oident to the character of the service re- The commissioners appointed to revise quired of our tr.iops have furnished adili- and codify the laws of the District have tional evidence of ibeir courage, zeal, and made such progress in the performance of capacity to meet any requisition, whichMheirtaKk.au to insure its completion in their country may make upon them. Fur ! the time prescribed by the act of Congress, the details of the military operations, the J Information has recently been received, distribution of the troop", and additional that the peace of the settlements in the iirovisiotis required by the military service, Territories of Oregon and Washington is refer to the report of the Secretary of! disturbed lv hostilities on the part of the War and the accompanying doeuinentM. ! Indians, with indications of extensive cotn- Kxperienee, gathered from events which Live transpired since luv last annual mes sage, lias but served to cotihrui tlie opinion lunations of a hostile character among the tribes in that quarter, the more serious in their possible etteet by reason of the unde- then expressed of the propriety of making i termined foreign interests existing in those provision, by a retired list, for disabled of-1 Territories, to which your attention has ficers. and for increased compensation to already been especially invited. Ktfieient the officers retaiued on the list for active measures have been taken, which, it is be duty. All the reasons which existed, lieved, will restore quiet, and afford pro when these measures were recommended , teetion to our citizens, on forni'T occasions, continue without mod-! In the Territory of Kansas, there have Such is the constitutional t government, the practical A which has carried us, and us ft modern republics, through i generations of time without tbl drop of blood shed in civil freedom and concert of actir bled us to contend successfu' tie-field against foreign foes, thefeeble colonies into powcrf' has raised our industrial pro our commerce, which tran, the level of the richest and nations of Kurope. And thea tation of our political institut' objects, combining local sell with aggregate strength, ha? the practibility of a governm to cover a continent with I Mates. ification. except so tarsus circumstances been acts prejudicial to good order, but as The Congress of the Unit have given to some of them additional force. 1 yet none have occurred under circumstan-j in effect, that congress of The recoiumen Jations, heretofore made ces to justify the interposition of the feder- j which good men in the Oh" for a pnrtial reorganization of the army, al Executive. That could only be in case are also renewed The thorough element- of obstruction to federal law, or of organ ary education given to those officers, who ized existence to territorial law, assuming commence their service with the grade of the character of insurrection, which, if it cadet, qualified them, to a certain extent, should occur, it would be my duty prompt to perform the duties of every arm of the lv to overcome and suppress. I cherish service : but to give the highest efficiency the hope, however, that the occurrence to artillery requires the practice and spec- of any uch untoward event will be pre- , ative action rests in the com lal study (if many years; and it is not, vented by the sound sense of the people ot j manciit confederation presi therefore, believed to be advisable to main- the Territory, who, by its organic law pos- ! constitution. Our balance taiu. in time of peace, a larger force oft hat sessing the right to determine their own j the sejierute reserved right arm than can he usually employed in the domestic institutions, are entitled, while and their equal rcpresentntt duties apiicrtamin" to the service of field deporting themselves peacefully to the tree ; ate. I hat mdcjH'iidcitt soy J no i . . .1 . - r .1 . I . 1 I . . f .!. .. . .. :. anu siege artillery, l lie duties 01 mc exercise 01 mat rigiu, aim must oe protect sought for, but could net which imparts to America from the mutable league foi tit in, from the wars, the tun iiiid vague aspirations lifter t power, which convulse from the governments of Kuroe. erv one of the States, wit cd in the free enjoyment of it, without in- rights of local self-goveniuv teiference on the part of the citizens of each by their co-cquiil py any ot the States. The southern boundary line of this Ter ritory has never liecn surveyed and estali lished. The rapidly-extending settlements in that region, and the tact that the mam staff in all it various branches belong to the movement of troops, and the 'efficiency of an army in the field would materially tlcpeud upon the ability with which those duties arc dischirged. It is not, as in the case of the artillery, a speciality, but re quires !.-. a:i intimate knowledge of the duties of an officer of lint doubted that, to tioii ot an oine.T tor either the line or the general st:ir, it is desirable that he sh all have served in both. With tills view, it was recommended on a former oera-ion that the duties of the staff should be main ly performed by detail from the line; and with conviction of the advantages which Would result frimsii'h a eh uige it is again presented for the consideration of Congress. NAVY. The report of the Secretary of the Navy, herewith submitted, exhibits in full the naval operation of the past year, together with the prci nt condition of the service, and it wakes suggestions ..f further legisla tion, to nhich your attention is invited. Th- construc t! m of the six steam frig ates, for which appropriations were madf by the b'-T Congress, has proceeded in the most satisfactory manner, and with such expedition, a to warrant the belief that they will be ready for service early in the coining pring. Important as this addi tion t ir naval force is, it still remain iuadc mat- to the contingent Ua ...... ..-..:. ... .if f ti.t o.t.'liill.i. van commercial interests of the United of grievance, having but remote connexion ' a,ld ''.v express reservnti- State. Iii icw of this fact and of the ac- with anv of the constitutional functions or '' Pmeii, m me t, knowledge wisdom of the policy of a ' duties of the federal government. To ! .IulIS- f irn-at iiowcr of gradual and systematic increase of "the na- whatever extent these question-exhibit a ; lt''1 t0 """l"'s,'s of yy, an appropriation is recommended for . tendency menacing to the stal-ility of the ; ("'""cral welfare, ex. luih. the construction of six steam sloops-of-war. , constitution, or the integrity of the Union, j taiiiuiiz to the local legisla In regard to the steps taken in cxe-.-u-" and no farther, thev demand the consider- j al aU and t,l0SC l'f t .i . '... '.. ... ..r .1... r.."! tr. . ; wcllare anil common d HON Ul UIU dll "I '.UU.ir.-l Ml lnFtiiw.. ...v. a.i.'o ui 111 u.. ,, .u efficiency of the navy, it is unnecessary for , presented by him to Congress, me to sav more than to express entire con-' Before the Thirteen Colonies became a currence' in the observations on that sub- confederation of independent States, they ject presented bv the Secretary in his rc- ( were associated only by community or .... 1 (mnu .ilt'intM ,.r,(ro. til- ttffmri j 1 Tto- 1 ' .,,st nnicr. ! sition. ami bv the mutual' tie" of common 1 ,lot 1, ft to the s'T:,riu It will be perceived, by the report of the dependence on tJreat Hritain. When Postmaster General, that the gross expen- ( that tie was sundered, they severally a- the line, and it is route between Independence, in the State inplete the ediica- of Missouri, and New Mexico, is contigu ous to tins line, suggest the probability that embarrassing question ( jnrisdii torn may consequently ari-e. For these and other considerations, I commend the sub ject t o your early attention. CONSTlTl TtoN Al.TIIKoRY oFTHKlioVt RN MIAT. I have thus passed in review the general state of the Union, including such particu lar concern!, of the federal government, whether of domestic or foreign relation, as it apieared to mc desirable and useful to bring to the special notice of Cotigrc Unlike the great Mate of Kurope and Asia, and many of those of America, these Uni ted State are wasting their strength nei ther in foreign war or domestic strife. Whatever of discontent or public dissatis faction exists, is attributable to the imper fections of human nature, or is incident to all governments, however perfect, which ."uch subjects at", was the fundamental , constitution. Without it tl never have existed. IIoweT larger States might ! to ? government so us to give fc tion its proportionate weig nioti counsel-, they kne it llliles. they eoni-i cfcd to tl ioithorlty 'to exercise at loa lliieiuv on all the iiicit-nn-i lil"Iit, whether Icifislatikd through their equal r pn Senate. Indeed, the larji selves could not b le faili that tile same jer was to them, for the security metie interest ugaiu-t force nf the general govr word, tie' original States h rmaneui league on the . of ex'rting their coinnioii dt fence of the whole, and hut of utterly excluding e reeijiro.al aggr".in. Karl' itself to all the others, u take, nor pennit, any cut or intermeddling with, am rights. Where it was deemed r hiunaii wisdom can devise. of political notation, as occupy the public i ulir "f t!'e Stll!l's n, ii,. I eoiisUt to a ..rent evt. nt. of eva,'- ' K"ii.ia.oieo ... uu- . nu exigencies or geration of inevitable evils, or over zeal in ! tl-i-M Ik. - .i1k'si"(, r-l, seacoastand social ituproveiuenr, or nieie imagination ''' the limitation 01 tl wards defined by specif lieing matters only of 4 the States themselves,;' and foreign government i of their common and gem State. Of the circumstances c diture of the department for the last fiscal ! turned the powers and rights of absolute self- 1,11 H n!f!,s- year was nine million nine hundred and government. The municipal and social insti 1 1,', ' ti',''s: const itmni)f sixty-eight thousand three hundred and tutions of each, its laws of property and of j ?' th(" Lhl"" Mnnl forty-two dollars, and the gross receipts personal relation, even its political organi- j ln"11 ntuyr f;in. seven million three hundred and forty-two zation. were such only as each one chose tiie l,,icull,tnt thousand one hundred ami tbirty-six" dol-; to establish, wholly without interference j 'T 'V lars, making an excess of expenditure over . from any other, ln the language of the t'10 u0,ti"'r" ' la rcceijits of two million six hundred and i declaration of Independence, each State I A jMiptilation of thif twentv-six thousand two hundred and six j had ' full power to levy war, conclude : iection. existed in ma dollars ; and that the cost of mail trans-; peace, contract alliances, establish com- j but was more imnieroB portation during that year was six hundred inerce, and to do all other acts and things 0116 concernment in tl and seventy-four thousand nine hundred which independent States of right may ; North, on account of n and fifty-two dollars greater than the pre-; do." The several colonies differed in eli- j climate "1 prodiictiot. vious year. Much of the heavy expend!-j mate, in soil, in natural productions, in seen that, tor the same tures, "to which the Treasury is thus sub-! religion, in systems of education, in legisla- ! population would dimir.. jected. is to be ascribed to the larg quan-! tion, and in the forms of political admin- I later, cease to exist, -tity of printed matter conveyed by the ; istration ; a.id they continued to differ in j might increase in othe mails, either franked, or liable to no pos- i these respects when thry voluntarily allied character ami magiiit tage compared with that charged on let-! themselves as States to carry on the war of of l",'al "J-'1'1-". ,l0t. Iu la tere ; and to the great cost of mail service ; the revolution. " lv, but still more in so on railroads and by ocean steamers. The j The object of that war was to disenthral j ('"!l'r .,, ti,e "l suggestions of the' Postmaster General on 1 the United Colonics from forcipu rule, j constitution, the subject deserve the consideration of j which had proved to be oppressive, and Hence, while the f Congress. i to separate tneni permanently ironi the i as wen oy me enuracrt INTERIOR. j mother country : the political result was The report of the Secretary of the Inte-! the foundation of a federal republic of the riorwill engage your attention, as well for fee mcnoi tne coiomes, consiuuieo, useful suggestions it conti.ins, as for the s they were, in distinct, and reciprocally interest and importance of the subjects to ! independent, State governments. As for which thev refer. I the subject races, whether Inaian or Afn- Thc aggregate amount of public land ! can, the wise and brave statesmen of that sold during the last fiscal year, located I day, being engaged in no extravagant with military scrip or land-warrants, taken scheme of social change, left them as they up under grants for roads, and selected as were, and thus preserved themselves and swamp lands by the States, is twenty-four their posterity from the anarchy, and the million five hundred and fifty-seven thou ever-re-umng civil wars, which have pre- and four hundred and nine acres; ofi vailed in other revolutionized huropean which the portion sold was fifteen million seven hundred and twenty-nine thousand five hundred and twenty-four acres, yield ing in receipts the sum of eleven million four hundred and eighty-five thousand three hundred and eighty dollars. In the colonies of America. When the confederated States found it convenient to modify the conditions of their association, by giving to the general gov ernment direct access, in some respects, to the people of the States, instead of confi- same period of time, eight million seven . nine it to action on the States as such, . 1 . , . i , . , . i i i . . r .. - hundred and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and fifty-four acres have been surveyed ; but, in consideration of the quan ty already subject to entry, no additional tracts have been brought into market. The peculiar relation of the general government to the District of Columbia renders it proper to commend to your care not only its material, but also its moral in terests, including education, more espe cially in those parts of the district outside of the cities of Washington and Georgetown. they proceeded to frame the existing con stitution, adhering steadily to one guiding thought, which was, to delegate only such power as was necessary and proper to the execution of specific purposes, or, in other words, to retain as much as possible, con sistently with those purposes, of the inde- fendent powers of the individual States, 'or objects of common defence and securi ty, they intrusted to the general govern ment certain carefully-defined functions, leaving all others as the undelegated rights of the separate independent sovereignties. to"it, as by' those not eir fore refused to it, was) this matter in the s fence, it was placed tin guard of the Union, in against either mvasi Icuce, like all other loi several States. Each ' tilated, as well for itsd of its citizens, and t State became solemn!' giance to the constitu held to sevice or labor into another, should n any law or reeulat? charged from such should be delivered t party to whom such 6 be due by the laws of Tims, and thus on guaranty of all the against interference i. was the present fonnt lished by our father us ; and by no other for it to exist. If j)B ppect the rights of ftf ly intermeddles witfc i a portion of tbc St' their institutions i fulfil their obligation longer United friepit ed hostile ones, W
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