v 1 a wirr mi EZQ
TOWANDA:
Petmesbag Inorninb, December 13,-1810.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
'lklivered to Congress, December 5, 1818.
Fellow-citizens of the Senate and House of Repro-
soda:it:es :—Under the benignant Providence of Al
mighty God, the Representatives of the States and
of the_P-Azle are again brought together to delibe
rate for the public good. The gratitude of the na
tion to the Sovereign Arbiter of% all human events,
should be commensurate with the boundless bless
ings which we enjoy. Peace, plenty and content
ment reign throughout our borders, and our own
ueloved country presents a sublime moral spectacle
to the world.
The troubled and unsettled condition of some of j
the principal European powers has had a necessa
ry tendency to check and embtarrass trade and to i
depress prices
,throughout all commercial nations ;
bht notwithstanding theseicauses, the United States '
with their abundant products have felt their effects
less severely than any other country, and all our
great interests are still prosperous and successful .--
In reviewing the great events of the past year and
contrasting the ago aced and, disturbed state of other
countries with our own tranquil and hrippy condi
tion, we• may congratulate ourselves, that we are
the most favored people on the face of the earth.—
While the people of other countries are struggling
to establish free institutions,
under which man may
govern Ifftnself, we are in the actual enjoyment of
them—a rich inheritance from our fathers, while
enlightened nations of Europe are convulsed and •
distracted by civil war or intestine strife. We .sett '
tie all our political controversies by the peaceful
exeise of the rights of freemen at the ballot box.
Th . great republican maxim, so deeply engras -
en on the hearts, of our people, that the will of the
major y constitutionally expressed, shall prevail, is
our safe safeguard, against force and violence. It
i, a s t ili'fiet of just pride that our fame and charac
ter as a nation ; continue rapidly to advance in the es
illation of the civilized world. To •our Wise and
Tice •iiistitutions it is to be attributed, that while oth
er nations have achieved glory at the price of the
stitlerings,•distress and impoverishment of their peo
ple. we have won our honorable p os iti on i n t h e
ibidst of an uninterruirted prosperity, and of au in
ereasin,...; individual comfort and happiness.
I am liaryy to inform you that our relations with
all nations are friendly and pacific. Advantageous
treaties of commerce have been concluded within
the last four years with New Grenada. Peru, the
two Sicilys, Belgium, Ilanover, Oldenberg and
Meelilenberg Schwerin. Pursuing our example,
the restrictive system of Great Britain,
our princi
pal foreign customer, has been relaxed, a more li
lt •ral commercial policy has been adopted by the
enlightened rations and trade has been greatly en-
Leged and extended. Our country stands higher
iii the respect of the world than at ally former pe
tiod. To continue to occupy this proud position it
is only necessary to preserve peace and faithfully
adhere to the great- and fundamental principle of
our foreign ?oli: yof non interference in the domes-
-tic roncenrs of other nations. We recognize in all
nations the rights which we enjoy ourselves, to
chaii4e and reform their political institutious accor
ding to their own will and pleasure. Hence we do
Hot look behind existing governments, capable of
maiutaining their own authority. We recognize
all such governments, not only from the dictates of
true policy but from a sacred regard fur the irrde-
penitence of nations.
While this is our settled policy, it does not lob
I•iw that we can ever be indifferent spectators of
the progress. of liberal principles. The government
and people of the United States hailed with enthu
slams anti delight the establishment of the French
republic, as we now hail the efforts in progress to
unite the States of Germany in a confederation, si
milar in many respects to our own federal Union.
If the great and enlightened German States, occu
pying. as they do, a cential and commanding pc)-
. snion in Europe, shall succeed in establishing such
• a confederated gpvernment, securing at the same
time to the citizens of each State, local governments
adapted to the peculiar condition of each, with un
restricted trades and intercourse with each other, it
will be an important era in the history of human
events. Whilst it will consolidate and strengthen
the power of Germany, it must essentially pi - emote
Lee cau-e of peace, commerce, civilization, and
constitutional liberty throughout the world.
'With all the governmeets on this continent our
relations, it is believed, are now on a more friend
ly and satisfactory footing than they have ever
been at-any former perks).
Bowe the exchange of ratifications of the treaty
of peace with Mexico, our i•itercourse with the gcs.
vernment of that republic has been of the most
friendly character. The Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipsent'a-y of the United States to
Mexico has been received and accredited ; and a
411,110in:111c repreientative from Mexico of similar
rank has been rec-ived and accredited by the go
vernment. The amicable relations between the
two countries which had been suspended have been
handy ri stoted, and are destined, 1 trust. ke be
long preserved. Toe two republics, both situated
on this continent, and with coterminous territories,
have every motive of sympathy and of interest to
bind them together in perpetual amity. •
This gratifying condition of our foreign relations
renders it unnere.ssary for me to call your attention
more specifically to them.
It has been my constant aim and desire to culti•
vale peace and commerce with all nations. Tran.
quility at home . ; and peaceful relations abroad, con
stitute the true permanent policy of our country.-
IVar, the scourge of nations, sometimes becomes
inevitable, but is always to be avoided when it can
be done consistently with the rights and honor of
the nation
One of the most important resiths of the. war into
which we were recently forced with a neighboring
nation, is the demonstration it has atrorded of the
military strength of our country. Before the late
war with Mexico, European and other foreign pow
ers entertained imperfect and erroneous views of
our physical strength as a nation, and of our ability
to prosecute war, and especially a war waged on'
of our own country. They saw that our standi:.,_
army on the peace establishment did not er.7.eed
1,.n thousand men. Accustomed themselves to
maintain in peace large standing armies far the pro
m c ion of thrones against their own subjects as well
a 14 against foreign enemies, they-had not conceived
that it was possible for a nation without such an ar
my, well disciplined. and of long service, to wage
War successfully.
They held in low repute our militia, and were
far from reVrding them as an effective force, un-
Ir•ss it might be for temporary defensive operations
when invaded on our own soil. The events of the
late war with Mexico have not only undeceived
them; but have removejl erroneous impressions
which prevailed to some extent even among a por
tion of our own countrymen. That war has dem
onstrated, that upon the breaking out of hostilities
not anticipated, and for which no-previous prepara
tion had been made, a volunteer army of citizen
soldiers equal to Teterattroops, and in numbers
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equal, to any emergency, can in a short period be
bmugnt into the field. Unlike what would have
occurred in any other country, we were tinder no
necessity of resorting to draughts or conscriptions.
On the contrary, such was the number of volunteers
who patriotically tendered their services, that the
chief difficulty was in making selections, and de
termining who should be disappointed and com
pelled to remain at home. Our citizen-soldiers are
unlike those drawn from the population of any oth
er country. They are composed indiscriminately
of all professions and pursuits; of Farmers, lawyers,
physicians, merchants, manufacturers, mechanics,
and laborers; and this, not only.ameng the officers.
but the private soldiers in the ranks. Om citizen
soldiers are unlike these of any other country in
other re4pec:s. They are armed, and have been
accustomed from their youth up to handle and use
fire-arms; and a large proportion of them, especi
ally iu the western and more newly settled States,
are expert marksmen. They are men who have a
reputation to maintain at home by their good con
duct in the field.. They are intelligent, and there
is an individuality of character which is found in
the ranks of no other army. In battle, each private
man, as well as every officer, fights not only fur
his country, but for glory and distinction among his
fellow citizens when he shall return to civil life.
The war with Mexico has demonstrated notonly
the ability of the government to organize amunier
ous army upon a sudden call, but also to provide it
with all the munitions and necessary supplies with
despatch, convenience, and ease, and to direct its
operations with efficiency. The strength of our in
stitutions has not only been displayed in the valor
and skill of our troops engaged in active service in
the field, but in the- organization of those executive
branches which were charged with the general di
rection and conduct of the war. While too great
praise cannot be bestowed upon the officers and
•men who fought our battles, it would be unjus to
withhold from those officers necessarily stationed
at home, who were charged with the duty of fur
nishing the army, in proper time, and at proper
places, with all thy munitions of war and other sup
plies so necessary to make it efficient. the conimen
dation to which they are entitled. The cteflit due
to this class of our officers is the greater when it is
considered that no army
_in ancient or m:ideni times
was ever better appointed or provided than our ar
my in Mexico: Operating in an enemy's country,
removed two thousand miles from the seat of the
federal government. its different corps spread over
a vast extent of territory, hundreds and even thou
sands of miles apart from each other, nothing short
of the untiring; vigilance and extraordinary energy
of these officers could have enabled them to pro
vide the artily at all pointi, and in proper seasons,
with all that was required for the most efficient ser
vice.
It is but an ad of justice to .declare, that the offi
cers in charge of the several executive bureaus, all
under the immediate eve and supervision of the
Secretary of War, performed their respective du
ties with ability, energy, and efficiency. They have
reaped less of the glory of war, not having been
personalty exposed to its perils in battle, than their
companions in arms, but without their forecast, ef
ficient aid, and co-operation, those in the field
would not have been provided with the ample
means they possessed of achieving for themselves
and their country the unfading honors which they
have won for both.
When all these facts are considered, it maycease
to be a matter of so much amazement abroad bow
it happened that onr , noble army to Mexico,,re,m
tars and volunteers, ivera victorious upon every Cat.
tie field, however tearful the (Ads against them.
The war with Mexico has thus fully developed
the capacity of republican governments to prosecute
otneessfully a jast and necessary foreign war with
all the vigor usually attributed to more arbitrary
forms of government. It has been usual for wa
ters on public laws to impute to republics a want
of that unity, concentration of purpa.e, and vigor of
execution, which are generally admitted to belong
to the monarchical and aristocrat ice forms ; and this
feature of popular government has been supposed
to display itself more particularly in the conduct of
a war carried on in an enemy's territory. The war
with Great Britian, in 1812, was, to a great extent,
confined within our own limits, ani shed but little
light on this subject. But the war which we have
just closed by an honorable peace, evirces, beyond
all doubt, that a popular representative government
is equal to any emergency, which is likely to arise
in the affairs of a nation.
The war with Meiico has developed most strik
ingly. and conspicuously another feature in our in
stitutions. It is, that without cost to the govern
ment or danger to our liberties, we have in the bo
som of our society of freemen, available in a just
and necessary war, virtually a standing army of two
millions of armed citizen•soldiers, such as fought
the battles of Mexico.
But our military strength does not consist alone
in our capacity for extending and successful opera.
tioris on land. The navy is an important arm of
the national defence If the services of she navy
were not so brilliant as those of the army in the late
war with Mexico, it was because they had no ene
my to meet on their own element. While the ar
my had opportunity of performing more conspicu
ous service, the navy larg ely participated in the
conduct of the war. Both branches of the service
performed their whole duty to the country. For
the able and gallant services of Jhe officers and
men of the navy—acting independently as well as
in cooperation with our troops--m the conquest of
the Californias, the capture of Vera Cruz, and the
seizure and occupation of other important positions
on the Gulf and Pacific coasts, the highest praise is
due Their vigilance, energy, and skill rendered
the most effective service in excluding munitions of
war and other supplies from the enemy, while they
sectired a sale entrance for aboudiun supplies for
our own army. Our extended commerce was no
where interrupted ; and for this immunity from the
evils of war. the country is indebted to the navy.
High praise is clue to the officers of the several
executive bureaus, natry yards, and stations con
nected with the service, all under the immediate
direction of the Secretary pf the Navy, for the in
dustry, foresight, and energy with which everything
wasnirected and furnished to give efficiency to that
branch of the service. The same vigilance existed
in directing the operations of the navy, as of the ar
my. There was concert of action and of purpose
between the heads of two arms of the service. By
the orders which were from dine to time issued,
our vessels of war on the Pacific and the Gulf of
Mexico were stationed in proper lime and in pro
per positions to co-operate efficiently with the ar
my By this means their combined powers was
brought to bearsoccessfull3r on the enemy.
The great results which have been developed
and brought to light by this War, will be of immea
surable importance in the future progress of our
country. They will tend powerfully to preserve us
from foreign collisions, and to enable us to pursue
uninterruptedly our cherished policy of " police
with all flattens, entangling alliances with none):
Occupying, as we do, a more commanding posi
tion among nations than at any former period, our
duties an d our responsibilities to ourselves and to
posterity are correspondingly increased. This will
be the mare obvious when we consider the vast
atlditicns which have been recently made our terri
torial possessions, and their great importance and
value.
'PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, AT TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'NEARA.IIOODRICH.
" azoismas *um'
Within less than tour years the anuesation of
Texas to the Union has been commutated: all
conflicting title to the Oregon Territory south of the
forty-ninth dqtree of north latitude, being all that .
was insisted on by any of my predeeemrs, has
been adjusted ; and New Mexico and Upper Cali
fornia have been acquired by treaty. The area of
these several Territories, according to a report care
fully prepared by the Commissioner of the Gener
al Land Office from the most authentic information
in his po.ession, and which is herewith transmit
ted, contains one million.ono hundred and ninety.
three thousand and sixty-one square miles, or -sev
en hundred and six ry-three million five hundred
and fifty-nine thousand and forty acres; white the
area of the remaining twenty-nine, States, and the
Territory not yet organized into States east. of the
Rockery mountains, contains two millions fifty-nine
thousand five hundred and thirteen square miles,
or thirteen hundred and eighteen millions one bun
dred and twenty-six thousand and fifty-eight acres.
These estimates show that the territories recent
ly acquired, and over which our exclusive juris
diction and dominion have been extended; consti
tute a country more than half as large as all that
which was,held by the United States, .before their
acquisition. If Oregon be excluded from the esti
mate, there will still -remain within the limits. of
Texas, New Mexico, and California, eight hun
dred and fifty one thousand five hundred and nine
ty eight repiare miles, or five hundred and forty-five
millions twelve thousand seven hundred and twen
ty acres ; being an addition equal to more than one
third of all the territory owned by the United States
before their acquisition ; and, including - Ctron,
nearly as great an extent of territory as the whole
of Europe, Russia only excepted. The Mississip
pi, so lately the frontier of our country, is now only
its centre. With the addition of the late acquisi
tions, the United States are estimated to be nearly
as large as the whole of Europe. It is estimated
by the superintendent of the coasts survey, iu the
aceompanying report; that the extent ol the sea
coast of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico is up cards of '
four hundred miles; of the coast of Upper Califor
nia, on the Pacific, of nine hundred and seventy
miles and of Oregon, including the Straits of Fuca.
of six hundred and fifty miles; making the whole
extent of seacoast on the Pacific one thousand six
hundred and twenty miles, and the whole extent
on both the Pacific and the Gulf of 11Iexico two
thousand and twenty miles, and the whole extent
on both the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico two
thousand and twenty miles.
The length of the coast on the Atlantic from the
northern limits of the United States, around the
Capes of Florida to the Sabine, on the eastern
boundary of Texas, is estim .ted to be -three thou
sand one hundred mites ; so that the addition, of
sea coast, including Oregon, is very nearly two
thirds as areal as all we possessed before; and ex
cluding Oregon, is an addition of one thousand
three hundred and seventy miles being nearly
equal to one-half of the extent of coast which ire
possessed before these acquisitions. We have now
three great maritime fronts—on the Atlantic, the
Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific—making In the
whole an extent of seacoast exceeding five thou
sand miles. This is the extent of the seacoast of
of the United States not including bays, sounds and
small irregularities of the main shore, and of the
sea islands. If th ese be included, the length of the
shore line of coast survey, in his report. would be
thirty-three thousand and sixty-three miles.
It would be difficult to calculate the value of
these immense additions to our territorial posses
sions. Texas, lying contigious to the western
boundary of Louisiana, embracing within its lim
its a part of the navigable tributary waters of the
Missisippi, and an extensive sea-coast, could not
long have remained in the hands of a foreign pow
er, without endangering the peace of our south
western frontiers. Her products in the vicinity of
the tributaries ot the Mississippi must have sought
a market through these streams, running into and
through our territory; and the danger of irritation
and collision of interests between Texas as a for
eign State and ourselves would have been immi
nent, while the embarrassments in the commer
cial intercourse between them must have been con
stant and unavoidable. Had Texas fallen into the
hands, or under the influence and control of a strong
maritime or military foreign power as she might
have done, these dangers would have been still
greater. They have been avoided by her volunta
ry and peaceful annexation to the United States.
Texas from her position, was a natural almost in
dispensable part of our territories. Fortunately,
she has been restored to our country, and now con
stitutes part of our confedracy, "upon an equal foot
ing with the original States." The salubrity of cli
mate, the fertility of the wit, peculiarly adtpted to
the production of some of our most valuable staple
commodites, and hercommercial adeantaees, must
soon make her one of our most populous States.
New Mexico, though situated in the interior, and
without a seacoast, is known to contain much fer
tile land, to abound in rich mines of the precious
metals, and to be capable of sustaining a large pop
ulation. From its position, it is the intermediate
and connecting territory between our settlements
and our possessions in Texas, and those on the Pa
cific coast.
Upper California irrespective of the vast mine
ral wealth recently developed there, holds at this
day, in point of value and importance to ,the rest
of the Union, the same relation that Louisania did,
when that fine territory was acquired from France
forty-five years ago. Extending nearly ten degrees
of latitude along me Pacfic, and embracing the on
ly safe and commodious harbors on that coast for
many hundred tunes , . with a temperate climate,
and an extensive interior of fertile lands, it is
rcarcely possible to estimate its wealth until it shall
be brought under the government of our laws, and
its resoarces fully developed. From its position,
it must command the rich commerce of China, of
Asia, of the islands of the Pacific, of Western Mex
ico. of Central America, the South American States,
and of the Russian possessions bantering on that
ocean. A great emporium will doubtless speedily
arise on the Californian coast, which may be de
stined to rival in importance New Orleans itself.
The depot of the vast commerce which must exist
on the Pacific will probably be at some point on
the bay of San Francisco, and will occupy the same
relation to the whole western coast of that ocean,
as New Orleans does to the valley of the Mississip
pi and the gulf of Mexico. To this depot our nn•
merous whale ships will resort with their ca goes,
to trade, refit, and Obtain supplies. This of itself
will largely contribute to build up a city, which
wont I soon become the centre of a great and ra
pidly increasing commerce. Situated on a safe
barber, sufficiently capicions for all the navies as
well as the marine of the .world, and convenient to
excellent timber for ship building, owned by .tbe
United States, it must become our great western
naval depot.
It was known that mines Of the precious metals
existed to a considerable extent in California at the
time of its acquisition. Revue disooveriei fender
it probable that these mines are more extensive
and valuable than was anticipated. The accounts
of the abundance of gold in that territory are of such
an extraordinary character ea would scarcely com
mand belief were they not corroborated by the au
thentic reports of officers in the public serviee r who
have - visttetlthe mineral district, and derive the
facts which they detail from personal obeentation:
liaiiiM
Teti TROIS MIT. QUAATIL:II.,"
Reluctant to credit the reports in general eirrulinion•
as to the quantity of guld l the officer commanding'
ow fames in California visited the mineral district
in July last, fo: the purpose of obtaining ncenrato
information on the subject. His.report to the'Wur
Department of the result of his examination, and
the facts obtained on the spot, is herewith laid be
fore Congress . When he visited the country, there
were about four thousand persons engaged in col
lecting gold. There is esery moon to believe that
the number of persons so employed has since been
augmented. The explorations already made war
rant the belief that the supply is very large, and
that gold is found at various places in an extensive
district of c tinny.
Information received from officers of the navy
and other sources, though not so full and minute,
confirm the accounts of the commander of our mi
litary force in California. It appears, also, from
these reports, that mines of quicksilver -!are found
in the vicinity of the gOld region. One of thent is
now being worked and is believed to be among
the most productive in the world.
The effect produced by the discovery . of these
rich mineral deposits, and the success which has
attended the labors of those who have, resorted to
them, have produced a surprisinn , change in the
state of affairs in California. Labor commands a
most exorbitant price, and all other pursuits but
that of searching for the precious metals are aban
doned. Nearly the whole of the male population
of this country hare gone to the gold district. Ships
arriving on the coast are deserted by their erews,
and their voyages suspended for want of sailors.
Cbw command in officer there entertains apprehen
sions that soldiers cannot be kept ir the public ser
vice withoui a large increase of pay. Desertions
in his command have become frequent, and he
recommends that those wan shall withstand the
strong temptations, and remain faithful, should be
rewarded. •
This abundance ofgold. and the all engrossing
pursuit of it, have already caused in
the
an
unprecedented riae in the price of the neemaries
of life.
That we may the mote speedily and fully avail
ourselves of the undeveloped wealth of these mines,
it is deemed of vast importance that a branch of the
mutt of the United Stales be authorised to be esta
blished, at your present session, in Calitollia.—
Amoug other signal ad vanta g es which wcmknesult
from such an establishnient would be that of rais
ing the gold to its par value in that Territory. A
branch mint of the UMW States at the great com
mercial depot on the west coast, would convert
into our own coin not only the gold derived from
our own rich mines, but also the bullion and spe
cie which onr commerce may bring from the whole
west our coast cf Central and South America The
west coast of AMerica and the adjacent interior em
brace the richest and best mines of Mexico, New
Grenada, Central America, Chili, and Peru.
The bullion and specie drawn from these coun
tries, and especially from those of Western Mexi
co and Peru, to an amount in value of many mil•
lions of dollars, are now annually diverted and car
ried by the ships of Great Britain to her own ports,
to be recoiued or used tosnstain her National Bank,
and thus contribute to increase her ability to corn..
merce of the world. If a branch mint be establish
ed at the great commercial point upon that coast, a
vast amount of bullion and specie would Row thith
er to be recoined, and pass thence to New Orleans,
New York, and other Atlantic cities. The amount
of our constitutional currency at home would be
really increased, while its circulation abroad would
be promoted. it is well known to our merchants
trilling to China and the west coast of America,
that great inconvenience and loss are experienced
from the fact that our coins are not current at their
par value in those countries.
The powers of Eunape,far removed from the west
coast of America by the Atlantic ocean which in
tervenes, and by a tedious and dangerous naviga
tion around the southern cape of the continent of
America, can never successfully compete with the
United States in the rich and extensive commerce
which is opened to us at so much less cost by the
acquisition of California. .
The vast importance and commercial advanta
ges or California have heretofore remained unde
veloped by the Government of the country of which
it constituted a part. Now that this fine province
is a part of our country, all the States of the Union,
some more immediately and directly than others,
ire deeply interested in the speedy developement
of its wealth and resources. No section of our
country is more interested, or will be more bene
fitted, than the commercial, navigating, and manu
facturing interests o f the eastern States. Our plant
ing and farming interests in every tart of the
Union will be greatly benefitted by it. As our
commerce and navigation are enlarged and ex
tended, our exports of agricultwal products and of
manufaetures will be increased; and in the new
markets thus opened, they cannot fail to command
remunerating and profitable prices.
The acquisition of California and New Mexico,
the settlement of the Oregon boundary, and the
annexation of Texas, extending to the Rio Grande,
are results which, combined, are of greater copse
quence, and will add more to the strength and
wealth of the nation, than any which have prece4.
ed them since the adoption of the constitution.
But to effect these great results, not only Cali
fornia, but New Mexico, must be brought under
the control of regularly organized governments.—
The existing condition of California, and of that
part of New Mexico lying west of the Rio Grande,
and without the limits of Texas, imperiously de
mand that Congress should, at its present session,
organize territorial governments over them.
Upon the exchance of the ratification of the trea
ty otwith Mexico, on the thirtieth of May
last, the temporary governments which had been
established over California, and New Mexico by
our military and naval commanders, by virtue of
therights or war, ceased to derive any obligatory
force from that source of authority,
and having
been ceded to the United States, all government
and trol over them Wider the authority of Mex
ico h eased to exist Impressed with the ne
cessity o blishino territorial go%ernments over
them, I recommended the subject to the favorable
consideration of Congress in my reesmge commu
nicating the ratified treaty of peace, on the sixth of
July last, an invoked their action at that session.—
Congresa adjourned without making any provision
for their government. The inhabitants, by the
transfer of their country, had become entitled to the
benefits of our laws and constitution, and yet were
left without any regularly organised government.—
Since that time, the very limited power possessed
by the Executive has been .exercised to preserve
add protect them from the inevitable consequences
of a Mate of anarchy.
The only government which remained-was that
established by the military authority during the
war. Regarding this to be ade ;facto government;
and that by the presumed consent of the inhabi
tants it might be eentioned temporarily, they were
advised to conform and submit to it forthei thortin
tervening period before Congress would again as
• getable and could legislate on the subject. The
views entertained by the Executive on this point
are contained in a communication of the Secretary
of. Stale, dated the seventh of October last, which
was forwarded for publication to California - -and
New Mexico, a copy of which is • herewith trans
witted. •
The Lanall military force of the rewdar asmir t
which was serving within the limits of ihe ac
getnll territories ut the close of the War, was re
tained in them and additional fortes have been
twdered there for the protection of the inhabitants,
and to preserVe and secure the rights and interests
of the United States.
No revenue has been or could be collected at
the ports in . California, because Congress failed to
authorize the establishment of officers - for that pur
pose.
The Secretary of the Treasurey by a cher:ll4r
letter addressed to collectors of the customs, oh
the seventh day of October last, a calm of which
if herewith transmitted, exercised- all the power
with which he was inverted by law..
In pursuance of the act of the fourteenth of At'-
gust lust, extending the.benefit of our pest office
laws to the people of California, the Postmaster
General has appointed twe agents, who have pre
ceeded, the one to California, and the other to Orn
egon, with authority to make the necessary arrange
ments for carrying its provisions into elect..
The mcmthiv line of mail steamers from Pana
ma to Astoria has been required to " stop and de
liver and take mails at San Diego, Monterey, and
San Francisco." These mails, connected by, the
isthmus of Panama with the line of mail steamers
on the Atlantic between New York and Chagres,
will establish a regular mail communication with
California.
It is our solemn duty to provide, with the' least
practicable May, for New Mexico and California,
regularly organized territorial govemnteilt. The.
causes of the failure to do this at the last sessson
of Cong ress are well known, and deeply to be re
gretted. With the opening phr-pccts of increased
prosperity and' national greatness which the acqui
sition of these rich and extensive territorial pos
sessions affords, how irrational it would be to fore
go or to reject these advantages, by the agitation , of
a domestic question which is coeval wi,h the ex
istence of our government itself, and Jo endanger
by internal strifes, geographical diiisions, and heat
ed contests for political power, or for any other
cause, the harmony of the glorious union of our
confederated States; that Union which binds us
together as one people; and which for sixty years
has been our shiel 1 and protection against every dan
ger. In the eyes- of the world and -of prkiterity,
how trivial and insignificant will be all our inter
nal divisions, and snuggles tempered with the pres
ervation of this Union of the States in all its vigor
and with all its countless blessings! No patriot
would foment and excite geograplucaland section
al divisions. No lover of his country would dent> ,
erately calculate the value of the I. :non. -Future
generations would look in amazement upon the fol
ly or such a course. Other nations at the present day
would look upon it with astonishment ; and such
of them as desire to maintain and perpetuate
thrones and monarchical or aristocratical principles,
will view it with exultation and delight, because
in it they will see the elements of faction,' \ vhich
they hope mast ultimately overturn our system.
Ours is the great example of a prosperous and
free self-governed republic, commanding the ad
miration and the Imitation of all the lovers of free
dom throughout the world. How solemn, there
fore is the duty, how impressive the call upon us
and upon all parts of our country, to cultivate a
patriotic spirit of harmony, of good fellowship, of
compromise and mutual concession, in the admin
istration of the incomparable system of govern:
ment formed by our fathers in the midst of almost
insul,erable difficulties,..and transmitted to wioritb
the injunction that we should enjoy its blessings
mid hand it down unimpaired tb those who may
come after us !
In view of the high and responsible duties which
we owe to ourselves and to mankind, f trust you
may be able, at your present session, to approach
the adjustment of the only domestic question which
seriously threatens, or probably ever can threaten,
to disturb the harmony and successful operation, of
our system.
The immediately valuable possessions of New .
Mexico and California are already inhabited by a
considerable population. Attracted by their great
fertility, their mineral wealth, their commercial
advantages and the salubrity of the climate, .emi
grants from the older States, in great numbers, are
already preparing to seek new homes in these re.
gions. Shall the dissimilarity of the domestic in
stitutions in the different States prevent us from
providing for them suitable governments? These
institutions existed at the adoption of the constitu- .
Lion, but the obstacles which they interposed were
overcome by that spirit of ci.mprontise which is
now invoked. In a conflict of opinions or inter
ests, real or imaginary, between different sections
of our country, neither can in..q c ll demand all which
F
it might desire to obtain.
of our. institutions, should concede something to the
other..
Our gallant forces in the Mexican war, by. hose
patriotism and unpsnalelleil deeds of arms we ob
tained these possessions as an indemnity for our
just demands agaiwit Mexicr, were composed of
citizens who belonged to no one Sate or section of
our Union. They were men from slaveholding
and non slaveholding States, trcim the North tind
the South, from the East and the West. They
were all companions-in-arms and fellow-citizens of
the same common country, engaged in the same
common rause.—W.hen prosecuting that war, they'
were brethren and friends, and shared alike with
each other common toils, dangers and aufleringis.
Now when !Heir work is ended, when peace is re
stored, and they return again to , their homes, put
off the habliments of war, take their plices in so
ciety, and resume their pursuits in'cird life, surely
a spirit of harmony and concession, and of equal
regard for the i rights of all and of all sections of the
Union ought to prevail in providing governments
for the acquired territories—the fruits of their com
mon service. The whole people of the ITnitecl
States and of every' State contributed to defray. the
expenses of that war; an d it would not be just for
any one section to exclude another from all partici
pation in the acquired territory. This would not
be in consonance with the. just system of govern
ment which the framer* of the constitution adopted-
The question is believed to be rather. abstract
than practical, whether slavery ever can or would
exist-in any portion of the acquired territory, even
if it were left to the option of the slaveholding
States themselves." From the nature of the cli
mate and prodcotions, in much the !anger portion
of it, it, is certain it, could never exist ; and in the
I remainder the probabilities are it would not. But
however this may be, the question, involving, as
it does, &principle of equality of rights of the sep
arate and several Stares, as equal co-partners in the
confederacy, should not be diaeganleij.
In organizing governments over theserenitories
no duty imposed on Congress by the eonstitnt on
requires that they should legislate on the sul jest
of slavery, while their power -to do so is not only
seriously questioned, but denied by many of the
soundest exprvanders of that Whether
Congress shall legislate or not, the people of the
acquired temtories when 'assembled in convention
to form State toostitotions will porsiess the sole and
exclusive power to determ ine , for themselves
whether slavery shall or shall not exist within
their limits. If Congress shall abstain from inter
taring with the quesison, the people . of these-terri
tories will be left free to adjust- it as they may
think proper when they apply for. admission' as
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;tastes hito the Uttini.. nseint ent of Cotigresa
lie e''
could restraiii.the people. of any of . the sovenngtl
States of the Ulioi, orik. or new,. ninth or walk ;
ilaveholdhig or "nonsherebolding, tmin deterrnin.
ing the chancier of their ov n domestic institutions
as they may dcciii wise and proper. Any and all
the Sates possess this right, and Congress viand
deprive tbrm of it. 'I he people of Georgia might,
if, they chose, so alter their constitutional, to abol
ish slavery within its hails; anti> the peg* of
Vermont might so aker their constitstiou as to ad
mit slavery within its limits. Both :States would
possess the right; though as all know, it is not
probable :hat either would exert it.
It is fortunate for the peace and harmony of the
Union tbai this yiestiou is in its nature temporary,
snit can only eiouitiae fat the brief period which
will intervene before California and Neve Mexico
may be ailmiued as States into ibertJaien. From
the tide of population now flowing teas them, it is
highly probable that this Wilt soon - Occur. - -
Considering the several States and the citizens
of the several States as: esuals ; and entitled to
equal tights under the consteutne ' if this were an
original question, it might well be insisted on that
the principle of non - interference is- the true doc
trine, and that Congress-could not,. iu the absence
of any express grant of power, interfere with their
relative rights. Upon a great emergency. howev
er,
and under menacing dangers to the Minion, the•
Misssouri compromise line was extended. The
same line was extended [either west in the acqui
sition of Texas. After an .acquiescence oT nearly
thirty years in the - ipfe of compromise reco_,
nized and estal Esh by these acts, and to avoid.
mightthe danger' to the 1.1 ion where might follow if it
le
were now disregar d[", I have heretobareexpressed
the opinion ilia if aline of comprrimise 'should .be
extended on the parallel of thiiiy;six degrees thirty
minutes from the ‘i esterts I.**lary of Texas
where it nowlerMihates, to the twice: ocean--
This is the Middle r round of compromi s e, upon
which tl.e differen sections cf the Union may,
meet, as they hi heretofore - Met. If this be
doge, it is coetideta. y believed . a large majority of
1
the people of eve section of the cotintry, honey •
er widely their abs r ace opinions on the subject of
slavery may Bil ler,: w ould cheerfully andrpatnoti
rally arquiesve in 1 and peace and hantiou wed
again f i t our breile . - 1. •,,
The resttiction u. :h Of the late was ouly,tielled
to in the ease pf At sciuri and . Texas upon a pOn
ciple of ccm rot s made nreft , sary for the sake
of preserving the ha rmony, and possibly the exist
ence of the Unrou It was upon these conulera
fiats that at the close of your last session, I gave
My sanction to the principle of the Missouri com
pron.i.e line, by aeprovrier and signing the bill ,
to e tablish ;. the l'erritorhe government of Ore
gon." From a sincere deire to preserve the
.har
molly i f the Union, and -in 4eference for the acts
of my predecessors, 1 felt .constrained to vield my
acquiescence to the extent to-which they had gone
in compromising this delicate and dangerous ques
tion. lint if Congress shall now reverse the deci
sion by which the Missouri compromise was affect
ed, and shall propose to extend the restrictioo over
the whole territory, south as well as north of the
ixtrallel of thirty-six devr,res thirty minutes, it will
cease to be a compromise, and must be regarded
as an original question.
If Coopers, instead of observing the course of
non inter feience, leaving the.adoption of their own
domestic institutions to the people who= . inhab •
it these Territories; or if, instead of pxte the
Missouri compromise line to the Pacific, s r
ola
fer to submit the legal and constitutional questa".
which may arise to the decision of the *kid
tribunals, as was proposed in a biU which ;paned
the Senate at your last session an adjustment may
be affected iu th is mode. II ;he whole edit' ret be
i l referred to the judiciary, all pains -of the aion
shoal cheerfully acquiesce in the final decision , of
the tribunal created by the constitution fee thin
settlement of :all'quessions which may arise under
the constitution, treaties, and laws of the United
States.
Congress. is earnestly' jowled, for the sake of
the Union, its harmony, and our continued prosper.
ity as a nation, to adjust at its present session this,
the only dangerous question which lies in our-path
—if nol in some one of the modes suggested ; in
some other which may be satisfactory.
la anticipation of the 'establishment of regular
governments over the acquired, territories, a joint
commission of officers "of the army and navy has
been ordered to roceed to the coasts of California
and Oregon, fo e purpose of ,making reconnoir
11 )
lances, and are rr as to the proper sites for the •
erection of f ' cations orother defensive works on
land; and of ,suitable situations for naval stations.
The-information which may be expected from a set
maim and skillful examination of the whole face of
the crest will be eminently useful to Congress,when
they come to consider the propriety of making ap
propriations for these great national objects. Prop
er defences on land will, be necessary 'for the seen.
rity and protection of oar possessions; and the es
tablishment of navy yards, and a dock for the re
pair and construction of vessels, will be important
alike to our navy and commercial marine. With
out such establishments, every 'vessel, whether of
the navy or of the merchant service, requiring re
quiring repair, must, at great expense. come round
Cape Horn to one of our Atlantic yards for !hotpot
pose. With such, establiShments, vessels, it is be
lieved, may be. built or repaired as cheaply ia Ca
lifornia as upon the Atlantic ,coast. They would
give employment 'to many of our enterprising ship
builders and mechanics, and greatly facilitate and
enlarge our commerce in the Pacific.
As It is ascerained that mines of gold, silver, cop-,
per, and quick liver exist in New kfrxico and Cali
fornia, and that nearly all the lands where they are
found belong to the United States, it is deemed im
portant to the public interests that provision be
made for a geological and mineralogical examina
tion of these regions. Meisures should. be adopted
to preserve the mineral lands, especially such as
contain the precious'metals, for the use of the. Uni
ted States, or if brought into market, to - separate
them from the farming lands, and dispose of them
in-such manner as to secure a large return of mon
ey to the treasury, and at the same time lead to the
developemeut of their wealth by individual proprie
tors and purchasers, To do this, it witl be neces
sary to provide for hn immediate survey end loca
tion of the lots. If Congress should deem it proper
to dispose of the mineral lends. they should be fold
in small quantities, and at a hie& minimum price. -
I recommend - that surveyor generals' -ollices be
authorized to be established in New Mexico and
California, and provision made for surveying sad
bringing the public lands into,inarket it the earliest
practicable period. In disposing of these lands,- I
'recommend that the right of pre-emptien he secur
ed, and liberal grants made to the early emigrants
who . have settled or may settle upon them.
It will be important to extend our revenue laws
over these Territories, and especially over Califor
nia, at an early period. There ii already a amid:
erable Commerce with California; and nntil'perts
of entry shall be established and collectors appoint
ed,no revenue can be received. .
If these and other necessary and proper measares
be adopted for the deirelopement of wealth and
resources of New IdexiosAr. California, and regular'
Territorial .governments.be: esterlished osier them,
such will probably be the rapid enlargement of oar
commerce and navigation, and such the addition to
the, national wealth. that the Present generation may
live to witness the controlling commercial and
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