THE STAR OF THE NORTH. irwiTV^-tgtT —i —r*~ "• i ■■ ■ ■ ■^i^~ It W Wearer Proprietor.] VOLtJStE TllH STAR OF TUB NORTH Is published every Thursslay Horning, by R. W. WEAVER. OFFICE—Up stairs in the Hero Briek building on ike south side qf Main sireti, third square Muse Market. TERMS TWO Dollars per annum, if paid •within six months from the lime ol subscri bing ; two dollars and fifty cents if not paid witnin the year. No subscription received for a less period than six months: no discon tinuance permitted until all arrearages are i paid, nniess at tiro option of the editors. ADVERTISEMENTS not exceeding one square j •will be insetted three times forone dollar,and , twenty five cents for each additionl inser tion. A liberal discount will be made to those j 'i cho advertise by the year. MESSAC2 OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, Fellow Citizens of the Senate * awl of the House of Represent stives : \ I congratulate you and our common con stituency upon the favorable auspices under which you meet for your first session. Our country is at peace with tho whole world. The agitation which, for a time ; threaten ed to disturb the fraternal relations which make us one people, is fa L t subsiding; and I a year of general prosperity and health has crowned the nation with unusual blcs-1 sings. Nono can look back to tbe dangers , which are passed, or forward to the bright prospect before us, without feeling a thrill i of gratification, at the same time that he must be impressed with a grateful sense of our profound obligations to a bcnificcnt Providence, whose paternal caro is so man- • ifest in the happiness of this highly favor- j ed land. Since the close of the last Congress, cer tain Cubans and o her foreigners resident in tho United States, who were more or loss concerned in the previous invasion of Cuba, instead of being discouraged by its failure, have again abused tbe hospitality of this country, by making it the scene of the equipment of another military expedi tion against that possession of her Catho lic majesty, in which they were counte nanced, aided and joined by citizens of tbo United States. On receiving intelligence that such designs wero entertained, I lost no timo in issuing such instructions to the proper officers of the Uni cd States as seemed to be called for by the occasion. By tho proclamation, a copy of which is herewith submitted, I also warned those who might be in danger of being inveigled into this sdhentc of its uulawful character, and of the penalties which they would in cur. For somo time there was reason to hope that these measures had sufficed to prevent any suoh attempt. This hope, however, proved to be delusive. Very ear ly in tho morning of tho third of August, a steamer called the Pampero departed from New Orleans for Cuba, having on board upwards of four hundred rrincd men, with evident intentions to make war upon the authorities of tho island. This expedition was set on foot in palpable vio lation of the laws of tho United States. — Its leader was a Spaniard, and several of tho chief officers, and some others engaged in it, were foreigners. Tho persons com posing it, however, were mostly citizens of the United States. Bcforo tho expedition set out, and prob ably beforo it was organized, a slight in surrectionary movement, which appears to have bcensoonsuppressed, had taken place in the eastern quarter of Cuba. 'J he im- j portance of this movement was unfortu nately so much exaggerated iu tho ac counts of it published in this country, that theso adventurers seem to have been led j to believe that the Creole population of 1 the island not only desired to throw off tho authority of tho mother country, but had resolved upon that step, and had beguu a woll-concorted enterprise for effecting it. The persons engaged in this expedition wero generally young aud ill-informed.— The steamer in which they embarked left New Orleans stealthily and without a olear auoe. After touching at Key West, she proceoded to the coast of Cuba, and, on the night between tho 11th and 12th of August, landed the persons on board at Playtas, within about twenty leagues of Havana. The main body of them proceeded to, and took possession of an island village, six leagues distant, leaving others to fol low in charge of tho baggage, as soon as tho means of transportation oould bo ob tained. The latter, having taken up their ! line of march to connect themselves with [ the main body, and havingprocecded about; four leagues into the country, were attack ed on tho morning of tho 13th by a body of Spanish troops, and a bloody conflict ensued; after whioh they retreated to the place of disembaroation, whero about fif ty of them obtained boats and re-ombark ed therein. They wcro however, inter cepted among the keys near tho shore by a Spanish steamer cruising on tho ooast, captured and carried to Iluvana, and, af ter being examined before a military court Were sentenced to bo publicly oxeouted, and the Bentonce was carried into effect on the 16th of August. On receiving information of what had oocurred, Commodore Foxhall A. Parker was instructed to proceed in (.he steam frigate Saranao to Havana, and inquire into the charges against the persons exe cuted, the oircumstances under which they wCre taken, end whatsoever referred to their trial and sentence. Copies of the instructions from the Department of State to him, and q{ bis letters to that Depart ment, are herewith submitted. According to the record of the examin ation, the prisoners all admitted the offen cs charged against them, of being hostile nvaders of the island. At the time of .heir trial and execution the main body of Jie invaders was still in the field, making WapoQtbe Spanish authorities and Span- BLOOMS ish subjects. After tho lapse of some days being overcome by the Spanish troops, they dispersed on the 24th of August; Lo pez, their leader, was captured some days after, and executed on the Ist of Septem ber. Many of his- remaining followers were killed, or died of hunger and fatigue and the rest were made prisoners. Of these, none appear to have been tried or executed. Several of them were pardon ed upon application of their friends and others, and the rest, about one hundred and sixty in number, were sent to Spain. Of the final disposition made of these we have no official information. Such is the melancholy result of this il legal and ill-fated expedition. Thus, thoughtless young men have been induoed, by false and fraudulent representations, to violate the law of their oountry, through rash and unfounded expectations of as sisting to accomplish political revolutions in other States, and have loßt their lives in tho undertaking. Too severe a judg ment can hardly be passod, by the indig nant sense of the community, upon those who, being better informed themselves, have yet led away the ardor of.youth and nn ill directed love of political liberty.— Tho correspondence between this Govern ment and that of Spain relating to this transaction is herewith communicated. Although these offenders against the laws have forfeited the protection of their country, yet the government may, so far as is consistent with is obligations to oth er countries, and its fixed purpose to main tain and enforce the laws, entertain sym pathy for their unoffending families and friends, as well as a feeling of compassion for themselves. Accordingly no proper effort has been spared, and none will be spared, to procure the release of such citizens of the United States, engaged in this unlawful enterprise, as are now in con finement in Spain ; but it is to bo> hoped that such interposition with the govern ment of that country may not be consid ered as afforcjgig any ground of expecta tion that tho Government of the United States will, hereafter, feci itself under any obligation of duty to intercede for the lib eration or pardon of such persons as arc flagrant offenders against the law of ua tions and the laws of the United States. These laws must be executed. If wo de sire to maintain our respectability among the nations of tho earth, it behoves us to euforce steadily and sternly the neutrali ty acts passed by Congress, and to follow as far a3 may be tho violation of those acts with condign punishment. But what gives a peculiar criminality to this invasion of Cuba is that under the lead, of Spanish subjects and with tho aid of citizens of tho U. States,it had its oeigin with many, in motives of cupidity. Mon ey was advanced by individuals, probably iu considerable amounts, to purchase Cu ban bonds, as they have been called, issu ed by Lopez, sold doubtless, at a very largo discount, and for tbe payment of which the public lands and public proper ty of Cuba, of whatever kind, and thefis cal resources of tho people and govern ment of that island, from whatever source to bo derived, were pledged, as well as tho good faith of the government expected to bo established. All these means of pay ment, it is evident, were only to be ob tained by a process of bloodshed, war, and revolution. Nono will deny that those who set on foot military expeditions a gainst foreign States by means like those, are far tnore culpable than the ignorant and the necessitous whom they induce to go forth a3 tbo ostensible parties in the proceeding. These originators of the in vasion of Cuba seem to have determined, with eoo'ncs3 and system, upon the un dertaking which should disgraco their country, violnto its laws, anc put to hazard tho lives of ill-informed and deluded men. You will consider whether further legisla tion be necessary to prevent tho pcrpetra i tion of such offences in future. No individuals havo a right to hazard the peace of the country or to violate its laws upon vague notions of altering or re- \ forming governments in other States.— This principlo is not only reasonable in it self, uud in accordance with public law, but is engrafted into the codes of other nations as well as our own. But while such are the sentiments of this Govern ment, it may be added that every inde pendent nation must be presumed to bo able to defenT its possessions against un authorized individuals banded together to attack them. The government of the U. States, at all times since its establishment, has abstained and has sought to restrain the citizens of the country, from entering into controversies between other powers, 1 and to observe all the duties of neutrali ty. At an early poriod of the Govern ment, in the administration of Washing ton, several laws were passed for this pur pose. Tho main provisions of these laws were re-enacted by tho act of April, 1818 by which, amongst other things, it was de clared that if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United 1 States, begin, or sot on foot, or provido, or prepare tho means for any military expe dition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prinoe or State, or any col ony, district, or people with whom the U. States are at peace, ovory persqn sq offend ing shall be deemed guilty of a high mis demeanor, and shall be fined, not exceedr iug three thousand dollars, and imprison ed not more than three years; and this law has been executed and enforced, to the full extent of the power of tho gov ernment, from that day to this. In proclaiming and adhering to the doe trine of neutrality and non-intervention, the United States have not followed the lead of other oivilized nations; they have taken the lead themselves, and have been followed by others. This was admitted URG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER*!, 1851. by one of the most eminent of modern British statesmen, who said in Parliament while a minister of the crown, "that, if he wished for a guide in a system of neu trality, ho should take that laid down by America in the days of Washington and the Secretaryship of Jefferson;" and wo see, in fact, that the act of Congress of 1818 was followed, the succeeding year, by an act of the Parliament of England, sub stantially the same in its general provis ions. Up to that time there had been no similar law in England, except certain highly penal statutes passed in the reign of George 11, prohibiting English sub jects from enlisting in foreign service, the avowed object of which statutes was, that fordign armies, raised for the pur pose of restoring the house of Stuart to the throne, should not be strengthened by recruits from England herself All must see that difficulties may arise in carrying tho laws referred to into exe cution in a country now having three or four thousand miles of sea-coast, with an ; infinite number of ports and harbors and small inlets, from some of which unlawful expeditions may suddenly set forth, with out tho knowledge of Government, against tho possessions of foreign States. Friendly relations with all, but entang ling alliances with nono, has long been a maxim with us. Our true mission is not to propagate our opinions, or impose upon other countries our form of government, by artifice or force; but to teach by exam ple, and show by our success, moderation and justice, the blessings of self-govern ment, and the advantages of free institu tions. Let every poople chooso for itself, and make and alter its political institu tions to suit its own condition and conve nience. But, whilo we avow and main tain this neutral policy ourselves, wo are anxious to see the same forbearance on the part of other nations, whose forms of gov ernment aro different from our own. The deep interest which wo feel in the spread of liberal principles and tho establishment .of free governments, and tho sympathy with which wo witness every struggle a gainst oppression, forbid that we should bo | indifferent to a case in which the strong arm of a foreign power is invoked to stifle ! public sentiment and repress the spirit of freedom in any country. The governments of Great Britain and France have issued orders to their naval commanders on the West India station to prevent by force, if necessary, the land ing of adventurers from any nation on the Island of Cuba with hostile intent, the copy of a memorandum of a conversation on this subject between the Charge d'_ Af faires of her Urittanio Majesty and .the j acting Secretary of State, and of a subse- j qucnt note of the former to the Depart- j incut of State, are herewith submited, to-: gethcr with a copy of a note of the Acting Secretary of State to tho Minister of the j French Republic, and of the reply of the | latter, on the same subject. These papers j j will acquaint you with the grounds of this , I interposition of the two leading commer | cial powers of Europe, and with the ap | prehensions, which this Government could not fail to entertain, that such interposi- \ tion, if carried into effect, might lead to i abuses in derogation of the maritime rights of the United States. The maritime rights of the U. States are founded on a firm, sc cure, and well-defined basis; they stand upon the ground of National Indepen dcnco and public law, and will bo main tained in all their full and just extent. Tho priqciple which thisgovornment has heretofore solemnly announced it siill ad heres to, and will maintain under all cir cumstances and at all hazards. That prin ciple is, that in every regularly documen ted merchant vessel, the crew who navi gate it, and those on board of it, will find their protection in the flag which is over them. No American ship can be allow ed to bo visited or searched for the pur pose of ascertaining tho character of indi viduals on board, nor can there bo any watch by the vessels of any foreign nation over American vessels on the coasts of the ! United States or the seas adjacent thereto. It will be seen by the last communication from the British Charge d' Affaires to (he Department of State, that ho is authorized to assure the Secretary of State that eve ry care will be taken that, in executing the preventive measures against the expedi tions, which the United States Govern ment itself has denounced as not being 1 entitled to the protection of any govern, ment, no interference shall take place with the lawful commerce of any nation. In addition to the correspondence on this subject, herewith submitted, official information has been received at the De partment of State, of assurances by the French government that, iu the orders given to the Frenoh naval forcos, they were expressly instructed, in any opera tions they might cngago in, to respect the flag of thcUnited States wherever it might appear, and to oommit no act of hostility upon any vessel or armament under its protection. Ministers and consuls of foreign na tions are the means and agents of commu nication between us and those nations,and it is of tho utmost importance that, while fesjding in the country, they should feel a perfect seourity so long as thoy faithful ly discharge their respective duties and aro guilty of no violation of our laws.— This is the admitted law of nations, and no oountry has a deeper interest in main taining it than the United Stateß. Our i oommerce spreads over every sea and vis its every clime, and oqr ministers and ponsuls are appointed tq protect the in terests of that oommerce, as well as to , guard the peaeo of the country and main i tain the honor of its flag. But bow can i they discharge these duties unless they be i themselves protected; and, if proteoted, 1 it must be by the laws of the country in Tratb iti aid NT Country. which they reside. And what is due to our own public functionaries residing in foreign nations is exactly the measure of what is due to the functionaries of other governments residing here. As in war, the hearers of flags of truce are sacred, or else wars would beintorminable, so iu peace, embassadors, public ministers, and consuls, changed with friendly national intercourse, are objects of espeoial respect and protection, each according to the rights belonging to his rank and station. In view of these important principles, it is with deep mortification and regret I an nounce to you that, during the excitement growing out of the executions at Havana, the office of her Catholic majesty's consul at Now Orleans was assailed by a mob, his property destroyed, the Spanish flag found in tho office o vriezLaif jwid torn in pieces, and h#himself induced i§" flee for his personal safety, whieh he supposed to be in danger. On reoeiving intelligence of these events, I forthwith directed tho j attorney of the United States residing at New Orleans to enquire into the facts and j the extent of the pecuniary loss sustainod by tho consnl, with the intention of laying : them before you, that you might make ■ provision for such indemnity to tiim as a just regard for the honor of tho nation and the rospect which is due to a friendly power might, in your judgement, seem to require. The correspondence upon this subject between the Secretary of State and her Catholic majesty's minister pleni potentiary's herewith transmitted. Tho occurrence at New Orleans has led me to give my attention to the stato of our Jaws in regard to foreign embassadors, ministers, and consults. I think the leg ation of the country is deficient in not providing sufficiently either fcrthc protec tion or punishment of consuls. I there fore recommend the subject to tho consid eration of Congress. Your attention is again invited to tho question of reciprocal trade between tbo United States and Canada, and other British possessions near our frontier.— Overtures for a convention upon this sub ject have been received from her Britan nic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary,but it seems to bo in many respects preferable that the matter should bo regulated by reciprocal legislation. Dodhments aro laid before you showing the terms, which the British government is willing to offer, and tho measures which it may adopt, if some arrangement upon this subject shall not be made. From tho accompanying copy of a note from the British Legation at Washington, and tbe reply of thoirepartitlWt Of State thereto, it will appear that her Britannic Majesty's government is desirous that a part of the boundary line between Oregon and the British possessions shonld be au thoritatively marked out, and that an in tention was expressed to apply to Congress for an appropriation to defray tho expenso thereof on the part of the United States. Your attention to this subject is accord ingly invited, and a proper appropriation recommended. A convention for the adjustment of claims of citizens of the United States against Portugal has been concluded, and tho ratifications have been exchanged. — The first instalment of the amount to be paid by Portugal fell due on the 30th of September last, and has been paid. The President of tho French republic, according to the provisions of tho conven tion, has been selected as arbiter in the case of the General Armstrong; and has signified that ho accepts the trust and the high satisfaction, that he feels in acting as tho common friond of two nations, with whioh Franco is united by sentiments of sincero and lasting amity. The Turkish government has exprossed its thanks for the kind reception given to the Sultan's agent, Amin Bey, on the oo casion of his recent visit to tho United States. On the 28th of February last a despatch was addressed by the Secretary of State to Mr. Marsh, tho American Min ister at Constantinople, instructing him to ask of the Turkish government permission for tho Hungarians, then imprisoned with in the dominions of tho Sublimo Porte, to remove to this country. On the 3d of March last both Houses of Congress pas sed a resolution requesting the President to authorize the employment of a public vessel to convey to this country Louis Kossuth and bis associates in captivity. The instruction above referred to was complied with, and the Turkish Govern ment having released Governor Kossuth and his companions from prison, on tho 10th of September last they embarked on board the United States Btcam frigate Mississippi, whioh was selected to carry into effect tho resolution of Congress.— GOT- Kossuth left the Mississippi at Gib raltor, for the purpose of making a visit lo England, and may shortly bo expected in New York. By communications to the Department of State he has expressed his grateful acknowledgements for the inter posiiion of this Government in bohalf of himself and his associates. This country has justly been regarded as a safe asylum for those whom political events have exiled from their own homes in Europo; and it is recommended to Congress to consider in what manner Governor Kossuth and his companions, brought hither by its au thority, shall be received and treated. It is earnestly to be hoped that the dif ferences which have for some time past been pending between the Government of the Frenoh Republic and that of the Sandwich Islands, may be peaoeably and durably adjusted, so as to secure the inde pendence of those Islands. Long before the events whioh have of late imparted so much importance to the possessions of the United States on the Paoifio, we acknowl edged the independence of the Hawaiian Government. This Government was the first in taking that step, and several of the leading powers of Europe immediately followed. We were influenced in this measure by the existing and prospective importance of tbo Islands as a place of rof uge and refreshment for our vessels en gaged in the whale fishery, and by the consideration that thoy lie in the course of the great trade which must, at no dis tant day, be carried on between tho Wes tern Coast of North America and Eastern Asia. We were also influenced by a desire that those islands should not pass under the control of any other great maritime State, but shonld remain in an indepen dent condition, and so be acoessible and useful to the commerce of all nations. I need not say that the importance of these considerations has been groatly enhanced by the sudden and vast development which the interest of the United States have at tained in California and Oregon ; and the policy heretofore adopted in regard to those islands will be steadily pursued. It is gratifying not only to those who consider the commorcial interests of na tions, but also to all who favor the pro gress of knowledge and the diffusion of religion, to see a community emerge from a savage state and attain such a degree of civilization in those distant seas. It is much to be deplored that the inter nal tranquility of the Mexican republic should again be seriously disturbed: for, sinco the peace between that republio and the United States, it had onjoyed such comparative repose that the most favora blo anticipations for the future might, with a degree of confidence, have been in dulged. These, however, havo been thwarted by the recent outbreak in the Stato of Tamaulipas on the right bank of the Rio Bravo. Having received infor tion that persons from tho United States had taken part in tho insurrection, and apprehending that their example might be followed by others, I caused orders to be issued for tho purpose of preventing i any hostile cxpediiions againt Mexico from being set on foot in violation of tbe laws of tho United States. I likewise issued a proclamation upon the subject, a copy of which is herewith laid before you. This appeared to be rendered imperative by the obligations of treaties and the gcnoral du ties of good neighborhood. In my lost annual message, I informed Congress that citizens of the United States had undertaken the connexion of the two oceans by means of railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, under a grant of the Mexican government to a citizen of that republic; and that this enterprise would probably be prosecuted with ener gy whenever Mexiee should consent to such stipulations with the Government of the United States as should impart a feeling of security to those who should invest their property in the enterprise. A convention between the two govern ments for the accomplishment of that end has been ratified by this Government, and only awaits the decisions of the Congress and tho Executive of that Republio. Some unexpected difficulties and delays have arisen in the ratification of that con vention by Mexico, but it is to be presu med that her decision will bo governed by just and enlightened views, as well of the general importance of tho object, as of her own interests and obligations. In negotiating upon this important sub ject, this Government has had in view one, aud only one, object. Thatobject has been, and is, the construction or attainment of a passage from ocean to ocean, tho short est and the best for travellers and mer chandize, and equally open to all the world. It has sought to obtain no territo rial acquisition, nor any advantages pecu liar to itself; and it would sec, with tbe greatest regret,that Mexico should oppose any obstacle to the accomplishment of an enterprise whioh promises so muoh conve nience to the whole oommcrcial world, and such eminent advantages to Mexico hcr [ self. Impressed with these sontiments and theso convictions,tbe Government will oontinue to exert all proper efforts to bring about the necessary arrangement with the republio of Mexico for the speedy com pletion of tho work. | For some months past the republic of I Nicaragua has been the theatre of one of J those civil convulsions, from whieh the cause of free institutions, and the general prosperity and social progress of the States of Central America, have so often and so severly suffered. Until quiet shall havo been restored, and a government appa rently stable shall have been organized,no advanco can prudently be mado in dis posing of the question pending between the two countries. I am happy to announce that an inter oceanic communication from the mouth of the St. John to the Pacific ha 9 been so far accomplished as that passenger* have actually traversed it and merchandise has been transported over it; and when the canal shall have been completed, ac cording to tbe original plan, the means of com munication will be further improved. It is understood that a considerable part of the railroad acrosa tho Isthmus of Panama has been completad, and that the mail and passen gers will in future be conveyed thereon. Whichever of the several routea between the two ocean* may ultimately prove most eligible for travellers to,and from the different Btatea on tbe Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and our coast on the Pacihc, there is little reason to doubt that all.of them will be useful to the public, and will liberally reward that individual enterprise, by which alone they have been or are expected to be carried into effect. Peace has been concluded between the conten ding partiee in the Island of Si. Domingo, and it is hoped upon a durable basis. Such is the extent of our commercial relation* with that la land, that the United States cannot fail to feel a strong interest in its tranquilly. The office of Commissioner to Chiua remains unfilled ; several persons have been appointed, and the place has been offered to others, all ol whom havedeclined iu acceptance,on (he ground of the inadequacy of the compensation. The annual allowance by Uw is six thousand dollar* aud there is no provision for any outfit I earn estly recommend the consideration of this tub. iect to Congress. Our commerce with China is highly important, and is becoming more anil more so, in consequence of the increasing inter course between our ports on the Pacific coast and Eastern Asia. China is understood tobea Ciuntry in which living is very expensive, and I know of no reason why the American Com missioner sent thither should not be placed, in reward to compensetion, on an equal fooling with ministers who represent thiscountuyit tin courts of Eutopc. By reference to the report of tho Sec retary of the Treasury, it will he seen that the aggregate receipts for tho last fis cal yoar amounted to $52,312,970 87; whieh, with the ba'aucc in the Treasury on the Ist July, 1850, gave, as tho avail able means for the year, the sum of $58,- 917,524 30. Thu total expenditures fur tho same period were $48,005, • 878 OH. The total import* for tbe year ending 30th of Jww, 1851. were, - •215.725,095 Of which there were in specie, - . 4,1187,901 The exports for the SUIQC period were, $317,517,130 Of which were domestic products, • • • $178,54(1,555 Foreign goods re-exported 9.738,fi55 Specie .... *,231,860 Since the Ist of December last the pay ments in cash on account of the public debt exclusive of interest, have amounted to $7,501,456 56 ; which, however, includes tho sum of $3,242,460, paid under the 12th article of the treaty with Mexico, for which the issue of stock was authorized, but which was paid in cash from the Treasury. The public debt on the 20th ultimo, ex elusive of the stock authorized to be is sued to Texas by tbe act of oth Scptcmbor 1850, was $62,560,305,20. Tho receipts for the next fiscal year are estimated at $51,800,000, which, with the probable unappropriated balance in the Treasury, on the 30th June next, will give as the probable available moans for that year, tho sum of $03,258,743 09. It has been deemed proper, in view of the large expenditures consequent upon the acquisition of territory from Mexico, that the estimates for tbe next fiscal year should be laid before Congress in such manner as to distinguish the expenditures so required from tuc otherwise ordinary demands upon the Treasury. The total expenditures for the next fis cal year are estimated at $42,802,209, 19, of which there is required for the ordina ry purposes oftho Government, other than those consequent upon the acquisition of ous new Territories, and deducting the payments on account of tho public debt, tho sum of $33,343,108 08 ; and for the purposos connected directly or indirectly with those Territories, and in the fulfil ment of the obligations of the Government contracted in consequence of their acqui sition, the sum of $0,540,101 11. If tho views of the Secretary of tho Treasury in reference to the expenditures required for theso Territories shall be met by corresponding action on the part of Congress, and appropriations made in ac cordance therewith, there will bo an esti mated unappropriated balanec in the Treasury on tho 30th of June, 1853, of $20,306,443 90, wherewith to meet .that portion of the public debt due on tho first July following, amounting to $6,237,931 35, as well as any appropriations which may be made beyond the estimates. In thus referring to the estimated ex penditures on account of our newly-ac quired Territories, I may express tho hope that Congress will concur with me in tbo dosiro that a liberal course of policy maybe pursued towards them, aud that every obligation, expressed or implied, entered into in consequence of their ac quisition, shall bo fulfilled by the most lib eral appropriations for that purposo. The values of our domestic exports for the last fiscal year, as compared with those of the previous year, exhibit an incroasc of $43,040,322. At first view this con- dition of our trade with foreign nations would seem to present tho most flattering hopes of its future prosperity. An exam ination of the details of our exports, how ever, will show that the increased valuo of our exports for the lost fiscal year is to ho found in the high price of cotton which prevailed during the first half of that year which price has sinco deolined about oue half. Tho value of our exports of and provisions, which it was supposed tho incentive of a low tariff and large impor tations from abroad would have greatly augmented, has fallen from $68,701,921, in 1847, to $26,051,378, in 1850, aud to $21,048,653 in 1851, with a strong prob ability, amounting almost to a certainty of a still further reduction in the current year. Tho aggrogato value of rice exported during the last fiscal year, as compared with the previous year, also exhibit a de crease amounting to $400,917, whioh, with a decline iq the values of tlie exports of tobacoa for tbe same period, make an ag gregate decrease in these two articles of $1,156,751. The policy which dictated a low rate of duties on foreign merchandise, it was thought by those who promoted and estab lished it, would tend to benefit the farm ing population of this country, by increas ing the demand and raising the prioe of agricultural products in foreign markets. The forgoing facts, however, seem to show inoontestibly that no such result has followed the adoption of thiß policy. On the contrary, notwithstanding the repeal of the restrictive oorn laws in England, the foreign demand for the products of the American farmer has steadily declined since the short orops and consequent fam ine in a portion of Europe have been hap pily replaced by full orops and compara tive ahundanoeof food. It will be seen,by recurring to the com mercial statistics for tho past year, that the value of our domestio exports has been increased in the single item of raw ootton by 840,000,000 over the value of that ex port for the year proceeding. This is not [Two Dollars per Asua. NUMBER 46. due to any increased general demand for that article, but to llio short crop of the preceeding year which created au increas ed demand and an augmented price for the crop of last year, should the cotton crop now going forward to market bo only equal in quantity to that of the year pro ceeding, and bo sold at the present pricos then would be a falling offiutho raluiopf our exports for the present fiscal year of at least $40,000 000, compared with the amount exported for the year en ding 30tb June, 1651. The production of gold in California for the past year seems to prowiso a largo supply of that metal from that quarter for some time to como. This lurgo annual in crease Vf the currency of the world must be attended with its usual results. "1 lies-; have been already pattially cnsclosed ill the enhancement of prices and a rising spirit of speculation and adventure, tend ing to overtrading, as well at hou-e as abroad. Uu'css so nc salutary check shall bo given to these tendencies, it is to bo feared that iinp irtations of foreign goods beyond a healthy demand in this country will lead to a sudden drain of the prcciou3 metals from us, brining with it, as it has done in former times, the most disastrous consequences to the business and capital of the American people. t he exports of specie to liquidate our foreign debt during the past fiscal ) car have been 824,20:1,079, over the cm mat of sproie imported, The exports of specie during the first quarter of the present fis cal year have been $14,05 L,827. Should pecie continue to be exported at this rate fjr the remaining three quarters of this y< ar, it will dtain l'rotn our metallic cur rency during the year ending 30th June 1852, the euorm us amount of 853,007,- 308. In the prosperous condition of the na* tional finances, it tvill become the duly" of Congress to consider the best mode of pay ing off the public debt. l#lhe present and anticipated surplus in the Treasury should not be absorbed by appriations of an ex traordinary character, 'h s 6urpius sh uld be employed in such way and under such restrictions, as Congress may enact, in extinguishing the out standing debt of tho nation. By reference to the act of Confers approved Oth September, I*6o, it wit be seen that, iu consideration ofmrtuu one odious by the State of Texas, it is provided that the "United States Mull pay to the S ate ot Texas the sum often 'millions of dollars, in a stock bearingfive r 'cent, interest, anil redeemable at the end of 'fourteen year?, the iiueifsi payibla half yearly* •at the Treasury ol the UnileJ St. t s " In the same sect ion °t the tawit is further provided ••that no worn than five widioos of said alt ck shall be issued until the creditors ol the State holding bonds and other certificates of st< ck of Texas, for which (tutUs on imports wctH tpcciully pledged, shall first file at tiia Ti asury of the United S.ati 9, for or on account of said b nds or certificate-, in such form as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and approved by the President of the Uuilcd States." . The form of release thus provided tor has been prescribed by the Secretaiy of the Tieasu ry, and approved. It has been published in all the leading newspapers in the commercial cities of the United States, and all penons holding claims of the kind specified in the forgoing pro viso were lequired to file their releases (in tue form thui prescribed) in t lie Treasury ol the United S ate*.on or before the first day of Octo ber, 1851. Although this publication has been continued froui the2slh day ot March, ISol, >et up to it e Ist of October last comparatively few releases bid 16JU filed by the creditors ot iex- The authorities of the Sta'e ot Texas, at tha request ot the Secretary ol the Treasury, have furnished a schedule ot the public debt ot that State create.l prior to her adunsdoii into the Un ion, witii a copy of the laws under w inch eat It class was contracted. I have, from the documents furnished bv the S ate ot Tex is, determined the classes ot claims which in my judgement fall within the provis ions of the act of Congress ot the y til of Septemt otr, fbfi J. On being officially informed ot the acceptance by Texas ot tho propositions contained in the act referred to, 1 caused the slock to bo pre pared, and the live millions which uie to be is su id unconditionally, hearing an interest ol fi-vu per tent from ihe Ist day ol Jauuary, lbhl, have been for some time rea-iy to be delivered to the S ate ol Texas. The authorities ot Texas, up to the pr sent lime, have not authorized any ona to receive this slock.and it remains in the 1 rsas uiy Department subject to the order ot lexas. The releases, required by law to be deposi ted in the Treasuiy, not having been filed there, the remaining five millions have not been issued. This last imount ol the stock will be withheld Irotn Texas until the conditions upon which it is to be deliveied shall be complied with by thn creditors of that State, unless Congress shall otherwi,e direct by a modification if the law. In my last annual message, to which I respectfully refer, 1 staled briefly tho reasons which induced me to recommend a modification of the present tariff, by converiug the ad valorem into a specific duty, wherever the article imported was of such a character as to permit it, and that such a discrimination should be made in favor of the industrial pursuits of our own country, as to encourage home pro duction without excluding foreign compe tition. The numerous frauds which continue to be practised upon the revenue, by ialse invoices and undervaluations, constitute an unanswerable reason for adopting specific instead of ail valorem duties in all cases where the nature of the commodity does not forbid it. A striking illustration of these frauds will be exhibited in the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the custom-house valuation, and the custom house valuations of t|te same at tides,under the present system of ad valorem duties so greatly reduced as to leave no doubt of the existence of the most flagrant abus under tho existing laws. This practice evasion of the present law, combined wi the languishing condition of some of tl, great interests of the country, caused I over-importations and cousequent depres ed prices, and with the failure in obtainii a foreign market for our increasing surph of breadstuff a and provisions, has indue me again to reccnmmend a modification ' the existing tariff, j {Continued on fourth Page)
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