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