eatinguiskthp princi If, in addition to these duties, . ,Congress should graduate and reduce the price of such of the public lands seexperience has , proved will not command the price placed upon them by the gov ernment, an additional annual income to the treasury of between .half a million and a million of dullars;it is estimated, would be derived from j this source. Should both measures receive the j sanction of Cowgress, the annual amannt of pub- j j lic debt necessary to be contracted during the continuane of the war would be reduced near four millions of dollars. The dut es recommended to be levied on tea and coffee, it is proposed shall be limited in their duration to the end of the war, and Until the public debt,. rendered necessary to be contracted by it shall be discharged. The amount of the public debt to be contracted should be limited to the lowest practicable sum, and should be ex tinguished as early after the conclusion of the war as the means of the treasury will permit. With this view, it is recommended that, as soon as the war shall be over, all the surplus in the treasury, not needed for other indispensable objects, shall constitute a sinking fund, and be applied to the purchase of the fun led debt, and that authority be conferred by law for that pur . pose. The act of the sixth of August, 1816, 'to es tablish a warehousing system,' has been in opera tion more than a year, and has proved to be an important auxiliary to the tariff act of 1816; in augmenting the revenue, and - extending the com merce of the country. Whilst it has tended to enlarge commerce, it baa been beneficial to our manufactures, by diminishing forced sales at auction of foreign goods at low pi ices, to raise the duties to be-advanced on them, and by check ing fluctuations in the market. The system, although sanctioned by the experience of other countries, was entirely new in the United States, and is susceptii.le of improvement in 80.118 of its provisions. The Secretary of the Treasury, upon whom was devolved large discretionary powers in carrying this measure into effect, has collected, and is now collecting, the practical re sults of the system in other countries, where it has long been established, and will report at an early period of your session such further regula tions suggested by the investigation as may ren der it still more effective and beneficial . By the act to "provide for the better organi zation of the treasury, and for the collection, safe keeping, and disbursement of the public re venue," all banks were discoptinned as 'fiscal agents of the government, and the paper curren cy issued by them was no longer permitted to be received in payment bf public dues. The constitutional treasury ,creattel by this net went into operation on the first. of January , last. Under the system established by it, the public moneys have been colleaed, safely kept and disbursed by the direct agency df officers of the government in gold , and silver ; and trans fers of large amounts hare been made from points of collection to points of disbursement, without loss to the treasury, or injury ur incon venience to the trade of the country. While the fiscal operations of the goiermuent have isien conducted with regularity and ease, under the system, it has had a salutary effect in checking and preventing an undue hillation of the paper currency issued by the banks which exist under State charters. Requiring, as it does, all dues to the government to be paid in gold and silver, its effects is to restrain excessive issues of bank paper by the banks disprooFtioned to the specie in their vaults, for the reason that they are at all times liable to be called on by the holders of their notes for their, ,redemption, and in order to obtain specie for the payment of du,- ties and other public dues. The banks; there fore. must keep their busineis within prudent limits, and be always in a condition to meet such call-, or run the hazard of - being compelled to suspend special payments, and be thereby dis credited. The amount of specie imported into the Uni ted States during the last fiscal year was twenty four millions one hundred and twenty-one thou sand two hundred and eighty-nine dollars; of which there was retained in the country twenty= two million two hundred and seventy-six thou sand one hundred and seventy dollars. Had the former financial system prevailed, and the public moneys been placed on deposite in banks, nearly the whole of this amount would have gone into their vaults, not to be thrown intrecirculation by them, but Lobe withhold from the hands of the people as a currency, anilmade the basis of new and enornitusissues of bank paper. A large portion of the specie imported has been paid into the treasury for public dues; and after having been, to,si great extent, reeoined at the mint, has been paid out to the piblie Meditons, and gone into circulation as a etoreney among the people. = The amount of gold and silver coin now to circulation in the country is larger, than at any former period. The financial system established by the con stitutional treasury has been, thus far, eminently 'successful in its operations; and I recommend an adherence to all its essential provisions, and especially to that vital provision which wholly separates the government from all connexion with banks, and excludes bank paper from all revenue receipts. . In some of its details, not involving its general .prinoiples, the system is effective, and will re quire modification. These defects, and such amendments as are deemed important, were set fortis the last annual report of the Secretary of the easnry. These amendments are again recommended to the early and faYorable conside ration of Congress. During the past year, the coinage at the mint and its branches has exceeded twenty millions of dollars. This hasoonsisted chiefly in converting the ecins of foreign cenobite into ' American coin, The largest amount Of fOreign coin imported has been. received at Now York ; midi( a branch mint were established at that city, all the for .„., , eign coin received at that port cotild at once Ow converted into our own coin, without the expense, rinKsialtlelarteltalis_ port ing it tkthelgtit Ott p*Kisifitandlie amount recoined atifitild ' 5 ! &tic' h litger . N,_ • $ -0 , • .”•kf. ...r, ./ . ...., Alkinienettisaiiroved that forcigi odic, , opecisills , fo*igtf::gold coin, wilEoot, then '' , 7 ega e n s hiay a l a_earrency among kite people The important Measure of extending our spelie circulation both of gold and silver and of diffus ing it among the ropleeemeonly ' beeffeetearby converting such - foreign coin into American - coin. I repeat the recommendation contained in My last annual message for the establishment) of a branch of the mint of the United States at the. city of New York. . s.All the public lands which had been survey edand were ready for market bave been pro— claimed for sale • during the fast year. Th e i quantity offeredandto be offered for sale, under proclamations issued since the first of January last, amounts to nine millions one hundred Lod thirty, eight thousand five, hundred and thirty- , one acres. The prosperty of the Western 1 States and territories in which these lands lie I will be advanced by their speedy sale. By with holding them froui market their growth and in ' crease of pulation-would be retarded, while thousands o four enterprising and meritorious frontier population would be deprived of the op portunity of securing freeholds for themselves and their families. But _in '' - addition to the general consilenition which rendered the early sale of these lands proper, it was a leading ob ject at this time to_derive aii large a innn of Os sible .from this source, and thus diminieh, 'by that amount the public loan rendered necessary by the existence of a foreign war. It is estimated that not less than ten millions of acres of the public lands will be surveyed and be in a condition to be proclaimed for,-sale during the year 1816. In my last annual message I presented the reasons which, in my judgment, rendered it pro per to graduate and reduce She pric of such of the public lands as have remained unsold for long periods after they had been off id for sale • at public auction. ' Many millions of acres of public. lands lying within the limits of several of the western States have been offered in the market, and been sub ject to sale at private entry for more than twenty years, and large quantities- for more than thirty years, at the lowest price prescribed by the 0= it:ring laws and it has been found that they ,will not command that price. They must remain un sold and uncultivated for an indefinite / 'period, unless the price demanded for jhem b'the gov ernment shall be reduced. Isiesati actor y rea son is perceived why they shodld longer held jit y at rates above their real value. At the 'pres ent period an additiOnal reason exists" for adopt ing the' measure recommended. When the Coun try is engaged in a foreign war, and we must' necessirily resort to loans, it would seem to be the dictate of wisdom, that we should avail, our selves of all our reources, and thus limit the am ount of the public indebtedness to the lowest possible sum. , I recommend that the existing laws on the subject of -pre-emption rights be amended and modified so, as to operate prospectively, end to embrace all who may settla upon the publielande and Make improvements upon them before they are surveyed, as well as afterwards, ,in all cases where such settlements may be made after the Indian title shall have been extinguished. If the right of ire-emption be thus extended, it will embrace a large and meritorious class of our citizens. It will increase the Auditor of small freeholders upon our borders, who Will be enabled thereby ,to edema° their children and otherwise improve their condition,, while they will' be found at all .times, as they hive ever pro veil themselves to be, in the hour of danger_to their country, among our hardiest and best vol unteer soldiers, ever ready to tender their servi ces in cases of emergency, and among, the last to leave the field as long as an enemy remains to be 'encountered. Suc h a policy will also impress. these patriotic pioneer emigrants with deeper feelings of gratitude for the parental care of their government, when they find their dearest interests secured to them by the permanent laws of the land, and that they are no longer in — danger of losing their homes aid hard-earned improve ments by being brought into competition with a more wealthy class of purchasers at the land sales. ' The attention of Congress was invited, at their last and the preceding ses:ion, to the im portance of establishing a Territorial govern ment over our possessions in Oregon; and. it is to be regretted that there was no legislation'on the subject. Our citizens who inhibit that dis tant region of country are still left without the protection of our laws, or any regularly organiz ed government. Before the question of limits and boundaries of the territory of Oregon was definitely settled , from the necessity o their condition, the inhabititots had established a tem porary government of their own. Besides the want of legal authority for continuing a , h a government, it is wholly independent to protect them in their rights of person and property, or to secure to them the enjoyment of the privileges of other citizens, to which they are entitled under the constitution of the United States. They should have the right of suffrage, be represent ed in a Territorial legislature, and by a delegate in Congress; and possess all the rights iSt• priv ileges which citizens of other portions of the Territories of the U n ited States have - heretofore enjoyed, or may note enjoy. Our judicial syste , revenue laws, laws regu lating trade anti i ereourse, with the Indian tribes, and the prof Lion of our laws 'generally. should be extended Over them. In addition to the'inhabitants in that territory who had.previously,,emigrateil to it, large num bers of our citizens have fellowed them during the present year.; and it is not dotibted that daring the next and subsequent 'years their num bers will be greatly increased. • Congress, at its !wt session, established post routes leading to Oregon and between different points within that territory, and itith,orize the establisment of post offices at •• Astoria and such other places on the coasts of the Keific, within the territory of the United States, se the public interests may require." Post offices have ac cordingly been established, deputy postmasters appointed and-provisions made for the transpor-, tation ofthe mails. The preservation of peace 'with the Indian tribes residing west of the Rocky Mountains will-render it• proper that antheritY should be . given-by law for the appointment of an adequate number. of Indian agents to'reside among them. I recommendtliat a surveyor general's office be established in that territory, i : and that the public lands be surveyed and brought into mar ket at an early period. I recommend, also, that grants upon liberal terms; of limited quantities of the 'public linds, be made to all citizens of the United States who having emigrated, or' may hereafter, within a prescribed period, emigrate, to Oregon, and set- tie upon them.' These y.and . adventurou s 4:Wiens, who bave encountered the dangers and jgif spOong and toilume journey, lied lit lefitth found an abiding place for them. selieslauttibeii families 'upon the utmost verge -- orikir waiter° limit.; should be secured in the wlol they have improved by thei le. bow refer you to the accompanying report oche Secretary of War for a detailed account of the frtbe brauehesitilie public service conneoted with the department under-phi s charge. The duties detoliig• on: this depart. merit have been unusually onerous and respenei. ble during the put year, and have been discbr g . ed with ability and success. Pacific relations continue to exist with the: vatiounlndiantribes, and moat of them m an if est strong friendship for the y United State. - s eam depredations were committed during the past year upon our trains transporting supplies for the army,. en the road between the Western lm e - - der of Missouri and Santa Fe. These deprede tiona, which are,m9posell olive been commit.. ted: *lands times the, r .r . egioo 0-Nei Mexico, have been arrested by the presence of a military force, ordered 'out for that purpose. Some out rages have been perpetrated by al portion of the northwestern bands upon the weaker and coin. paraticeiy defenceless neighboring tubes.-. Prompt measures were taken to prevent such occurrences in future. Between one and two thousand Indians ; bcion ging to several tribes, have been removed during the year (ram the east of the Mississippi to the country allotted to them west of "ghat river, as 'their permanent home and arrangements have ibeen made for others to follow. Since the treaty of 1816 with the Cherol'ees, the fends among them appear to have subsided, and they have become more united and content. ed than they have beeis for many. years past.— The commissioners/appointed in pursuance of the act of June twenty-seventh, 1846, to settle claims arising under the treaty of 1835-'36 with that tribe, hating executed their duties; sad after a patient investigation, and a full and fair examinatien of all the cases brought before them closed their labors in the ,month of July last.-- Thisjs the fourth board of commissioners which has"been organized under the treaty. Ample ,ppportunity has been afforded to all those in terested to brineorivard 'their claims. NO doubt is entertained that impartial justice has been done by the late board; and that all valid claims embraced by the treaty have been con sidered and allowed. This result, and the final settlement to be made with' this tribe, nnder the treaty of 1846, which will be completed and laid before you during your 'session, will adjust all questions of controversy between them and the United States, and produce a state of rela tions with them simple, well defined, and satis factory. lindet the discretionary authority conferred by the att of the third of March last, the annui ties due to the various tribes havti been paid du ring the present year to the heads of families in stead of to their chiefs, or such persons as they might designate, as required by the laws previ . - ously existing. This' mode of payment has giv en general satisfaction to the great body of the Indians. Justite has been done to them, and they are grateful to the government for it. A few chiefs and interested persons may dbject to this mode of payment, but it is believed to be the only mode of preventing fraud and imposition from being practised upon the great body of common I,olans, 6itittituting a majority of all the tribes. It is gratifying.to perceive that a number of the tribes have recently manifested an increas ing interest in the establishment of schools among them and are making rapid advances in agriculture—some of them pruducisig a sufficient - quantity of food for their support, and in some cases a surplus to dispose of to their neighbors. The comforts by which those who have received even a very limited education, and are engaged in agriculture, are surrounded, tend gradually to draw off their less. civilized brethren from the -precarious nit ans of subsistence by the chase, to habits of labor and civilization. The at:conipanying report of the' Secretary of the Navy . presents a satisfactory and gratifying account of tlic condition •and operations of tl,e naval service during the past year. Our com e has been pursued with iecreased activity, and with safety and success-, in every quarter of the globe, under the protection of our flag, which the navy has episeci to be respected in the most distant seas In the-gulf of Mexico, and in the Pacific, the officers and men-of our squadrons have display-, ed distinguished, gallantry, and performed valua ble services. In the early stages of the war with Mexico, her ports on both coasts were blockaded, and more recently many of them hare been captured and held by the navy. When acting in co-operation with the land forces, the naval officers and men have performed gallant and distinguished services on land as well as on water, and deserve the high commendation of the country. While other maritime powers are adding to their navies large numbers of war steamers, it , was a wise policy ett our part to make similar additions to our navy. The four war steamers authorised by the act of the third of March, 18 t 7, are in course of construction. In addition to the four war steamers autho rized by this act, the Secretary of the Navy has, in pursuance of its provisions, entered into cee tracts for the construction of five steamers, to be employed in the transportation of the United States mail "from New York to New Orleans, touching at Charleston, Savannah and Llama, at,lfrom pavane to Chagres;" for three steam; cri to be employed in like manner from Panama to Oregon, "so as to connect with the-mail from Ilarnia to Chagres across the Isthmus ;' '' and for five steamers to be employed in like mannerfrom New York to Liverpool. These steamers will be the property of the contraetore, but are to be built "under the superintendence and direction of a naval constructor in the einPloy of the Na vy Department, and to be so constructed a s to render them convertible at the least possible ex' poise into wir'ateatners of the first class," A prescribed numberof naval officers, as well aa'a post office agent, are to be on board of them; -and authority is reserved to the Navy Deport ment at all tunes to 4-exercise control over said steamships," and "to have the right" •'to take them for the exclusive use and service ~ef the United States" "upon making proper compes. ration to the eontracters therefor." While theca steam-ships will be employed in transporting the mails of the United States coastwise, and to foreign countries, upon an an nual compensation to be paid to the. oiner n . they will ,be always ready, neon an eniergeoeY requiring it, to be converted into war steamers , and the right reserved to take them for publitl use, will add greatly to the efficiency and strength of this description Of Our naval force. To she st4ainers thus atithorized'imder contracts made by the Secretary of the Navy, should be added El rl
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